Barnum Cafe in Rome's Centro Storico is the all-day cafe with a strong cocktail list after 18:00, a natural-wine selection by the glass and a brunch carte on weekend mornings.
Food program: Brunch, dinner carte
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 23:00. The Sunday brunch sets cost 22 euros; book a week ahead.
Address: Via del Pellegrino 87, 00186 Roma, Rome
Argot in Rome's Centro Storico is the live-jazz cocktail bar with the city's strongest jazz programme four nights a week, a long classic-cocktail carte and a late-night kitchen.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails, jazz
Food: Small plates, late-night kitchen
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 02:00. The jazz nights run Wed to Sat from 22:00; book the back tables.
Cul de Sac in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1977-founded enoteca with a 1500-label Italian cellar, the long-bench room and the late-night Roman small plates kitchen until 24:00.
Signature drink: Italian regional wines, by the glass
Food: Salumi, cheese, Roman small plates
Tip: Open daily 12:00 to 16:00 and 18:00 to 24:00. No bookings; queue from 19:00 for benches.
The Race Club in Rome's Celio district is the 1920s-themed speakeasy with a 200-cocktail carte from the prohibition era, the city's most playful cocktail menu since 2014.
Signature drink: Prohibition-era classic cocktails
Food: Snacks, small plates
Tip: Member access via website RSVP; open Wed to Sun 22:00 to 03:00. Phone-down policy on the door.
Co.So. in Rome's Pigneto district is Massimo D'Addezio's cocktail bar with the famous Carbonara Sour, a long Italian-spirit-led cocktail carte and a popular weekend crowd to 02:00.
Signature drink: Carbonara Sour, regional Italian cocktails
Food: Italian small plates, aperitivo
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 02:00. The Carbonara Sour is 13 euros; book the back booths a week ahead.
Argot in Rome's Centro Storico is the live-jazz cocktail bar with the city's strongest jazz programme four nights a week, a long classic-cocktail carte and a late-night kitchen.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails, jazz
Food: Small plates, late-night kitchen
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 02:00. The jazz nights run Wed to Sat from 22:00; book the back tables.
Cul de Sac in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1977-founded enoteca with a 1500-label Italian cellar, the long-bench room and the late-night Roman small plates kitchen until 24:00.
Signature drink: Italian regional wines, by the glass
Food: Salumi, cheese, Roman small plates
Tip: Open daily 12:00 to 16:00 and 18:00 to 24:00. No bookings; queue from 19:00 for benches.
The Race Club in Rome's Celio district is the 1920s-themed speakeasy with a 200-cocktail carte from the prohibition era, the city's most playful cocktail menu since 2014.
Signature drink: Prohibition-era classic cocktails
Food: Snacks, small plates
Tip: Member access via website RSVP; open Wed to Sun 22:00 to 03:00. Phone-down policy on the door.
The Yellow Bar in Rome's Castro Pretorio district is the hostel-attached late-night bar with the city's strongest late crowd, a craft-beer list of 30 taps and the kitchen running to 02:00.
Signature drink: Cocktails, craft beer
Food: Snacks, late-night pizza
Tip: Open daily 18:00 to 04:00. The 22:00 happy hour with three-euro draft beers is the budget hour.
Ai Tre Scalini in Rome's Monti district doubles as a wine bar and trattoria, with the front pavement aperitivo seats the spot for a glass of Lazio red and a salumi board at 19:00.
Signature drink: Aperol Spritz, glass of Cesanese
Food: Aperitivo plates, salumi boards
Tip: The aperitivo set at 8 euros with a salumi snack is the budget entry; arrive 18:30 for the pavement.
