Rome.
Sommelier's guide to Rome's Restaurants, Wine Bars and Cocktail Bars with Local Food Wine Pairings.
It is centuries old but Rome still captivates in a way few cities elsewhere can, with over 500 native grape varietals and a long history of wine making. Join me as a Vinitaly Italian Wine student as we dive into the world of Italian Wines.
Photo by Dario Veronesi
Updated 21 Sep 2026
Also see our article on Milan
Wine is best shared with friends and food. It tells a story of its history and culture. Here's some of my favourite restaurants with friendly local Sommeliers to have a chat with.
Where we like to eat.
Especially across Italy, neighbourhood restaurants often give extra attention to returning guests they know personally — remembering favourite dishes, recommending off-menu wines, or serving the freshest seasonal specials. As a traveller, it is worthwhile slowing down, visiting slightly away from the main tourist streets, and building a small connection with the staff.
​Roscioli.
​Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina. One of the best restaurants with a complete wine menu Italian Wines. Reservations only as it's quite famous from its Michelin Star. Mixed Reviews, service is hit and miss as they are constantly busy. Highly recommend to book in advance; Book the deli bar for the best experience.
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​Via dei Giubbonari
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Photo from Facebook/RoscioliRistoranteSalumeria
​Rimessa Roscioli. Another location of Roscioli, with one of the best wine lists in Rome and makes amazing food. I have been here 3 times and every time the service is on point. Price is on the higher end and highly recommend to make a reservation in advance.
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Via del Conservatorio
Il Goccetto.
​Il Goccetto. True hole in the wall owned by Sergio and Anna. Arrive early if you want a seat inside. Decent wine list and about 20 wines by the glass to choose from. If you can’t get a seat inside, you can hang around outside too.
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Via dei Banchi Vecchi
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Photo from IG/thereal_ilgoccetto
Cul de Sac.
​Cul de Sac. Near Piazza Navona. An establishment in the Roman wine scene since 1977 serving up typical Roman cuisine. A Wine Shop and Enoteca serving their speciality la Trippa alla Romana, la Coda alla Vaccinara, le Polpette al vino con purè. ​Local Lazio wines on feature with a small selection of wines by the glass. A big wine list if ordering by the bottle.
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Piazza di Pasquino 73
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https://www.enotecaculdesacroma.it
Photo from IG/enoteca_culdesac77
Enoteca Corsi.
​Enoteca Corsi. Near Campo de' Fiori. A family run restaurant that feels "famiglia". Hole in the wall since the 40’s. Simple Roman cuisine with a thoughtful Lazio and other Italian wine regions by the glass/bottle selection. It's a tiny space so it fills up quickly, please call them directly to make a reservation.
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​Via del Gesù, 87/88
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Photo from IG/enotecacorsi
PRATI.
Il Sorpasso.
Il Sorpasso. Prati near Vatican City. This was recommended by my local Italian restaurant in Sydney. It turns out he worked there; Chef Nello. Local rustic spot serving Roman Cuisine with a long wine list which includes a comprehensive Italian and International Wines. They don't accept reservations so just turn up and join the list. You may enjoy Aperitivo outside by the street first or have a drink next door at Triodinamico Vini which is staffed and owned by the same team. ​​
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​Via Properzio, 31/33
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Photo from Website.
TRASTEVERE.
La Gattabuia.
La Gattabuia. Trastevere. The restaurant used to be a papal prison dating back to 15th century. It's renovated, furnished and adorned with antiques and ancient work tools. If you look up, you can admire the original brick vaults of the old papal cells. An authentic Trastevere trattoria using local and seasonal ingredients. Wine by the glass is limited to the local region while the wine cellar shines. Popular with locals and tour groups, reservation recommended.
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Via del Porto,1.
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Photo from Facebook/lagattabuia
Vanda.
Vanda. Trastevere. A modern restaurant with a contemporary touch of a traditional tavern featuring classic Roman dishes which change regularly to reflect the seasons. It was Truffle season when I last visited. More than 800 wine labels line the walls from Italian North to South regions and International wines. Big selection of Wine by glass if you wish to explore the different regions of Italy.
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Via del Moro, 53
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Photo from Website.
Trattoria de Gli Amici.
Trattoria de Gli Amici. Trastevere. If you are in Rome, this is the one restaurant to support. Managed by a social co-operative by the Sant'Egidio Community, it hires and trains people of determination, often paired with a professional abled buddy. From front of house to the kitchen, menu is kept simple for a reason. I would recommend ordering a bottle of wine with "Wine for Life" sticker, a project supported by wineries.
