6 Best Bars in Italy

This upscale watering hole feels miles away from the packed alleyways of the rest of Trastevere. Not much larger than the vintage railroad car the bar is designed to resemble, the interior is swathed in blue velve, and the staff are dressed as porters from another age. The classic cocktail bar comes from the master mixologists behind Rome's most popular speakeasy and has a studied menu of mixed drinks, hard-to-find spirits, and a great selection of Champagne. Reservations are essential and can be made online.

With just eight seats, this is Rome’s smallest and quirkiest cocktail bar. Dedicated to a serious historical study of spirits and creative cocktails, Lonely Avenue (named for the Ray Charles song) has a catalog of over 400 drinks. While patrons are free to dictate a specific order, the bar operates more on conversation: the two expert mixologists kick off an easy dialogue (in Italian or English) on flavors and emotions in order to suggest and concoct the perfect personalized drink.

With plenty of tables outside on Via Garibaldi, this is a popular Castello hangout for drinking and chatting from aperitivo time to late in the evening. It's also got a cracking selection of cichetti—mainly crusty bread topped with meats, fish, and cheese—to help soak up their excellent selection of Veneto vino.

A long menu of imported brews makes this a true beer oasis, although there are also good wines available by the bottle or the glass. Locals love the generous happy-hour buffet that runs from about 6 pm to 8 pm every day, but come early to snag one of the outdoor picnic tables that overlook the piazza. Best known as a low-key drinking spot, the bar also doubles as a specialty food store that stocks Italian jams, chocolates, and pastas.

Hidden away from the crowded streets, this friendly bar serves inventive cocktails, Campari classics, and an eclectic list of spirits in stylish, neon-lit, contemporary surroundings. A menu of cocktail snacks, small tapas, and shellfish dishes is top-notch, and the lane outside is an atmospheric venue for funky live music acts. 

Most aperitivos tend to be more all-you-can-eat than refined predinner stop, but that is not the case at Taverna Volpetti. The chic, bistro-style wine bar and restaurant sources all its ingredients from the gourmet food store by the same name that sits just around the corner. The warm atmosphere, stellar wine list, and excellent cheese and salami make it the ideal place for a drink and a snack—or to stay put with a bottle and sip the night away.