From Yolo Journal's "Our Rome Black Book 2.0" — cafes, restaurants, bars & aperitivo, with looked-up addresses. The Sun tag flags Sunday closures; the Open / closed column shows the weekly closing day. Click a header to sort; tap the heart to save favorites.
Sunday is flagged at left. Monday is the other big one for restaurants (the fish markets are closed Sunday, so many places shut Monday) — shown in the Open / closed column. Hours shift seasonally; call ahead.
| ♥ | Place | Category | Area | Sun | Open / closed | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigi – Orient Express La Minerva | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPantheon | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza della Minerva 69, 00186 Roma (rooftop, Orient Express La Minerva) | Rooftop restaurant atop the Orient Express La Minerva, a block from the Pantheon, with epic views over the Pantheon; the lobby bar is super sexy with low light. Great for lunch, dinner, or drinks. | |
| La Matriciana dal 1870 | Restaurant | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoTermini / Teatro dell'Opera | Open Sun | Closed Saturdays (open Sundays) | Via del Viminale 44, 00184 Roma | One of the author's favorite restaurants — around since 1870, elegant, stellar food, kind owners. The go-to for amatriciana. Note: closed Saturdays but open Sundays. | |
| Rocco | Restaurant | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoMonti | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via Giovanni Lanza 93, 00184 Roma | They only cook whatever they find at the market that morning, so it's a small, thoughtful menu. Order dessert even if you're not a dessert person. Excellent wine list, very local crowd; open for lunch too. | |
| Nino | Restaurant | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via Borgognona 11, 00187 Roma | One of the most beautiful dining rooms, with old-school waiters in white jackets and black bow ties (Dario has worked there 44 years). Loved for the ascé burro e salvia, polpette with pureed potatoes, and veal liver with onions. | |
| Da Cesare al Pellegrino | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Closed Wednesdays | Via del Pellegrino 117, 00186 Roma | A favorite for lunch (the lighting is very bright at dinner). Local and organic, thoughtful takes on classics, and interesting wines you'll be photographing the labels of. | |
| Due Ladroni | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Nicosia | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Piazza Nicosia 24, 00186 Roma | Excellent for fish, on a pretty square — some compare it to Pierluigi but with less flash and a bit more intimate. | |
| Lagana | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPantheon | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dell'Orso area (near the Pantheon), 00186 Roma — exact number unconfirmed | Great for lunch any season. Let them bring the endless antipasti (prosciutto, sauteed zucchini, celery with pecorino, the frittata), and save room for the pasta pomodoro — the author's favorite in the city. | |
| Ristorante Pietro Valentini | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Pianellari 19, 00186 Roma | Run by Simona and her cook husband — simple and perfect; be friendly and she'll be your best friend by the end. Lunch and dinner. Closed on Sundays. Will make cacio e pepe with spaghetti if you ask for the original recipe. | |
| Shiroya | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via dei Baullari 147A, 00186 Roma | An excellent Japanese restaurant near Campo de' Fiori with great sushi and cooked dishes; a favorite of Alessandro Michele. | |
| La Quercia | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Farnese | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza della Quercia 23, 00186 Roma | A chic little neighborhood spot just off Piazza Farnese — consistently great and still relatively undiscovered by tourists. | |
| Colline Emiliane | Restaurant | Trevi & BarberiniPiazza Barberini | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via degli Avignonesi 22, 00187 Roma | A wintertime favorite for gnocco fritto and pasta fatto a mano (Emilian cooking). | |
| Evangelista | Restaurant | Centro StoricoGhetto / Regola | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via delle Zoccolette 11, 00186 Roma | Go when it's artichoke season — famous for its smashed, fried carciofi. | |
