Stravinskij Bar
Can’t afford to stay at the celeb-magnet Hotel de Russie? Then splash out on a drink at its swish bar. There are sofas inside, but best is a drink in the sunny courtyard, with sun-shaded tables overlooked by terraced gardens. Impossibly romantic in the best dolce vita style, it’s perfect for a pricey cocktail or beer accompanied by approriately posh bar snacks.
Cul de Sac
A perennially popular wine bar just off Piazza Navona, with an always-busy terrace and narrow, bottle-lined interior. Choose your tipple first – the list of Italian regional wines is encyclopaedic – and then pick from the ample menu of no-nonsense Roman staples, Gallic-inspired cold cuts, pâtés and cheeses. Book ahead for an evening sitting.
Etabli
Housed in a 16th-century palazzo, Etablì is a rustic-chic lounge-bar-restaurant where you can drop by for a morning coffee, have a light lunch or chat over an aperitivo. It’s laid-back and good-looking, with original French-inspired country decor – leather armchairs, rough wooden tables and a crackling fireplace. It also serves full restaurant dinners (€45) and hosts occasional live music.
Hotel Locarno Bar
The Hotel Locarno Bar has for decades been a favourite with Rome’s artistic community, so much so that Fellini, a regular patron and neighbour, based a film on it.
Hotel Locarno’s bar offers an impressive selection of signature cocktails prepared by Nicholas Pinna and his team of aclaimed mixologists. For something deliciously different try the ‘Earl Drunk’ or the ‘Roma Bracciano’. Have your drinks in the gorgeous classic Art Deco inspired bar or on the rooftop terrace to enjoy panoramic views over the rooftops of Rome.
