pignetoDaily 18:30-02:00
Il Tiaso in Rome's Pigneto district is the natural-wine cellar with a 250-label biodynamic Italian list, the small kitchen of salumi and cheese boards and a late-night crowd to 02:00.
Signature pour: Foradori Teroldego, by the glass
Wine focus: Natural Italian wines, biodynamic cellar
Food: Small plates, salumi flight, cheese boards
Tip: Open daily 18:30 to 02:00. The Tuesday and Thursday wine flights of three glasses cost 15 euros.
esquilinoMon-Sat 11:30-15:00 and 17:30-00:30, closed Sunday
Trimani Il Wine Bar in Rome's Castro Pretorio quarter is the Trimani family's wine bar (the retail cellar runs since 1821), with 5000 labels in the back, 60 by the glass nightly.
Signature pour: Aglianico del Vulture Paternoster, by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional wines, classic cellar
Food: Salumi, cheese, Roman small plates
Tip: Closed Sunday. The cellar tour Saturday 11:00 is free for groups of six or more; book a fortnight ahead.
centro-storicoMon-Sat 20:00 seating only
Rimessa Roscioli in Rome's Centro Storico is the Roscioli family's wine-tasting cellar with a single 20:00 seating, the €95 four-hour set of salumi, pasta and seven wines.
Signature pour: Roscioli house carbonara paired with Cesanese
Wine focus: Italian regional wines, full tasting program
Food: Multi-course wine-paired dinner only
Tip: Single 20:00 seating only; book a fortnight ahead. Closed Sunday.
monteverdeTue-Sun 18:00-01:00, closed Monday
Litro in Rome's Monteverde Vecchio quarter is the natural-wine cellar with a 400-bottle list of Italian biodynamic producers, the city's strongest cellar for Lazio orange wines.
Signature pour: Sergio Mottura Civitella d'Agliano, by the glass
Wine focus: Natural and biodynamic Italian wines
Food: Small plates, salumi, cheese boards
Tip: Closed Monday. Book a fortnight ahead for the back room; the cheese board is the order.
centro-storicoMon-Sat 18:30-24:00, closed Sunday
Il Goccetto in Rome's Centro Storico is the historic wine bar with a 1500-label cellar, the city's oldest aperitivo room since 1969 and salumi boards from the counter.
Signature pour: Frascati Superiore Castel de Paolis, by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional whites and reds by the glass
Food: Salumi and cheese boards, no kitchen
Tip: Cash only. Open from 18:30; no bookings. The back-room cellar is the spot to ask for after 21:00.
parioliTue-Sun 09:00-22:00, closed Monday
Enoteca Bulzoni in Rome's Parioli quarter has run as a wine cellar since 1929. The cellar runs 4000 labels deep; the wine bar pours 40 by the glass nightly.
Signature pour: Cesanese del Piglio Damiano Ciolli, by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional wines, deep Lazio cellar
Food: Salumi platters, cheese flights
Tip: Closed Monday. The retail bottle prices are 30 percent below the wine-bar pour markup; buy and uncork.