Top 10 places to have an aperitif in Rome
If you fancy having an aperitif in Rome like a real Italian, don't miss these suggestions!
Aperitif in Rome | ©Helena Lopes
As the saying goes, "where you go, do as you please", and in Rome it is customary to have an aperitif before dinner. That is to say, a small snack accompanied by a few drinks that is sometimes so abundant that it can even serve as dinner.
If you want to enjoy yourself like a true Roman, there is no doubt that having an aperitivo is one of the essential things to do on your trip to Rome, but not just anywhere. In this post I show you 10 places where having an aperitif in Rome is a real pleasure.
1. An aperitif in a place that will surprise you, Freni e Frizioni
Located in the district of Trastevere, near the river Tiber, you will find Freni e Frizioni. It is a cocktail bar with a very friendly atmosphere that you have to include in your gastronomic tour of Rome. It has a terrace where you can enjoy an aperitif in Rome when the weather is nice.
Did you know that Freni e Frizioni is inside an old car workshop? Hence its name, which in Italian means brakes and clutches.
If you order a drink (I recommend the Copacabana or Bastille cocktails) you can enjoy their varied buffet where everything is vegetarian (rice, pasta, cous cous, ratatouille...) It's delicious!
- Address: Via Della Politeama, 4.
- Recommended appetizer: Pasta.
2. Inexpensive and charming, Bar San Calisto
Bar San Calisto may not be the most beautiful bar in the district of Trastevere, but I include it without a doubt in my gastronomic tour of Rome because it has a special charm. It is one of those places that have not lost their essence over time and where you can enjoy a good aperitif in Rome.
In fact, if you like beer, it's a great place to have a few beers because the prices are very cheap compared to other bars (around €2). Accompany them with some tramenzzini, stuffed sandwiches that are delicious.
You'll find Bar San Calisto very close to Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. If you can, get a seat on its terrace because there are usually street musicians in the area who will entertain you in the evening and you'll have a good time.
- Address: Via Della Politeama, 4.
- Recommended aperitif: Tramenzzini.
3. Aperitif and jazz by the Colosseum, Black Market
If after your visit to the Colosseum you've worked up an appetite and fancy an aperitif in Rome, I recommend going to the Black Market bar in the Monti neighbourhood.
I include it in my food tour of Rome because the atmosphere is great for relaxing after a day of sightseeing. It has comfortable leather sofas where you can stretch out and relax while sipping a glass of wine with fish and chips that tastes homemade.
There are also live jazz concerts in the evenings, making Black Market a great place to end a perfect day in Rome. You'll also find more places to eat near the Colosseum in this area if you're feeling peckish.
- Address: Via Dei Ciancaleoni 31, 00184, Rome.
- Recommended appetizer: Fish and chips.
4. A delicious "ratatouille di verdure" at Materia Café
Also in the Monti neighbourhood, very close to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, you will find Materia Café, a quiet and comfortable place to go for an aperitif in Rome.
It is a charming place to go with friends to recharge your batteries. Whether it's for brunch or an afternoon snack in the evening.
Materia Café is a café decorated in a simple and cosy way to make you feel at home. If you have the chance to visit it, I recommend you to order ratatouille di verdure with a glass of wine as an aperitif. Delicious!
- Address: Via Andrea Provana, 7.
- Recommended appetizer: Ratatouille di verdure.
5. An aperitif in a nocturnal atmosphere, Micca Club
Near Termini Station and close to the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the oldest churches in Rome, you will find this nightclub.
You can have an aperitif in Rome while you go out and burn the night away on the dance floors. Also, by ordering a cocktail you have the option to choose from a buffet of assorted aperitifs. It's not cheap but the whole experience is worth it. Especially for the music played by the DJ and the live jazz, soul or funky performances.
Micca Club is a great place to go with friends or as a couple to enjoy a different kind of night out in Rome.
- Address: Via Pietro Micca 7a, Rome.
- Recommended appetizer: Rice salad.
6. The best Italian charcuterie at Pane e Salame
If you're passing near the Trevi Fountain, you have to go to Pane e Salame for an aperitif in Rome. It's not a very big place and neither is its menu, but it is the right place to enjoy good Italian sausages at a reasonable price.
If you want to escape the routine of pasta and pizza in Rome, it's time to try the rich cheeses, mortadellas or hams of Italian gastronomy at Pane e Salame.
Whether in the form of panninis or tagliere, wooden boards on which the cold meats and cheeses are served with a little jam. But why choose? I recommend you try a bit of everything!
- Address: Via Santa Maria in Via, 19, 00187 Roma.
- Recommended appetizer: The panninis.