| Al Pompiere | Restaurant | Centro StoricoJewish Ghetto | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified (sources conflict) | Via di Santa Maria de' Calderari 38, 00186 Roma | In the Jewish Ghetto; since moving to street level it's easier to get a table. Get the baccalà, a pasta, and the 11-euro house white. Great for Sunday lunch with big local family tables. | |
| Pierluigi | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza de' Ricci 144, 00186 Roma | The most fun restaurant in town, and you go for the fish. In summer everyone sits out on Piazza de' Ricci for prime people-watching. Get the off-menu spaghetti alle vongole, the Catalana salad, and the fried calamaretti. Draws Roman families for Sunday lunch. | |
| La Terrazza – Bulgari Hotel | Bar | Centro StoricoCampo Marzio | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza Augusto Imperatore 10, 00186 Roma | The rooftop bar and restaurant at the Bulgari Hotel — a divine rooftop bar with the best view at sunset, plus an epic Sunday brunch buffet with endless Ruinart Blanc de Blanc. | |
| Checco er Carettiere | Restaurant | Trastevere | Open Sun | Open daily (7 days) | Via Benedetta 10, 00153 Roma | A Trastevere favorite of Emily's — great for families, fun, bustling, noisy and delicious, with a great gelateria next door for dessert. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. | |
| Ristorante Tiberino | Restaurant | Centro StoricoIsola Tiberina | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Ponte Quattro Capi 17-18, 00186 Roma | A gourmet den on Isola Tiberina, a stone's throw from Trastevere, overlooking one of the prettiest squares in Rome. White-tablecloth trattoria tables, friendly service, everything seasonal. Lovely for Sunday lunch. | |
| La Campana | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Vicolo della Campana 18, 00186 Roma | The oldest restaurant in the city (500 years) and rock-solid — the pastas, polpette, veal breast with potatoes, puntarelle, and a bitter-orange tart with dark-chocolate gelato. Good for Sunday/Monday when many places close. | |
| Fiammetta | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza Fiammetta 8, 00186 Roma | Roman friends come for the pizza, but the pastas are great too. Open Sunday/Monday. | |
| Al Vero Girarrosto Toscano | Restaurant | Trevi & BarberiniVia Veneto | Sun unverified | Status uncertain — may have closed mid-2025; verify | Via Campania 29, 00187 Roma | For when you want a break from pasta — a Roman friend loves it for the tableside steak tartare. | |
| È Passata La Moretta | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily | Vicolo della Moretta 6, 00186 Roma (off Via di Monserrato) | On Via di Monserrato — a spot you'd walk right by, but the food is excellent and the crowd very local. | |
| Da Teo | Restaurant | Trastevere | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Piazza dei Ponziani 7A, 00153 Roma | Around the corner from Da Enzo (which always has a long line). Incredible, takes reservations, sometimes walk-in-able. Try the seppie e carciofi, carciofo alla Romana, puntarelle, and the pastas. | |
| Da Francesco | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza del Fico 29, 00186 Roma | Best known for pizza but with a full menu; easy for families and groups, several floors and an outside area, near Piazza Navona. | |
| Il Corallo | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Via del Corallo 10, 00186 Roma | Next to Da Francesco — great pizza and pastas, and apparently where the Gucci creatives go. | |
| Settimio all'Arancio | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo Marzio | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays (open Mondays) | Via dell'Arancio 50, 00186 Roma | Open Mondays (not Sundays). Great selection of fish but also meat; loved for the insalata di baccalà and tonnarelli with sea bass and bottarga. | |
| Tullio | Restaurant | Trevi & BarberiniPiazza Barberini | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays (open Mondays) | Via di San Nicola da Tolentino 26, 00187 Roma | Open Mondays (not Sundays). Incredible wood-fire oven and excellent grilled meats — especially the lamb — though everything is great. | |
| Hostaria da Pietro | Restaurant | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays (open Mon–Sat) | Via di Gesù e Maria 18, 00187 Roma | Just off Via del Babuino — excellent food, lovely interiors, an amusingly animated owner, and don't sleep on the desserts. Open Mon–Sat. | |
