LUDO Dine & Vibe 
3 Gluten-Free Pastry Shops in Milan 
Among the most sought-after spots for socialising, trying new experiences, and perhaps even sparking a special encounter, cocktail bars are unquestionably at the top of the list. Perfect for a relaxing aperitivo after a day’s work or a lively gathering with friends, they’re ideal for late nights out over the weekend, putting bartenders’ skills to the test. In Italy, the culture of fine drinking has firmly established itself, and Rome, catering to both its international crowd and true Romans, is certainly no exception.
Some people prefer exclusive venues, where they can enjoy refined and elegant service, while others love the thrill of seeking out hidden spots where they feel like true connoisseurs and can try the most original mixes. Whatever your taste, Rome offers an impressive array of options. Many experts in the field have chosen this city to open their establishments, contributing significantly to sharing and educating the public about their passion for mixology.
From the Colosseum to Trastevere, from Via del Babuino to St. Peter’s Basilica, prepare for a journey through time, discovering bars that overlook piazzas steeped in ancient glory and the hidden speakeasies inspired by Prohibition. The tour promises to be exciting. Not sure where to start? No worries, you’re in the right place: here’s our pick of Rome’s best cocktail bars.
FRENI E FRIZIONI
Via del Politeama, 4
In the heart of Trastevere, Freni e Frizioni boasts a vibrant sign marking this Roman street cocktail bar that prides itself on signature mixology with a unique twist inspired by the world of two- and four-wheeled vehicles. This location feels like a genuine workshop, with a large central bar acting as the stage for crafting innovative cocktails inspired by themes like video games, continually evolving to surprise patrons. Here, the spark between mixology and motors was truly ignited.
THE COURT
Via Labicana, 125
Nestled between the Trevi Fountain and via del Corso, Baccano is a bistro and cocktail bar with the charm of an early century Paris that combines the contemporaneity of details from New York style to a refined retro touch. Included in the top spots of the world’s 50 Best Bars, Baccano offers a cosmopolitan mix, open to experimentation, along an intoxicating drink list “around the glass”, towards an engaging journey into mixology art excellence.
DRINK KONG
Piazza di S. Martino ai Monti, 8
Photo credit @Alberto Blasetti Ph.
Behind the Drink Kong sign stands a big name in Italian mixology and beyond: Patrick Pistolesi. After many years of experience, he decided to open his own cocktail bar in Rome, soon earning a spot in the prestigious “The World’s 50 Best Bars” list. Drink Kong’s atmosphere is international, with dim lighting punctuated by neon signs, and interiors inspired by the film Blade Runner. In addition to cinema, Patrick is passionate about Japanese culture. For a unique experience, patrons can book the hidden Japanese-style bar, offering an exclusive treat for those who appreciate refined beverage artistry.
JERRY THOMAS SPEAKEASY
Vicolo Cellini, 30
Founded in 2010 by a group of bartenders passionate about mixology techniques and spirits, the Jerry Thomas Project is Italy’s and Rome’s first speakeasy. It quickly became a success, ranking in the “World’s 50 Best Bars” seven times and becoming a must-visit spot for industry experts. The founders’ mission is to deliver the great classics of mixology while also exploring new trends. The venue, with its comfortable armchairs, soft lighting, and soothing background music, provides an ideal space to unwind and enjoy a carefree evening.
BACCANO
Via delle Muratte, 23
Located between the Trevi Fountain and Via del Corso, Baccano is a bistro and cocktail bar with the charm of early 20th-century Paris, blending contemporary New York style with a sophisticated retro touch. Listed among the top positions in “The World’s 50 Best Bars,” Baccano offers a cosmopolitan and experimental drinks menu that promises an enthralling journey through the art of mixology at its finest.
THE RACE CLUB
Via Labicana, 52
To open their speakeasy, the brothers Diego and Dario Ferracani have chosen a location in the area of the Colosseum with a fascinating history: the premises of via Labicana, in fact, were a carboneria, a recording studio and Finally, a gambling house dedicated to gambling before becoming a cocktail bar that combines food and engines. Inside, soft lights and vintage furniture alternate with a real workshop with lots of exposed bikes. The result is a perfect setting, where you can enjoy drinks that offer interesting combinations made with great care of raw materials. If you are curious to take a ride on the track do not forget the essential rule: in the club you can only enter with the appropriate license.
