Aperitivo in Rome: 14 bars for more than just a spritz and fingerfood. Filippo Bologna once wrote in his article, "Unhappy Hour", in Il Sole 24 Ore: "Once the prerogative of aristocratic gentlemen who played bridge and smoked with cigarette holders, or eccentric foreign travelers who leisurely passed by life in the world's best hotels, and professional alcoholics killing time (and their livers) at bar tables, today the aperitivo has become a social obligation, a fashion and an obsession. Italy is now in fact a Republic founded on the aperitivo. High schoolers that get together or who leave after one too many Spritz, the manager who is very — perhaps too– certain in himself that he makes corporate mergers while sipping a Long Island, the housewives who exchange embarrassing secrets clearing their throats with the sips through a straw of the sugary depths of a Mojito, hooligans who find themselves with their flute of prosecco in hand before placing it down to beat up an old man who politely asked if they could move their parallel-parked car".
Here, taking all this into account, the aperitivo remains a good moment. And so we have thought to make a list of our favorite spots with some that are well-known and most that are unknown. It goes without saying that you can add your own favorite.
TRENDY – SAN LORENZO
Pastificio
This former pasta-shop, transformed into a trendy and modern spot, offers the best aperitivo in the San Lorenzo neighborhood: creative and elaborate recepies; a variety of fingerfoods, such as mini-tapas, Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper) chips, carmalized pear and gorgonzola; and a plesant atmosphere. The aperitivo starts from 7pm and continues directly until dinnertime. A great spot, but a little pricy.
Price: 10 euro
Pastificio Cerere, Via Tiburtina 196, Roma. Tel 06/97273519
ART NOUVEAU – PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
Hotel Locarno
An Art Nouveau hotel, with charming rooms and a slightly run-down feel. Its small courtyard is at its best in the springtime. Cocktails of high quality and accompanying good finger foods.
Hotel Locarno, via della Penna 22, Roma. Tel. 06/3610841
VERSATILE – PIAZZA BOLOGNA
Abitudini e Follie
Qualified barmen prepare good cocktails or a glass of wine served with a plate of snacks included in the price of the drink: minihamburgers, savory tarts, hot pizza, and a few other items prepared daily. And if you can't bear to leave, stay until dinner and order the Cacio and Pepe with vanilla, or the Gricia (a Roman specialty with pecorino and guanciale) with pears. Specialty: The Pinsa Romana, a dough that requires 48 hours of preperation. The use of highly selected flours, soy and rice, mixed with a small amount of extra-vergin olive oil, results in a dough without animal fats and thanks to the high water content the total calories are notably less than the classic preparations using common ingredients.
Price: 7 euro
Abitudini e Follie, via Pavia 28, Roma Tel 06.4441459
GELATERIA – CIPRO
Il Gelato Bistrò
From the brilliant mind of Andrea Puddinu, a pupil of Claudio Torcè, came the idea to marry savory tastes with the creaminess of gelato, and thus was born Gelato Bistrò, a place that proposes to us daily a curious aperitivo. The "aperi-gelato" consists of a mix of three flavors of gelato and three appetizers depending on the availability of the day, accompanied by a flute of Prosecco or a glass of white wine.
Price: 7 euro
Il Gelato Bistrò, Circonvallazione Trionfale 11/13, Roma. Tel 06/39725949
FISH STAND – TUSCOLANO
Pescheria Consoli
From tuesday to saturday, from 6:30pm – 9pm, this fish stand in the Tuscolano neighborhood, offers a delicious aperitivo of fried calamari and shrimp; roasted sardines; sea bream, sea bass and tuna carpaccio; and prawns with fruit. The fish is fresh and comes directly from Terracina, Anzio and Gaeta. A good wine selection to accompany the raw fishes.
Price: 6 euro (three oysters and a glass of Prosecco)
Pescheria Consoli, viale dei Consoli 21-23, Roma. Tel. 06/45423991
HOMEY – MONTESACRO
Comò Bistrot
Biological buffet, natural wines, artiginal beers: this defines the bistro in the Montesacro neighborhood. Small portions of spaghetti with tomato sauce, cups of pasta, little tomato sandwiches, savory muffins, quiche lorraine, savory apple tart, vegetable lasagnas, and more are all included with your drink. During the week stay to listen to good live music.