| Santo Palato | Restaurant | Greater RomeSan Giovanni | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Piazza Tarquinia 4a/b, 00183 Roma | Emily's pick for amatriciana — ambitious and a bit far, but so good (San Giovanni area). | |
| La Matricianella | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo Marzio | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via del Leone 4, 00186 Roma | Delicious classic Roman trattoria (per Emily) near the Pantheon/Parliament — the owner can be a bit grumpy. | |
| Da Gino al Parlamento | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo Marzio | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Vicolo Rosini 4, 00186 Roma | On a tiny alley in the Campo Marzio area — the author has had incredible cacio e pepe here. A classic political-class haunt. | |
| Da Enzo al 29 | Restaurant | Trastevere | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Vascellari 29, 00153 Roma | Beloved Trastevere trattoria (expect a long line) — cited for excellent cacio e pepe and Roman classics. | |
| Taverna Trilussa | Restaurant | Trastevere | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via del Politeama 23/25, 00153 Roma | A Trastevere institution cited for excellent cacio e pepe; pastas served in the pan. | |
| Pipero | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCorso Vittorio / Chiesa Nuova | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 250, 00186 Roma | A one-Michelin-star restaurant famous for the best carbonara and cacio e pepe (per Roberto and Anna). | |
| La Montecarlo | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Vicolo Savelli 13, 00186 Roma | A favorite for pizza of the author, Margherita, and Roberto/Anna; near Piazza Navona, sister to Baffetto. | |
| Il Piccolo Buco | Restaurant | Trevi & BarberiniTrevi Fountain | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via del Lavatore 91, 00187 Roma | A pizza pick from Roberto and Anna near the Trevi Fountain. | |
| Ai Marmi | Restaurant | Trastevere | Open Sun | Closed Wednesdays | Viale di Trastevere 53, 00153 Roma | A classic Trastevere pizzeria (the 'morgue' for its marble tables) — a favorite of frequent-visitor friends. | |
| Emma | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily | Via del Monte della Farina 28/29, 00186 Roma | A polished pizza spot near Campo de' Fiori (Marie-Louise's pick). | |
| Filetti di Baccalà (Dar Filettaro) | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Largo dei Librari 88, 00186 Roma | Just off Campo de' Fiori — the Roman version of fish and chips: fried salt cod fillets. | |
| Ai Piani | Restaurant | Greater RomeParioli | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via Francesco Denza 35, 00197 Roma | Out of the way but worth it — a restaurant of a lifetime with excellent Italian cuisine (mostly seafood) in wood-paneled rooms (per Andrea). | |
| Il San Lorenzo | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori / Regola | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Chiavari 4/5, 00186 Roma | A refined fish/seafood restaurant (Roberto and Anna's pick). | |
| Benito e Gilberto | Restaurant | Prati, Borgo & VaticanBorgo / Vatican | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays & Mondays | Via del Falco 19, 00193 Roma | A tiny, well-loved seafood restaurant near the Vatican (Marie-Louise's pick). | |
| Taverna dei Fori Imperiali | Restaurant | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoMonti | Open Sun | Closed Tuesdays | Via della Madonna dei Monti 9, 00184 Roma | A very good and still very local restaurant near the Colosseum (Emily's pick). | |
| Alle Carrette | Restaurant | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoMonti | Open Sun | Open daily | Via della Madonna dei Monti 95, 00184 Roma | A Monti pizzeria — a great casual option near the Colosseum. | |
| Nakai | Restaurant | Prati, Borgo & VaticanPrati / Vatican | Open Sun | Closed Tuesdays | Via di Santa Maria alle Fornaci 14, 00165 Roma | A great sushi spot minutes from St. Peter's that Emily called fantastic. | |
| Romanè | Restaurant | Prati, Borgo & VaticanTrionfale / Prati | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified (likely Tuesdays) | Via Cipro 106, 00136 Roma | Anna's recommendation near the Vatican — known for its meatballs and Roman comfort food. | |
