Last Updated on June 12, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: February 14, 2019
Trastevere just might be the most bar-heavy neighborhood in a city whose idea of fun is sitting for hours outside with friends and a bottle of wine. Fortunately, there’s endless options for a night out in Rome. Here’s a guide to help you skip the touristy joints and enjoy the 6 best bars in Trastevere for a night out.
Hungry for a big meal before you go out on the town? Here’s the best restaurants in Trastevere we know you’ll love!
Table of Contents
Bars in Trastevere
Located across the Tiber from the historic center, Trastevere is one of the capital’s most popular neighborhoods, due to its beautiful little streets, accessibility via public transportation, and many study-abroad centers.
Because of the latter, Trastevere is sometimes written-off as being full of drunken American college students. While there certainly are many bars which cater almost exclusively to them, Trastevere has many, many other wonderful spots, some of which we’ll show you here.
Local Tip: In Italy, a “bar” is a place open all day and that serves coffee, alcohol, and snacks (what the French call a café). A nightlife-focused spot is a locale, and beer and wine bars are called, respectively, birreria and enoteca.
1. Bar San Calisto
Bar San Calisto is one of Trastevere’s oldest, best-known, and certainly most beloved bars. Open for more than half a century, it’s the favored haunt of artists, locals, tourists, garbagemen, drunks, street musicians, refugees, and certain Devour Rome writers. It’s your classic Roman bar.
Open at 6 am for coffee and pastries, its iconic outdoor seats fill up with beer-sipping readers throughout the day until the evening, when the party envelops the whole piazza, to wrap up at 2 am the following morning.
Nothing at San Calisto is of artisanal quality, but the spritzes are mixed strong, the prices proudly cheap (€0.80 for an espresso, €1.50 for a beer), and the atmosphere singular. As Trastevere becomes more and more chic (and expensive), San Calisto has remained without pretensions, good for any type of night, and any type of person. Suffice it to say that this spot is a fan favorite on our Trastevere at Sunset Tour!
📍 Address: Piazza di S. Calisto, 3
2. Freni e Frizioni
Freni e Frizioni is a short walk from San Calisto and a long way away in terms of style. Here, the space is modern and the specialty is the craft cocktail, which Freni does as well as anyone in Rome. The ever-evolving drinks are often named after a theme (films, cartoons, etc.), and go way beyond your average Negroni.
Think a “Mediterranean Fizz” with gin, lemon and rosemary, or a “Popeye” concoction of rum, tomato vinegar, and spinach sugar. The elaborate drinks require a fair amount of shaking, straining, and juicing by the talented bartenders, but part of the fun is waiting at the bar, ticket in hand, and watching them work. There’s also free vegan aperitivo every night!
It’s a good place for a pre-or-post dinner cocktail, as it’s open and lively until 2 am!
3. Enoteca La Vite
If you gave someone a pencil and paper, and asked them to draw “cozy neighborhood wine bar,” they’d probably produce something that looks like Enoteca La Vite. This glass-fronted, wood-paneled enoteca doesn’t offer Rome’s biggest cellar or most extensive aperitivo.
But what more would one want than a blackboard of local wines by the glass, big plates of marinated vegetables, and tables outside in picturesque Piazza San Cosimato? It’s the perfect place for a pre-dinner prosecco and snack while watching local kids kick a soccer ball around.
📍 Address: Piazza di S. Cosimato, 70
4. Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa’
The name of this pint-sized (pun intended) pub literally means “But what’d you come here to do?” The answer, most certainly, is “drink beer.” Since 2001, Ma Che has been a touchstone of the ever-growing craft beer scene in Rome. Every day, 16 different brews are on tap, some of them obscure Italian varieties, but also European and American beers that one rarely finds in a standard bar or grocery store.
Seating is limited, and the beers are, understandably, on the more expensive side, so best to make this one stop on a bar crawl. Get a Belgian tripel or an Italian IPA, served in a plastic cup, and enjoy outside with the young, chain-smoking crowd.
📍 Address: Via Benedetta, 25
5. Bar del Cinque
Bar del Cinque is located right near the main stretch of American-student bars, but a bland shot-bucket locale this is not. Dimly-lit, with a long, narrow bar, it seems the kind of place where 1920’s-era expats might gather for a nightly drink.
Like all Roman bars, it’s open early, and the booths in the back are mighty comfortable to stay in for a few hours with a cappuccino and a newspaper. Unlike most Roman bars, at night it becomes El Mojitaro with a separate cocktail station that slings cheap and dangerously drinkable mojitos. It’s a weird and wonderful combination that makes Bar del Cinque a destination for both daytime locals and nighttime visitors.
📍 Address: Vicolo del Cinque, 5
Check out the video below to find the perfect places in Trastevere to get a drink.
6. Big Star
Big Star, located right off of the Piazza San Cosimato, looks like the owner of a typical Roman bar decided to convert it to a Los Angeles-style dive, but had never actually been to Los Angeles–which is a positive thing. Wonderfully inauthentic and always fun, Big Star has walls lined with vinyl covers, draught beer, and espresso, and a menu that includes both a “California Burger” and a hunk of lasagna.
Surprisingly, the clientele is mostly young Italians, who gather for an aperitivo and a craft beer before a night out in Trastevere. It’s also a popular place to sit at during the day with a coffee and get some work done on your laptop.
📍 Address: Via Goffredo Mameli, 25
Want a drink with a view? Don’t miss our favorite rooftop bars in Rome!
Explore Trastevere’s Food & Drink With Us
There are plenty of eateries in Rome, but not all of them are created equal. Discover more of our favorite hidden gems on our Trastevere at Sunset: Rome Food and Wine Tour. You’ll try regional cured meats and cheese, delicious local pastas, a variety of different Italian wines and, of course, our favorite aperitivo cocktail!
Featured Review: Trastevere Food & Wine Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Aurelio was simply wonderful! He shared personal experiences and historical stories for each stop and made it feel like touring with family. Highly recommend!”
– Shawne
Best Bars in Trastevere FAQs
Is Trastevere the best neighborhood for nightlife in Rome?
Many visitors consider Trastevere to be Rome’s best neighborhood for nightlife thanks to its lively atmosphere, historic streets, and wide variety of bars, wine bars, cocktail lounges, and late-night gathering spots. The area attracts a mix of locals, students, and travelers looking for an authentic Roman night out.
What are the best drinks to try in Trastevere?
While exploring Trastevere, try classic Italian cocktails such as the Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Americano, as well as regional wines from Lazio. Many bars also serve craft cocktails featuring Italian spirits, herbs, and seasonal ingredients.
What time do bars get busy in Trastevere?
Most bars in Trastevere begin filling up around aperitivo time, between 6 and 8 pm, but the neighborhood becomes especially lively after 9 pm. During weekends and peak travel seasons, many streets remain busy well into the early hours of the morning.
Is Trastevere safe at night?
Yes, Trastevere is generally considered one of Rome’s safest and most popular nightlife districts. As with any busy tourist area, visitors should remain aware of their belongings and surroundings, especially in crowded squares and late at night.
Should you make reservations at bars in Trastevere?
Reservations are usually not necessary for casual wine bars and pubs, but they can be helpful for popular cocktail bars, rooftop venues, and aperitivo spots, particularly on weekends. Arriving early is often the best way to secure a table during the busiest hours.
