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    Freni e Frizioni

    4.0 (116 reviews)
    ModerateWine Bars, Pubs, Cocktail Bars
    Closed 6:30 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Freni e Frizioni Photos

    FRENI E FRIZIONI ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Freni e Frizioni

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    Reviews With Photos

    Inside bar
    Jeff D.

    Cool Bar! It had a cool vibe, we sat outside. They have several craft cocktails on the menu. We got an espresso martini and something else, can't remember! I went inside and the bar area is amazing! Great place to get an after dinner drink!

    Aperitivo for 2 euros.
    Vlad V.

    Intro: One of my friends recommended that I check out Freni e Frizioni for "aperitivo" (happy hour in Italy which is accompanied by snacks if you purchase an alcoholic beverage). Located in the Traverse neighborhood in Rome (my favorite part of Rome for dining and drinking), I made my way to see what all the hype was about. And there's quite a bit of hype as this bar has also made it to a list of the best bars in the world. They were pretty busy but I was seated promptly. Ambiance (4/5): With both seating outside and inside, they have an open-air concept and I was seated right in between. Trendy vibes with a somewhat industrial feel. My only complaint. Stool seating with no back support makes up the majority of seating at Freni e Frizioni which is never good for my back. Service (4.5/5): Better than average by European standards. My waiter was friendly and while I had to track him down a bit, it was better than your typical experience in Europe. Food (3/5): Freni e Frizioni is known for its aperitivo buffet which is something because, at most places in Italy, there isn't a buffet. Just some snacks that are brought to your table. You have an elaborate display here with bread, different dips, different types of pasta/couscous, chicken and rice, etc. The food is mediocre at best and you pay a two-euro surcharge, but it is all-you-can-eat. Drinks (4.5/5): I'm always a sucker for creative cocktails and you get just that here. Their menu had a list of 10 or so elaborate cocktails. I went with the kumquat margarita which comes with popping boba. The popping boba is served on a small spoon on top of an ice cube. Cool presentation. Popping boba is not something you typically see with a cocktail so that's always appreciated. And it was my first time having kumquat incorporated into a drink. Great cocktail all-around! Overall: While the aperitivo buffet didn't live up to the hype, the cocktails definitely did.

    Menu as of March 2025
    Michael B.

    This is an excellent example of what a cocktail bar should be. The inside is straight cool. It comes across as a punk leaning dive bar that happens to specialize in cocktails. The outside is a perfect patio to lounge with friends. Every cocktail is very well designed and crafted. There us usually a theme to the menu, and as of March 2025 that theme is tattoos. The menu showcases a lot of urban creativity in their taste. Even the classic cocktails are standouts. Those classics start at €10 each but your server can give specific prices. There's really nothing but a good time waiting for you here. You don't need a reservation as long as you aren't here late on a Friday or Saturday.

    Brownie Old Fashioneds
    Sean W.

    This bar is spectacular. The cocktails and the music put Freni e Frizioni in a class of its own. This isn't a pretentious, swanky cocktail bar, but the drinks would have you thinking otherwise. The brownie old fashioned is absolutely amazing. It's a sweet, rich chocolatey twist on a classic cocktail. They also served up a delicious whiskey sour in a coupe glass with egg white. This place is a must visit for anyone in the Trastevere neighborhood.

    Bar
    andy w.

    Edgy fun mixology joint. It's a top 50 bar in the world so it can get crowded. (No. 33 in 2022) Known for happy hour appetizer buffet they are highlighted regularly by travel influencer crowd. We had a Negroni (their take) and brownie old fashioned. Both were quite good. They are know for a aperitivo buffet. We don't try it but from our table there was a steady stream of patrons grazing on the food to complement their cocktails.

    Carena N.

    Top 100 bars in the world, with excellent drinks! This was recommended to us by the bar manager from Drink Kong, and it definitely did not disappoint. Their drinks are super affordable and they even serve you complimentary/free buffet styled vegetarian food! I highly recommend anyone that's visiting to make a visit here! I had the Crossing Over and it was great! I wish we had more time to spend here to have more of their drinks.

    View from my seat
    Amanda R.

    Stopped by for a drink and the aperitivo buffet. They were BUSY very soon after they opened. We got one of the last available tables. Service isn't great, it is obvious they are trying to run as many people through as quickly as possible. I did not enjoy my drink, but my husband enjoyed his. Food is fine. Wouldn't recommend unless you are solely looking for a cheap meal. There are definitely better options elsewhere.