| Da Memmo | Restaurant | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Soldati 22-23, 00186 Roma | Near Piazza Navona — cited for excellent pastas. | |
| Reserva | Restaurant | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily | Via del Pellegrino 163, 00186 Roma | Margherita Cardelli's pick for grilled meats. | |
| Pantera | Restaurant | Greater RomeGarbatella | Open Sun | Closed Mondays (reopened Dec 2025) | Circonvallazione Ostiense 153, 00154 Roma | A hole-in-the-wall pizza spot in Garbatella that Emily calls absolutely incredible. Note: closed temporarily. | |
| Cresci | Restaurant | Prati, Borgo & VaticanPrati / Vatican | Open Sun | Open daily (~7am–midnight) | Via Alcide De Gasperi 11/17, 00165 Roma | An all-day-long spot from the oven near the Vatican — early-morning fresh bread, breakfast, lunch, aperitivo and dinner (Roberto's pick). | |
| Caffè Portoghesi | Cafe | Centro StoricoPantheon / Ponte | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified | Via dei Portoghesi 7, 00186 Roma | The author's neighborhood spot — stand at the bar or sit under covered outdoor seating. The specialty is the te freddo (like an Arnold Palmer); also lovely for a simple, friendly aperitivo. | |
| 1956 Frattina Cafe | Cafe | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified | Via Frattina 142, 00187 Roma | Two blocks off Piazza di Spagna but senza tourists — attracts locals, especially people who work in the area. | |
| Giolitti | Cafe | Centro StoricoPantheon | Open Sun | Open daily | Via degli Uffici del Vicario 40, 00186 Roma | Great coffee and famous gelato, surprisingly uncrowded in the morning. Good ham/cheese toast and pastries; in the afternoon, spring for the Mont Blanc Piccolo. | |
| La Buvette | Cafe | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Vittoria 44/47, 00187 Roma | In the heart of downtown — excellent tramezzini, croissants and cappuccinos, also good for a light lunch (Andrea's pick). | |
| Retro Bottega | Cafe | Centro StoricoPantheon | Open Sun | Open daily (Mon dinner only) | Via della Stelletta 4, 00186 Roma | A delicious new-school coffee in a beautiful ceramic cup, plus avocado toast, homemade croissants, cinnamon rolls and cake. On a small street where you can sit outside; mostly locals in the morning. | |
| Libera + Soon | Cafe | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified | Via del Teatro Pace 41, 00186 Roma | A cafe-meets-gallery drawing the cool Roman crowd (including a very famous designer). Perfect espresso in a vintage cup and great salads for lunch. | |
| Bar San Calisto | Cafe | Trastevere | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified (mostly open daily) | Piazza di San Calisto 3/4, 00153 Roma | No secret but charming — the opposite of the grand, pricey Caffè Greco. Cheap coffee in Trastevere; grab a 12-euro logo t-shirt to bring home. | |
| Caffè Greco | Cafe | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Sun unverified | Currently closed amid legal/eviction dispute — verify | Via dei Condotti 86, 00187 Roma | The most gorgeous historic — and super expensive — cafe in town, on Via Condotti. | |
| Roscioli Bakery | Cafe | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 16, 00186 Roma (Roscioli Caffè) | A favorite of all the author's friends — 'a real Roman welcome in the city,' delicious if very crowded. The Caffè/Bar Roscioli is also a top maritozzo pick. | |
| Canova | Cafe | Tridente & Spanish StepsPiazza del Popolo | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza del Popolo 16, 00187 Roma | One of the two famous cafes on Piazza del Popolo — the right-wing choice, per Emily's joke about Roman politics. | |
| Rosati | Cafe | Tridente & Spanish StepsPiazza del Popolo | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza del Popolo 5/5A, 00187 Roma | One of the two famous cafes on Piazza del Popolo — the left-wing choice, per Emily's joke. | |
| Le Levain | Cafe | Trastevere | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Luigi Santini 22, 00153 Roma (new café at Via Piave 8) | A bit of France in Rome — excellent croissants, pain au chocolat, quiche and the best madeleine in town. A new sit-down location opened on Via Piave (Roberto and Anna's pick). | |
| Iginio Massari | Cafe | Centro StoricoPiazza Colonna | Open Sun | Open daily | Galleria Alberto Sordi (Piazza Colonna), 00187 Roma | Maybe the best pastry chef in Italy — the maritozzo and Christmas panettone are amazing. | |
