Tram Depot in Rome's Testaccio district is the 1903-built tram-yard cafe with outdoor tables, the all-day espresso-and-aperitivo bar and live music at sunset on summer evenings.
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 02:00. The 19:00 aperitivo with a granita di caffe is the summer ritual.
Address: Via Marmorata 13, 00153 Roma, Rome
Bar del Fico in Rome's Centro Storico is the piazza-side all-day cafe and aperitivo room with the city's most photographed fig-tree terrace and a long aperitivo carte from 18:00.
Signature drink: Espresso, aperitivo
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to 02:00. The piazza terrace fills first; book aperitivo for groups of six or more.
Ciampini in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1947-founded piazza cafe with gelato counter, the lunchtime carte and the espresso ritual on Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina.
Signature drink: Espresso, gelato, cocktails
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 23:30. The piazza terrace fills at lunch; the gelato counter has 24 daily flavours.
Antico Caffe della Pace in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1891-founded literary cafe with marble counters, the famous wisteria-fronted terrace and a late-night cocktail carte.
Signature drink: Espresso, cocktails
Tip: Open 09:00 to 02:00. The wisteria terrace blooms in April and May; book a fortnight ahead for those weeks.
Panella in Rome's Esquilino quarter is the bakery-cafe with marble counters, daily pizza bianca and pizza rossa by weight and the busiest cornetto-and-espresso bar east of Termini.
Signature drink: Espresso, cornetto, pizza bianca
Tip: Open 07:00 to 22:00 daily. The pizza bianca lunch counter is the working-quarter steal at three euros per slice.
Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe in Rome's Centro Storico has roasted espresso over a wood fire since 1938. The Gran Caffe Speciale at the counter is the city's defining espresso ritual.
Signature drink: Gran Caffe Speciale
Tip: Order at the cassa first, then take the ticket to the bar. Two euros at the counter, four at the tables.
Tazza d'Oro in Rome by the Pantheon has roasted espresso since 1944. The granita di caffe con panna is the summer ritual; the standing-counter espresso runs about 1.20 euros.
Signature drink: Granita di caffe con panna
Tip: Order the granita di caffe con panna in summer; counter-stand espresso year-round. Closed Sunday.
