Looking for the best wine bars in Rome or enotecas with food in the Eternal City? Search no more! Wine bars and typical Italian wine stores or enotecas are one of Rome’s best kept secrets when it comes to not only drinking excellent Italian wines, but also eating well.
Many of Rome’s historic wine bars grew out of a culture of vino e olio stores, simple grocery shops selling oil and wine and a few other essentials, as well as the osteria tradition, basic taverns serving wine and simple snacks to passers by.
Yet today, wine bars in Rome include a vast variety of bars and restaurants, from simple spots to grab an aperitivo, to high-end restaurants serving innovative cuisine. Many of the Roman wine bars on the following list also sell bottles to take away and drink at home, so remain useful off-licence addresses, when in Rome!
In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat, you need it.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Wine bars in Rome centre
Quartino Enoteca in Piazza Vittorio
While once a simple wine store selling wines and spirits to the Piazza Vittorio neighbourhood, Quartino Enoteca underwent a majestic transformation just under a year ago into one of the most stylish wine bars in Rome. Why should you go to Quartino? Quite simply, for one of the most impressive wine collections in the city, as well as some incredible wines and champagnes that can be ordered by the glass. With bottles of wine starting at €3 and going up to €6,000, the prices for drinking whole bottles seated in the establishment are the same as the take away prices for bottles over €20, making this also a great spot to drink excellent wines at keen prices. Above all, if you love champagne, this is the bar for you. With an incredible selection ranging from Krug to Dom Perignon, Louis Roederer Cristal to great value Piper-Heidsieck vintages, get ready to splurge on some of the best bubbly in the world at off-licence prices. The food is sophisticated but simple, ranging from King prawn bruschette to hamburgers, cheese and salami platters, classic pasta dishes, and a yummy poached egg served with shavings of black truffle – all of which set off those world-beating vintages a treat! Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 103 €€
L’Angolo Divino, wine bar near Campo di Fiori
L’Angolo Divino is a historic wine bar in Rome near Campo di Fiori in the historic heart of Rome. Run by friendly host Massimo, whose parents owned a vino olio store on this very spot, today L’Angolo Divino is a simple yet sophisticated spot for enjoying some food and wine. Open at lunch and dinner, during the last two years, this traditional bar has expanded into the pretty piazza nearby, placing tables in piazza della Quercia, a stunning cobbled spot benefitting from the shade of an ancient oak tree. Year round, in any case, there are a good amount of tables in the cosy wooden bar, where you can expect to dine on fish pates, polpette, cheese and salami platters, plus tasty sides and simple main courses featuring meat, fish and vegetarian options for every budget. The food hits the sweet spot between simplicity and elegance and it’s perfect to complement the excellent wines on offer. Great as an off-license too when you want to show up an a dinner party with something special: ask Massimo to recommend a great local, natural wine. One of the most reliable and picturesque wine bars in Rome. Via dei Balestrari 12-14 €€
Amodei – wine bar and deli near Termini
Wine bar and eatery Amodei near Roma Termini is a smart delicatessen and enoteca serving food to eat in or take-away, plus store cupboard ingredients such as dry pasta and oil. Amodei stocks a great range of wines, including natural wines; I sat down to a glass of Solo Uva, a stunning natural spumante which is perfect with the slightly fatty charcuterie selection I tried, including prosciutto di San Daniele and mortadella. What I liked best about Amodei was that it ticked all the boxes for getting the simple things right – such as an enormous bruschetta made with the finest tomatoes harvested from the flanks of Mount Vesuvius. .Look out too for a range of tartares and first course dishes, from lasagne to melanzane di parmigiana, plus platters of cheese and cold cuts. Ideal for lunch, the aperitivo hour, or a light dinner. (Or to pick up quality groceries for a holiday gift!) Via Principe Amodei 7b €€
Signorvino – wine bar in Piazza Barberini
SignorVino, a good value restaurant and wine bar in Piazza Barberini in Rome, is just a 10 minute walk from Rome’s Trevi Fountain. This eatery is also surprisingly cavernous wine store selling over 2,000 different types of Italian wines, and the off-license prices are competitive. . As restaurants near the Trevi Fountain go, SignorVino is characterised by a surprisingly good-value menu. Wines by the glass starting at €4 apiece set the tone for a good quality but affordable dining experience, starting at 11am in the morning. The real selling point is that the restaurant doesn’t charge corkage if you fancy drinking their wines on site during your meal, so it’s a good value place to sample a range of Italian wines. When it comes to the food, local ingredients carefully sourced from the length and breadth of Italy win the day. Don’t miss the cheese and salami boards, celebrating small producers and regional specialities in tasty morsels. I also tried a delicious plate of pasta – Barolo-wine-soaked fettuccine with a creamy rabbit sauce, nicely priced at €12. You wouldn’t know that SignorVino is a chain restaurant, but it is actually owned by Italian underwear conglomerate Calzedonia, and there are branches of SignorVino in cities including Milan, Verona, Bologna and Florence. All this is good news, because if you enjoy your SignorVino experience in Rome, it’s a great spot to bookmark in other cities – prices are the same across the whole group! 14 Piazza Barberini €
Sogno Autarchico, wine bar near the Vatican