| Caffè Doria | Cafe | Centro StoricoPigna / Via del Corso | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via della Gatta 1/a, 00186 Roma (inside Palazzo Doria Pamphilj) | Hidden in the courtyard of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj — Emily's tip to 'hide' here; also makes excellent cocktails. | |
| Chiostro del Bramante Caffetteria Bistro | Cafe | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Arco della Pace 5, 00186 Roma (inside the museum) | Serves food and lovely drinks with a view into the Church of Santa Maria della Pace from the Hall of the Sibyls — you can look right into the Raphael fresco. Try the risotto at lunch. | |
| Hedera | Cafe | Prati, Borgo & VaticanBorgo / Vatican | Open Sun | Open daily | Borgo Pio 179, 00193 Roma | Excellent gelato near St. Peter's / the Vatican. | |
| Er Baretto | Cafe | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoMonti | Open Sun | Open daily | Via del Boschetto 132, 00184 Roma | A Monti spot for coffee, handy near the Colosseum. | |
| Neve di Latte | Cafe | Prati, Borgo & VaticanPrati / Flaminio | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Federico Cesi 1, 00193 Roma (Prati; also Flaminio: Via Luigi Poletti 6) | Supposed to have the best-quality gelato in the city (per a local gelato-maker), with locations in Flaminio, Prati and Via Veneto. Less cute than Giolitti but the best. | |
| Fiordiluna | Cafe | Trastevere | Open Sun | Closed Mondays | Via della Lungaretta 96, 00153 Roma | A gelato favorite of the author's in Trastevere. | |
| Gelateria dei Gracchi | Cafe | Prati, Borgo & VaticanPrati | Open Sun | Open daily | Via dei Gracchi 272, 00193 Roma | A top gelato pick (Roberto and Anna), in Prati. | |
| Alberto Pica | Cafe | Centro StoricoRegola / Campo de' Fiori | Open Sun | Open daily (Sun afternoon only) | Via della Seggiola 12, 00186 Roma | The best gelato per Emily — try the ricotta with morello cherries. | |
| Gelateria del Teatro | Cafe | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Via dei Coronari 65, 00186 Roma | A gelato pick from Marie-Louise, near Via dei Coronari. | |
| Grezzo Raw Chocolate | Cafe | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoMonti / Ghetto | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Urbana 130, 00184 Roma (also Piazza Mattei 14) | Andrea's pick — raw chocolate and gelato. | |
| Supplì (Trastevere) | Cafe | Trastevere | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via di San Francesco a Ripa 137, 00153 Roma | A beloved supplì window on Via di San Francesco a Ripa (Roberto and Anna's pick). | |
| Forno Campo de' Fiori | Cafe | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Piazza Campo de' Fiori 22, 00186 Roma | Margherita's supplì pick — the historic bakery on Campo de' Fiori, also famous for pizza bianca. | |
| Supplizio | Cafe | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Banchi Vecchi 143, 00186 Roma | Marie-Louise's supplì pick — an elevated supplì shop on Via dei Banchi Vecchi. | |
| Regoli | Cafe | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoEsquilino | Open Sun | Closed Tuesdays | Via dello Statuto 60, 00185 Roma | A historic Esquilino pasticceria — a top maritozzo pick (Roberto and Anna). | |
| Hotel Locarno | Bar | Tridente & Spanish StepsPiazza del Popolo | Closed Sun | Bar open Tue–Sat (closed Sun & Mon) | Via della Penna 22, 00186 Roma | One of the prettiest spots in town for a drink — nothing better than sitting in the garden courtyard. | |
| Hotel d'Inghilterra | Bar | Tridente & Spanish StepsSpanish Steps | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Bocca di Leone 14, 00187 Roma | The iconic 150-year-old hotel — a favorite in colder months for the cozy Caffè Romano Lounge Bar; the rooftop bar is lovely in warmer months. | |
| Grand Hotel Plaza | Bar | Centro StoricoVia del Corso | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified | Via del Corso 126, 00186 Roma | A great Mongiardino-designed interior bar plus terrace bars — completely caught in time; come for the untouched interiors, not the crowd (there isn't one). | |
| Hotel Mediterraneo | Bar | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoTermini / Esquilino | Sun unverified | Closing day unverified | Via Cavour 15, 00184 Roma | For a drink at the amazingly preserved Art Deco interior bar (the rooftop is nice too). | |