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Piazza di S. Egidio, 6
https://www.trattoriadegliamici.it
Photo from Facebook/TrattoriadeGliAmiciRoma
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Wine for Life. Wine for Life is a network of wineries that choose to support the socially beneficial projects of the Community of Sant'Egidio, in Italy and around the world. Each wine producer has paid half a Euro per bottle to support this project.
More info
https://wineforlife.com/#progetti
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SAN GIOVANNI.
SantoPalato.
SantoPalato. Near Porta Metronia. This is a modern trattoria in the heart of Rome by
Chef and Owner Sarah Cicolini. Celebrating simple high quality seasonal ingredients takes on the Roman classics. Highly recommended for reservations. The wine list is chosen by the whole team and guests of the wines that they love, reaching over 1,200 labels.
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Via Gallia, 28, 00183 Roma RM, Italy
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https://www.santopalatoroma.it/
Photo from Facebook/Santopalato
CASTEL GANDOLFO.
Ristorante Pagnanelli.
Ristorante Pagnanelli. Castel Gandolfo. Just 1 hour train away is a scenic Italian town famous for the historic Palace of Castel Gandolfo which serves as the traditional summer residence of the popes. This restaurant overlooks the volcanic crater of the majestic Lake Albano, it features a vaulted wine cellar if you are lucky to have a tour. 4 generations of the same family running the restaurant founded by Giovanni Pagnanelli since 1882. Reservations recommended.
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Via Antonio Gramsci, 4, 00073 Castel Gandolfo
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Photo from Website.
Here are some of our favourite wine bars serving up Aperitivo with wines and bitesize Italian snacks. Chat with the locals.
Where the Wine bars.
Enoteca il Piccolo.
​Enoteca il Piccolo dal 1980. Near Piazza Navona. One of the very few wine bars left that still writes their wine list by hand featuring a good list of local wines and Italian wine selection. Owner is very knowledgeable in Italian Wines.​ A great place for aperitivo with small bites. On busy days, you could see people standing outside chatting and drinking.
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Via del Governo Vecchio 74-75
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Photo from IG/enoteca_il_piccolo
L'Angolo Divino.
L’Angolo Divino Enoteca Vineria. Near Campo de' Fiori. Massimo is a 3rd generation innkeeper and he's also a Sommelier. Massimo & Jacopo have great knowledge of Italian regions and wines. Wine tasting paired with little snacks. 4 wines for 40 eur paired with Aperitivo snacks, cheese plates and cut meats. ​Email info@angolodivino.it to book.
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Via dei Balestrari
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Photo from Website.
Vinaietto.
Vinaietto. Near Campo de' Fiori. A small historic wine shop in 50's deco in the heart of the city. This is one of my favourite wine bars. You get into the bar and order a glass of wine and you stand outside the street, chatting with the locals. From Italian Wines to Cocktails, it's the place to go for Aperitivo served with small bites, cheeses, olives.
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Via del Monte della Farina
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Photo from Instagram/ilvinaietto
Buccone Vini e Olii.
Buccone Vini e Olii. Near Piazza del Popolo. Once Marquesses Cavalcabò’s coach-house, then a tavern and since 1969 a wine cellar. Now with Vincenzo and Francesco, they run this wine shop, bar and restaurant with mainly lunch and fri/sat dinners. This wine store is featured in a couple of Italian films. They also run a wine tasting session as well as sip and paint sessions.
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Via di Ripetta, 19/20, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
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https://www.enotecabuccone.com/
Photo from Instagram/bucconevinieolii
Enoteca Vigneto.
Vigneto. Located in Pigneto, home to many students from the university making it one of the liveliest centres of Rome. Vigneto means ‘vineyard’ in Italian. It is a playful word pun on the Pigneto neighbourhood where this wine bar is situated. A focus on Natural and Biodynamic wines from Italy and France.
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Piazza dei Condottieri, 26/27
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Photo from Facebook/enotecavigneto
Via Appia also known as the Appian Way is famous because it was the ancient Roman Republic's first, longest, and most strategically vital military and economic highway transporting water, wine, goods and supplies to Rome since 312 BC.
All Roads lead to Rome.
Via Appia.
Ancient Appian Way and Aqueducts Park Bike Tour. Ride along Via Appia where wines, food and supplies were transported to Rome for thousands of years. While this tour doesn't have wine tastings directly, you would stop by some restaurant on the Appian way for lunch, wines and reminisce about the olden times. 4 hours or 6 hours bike tour.
https://www.topbikerental.com/rome-bike-tours/appian-way
Photo from Facebook/romebiketours.topbike
Private Tours.