Price: 7 euro (artiginal beer for 5 euro, Menabrea on tap for 3.5 euro)
Comò Bistrot, viale Gottardo 95, Roma
BIO – TESTACCIO
Stazione di posta
In the space of a former Testaccio slaughterhouse has opened a novel restaurant of the New Agriculture Cooperative, thanks to Pino Cau (associate of Alessandro Pipero). A great place to grab a bite from the exceptional chef Marco Martini who has freshly won Best Emerging Italian Chef in Italy for 2013, and even more recently has added a Michelin star to his accolades for Stazione di Poste. Rest comfortably on the sofas, choose one of the aperitivo cocktails from the menu or a glass of wine. On a wooden board you are served particular appetizers that come with a drink order.
Prices: 5 wines, 9 cocktails
Stazione di Posta, Largo Dino Frisullo, Roma. Tel 06/5743548
ENOTECA – PIAZZA PASQUINO
Cul de Sac
Though it looks very touristic, this lovely wine bar indulges you with its well-stocked cellar and menu, offering a wine variety of meats and cheeses, and homemade pates including venison, pheasant with truffles, sweet and sour wild boar, just to name a few. Sometimes you have to wait a bit to get a table, but it is certainly worth it.
Prezzi: Depends on what you order
Cul de Sac, piazza Pasquino 73, Roma. Tel 06/68801094
GLUTTONY – PONTE MILVIO
Charlie, Vini e Cucina
Charlie is an institution in the Ponte Milvio neighborhood: in the comfortable outdoor space it is possible to order a nice wine and a platter of cured meats, especially Iberian hams and cheeses. A notable mention also goes out to the burrata with tartufo. Be careful of your gluttony, what starts as a snack can easily turn into an abundant dinner.
Price: about 15 euro (drink and platter of cured meats and cheeses)
Charlie, via Flaminia 450, Roma. Tel. 06/64010535 Cell. 334/8181620
BAKERY – ESQUILINO
Panella, l'arte del pane
Known as the "jeweler of bread" for the prices not exactly modest, this bakery guarantees a great aperitivo. Crostini, bruschetta, breads of all kinds, and pizza are served with your drink. A 'must' are the arancini with bolognese sauce. Don't forget to try the deserts. Service ranges from the absent-minded to the extravagant.
Prices: 12/15 euro depending on the drink (includes unlimited access to buffet)
Panella, via Merulana 54, Roma. Tel 06/4872435
KOSHER – GHETTO
Kosher Bistrot Caffè
Kosher cuisine is almost always known just by name, and is often seen with skepticism. So why not take advantage of a trip to the ghetto to enjoy a different aperitivo for a change? The specialities range from dried beef to beef salame, and beef carpaccio with a decent selection of kosher wines. Relaxed and joyful atmoshpere. Closed Friday for dinner and all-day Saturday in accordance with the rules of the Sabbath.
Price: about 18/20 euro
Kosher Bistrot Caffè, via Santa Maria del Pianto 68, Roma. Tel 06/6864398
NEW AGE – NOMENTANO
Momart
The bar is divided into three levels: two for aperitivo and one for the restaurant. It also has an outdoor patio, which is very pleasant in the summer. Young and hip, with a crowded mostly student clientele, Momart prepares both high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails and offers a varied buffet to suit everyone's taste. Speciality: Pizza cooked in a wood-oven throughout the duration of the aperitivo.
Price: 10 euro (6 after the first drink)
Momart, via XXI Aprile 19, Roma. Tel 06/86391656
TRENDY – EUR
Tiki Bar
Right in front of the lake of the Eur neighborhood, this lounge bar offers great cocktails, especially the Tiki Style drinks, prepared with fresh fruit that can be paired with the infinite snacks available in the buffet. A nice wine list as well.
Price: 8 euro
Tiki Bar, Viale America 117 – 123, Roma. Tel. 06/54220086
CHEAP – PIGNETO
Magnebevo e sto al Pigneto
Located on a side street off the pedestrian area of Pigneto, this spot has a great selection of artiginal beers (also on tap), as well as wines and cocktails, that come with paper cones filled with fried snacks and cuts of salamis. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and the staff are quite kind. Arrive early because the bar is small.
Price: 5 euro
Magnebevo e sto al Pigneto, via Macerata 3-5, Roma, Tel. 327/5576311
Translated by Marybeth Tamborra