7. The aperitif with the most choice, Momart Café
Momart Café is a place where you can have a delicious aperitif in Rome. It is a place with a youthful and fun atmosphere where you can relax in the evening before dinner and enjoy some of the best cocktails in the Italian capital with your friends or your partner.
At Momart Café you can enjoy an aperitif with an open buffet. The menu is so diverse that you can choose from pizzas, chicken, quiches, pasta, salads and much more. Plus, you'll eat your fill, so you probably won't want to eat anything else afterwards.
Or will you? There's always room in your stomach for dessert! You're sure to want to go for a gelato at one of Rome's best gelato parlours.
- Address: Viale XXI Aprile, 19, 00162, Rome.
- Recommended appetizer: Wood-fired pizza.
8. Cocktails and jazz at Salotto 42
Also in the centre, next to Hadrian's Temple and a few minutes from the Pantheon of Agrippa, is Salotto 42, a very atmospheric cocktail bar that you have to include in your food tour of Rome. It is ideal for an aperitif in Rome and the last one before going to sleep listening to jazz music.
Among the dishes you can choose from at Salotto 42 there is a wide variety, such as quinoa salad, cous cous, hummus, rice noodles, sushi and a long etcetera. Accompany it with a delicious cocktail or a glass of wine and toast your next trip to Rome with that special someone.
- Address: Piazza di Pietra 42.
- Recommended appetizer: Sushi.
9. Aperitif at a tavern, Oasi della Birra
Before discovering the Trastevere neighbourhood by night, a great way to end a fun day of sightseeing is to head to Oasi della Birra (in the lively Testaccio neighbourhood) for an aperitivo in Rome.
This beautiful tavern with a terrace that you can include in your gastronomic tour of Rome and where you can relax on sunny days while having a few beers or wines accompanied by a delicious appetizer based on cous cous, pasta, rice, vegetables and, best of all, delicious cheeses, cold meats and Italian desserts.
As its name suggests, it is a "beer oasis" that will seem like paradise to lovers of good food and drink. For very little money, at Oasi della Birra you'll be able to get your money's worth and you won't need to book a table for dinner later on. In any case, in the post where to eat in Trastevere I leave you some ideas in case you are one of those who can't forgive going to bed without having had dinner and dinner.
- Address: Piazza Testaccio, 39, 00153, Rome.
- Recommended appetizer: Cold meats and cheeses.
10. Aperitif in a local atmosphere, Doppiozeroo
Doppiozeroo is a great place to go for an aperitivo in Rome after visiting the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major Basilicas in the city and only a 15 minute walk from the bar.
The atmosphere at Doppiozeroo is lively. Many Italians include this place on their food tour of Rome and stop by after work for an aperitivo, so it's a great place to mingle with the locals. I advise you to go early to get a seat or at least try to book a table as it tends to fill up.
As for what to order as an aperitif at the bar, try the Spritz for a drink and the pizza as a side dish, although you can choose any dish from the buffet (pasta, salads, vegetables, rice, etc.), as the dishes are quite tasty and the menu is constantly renewed.
- Address: Via Ostiense, 68, 00154, Rome.
- Recommended appetizer: Pizza.
What is the Italian aperitif?
The Italian aperitivo consists of going to a bar or tavern to have a good drink and some snacks as an accompaniment while you spend a good time with friends chatting and enjoying life.
It is a deep-rooted Italian custom that emerged in the 18th century in the Turin area thanks to Antonio Benedetto Carpano (the creator of vermouth) and was so popular that it quickly spread from the north to the rest of the country.
What time is the Italian aperitif served?
The Italian aperitivo usually takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., although in some restaurants it extends beyond that and becomes an open buffet with a fixed price.
The Italian aperitivo is an excellent option for a snack-dinner without spending a lot of money, an ideal gastronomic proposal for low cost travellers!
How much does the Italian aperitivo cost?
Trying the aperitivo is one of the essential things to do on your trip to Rome. It usually costs around €10, although the price varies depending on the city and the bar you're visiting. The choice of places to have an aperitivo is as varied as the choice of restaurants to eat in Rome.
What do you have for an Italian aperitivo?
To drink, you usually have beer or wine, but also classic cocktails such as Spritz, Campari or Negroni.
In fact, in recent times the drinks menu has expanded a lot and within the Italian aperitif you can also find other more popular proposals such as the Mojito, the Bloody Mary, the Gintonic, the Caipirinha, the Manhattan or the Margarita, among many others.
As for the food, there is plenty of variety to choose from - you won't go hungry! Cheese, cured meats, nuts, olives or fries are the most typical dishes presented on a board called "tagliere", although most restaurants usually offer more elaborate options ranging from pizza, quiches or sushi, to cous cous, pasta or rice dishes, and even desserts!