Aperitivo on the terrace in Rome, summer 2017. What could be better than being surrounded by tropical trees and flowers, sipping on a refreshing cocktail and getting lost in thought? Summer has arrived and so it’s time to hit up Rome’s terraces and rooftops, to enjoy many different types of aperitivo. Read on for the best places for aperitivo on the terrace in Rome, summer 2017.
GIANICOLO (NORTH OF TRASTEVERE)
Terrazza San Pancrazio – Yugo
Just North of Trastevere, Terrazza San Pancrazio is a lively spot to spend your summer evenings, enjoying the aperitivo on the Yugo menu (the fusion bar based in Monti’s second spot). You can tuck in to an array of sushi and raw food from a menu that has been curated by the award-winning Anthony Genovese. Fish carpaccio, tartare and ceviche are all perfectly paired with the delicious cocktails.
Terrazza San Pancrazio, via di Porta San Pancrazio 32, Rome Facebook
PIETRALATA (NORTH-EAST)
Feria sul tetto – Lanificio
The summer season on Lanificio’s rooftop has begun! Feria – On Y Va is a night that runs every evening from 6.30pm to 2am, serving delicious cocktails, accompanied by music and many delicious small plates. At the tables surrounded by tropical plants you can nibble on some olives and lupini beans (3 euros), baguette with butter and anchovies (4), fried vegetables (4.50) or squid, potato and mint patties (6), rotisserie chicken marinated with Provencal herbs (8 euros), cuts of cheese and cured meat (from 6 to 9 euros). Baguette with many different fillings, from grilled courgettes, to brie or a sun-dried tomato pesto (6 euros) or even prawn cocktail with lettuce (6.50). Don’t miss the burgers or the desserts either. As for the cocktails, for 10 euros you can enjoy a Negroni (campari, red vermouth, champagne), Vermenthe Aperitif (champagne, vermouth, mint), Kir Royal (champagne, crème de cassis), or you can try one of the iced drinks, beers or wine.
Feria sul Tetto del Lanificio, via di Pietralata, 159/A – 3rd floor. Tel. 06.41780081 Facebook
PONTE MILVIO (NORTH, ON THE RIVER)
Terrazzo Officine Farneto
Head to Terrazzo delle Officine Farneto, the new bistrot in via Monti della Farnesina to sit under the stars and catch up with friends, listen to music, and enjoy the excellent buffet. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 7.30pm onwards.
Terrazzo Farneto, via dei Monti della Farnesina 77, Rome. Tel. 334 977 9419 Facebook
IN THE CENTRE (NEAR PIAZZA DI SPAGNA)
Zuma, Palazzo Fendi
At Zuma you’ll find a breathtaking terrace overlooking central Rome. It’s certainly the trendiest Japanese restaurant in the city, where you can have a pre-dinner drink or continue to try their international cocktails and Asian spirits into the night (they open from 6pm until 1am, or until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays). The bar is on the fifth floor and on the terrace you can choose from a vast selection of Japanese sake, wines and whiskey, or from many original cocktails: ama mizu (watermelon, aperol, lemon and prosecco), shiso and juniper (shiso, juniper berries, elderflower and prosecco), black fig Manhattan (nikka black, fig liqueur, chinato vermouth and chocolate bitters), raspberry and passion fruit Martini (bison grass vodka, raspberries, passion fruit and apple).
Zuma Roma Fendi, via della Fontanella di Borghese, 48 Rome. Tel. 06.69 9266 622 Facebook
AVENTINO (NEAR THE COLOSSEUM)
The Corner Marco Martini
The Corner is an award winning restaurant and cocktail bar near the Aventine Hill. The head chef and two bartenders have created MMLAB that pairs dishes with each cocktail. The cocktail menu is also accompanied by a guide that tells you taste and alcohol content of each mix. There’s a large and carefully selected list of spirits, wines and even ‘Habitus’, a limited edition selection of drinks made with high quality spirits by small and independent distillers. If you can’t make up your mind and choose one you can also take part in the ‘cocktail fight’, a tasting menu of different cocktails. Prices range from 12 euros per drink, or the tasting menu can be up to 35 euros.