    Front doors

    Gotta say this is the best bar I've been to in Rome. Mostly because the drinks are INCREDIBLE. I recommend ordering from their custom drink menu (which seems to change themes once in a while) I probably had about 6 of the Mexican Manhattans. They also offer a buffet for 2€ per person, which was a mix of cold salads: farro/feta, couscous, basmati, hummus, and some amazing fresh bruschetta, to name a few. It's just enough food to keep you drinking there, but doesn't fill you up so much that you skip dinner. Servers are all very friendly. Large patio with umbrellas and quite a lively place on the weekends with fun music. Located right next to the river in the heart of the Travestere neighborhood. Must visit here for awesome (and strong) drinks.

    Aperol spritz
    Helen Y.

    The BEST deal for apertivo in Rome! Food/Drink: I love their apertivo buffet selection. Even though the choices were all vegetarian, they were all super delicious. There are choices that ranged from carrots and celery with hummus, pasta salads, quinoa salads, rice dishes, etc etc. My personal favorite was the fruit salad which consisted of apples and pineapples coated with a layer of cinnamon sauce, sounds weird but it was impossible to stop eating it!! We also got the mint mojito and aperol spritz which are both the fan favorites and super good. Price: at 8 euros a drink this place is a steal for the amount of food you get. They also have a wide specialty cocktail selection that was around 12 euros per drink. Atmosphere: Very casual and lively! Google maps may be confusing since it will lead you down to a street when the actual restaurants is upstairs on a terrace of sorts. There is both indoor and outdoor seating but we chose to go with the crowd in the edge of the terrace, people watching as we went back for second servings. Tips: You need to ask servers to seat you at one of the tables (prices may also be different if you sit down) but you can also order at the bar and take it to the terrace!

    A toast with our cocktails!
    Aya S.

    If you're looking for a hip bar or a great place for aperitivo, then this place has you covered. I originally came here after doing a bit of research on the best affordable places to do aperitivo. For those who don't know what aperitivo is, it's when you order a drink and in turn have access to a buffet. The drinks here range in the 7-9 euro category (I went with 3 other people and most of our drinks were 8 euros). If it seems expensive to you after the conversion, just know these cocktails are no joke. The bartender literally crushes passion fruit into your drink. He wrapped my cocktail glass in a bamboo mat. Basically, they taste really good and look like what a fancy schmancy cocktail should look like. The food in question is also delicious. They have a lot to offer, are quick with platters that are on the verge of being emptied, and yes, a lot of it is vegetarian but you will find a few dishes with meat options as well. The downfall is the popularity. Even sitting outside can pose a problem if you're with a group because of the lack of space and sometimes you get stuck sitting near the bathroom. Try to come early or muster the courage to talk to a bunch of people who seem to exude YOLO vibes and just go with it.

    LOVE their cocktail menu!
    Dara M.

    A great spot for happy hour! In a really fun neighborhood (Trestavere) with lots of little bars and restaurants, Freni e Frizioni opens at 6:30 and offers aperitivo from 7:00-10:00 with a free buffet of appetizers and salads with purchase of a beverage. It was absolutely packed at 7:30 on a Tuesday. The bartenders are great--really knowledgeable and clearly take pride in their product. I love their menu, with looks like a comic strip or something. Lots of great cocktails to choose from. We tried the Kawasaki, Oscar White, and Cristian's Passion (made with a ton of fresh passion fruit) and they were all really well made. It seemed to be patronized primarily by tourists, but didn't feel touristy--a younger, hipper crowd. The buffet is mostly vegetarian, which suited me just fine. Nothing was standout delicious, but most everything was reasonably tasty. Waitresses are handsy--hang on to your plate/beverage if you're not finished or they'll whisk it away before you've realized what happened.

    The appetizer bar!!! Vegetarian and totally healthy and yummy!

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    Freni e Frizioni Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Freni e Frizioni

    I just love their unique cocktails, their hipster punk vibe, and their Aperitivo happy hour, which was three euros a plate.

