4 Best Bars in Ancient Rome, Rome

For a winning combination of creative cocktails and incredible views of the Colosseum, this bar in Palazzo Manfredi can't be beat. Bar manager Matteo "Zed" Zamberlan cut his teeth in New York's top drinking establishments, and here his creativity is on full display. The cocktails are pricey, but they come with a bounty of snacks from the hotel's acclaimed restaurant.

Irish-Italian bartender Patrick Pistolesi worked his way up the ranks at establishments in Rome and New York City before opening this cocktail bar that's regarded as one of the world's best. His first solo venture is an expression of his bold aesthetic and philosophy of hospitality. Inspired by the Japanese cartoons he watched as a kid, the space is dark and dramatic with flashes of neon. The creative cocktails feature ingredients like ginger-lemongrass cordial and miso and arrive at your table impressively quickly. Pair them with Asian-inspired snacks like vegetable dumplings or BBQ pork-filled bao.

This underground cocktail bar and lounge feels like a cross between a speakeasy and a gastropub. Mismatched vintage tables and chairs, rugs, exposed brick walls, and black-and-white photographs give it a shabby chic vibe. The creative cocktails are the main draw, but the burgers are also good. From 6 pm until 8 pm, you can get an aperitivo with a drink and a nice selection of small bites for €13–16.

This subterranean speakeasy is decked out in vintage decor inspired by motorcycle racing, with leather Chesterfield sofas and newspaper clippings plastered on the walls. Creative cocktails are fancifully presented and may arrive in an assortment of vessels, including a Moroccan lamp or a baby bottle. To access the bar, you'll have to become a member, which costs €5 (membership is valid for a year).