The Corner Marco Martini, viale Aventino 121, Rome. Tel. 06 4554 8810 Facebook
PRATI (NEAR SAN PIETRO)
Terrazza Les Etoiles, hotel Atlante
The summer season is well under way at Hotel Atlante’s roof garden in Prati. On the rooftop facing the San Pietro dome you can enjoy the view from breakfast time until late into the night. For the summer months Les Etoiles is ready with many different cocktails (all 12 euros), such as the Champagne cocktail (champagne, cognac, sugar and bitters), Dry Martini (gin and dry Vermouth), Negroni, Manhattan, Margarita or Daiquiri (Havana 3 rum, lime and sugar). Don’t miss the non-alcoholic cocktails (10 euros each), digestifs, liqueurs and different types of grappa (8 euros), fizzy wines (6-12 euros), and other spirits (7-13 euros). Wine (white, red or rosé) is served by the glass or by the bottle. From this terrace you can see a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Eternal City.
Terrazza Les Etoiles @ Hotel Atlante, via dei Bastioni, 1 Rome. Tel. 0668638149. Open every day from 8am until 1am.
REPUBBLICA (NEAR TERMINI CENTRAL STATION)
Terrazza Posh – Hotel Boscolo
With both a beautiful view over piazza della Repubblica and a swimming pool, Terrazza Posh at Exedra Boscolo Hotel is the place for a glamorous aperitivo. You will find a few different menu options, such as ‘Dolce vita’ which includes prawns with kanafeh, fried pizza with seaweed, vegetable tempura, baked aubergine with parmesan, Parma ham with potato and tomato focaccia, buffalo mozzarella, and mussels with oregano (for 25 euros). There’s also ‘Le Notti di Cabiria: prawns with kanefeh, salmon tartare with avocado, tuna tartare with quails eggs, Gillardeau oysters with passion fruit, prawns with exotic fruits, salmon from Loch Fyne smoked with cherry wood, rings of calamari, mussels with oregano, hot or cold tuna, fried pizza with seaweed (45 euros).
Terrazza Posh @ Exedra Boscolo Hotel, piazza della Repubblica 47, Rome. Tel. 06 489381 Facebook
PIGNETO (EAST ROME)
Spirito’s Terrace
Every night from 6.30pm Spirito opens for ‘Speaki Tiki’, an evening where you can taste the new cocktail menu inspired by the tiki style while also combining mediterranean mixes and the great Italian aperitivo cocktail traditions. Snacks and aperitivo is prepared by Premiata Panineria al Pigneto. The whole terrace is brightly coloured with a fun atmosphere and tropical music.
Spirito, via Fanfulla Da Lodi 53, Rome. Tel. 327 298 3900
IN THE CENTRE (NEAR CAMPO DE’ FIORI)
Achilli al Dom
Achilli al Parlamento, Michelin starred restaurants and historical Roman wine bar, has transferred its kitchen to the DOM Hotel in Rome. Every drink here is made from scratch by the barman, who plays about with different colours, methods, and spirits (the cellar at Enoteca Achilli al Parlamento contains 6000 different bottles). Each cocktail is then paired with a special dish. Drink prices begin at 15 euros. Cocktails with tapas ranges from 18 to 20 euros.
Achilli al Dom Hotel Roma, via Giulia 131, Rome. Tel. 06 683 2144 Facebook
BARBERINI (NEAR THE TREVI FOUNTAIN)
Giuda Ballerino, the terrace at the Bernini Bristol Hotel
On the top floor of the Bernini Bristol hotel this summer you can enjoy cocktails with your aperitivo or indeed after dinner drinks. Cocktails are served with small plates, along with the usual aperitivo snacks: fried artichokes with pecorino and pepper, vegan snacks, skewered prawns in filo pastry, mini arancini with cacio e pepe, and a cube of fried lasagne. The cocktails are international (all priced 15 euros), you can choose from an Americano to a Negroni to a Moscow Mule. You can also find the house cocktails, such as The Babbeo (fresh grapefruit, gin, honey, maraschino cherries, basil); The Quiet Stormy (dark rum, lime, ginger beer, bitters); Scorretto (campari bitter, reposado tequila, red grapefruit, agave syrup, cayenne pepper); or the Pornstar (vodka, passion fruit, Passoa, lime, vanilla syrup).
Giuda Ballerino @ Bernini Bristol Hotel, piazza Barberini 23, Rome. Tel. 06 488931 Facebook
Traduzione a cura di Corinna Parker