4 Best Bars in Aventino and Testaccio, Rome

With just eight seats, this is Rome’s smallest and quirkiest cocktail bar. Dedicated to a serious historical study of spirits and creative cocktails, Lonely Avenue (named for the Ray Charles song) has a catalog of over 400 drinks. While patrons are free to dictate a specific order, the bar operates more on conversation: the two expert mixologists kick off an easy dialogue (in Italian or English) on flavors and emotions in order to suggest and concoct the perfect personalized drink.

A coffee stand by day and cocktail bar by night, this outdoor establishment began life as a city tram car back in 1903. Now the historic carriage has been converted to a kiosk permanently stationed on a park corner with retro tables and garden seating. A trendy crowd descends at sunset for an evening Spritz, and seats are at a premium until the wee hours of the morning. Since it is entirely outside, Tram Depot is mainly open in the warmer months of the year (April through November); but weather permitting, the kiosk stays open on the weekends year-round.

A long menu of imported brews makes this a true beer oasis, although there are also good wines available by the bottle or the glass. Locals love the generous happy-hour buffet that runs from about 6 pm to 8 pm every day, but come early to snag one of the outdoor picnic tables that overlook the piazza. Best known as a low-key drinking spot, the bar also doubles as a specialty food store that stocks Italian jams, chocolates, and pastas.

Most aperitivos tend to be more all-you-can-eat than refined predinner stop, but that is not the case at Taverna Volpetti. The chic, bistro-style wine bar and restaurant sources all its ingredients from the gourmet food store by the same name that sits just around the corner. The warm atmosphere, stellar wine list, and excellent cheese and salami make it the ideal place for a drink and a snack—or to stay put with a bottle and sip the night away.