CO.SO COCKTAIL & SOCIAL
Via Braccio da Montone, 80
Giulia Castellucci, bartender face of the TV program of the Gambero Rosso “Spirits – I Maestri del Cocktail” together with Benedettino Guarino and Chef Riccardo Bucci is at the helm of Co.So, a local in the heart of Pigneto that offers a formula of drinks and food very appreciated. The legacy is that of an illustrious colleague, the mixology expert Massimo d’Addezio, the new management lives up to expectations. The restaurant is small and welcoming, inside you can breathe an informal atmosphere. The bottles on the walls, alternating with works by street artist KOI, draw attention to the cocktails, made by Giulia with great technical skill. And thanks to Riccardo’s talent for cooking, every drink is accompanied by dishes that can enhance the quality.
SALOTTO 42
Piazza di Pietra, 42
A lounge overlooking the extraordinary temple of Hadrian is an exceptional location, made even more special by the mixture between ancient and contemporary world present inside. Salotto 42 is a reference point for the most chic Roman nightlife: open from breakfast to after dinner, it welcomes an often international clientele, including VIPs and famous people. During the day you can admire the wonderful climbing plants that frame the entrance, in the evening the fun is guaranteed. If you want to enjoy the location of this place, the advice is to choose it for the aperitif, when with the first lights of sunset Rome shows all its timeless charm.
CLUB DERRIÈRE
Vicolo delle Coppelle, 59
The Vicolo delle Coppelle is known for the homonymous tavern located a stone’s throw from the Pantheon. Not everyone knows, however, that inside there is a closet whose doors open a hidden world. It is there that the Club Derrière appears, a lounge dedicated to distillates and mixing which here is a real art. Everything comes from the bar, enclosed in a large window, from which cocktails come out of reasoned and never banal combinations with the aim of exalting all the ingredients. The hall, with its soft lights, large dark leather sofas and wooden tables is enriched by elements of medieval inspiration such as an armor. But the surprises are not over: at Club Derrière even the bookstores hide secrets…
IL SANTO TRASTEVERE
Via della Paglia, 40
The Santo is located in the heart of Trastevere, halfway between the very popular Piazza Sant’Egidio and the quieter Piazza San Cosimato. The location, which was built in a former workshop, has an international look and owes its industrial and elegant style to the skill of the architect who designed it. Born as a cocktail bar, the Santo has decided over the years to also focus on a refined and quality food proposal that distinguishes it from typical osterie trasteverine and creates a perfect blend with drinks. Let me advise you from Ilaria Sbal, the bartender who besides making blends to the rule of art will offer you the best combinations with the menu courses. The picture is completed by the attention dedicated to art, which is manifested in a careful selection of music and the space reserved for live music, vernissage, exhibitions and installations.
STRAVINSKIJ BAR
Via del Babuino, 9
Located in the private square at the foot of the Secret Garden of the Hotel de Russie, the Stravinskij Bar enjoys an enviable location perfect for any time of day. It reaches the peak of poetry at sunset, when the light begins to turn golden and there is nothing more relaxing than sipping a cocktail in good company forgetting the clock. The drink list offers traditional classics and other proposals of the bartenders, all made with spirits of the highest choice, to which you can combine the dishes of the kitchen. Perfect for spending an evening in a special setting, where you can receive the typical attention of an exclusive structure able to satisfy even the most demanding customers.
CHORUS CAFÈ
Via della Conciliazione, 4
After leaving his former club (the Co.So) in good hands, Massimo d’Addezio has launched a new challenge called Chorus Cafè, An elegant cocktail bar located in the mezzanine of the Conciliazione Auditorium that owes its name to the space where previously held the choir rehearsals. Given the importance of the building in which it is located, the location is sumptuous and embellished with marble and high windows overlooking the central Via della Conciliazione that leads straight to Piazza San Pietro. In addition to enjoying special cocktails, fruit of the experience and creative creativity of Massimo, at Chorus Cafè you can also enjoy the cuisine’s proposals by booking a table in the large and scenic lounge. A refined place that focuses on quality without formal excesses.
ARGOT
Via dei Cappellari, 93
As a testimony that the culture of good drinking is a true one, the founders of this place decided to refer to the French term slang which indicates a jargon spoken in the courts of miracles of France in 1600. It is precisely these night spots that argot is inspired, certainly not for the type of clientele (then it was mostly beggars looking for refreshment), but for the sense of welcome they knew to transmit to those who frequented them. A secret bar hidden under the ground furnished with special objects of recovery or designed ad hoc, as in the case of the bar counter, where you can also listen to live music and go back in time to the pre-prohibition. The cocktails are inspired by the medical use that was made of alcohol until the ‘700, that’s why at Argot you will find a recipe that can make you forget – at least for a few hours – all bad things.