This wood-lined wine bar near the Vatican in Rome may look old-school, but there’s a delicious, slightly anarchical vibe at Sogno Autarchico thanks to owner Gianni and his colourful band of regulars. This is a wine bar in the strictest sense of the word which won’t cater to tourists looking for soda and snacks. Instead, come ready to try some excellent Italian wines and an informal but quality dining experience. Gianni serves up beef tartare, mouthwatering focaccia trays from his hometown of Genoa, savoury flans and slices of game with a menu that changes regularly. Reservations recommended. All in all, one of the most interesting restaurants near the Vatican and one of the most characterful wine bars in Rome. Via Properzio 23 €€
Wine bars in Rome’s suburbs
Barnaba, Aventino district wine bar in Rome
Barnaba, a relaxed wine bar near Circus Maximus, is also a great casual restaurant, making this a lovely, informal place to eat on Viale Aventino. If you come to Barnaba to focus on the wine, you’re not wrong: Barnaba’s wine list is in constant evolution, but has a nice balance of Italian wines, French vintages, and a great champagne list, with an overall preference for natural wines and small winemakers. The Barnaba menu ranges from bar snacks to comfort food, such as home made pickles, bruschette, cheese and salamis, gravlax salmon, and cosy dishes such as baked anchovies, tomato and provola. The roast beef club sandwich is a thing of beauty, while your vegan friends will thanks you for introducing them to the baked cauliflower with sun-dried tomatoes. Other hearty first and second courses include beef tartare with harissa or a gricia ubriaca pasta dish made with red wine – and there are also moreish desserts. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, which is great in the warm weather; and it’s also just minutes from the Piramide Metro Stop, right at the start of the restaurant filled Viale Aventino. Via della Piramide Cestia 45 €€
Enoteca La Mescita, natural wine bar in Garbatella, Rome
Cult wine bar and eatery Enoteca La Mescita is something of a legend in Garbatella for serving an outstanding range of natural wines with light, tapas-style dining ranging from pulled pork sandwiches to roast meats with a side plus a range of vegetarian dishes. Look out for local and organic wines and take advantage of pleasant outdoor seating that’s great for people-watching and getting to know this charming neighbourhood. This wine bar opens at 6.30 pm and serves until midnight, with the aperitivo hour blurring into a casual dining experience. Order a bottle of wine from the impressive, rotating list or ask the owners for a tip based on your usual tastes. Reservations essential for this wine bar in Rome. Via Luigi Fincati, 44 €€
Bar Bozza, Garbatella wine bar with food
An independent spin-off from the young team that brought you La Mescita, Bar Bozza has a lovely rebel spirit and even younger, slightly alternative vibe – although you shouldn’t underestimate the elegance of the wines on sale by the glass, or the simple but elegant small plates. Situated in a former photocopy shop on Via Ostiense, this simple box has a front room vibe with a plain yard where punters hang out. The vibe is created by the cool crowd and the incredibly friendly staff who are full of great ideas. Come for a drink, stay to chat at one of the most relaxed wine bars in Rome. Open 6pm until midnight every day except Sundays. Via Giulio Rocco, 27 €
Anni e Bicchieri, Garbatella wine, craft beer and cocktails
Not an enoteca in the classic sense of the word, as it doesn’t have a primary function as a wine store, Anni e Bicchieri is nevertheless a cute, wine-focused project in Garbatella from two local entrepreneurs with experience in hotels, barbershops and tattoo parlours. Situated in the district’s Lotto 13, an historic residence with that lovely, Garbatella 1930s villa vibe, inside Anni e Bicchieri two cosy rooms are perfect for dining and sipping wine, craft beer and cocktails, while the peaceful pavement area comes into its own in the warmer months. The name comes from the famous saying “anni e bicchieri non si contano” (you don’t count years or glasses of wine) and we have to agree! There is a good range of Lazio wines including fine vintages from Tenuta Fiorano, while the food focuses on light bites and tasty first courses. When I visited, I found a menu big on bao buns and delicious tartares, such as a wonderful dish of smoked salmon, pureed apple and hazelnuts, although hearty pasta dishes have appeared on the menu more recently. Whatever your jam, the vibe is all about sitting wine and watching the world go by while you eat some delicious small plates – and what could be better! Open from 5pm until midnight every day, this charming Rome wine bar is closed on Mondays. Via Francesco Passino, 5 €€
Vinum Est, San Giovanni deli and wine bar in Rome
San Giovanni wine bar Vinum Est is a great destination for wine and food enthusiasts looking for something a little bit different from a wine bar in Rome. Vinum Est is first and foremost a handsomely stocked wine store and vendor of cheese, charcuterie and Italian artisan food products, so it’s an essential address for filling your bags with Italian food and wine. Secondly, Vinum Est is a lunch, aperitivo, and dinner destination offering a menu whose hallmark is simple excellence. Pair raw fish and fine charcuterie boards with the wines that line its walls; or dive into the tasting journeys of Vinum Est for a truly original food experience. Of course, you are in excellent hands when it comes to the wine and it would be a shame not to explore a few different vintages while here. The wall of wine which decorates Vinum Est (both beautiful and functional!) comprises around 50% Italian wines. The other 50% is dominated by French wines, with some German, Spanish and even New World wines thrown in to enrich the selection. The prices are a pleasant surprise, too! Full review here. One of the best kept secrets in the city when it comes to wine bars in Rome. Via Francesco Valesio 24 €