| Hotel de Russie | Bar | Tridente & Spanish StepsPiazza del Popolo | Open Sun | Open daily | Via del Babuino 9, 00187 Roma | The Stravinskij Bar in the legendary garden is a treat; the garden is also the prettiest spot for lunch or drinks if you want to splurge. | |
| The Court | Bar | Monti, Colosseo & EsquilinoColosseum | Open Sun | Open daily | Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma (Palazzo Manfredi) | At Palazzo Manfredi — the most beautiful view of the Colosseum. | |
| Jerry Thomas Speakeasy | Bar | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays & Mondays | Vicolo Cellini 30, 00186 Roma | Used to be a real password-only insider place; a bit less so now, but still fun to check out. | |
| Salotto 42 | Bar | Centro StoricoPantheon | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza di Pietra 42, 00186 Roma | Near the Pantheon, on Piazza di Pietra — excellent drinks, a favorite of the friends who run Roscioli. | |
| La Punta Expendia de Agave | Bar | Trastevere | Open Sun | Open daily | Via di Santa Cecilia 8, 00153 Roma | An agave bar in Trastevere — perfect while waiting for a table at Da Enzo al 29 if your friends only drink tequila and mezcal. | |
| Jackie O' | Bar | Trevi & BarberiniVia Veneto | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays & Mondays | Via Boncompagni 11, 00187 Roma | A piano bar / cocktail lounge around since 1972 — the after-hours spot for the crowd that appreciates faded Roman glam over Ibiza beats. | |
| Bar della Pace | Bar | Centro StoricoPiazza Navona | Open Sun | Open daily | Via della Pace 3–5, 00186 Roma | A chic destination cafe/bar/restaurant open all day near Piazza Navona — great for an all-day food and drink experience, a simple salad and chicken, or cocktails inside the air-conditioned, chic interior. | |
| Caffè Perù | Bar | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via di Monserrato 46, 00186 Roma | A favorite bar for a stand-up drink near Campo de' Fiori — a fantastic 5-euro Negroni, great toast sandwiches (the spicy salami), and a cheap sit-down lunch (spaghetti al limone, eggplant parm). Locals start the day here too; a lively scene out front. | |
| L'Angolo Divino | Bar | Centro StoricoCampo de' Fiori | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Balestrari 12, 00186 Roma | A charming wine bar near Campo de' Fiori with a thoughtful edit. | |
| Enoteca Buccone | Bar | Tridente & Spanish StepsPiazza del Popolo | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via di Ripetta 19, 00186 Roma | A wine bar near Piazza del Popolo that still feels super local — an excellent list of wines and champagnes by the glass with delicious snacks. A great casual lunch spot too. | |
| Enoteca Corsi | Bar | Centro StoricoPantheon / Pigna | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via del Gesù 87/88, 00186 Roma | A lovely little wine bar near the Pantheon — best in the off-season, otherwise overcrowded with tourists (per Emily). | |
| Achilli al Parlamento | Bar | Centro StoricoCampo Marzio | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays | Via dei Prefetti 15, 00186 Roma | Known for its Michelin-star restaurant behind the wine shop, but the author prefers the front outdoor cafe for aperitivo, a simple lunch, and the excellent wines by the glass. | |
| Vitti | Apero | Centro StoricoSan Lorenzo in Lucina | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina 33, 00186 Roma | A top aperitivo spot on Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina — the author prefers it for the homemade potato chips. Also the place for a 4-euro shakerato (espresso shaken over ice) at the bar — a perfect jet-lag fix. | |
| Ciampini | Apero | Centro StoricoSan Lorenzo in Lucina | Open Sun | Open daily | Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina 29, 00186 Roma | A classic Roman cafe great for aperitivo (paired with Vitti as the two top picks). | |
| Camponeschi | Apero | Centro StoricoPiazza Farnese | Closed Sun | Closed Sundays (dinner) | Piazza Farnese 50/50A, 00186 Roma | On Piazza Farnese — a Roman crowd, a view onto the square, and excellent drinks. Friendly despite the big security guy at the door; be ready to sit inside if it's crowded. | |
| L'Oratorio Trastevere | Apero | Trastevere | Sun unverified | Seasonal (summer); open daily in season | Vicolo di Santa Maria in Cappella 6, 00153 Roma | A seasonal bar (April–late Oct) outdoors in the courtyard of a church — a spritz or Negroni kind of place, not for complicated cocktails. |