Top 10 Cocktail Bars In Rome, Italy

1. Apotheke Cocktail Bar

It’s chic, it’s stylish and it’s an experience you won’t forget. Apotheke Cocktail Bar brings luxury to the cocktails in Rome. They focus on the quality of the ingredients to bring you something delicious. The bar is a creation of Alessio Piram, the same man who founded the historic Welcome Piram Hotel - he has not only managed many hotels but also bars around the world. This bar brings the aesthetic of old-style pharmacies to the fun world of mixology.

Apotheke Cocktail Bar

Address: Welcome Piram Hotel, Via D'Azeglio, 5, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Apotheke Cocktail Bar

Opening hours: 10:30am - 2am (daily)

2. The Barber Shop

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Often overlooked by tourists, the Monti neighborhood of Rome is home to the Barber Shop. This speakeasy-style bar requires you to reserve a spot in advance. The place was actually once a barbershop - based on some of the original decors of the space - but it has since been transformed. Gaudy chandeliers and intimate wax candles highlight the unique and fun decor of this establishment. Enjoy unique cocktails and settle into this cozy bar in Rome.

The Barber Shop

Address: Via Iside, 2, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Website: The Barber Shop

Opening hours: Sun - Mon, Wed - Thu: 10pm - 4am; Fri - Sat: 11am - 5am (closed on Tue)

3. Black Market Monti

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Black Market Monti might make you feel like you’re hanging out in your friend’s basement at their parent’s house rather than at a cocktail bar in Rome, but that is not a bad thing. The intimate feel of this establishment is what makes it cool, and cool is certainly in their wheelhouse. Check out all the art that adorns the walls and the weird furniture that makes up the seating arrangments of the bar. They often host events like indie rock shows, art exhibitions, and live DJ sets. Special cocktails include Blackmarket (with Grey Goose vodka) and Saketini (Tanqueray gin and sake).

Black Market Monti

Address: Via Panisperna, 101, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Black Market Monti

Opening hours: 6pm - 2:30am (daily)

4. Express Cocktail Bar

Located by the river, Express Cocktail Bar is a cool and hip place serving up some delicious cocktails in a funky atmosphere. Check out the vines that adorn the walls and the neon signs above the bar. Sip on some tasty and unique drinks and enjoy the appetizers that pair well with them. The style of the bar will make you feel like you’re in a railroad car complete with vintage luggage cases.

Express Cocktail Bar

Address: Via del Moro, 11, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Express Cocktail Bar

Opening hours: 7pm - 2am (daily)

5. Salotto42

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Salotto42 is the coolest and smallest bar in the middle of the city that seems to narrowly escape the crowds of tourists. The bar is located right across from Hadrian’s Temple and has a low-key, hip atmosphere that brings in people of all ages to indulge in fresh, handcrafted cocktails. Vintage magazines and record albums sit on racks by the tables, giving the bar a vibe like you just stepped into a really cool person’s living room.

Salotto42

Address: Piazza di Pietra, 42, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Salotto42

Opening hours: 10:30am - 2am (daily)

6. The Race Club

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Thousands of people, both locals and tourists alike walk past the Colosseum every day to take in this historic part of the city, but what they don’t know is that there is a secret bar sitting on a street corner right in front of it. The Race Club has a history going back to the 1870s, with secret societies gathering in this very spot. After the war, the building sat abandoned until it was transformed into a recording studio in the 1950s, where many prominent Roman singers recorded their work. By the 1970s, it was a gentleman’s club where men would come to drink and gamble. Now they serve some of the best cocktails in Rome, but there are still rules you must abide by. Reservations must be made in advance or you won’t get in. Dress too casually, and you won’t get it. Lastly, only cash is accepted here.

The Race Club

Address: Via Labicana, 52, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Website: The Race Club

Opening hours: 10pm - 3am (daily)

7. Peaky Blinders Cocktail Bar

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Inspired by the BBC drama of the same name, Peaky Blinders Cocktail Bar takes classic Victorian to the world of mixology. You will feel like you’ve taken a step back in time while enjoying cocktails served in a bar that’s filled with vintage decor inspired by the 20s. Dress up and head out in style to enjoy some fine drinks like the English Rose or a classic dirty martini.

Peaky Blinders Cocktail Bar

Address: Via dei Cartari, 7, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Peaky Blinders Cocktail Bar

Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 6:30pm - 1am; Fri - Sat: 6:30pm - 2am (closed from Sun - Tue)

8. Almalu Trastevere

Almalu Trastevere is a small and casual place that’s fun and cool for everyone. Many specialty cocktail bars can get pretty expensive, but the only thing you have to worry about here is which cocktail you want next. Specials and student discounts keep the crowd young, and the owner’s encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails will have you coming back for more. Don’t know what you want? No problem - just tell them what you’re in the mood for and they can whip up something special just for you.

Almalu Trastevere

Address: Via della Scala, 77, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Almalu Trastevere

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 6pm - 2am; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 2am (closed on Sun)

9. Cocktails & Social CO.SO.

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Cocktails & Social CO.SO. is fun and casual, and it is owned by someone who once worked in the most luxurious cocktail bar in Rome. If you’re looking for a good drink and you don’t mind skipping the luxury, this is a great choice. Set in the Pigneto neighborhood, you’ll have tons of nightlife options. What makes this place so good? Well, their cocktail menu stands out above the rest, being among the weirdest and most creative, with drinks like the Carbonara Sour, which is pork jowl infused with vodka, egg white, black pepper, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Cocktails & Social CO.SO.

Address: Via Braccio da Montone, 80, 00176 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Cocktails & Social CO.SO.

Opening hours: Tue: 6pm - 2am; Wed - Sat: 6:30pm - 2am; Sun: 6:30pm - 12am (closed on Mon)

10. Blackmarket Hall

Blackmarket Hall is the sister bar to Black Market Monti and is a little more upscale and adult than its counterpart. This bar is a equal parts a live music venue, a 1920s speakeasy, and a foodie’s haven. You can indulge in some delicious cocktails while you listen to music and eat some tasty appetizers. Just a short walk away from the Colosseum, Blackmarket Hall has little rooms where you can cozy up with a date. They even have a quaint, outdoor terrace.

Blackmarket Hall

Address: Via de’ Ciancaleoni, 31, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Website: Blackmarket Hall

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 2am; Sun: 5pm - 1am

Secret spots in Rome

Plenty of the bars in Rome cater to tourists looking to party, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes you just want something a little more low-key and little more out of the way. There are plenty of interesting cocktail bars in the city, each offering something unique and distinct, so why not hop around and try out a few of them?