Sky Stars Bar is an exclusive cocktail bar on the west side of Rome, not far from St. Peter’s and the Vatican, distinguished by some of the best mixology experts in the city.
You need a car or taxi to get out to Sky Stars Bar, but it’s definitely worth the trip – just a 15 minute cab ride from Trastevere or Prati, and a 20 minute hop from Testaccio or the historic centre.
Located in a tower on top of the luxury A.Roma Hotel, and enjoying a peaceful neighbourhood location in south west Rome, Sky Stars Bar enjoys star-studded views across the hotel’s landscaped gardens and dark countryside beyond, from an elegant, modern loggia.
The wraparound balcony of this unusual bar includes plenty of intimate, dim corners – in fact, it was originally conceived as the hotel’s most exclusive suite, before the architects changed their minds and restyled it as A.Roma’s exclusive cocktail bar, Sky Stars Bar.
We’re very glad they did, as it’s the perfect place to pop in after enjoying an afternoon in A.Roma’s day spa, combining a seawater outdoor pool, with a lovely spa circuit in the basement of the hotel. However, please note that this is a true, after-dinner bar – only serving drinks from 9pm at night – and that food is not available here.
Sky Stars Bar’s changing cocktail menu
One of the things I like best about Sky Stars Bar is the frequently changing cocktail menu, dreamed up by mixology dream team, Alessandro Antonelli and Claudio Diamantini. As well as being your perfect, genteel hosts at Sky Stars Bar, they are two of the city’s top talents when it comes to making cocktails.
While you can always order your favourite cocktail at Sky Stars Bar, at least twice a year they produce a special themed cocktail list, often inspired by works of art, or other local themes.
The latest cocktail list features ten new cocktail recipes, inspired by the paintings of local artist, Stefano Azzena. Azzena’s pop-art impressions of famous classical sculptures are channelled by Sky Stars Bar’s mixologists to conjure up classically-inspired cocktails – with Roman dialect names as a twist.
While every cocktail on the list has something special going for it, I have selected my six favourites to inspire you to get down to Sky Stars Bar in Rome and try something new!
Sky Stars Bar – my faves from the new drinks list
AH POLLO… SO’ GRECHE!
This gin sour infused with fennel, rosemary and black olives is a savoury take on a classic cocktail.
5 STONES
This striking drink combines gin infused with cumin and dry vermouth, campari and grapefruit. Its use of ice-cold granite pebbles which have been steeped in aromatic cumin add an extra flavour dimension.
ARES
This warrior’s favourite combines two kinds of Mezcal, one of which is smoked, with candied peel and fruits of the forest in a sweet and savoury equilibrium.
PARBLEU!
Styled on designs of Bacchus, this cocktail contains a reduction of nero d’avola red wine, combining it with armagnac, port, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, ginger, bergamot liquor and cognac for a heady and romantic drink.
CHE MENO PE’ PRIMO…
This riff on the classic Rob Roy cocktail or Scotch Manhattan is infused in honey in terracotta to add warmth and depth.
DISCOBOLO MARTINI
Get the party popping with a modern martini prepared with acid-washing techniques to vary its depth and bite.
I’m also delighted to add that as well as serving some of the best cocktails in Rome, this rooftop bar combines quality with some of the most competitive rooftop bar prices in all the city.
For standard cocktails and mixed drinks, expect to pay around €8-€10 – making this actually one of the cheapest rooftop bars in Rome – while Sky Stars Bar’s special creations cost €13 (and they are worth every cent).
What are you waiting for? Head over to Sky Stars Bar to try the new cocktail list, and while you’re at it, check out one of the best all you can eat restaurants in Rome, also located at the A.Roma hotel – Sapori Dal Mondo (full review here.)
Sky Stars Bar | A.Roma Hotel | Via Giorgio Zoega, 59|00164|Rome |Italy|+39 06 8780 0168
Testaccina was a guest of Sky Stars Bar