Tony Polzer | A private wine tour guide with wine tastings and private dinners out of Rome. Whatsapp +39 349 641 3532
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Casa Dolcetta.
Casa Dolcetta. This is a Secret Table by Private Chef Francesco and Constance carrying forward a family cooking tradition originally started by Francesco's mother. From hands on cooking class to food tours in various locations and at family home in Aventino
Hill.
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Roman classics to try while you are in Rome.
Local Cuisine.
Roman Pasta.
Carbonara Made with egg yolks, cheese, and guanciale. Pairs well with Frascati Superiore made from 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia or Malvasia di Lazio and 30% of local grapes like Bellone, Bombino Bianco, Greco and Trebbiano and or Soave Classico from the Veneto Region. Maybe Chianti Classico where its natural acidity would cut into the richness. Photo from Facebook/La Gattabuia.
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Alla gricia Made with guanciale, Pecorino cheese and black pepper only.
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Cacio e Pepe 4 ingredients only; pasta, pasta water, ground black pepper, and Pecorino Romano.
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​Amatriciana Made with tomato sauce from crushed, peeled tomatoes as well as guanciale, grated Pecorino Romano cheese and onions.
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Street food.
Carciofi Alla Giudia. Deep fried flatten artichokes. Paired with Bellone or Spumante Metodo Classico Bellone. It is an ancient white wine grape variety native to the Lazio region near Rome, known for producing rich, textured wines with ripe citrus and tropical notes. Photo from FB/La Gattabuia
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Supplì | King of Roman street food. Rice croquettes usually filled with ragu or mozzarella.
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Trapizzino | Triangular pocket of pizza stuffed with meatballs, melanzane alla parmigiana (baked eggplant with caciocavallo cheese), pollo alla cacciatora (chicken in tomato sauce) and tongue in salsa verde (parsley pesto).
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​Porchetta | Roast pig stuffed with garlic, rosemary and fennel. The juicy meat and the crackling is served in a bun making it the most delicious sandwich.
While in Rome, try some of these local wines from the Region of Lazio. Photo @lazio_wine_region.
Lazio. DOCG.
Meet the winemaker.
Cantine Ciolli - Damiano Ciolli | Damiano and Letizia are the 4th generation winemakers. The estate are situated in Central Italy, in the medieval town of Olevano Romano. The soils are fertile with deep red volcanic soils, ideal for producing high quality Cesanese di Affile grapes.
Via del Corso, 00035 Olevano Romano
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Try these wines too.
Cannellino di Frascati DOCG | White wine made in medium sweet style with Malvasia di Candia / del Lazio. Notes of White Blossom, Sage and ripe citrus fruit.
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Frascati Superiore DOCG | Dry white wine made with Malvasia di Candia / del Lazio and blended with Trebbiano Toscano. Notes of White Blossom, Sage and ripe citrus fruit.
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Cesanese Del Piglio DOCG | Cesanese di Affilie; elegantly perfumed notes of ripe cherry, cassis, rose, petals, cinnamon.
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Aleatico di Gradoli DOC | Aleatico; Aromatic red grape with notes of violets, rose, herbs, nutmeg, clove.
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Genazzano DOC | Cilegiolo. Red grape with notes of bright red cherry and red berries.
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Marino DOC | Bellone; white grape with notes of honeyed citrus, tropical fruit.
Italy is home to the Aperol spritz and many great spirits from lemoncello to amaros.
Here's some of the coolest bars in Rome. Photo Instagram/Drinkkong.
From Spritz to Cocktails.
Drink Kong.
Drink Kong. World's Best Bar No. 21. Drink Kong serves up innovative Japanese cocktails along with Japanese snacks.
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Piazza di S. Martino Ai Monti
Angry Monkey Bar.
Angry Monkey Bar. A newcomer bar featuring over 300 gins from Italy and the world.
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Viale delle Provincie
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Photo from Facebook/angrymonkeybar
The Jerry Thomas Project.
The Jerry Thomas Project. A Speakeasy in Rome. The exquisitely balanced cocktails are some of the best in all of Italy. The bar is members-only, but you can apply for inclusion once inside for 5 euros. Reservation only with the passcode given.
Vicolo Cellini
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Photo from Facebook/thejerrythomas
Featured/.
JJ, Sydney Australia. I am a Sommelier based in Sydney and an International Business First Class Cabin Crew. I have been teaching hospitality in Cambodia during my holidays and currently obsessed with Italian, Portuguese and Georgian Wines. Connect with me @travel.somm.
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​​​​SPECIAL THANKS.
VIA VINITALY
EMBASSY OF ITALY, AUSTRALIA
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