Aperitifs at sunset. The best places in Rome

Aperitivo Time. Rome has also discovered the pleasure of this after-work ritual

If traditionally Milan leads the way when it comes to aperitif time, Rome has also discovered the pleasure of this after-work ritual in recent years.  It’s a magical moment, a time to re-energize for the evening ahead as the sun goes down. 

Among the places we suggest are some well-established ones open all year round, a sure bet for enthusiasts, and others, the result of innovative, trend-setting ideas, open only for the summer season.  

In both cases, you can enjoy this slice of Roman life in stylish venues, savouring international cocktails and nibbling on tasty bites to the sound of music, surrounded by the kind of one in a million views only found in the Eternal City. 

Satyrus is a temporary bar located along the steps of the picturesque Scalea Bruno Zevi, an area in the green oasis that is Villa Borghese. Jazz and swing, premium mixology and live performances by exciting artists and extravagant dancers combine to ensure unforgettable aperitif hours and evenings under the stars. Mon. - Sat. 6.00pm–2.00 am, Sun. 5.00 - 10.00pm.  Scalea Bruno Zevi, tel. 3319494000, www.satyrus.it.

Wunderbar Garden is an open-air lounge bar hidden in a secret garden, a box of wonders never before opened to the public. Enjoy drinks & bites and the cool vibes of a jam music club in a unique atmosphere. Mon-Sun 7.00pm-2.00am. Via Ulisse Aldrovandi 1, tel. 3349839178. 

For some summers now, The Magick Bar has been a lively lounge bar with vintage decor set among the greenery along the Tiber River, where noted artists perform DJ sets.  The original menu features drinks and street food from all over the world, including delicious tapas. The river view together with the music creates a magical atmosphere, a place to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent as the saying goes. Mon-Sun 6.00pm-2.00am. Lungotevere Oberdan 2, tel. 3387978412.

For more than a decade, the Camponeschi Wine Bar has been the meeting place for Italy’s leading artists and offers the pleasure of savouring an aperitif in one of Rome’s most enchanting squares, Piazza Farnese, the ideal place to start the evening. Drinks and appetizers, oysters, cheese and cold cuts boards and finger food to enjoy surrounded by beauty and elegance. Mon-Sat 7.30pm to midnight. Piazza Farnese 50, tel. 0668135104, www.ristorantecamponeschi.it.

Emerald’s Independent Bar is a lounge bar with a tropical atmosphere, where you can savour international cocktails and listen to live music. Retro and elegant, yet at the same time informal, the decor is inspired by the parlour of a fascinating South American adventurer of the early 1900s who opened his home to eccentric visitors to show them objects collected on his journeys to distant lands. Among these was his peacock Emerald, the gift of an Indian princess.  Mon-Thurs 7.00pm-1.00am, Fri-Sat 7.00pm-2.00am, Sun 6.00pm to half past midnight. Via Crescenzio 91C, www.emeraldsbar.com.

Bar del Fico is one of the capital’s landmark bars, much favoured by locals, and located behind Piazza Navona. This welcoming, informal bistro offers light dishes and tapas as well as noted DJ sets. Recently renovated with a floral ambience and a winter garden, it is located in Rione del Fico, a miniature neighbourhood centred around an ancient fig tree, where styles and trends are freely expressed. Mon-Sun 7.00am-2.00am. Piazza del Fico 26/28, tel. 0668891373, www.bardelfico.com.

Zuma, considered the coolest bar in Rome, houses an elegant bar and lounge as well as a breathtaking roof terrace on top of the iconic Fendi palazzo. Its charm comes from a combination of innovative menus, professional service and an unequalled view over the rooftops and sights of Rome. Over 500 international labels, seasonal and signature cocktails and a fanciful list of sake to sip with Japanese delicacies.  Sun-Thurs 6.00pm-1.00am, Fri-Sat 6.00pm-2.00am, Via della Fontanella Borghese 48, tel. 0699266622, www.zumarestaurant.com.