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    Peaky Blinders

    Peaky Blinders

    4.9(7 reviews)
    0.7 kmCentro Storico

    What a cool and chic cocktail bar!…read more My husband and I visited Peaky Blinders kind of by mistake. We were on our way to Jerry Thomas Speakeasy and turned into the wrong street and saw their bright red door. We didn't stop here at first and went on our way to Jerry Thomas. Like always, JT was packed and they said they probably wouldn't have any openings until 1am (it was 9pm). We decided to go back and check out that cute little bar with the bright red door and were quickly welcomed by the owner and staff. This bar is inspired by the show Peaky Blinders and they have a lot of decor that goes in connection to the show. At the time of ordering our drinks, they told us that they didn't have a lot of the ingredients for most of the cocktails in the menu because they couldn't find fresh ingredients in the market and they are very particular as to what they serve to their customers. The owner quickly asked us what we were in the mood for and that he would prepare something unique just for us. I asked him for something fresh, but not too sweet with gin or vodka. He delivered exactly what I asked him and it was the most delicious drinks ever! I was honestly inspired by how passionate he was about the produce he was using in his cocktails, and how much love and dedication he had for serving the best of the best.

    My cousins and I have been here 2 nights in a row, going on 3! You walk down a slightly unsettling…read moreroad into an unexpectedly comfortable and welcoming bar... then you never want to leave. We had an old fashioned, a Daiquiri, and an English Rose (sweet, complex) on the first day, all of which were perfect. I spent 2 or more hours sitting and talking at a comfortable volume, listening to chill music. Lorenzo was our bartender for most of our trip (but we also just met Igino, who is also a great bartender!!), and every drink he made us was exactly what we wanted. On our second day, we had the Manhattan, Lorenzo's version of the English Rose, and a Moscow Mule. Then a new drink with cranberry and almond, another Lorenzo English Rose (because my cousin tasted it and loved it), and another Old Fashioned. Igino also made us some amazing drinks based on what we liked about our other drinks, and made us feel so welcome. Not only are the bartenders, drinks, music, and atmosphere amazing here, but the people who come here and chat with you are also super chill and friendly. You can tell that people who come to this bar are familiar with this place and love it as much as we already do. As cool as some of the bars in this city are, this one is one you can feel at home in. Definitely stop by, because you won't regret it, and you'll probably find yourself coming back as many days as you're here.

    Photos
    Peaky Blinders - English rose

    English rose

    Peaky Blinders - Peaky Blinders and some bar rules below

    Peaky Blinders and some bar rules below

    Peaky Blinders - Lemon & Juniper, very fresh and zesty

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    Lemon & Juniper, very fresh and zesty

    Niji Cafè

    Niji Cafè

    4.9(25 reviews)
    0.7 kmTrastevere
    €€

    Very cool cocktail bar that tries to be a "speakeasy" but doesn't quite reach that level of…read moresecrecy. We wandered in here before dinner in the Trastevere area of Rome looking for a high end cocktail. This place does not disappoint. The decor reminds me of Mardi Gras meets Prohibition... the cocktail menu is unique and the mixologist is simply outstanding. You do need to fill out a slip to "become a member" before they offer you a drink and take your order. While it looks a bit mysterious from the street, this sophisticated tiny cocktail bar is quite something. Definitely a nice place to sip on an elegant mixed adult beverage.

    Niji Cafe is the coolest bar in the Trastevere area…read more They are located next to a restaurant that was actually featured in a Netflix show and since then is forever busy, but next to that craziness you can find a red door which takes you to a magical places of delicious craft cocktails and a cool whimsical vibe. The only thing you need to do once you find the red door, is ring their doorbell and someone will come out and help you. They are a very small bar, so if you have a large party of 4+, I would suggest to make a reservation ahead of time. Their decoration is a mix of Alice in Wonderland with Italian hipster vibe. Everything feels super cool and the atmosphere is very welcoming. The cocktails are delicious and the bartender's english is pretty good, so if you are looking for recommendations he can help you. Another thing that I really like about this place is that people don't smoke inside. There are other speakeasies around town that allow smoking, and I honestly can't be there more than 1 hour. Salute!

    Photos
    Niji Cafè
    Niji Cafè
    Niji Cafè

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    Gregory's Live Jazz & Dinner Club

    Gregory's Live Jazz & Dinner Club

    4.3(58 reviews)
    1.9 kmCentro Storico
    €€

    Went here for the music, was completely blown away by everything this place had to offer…read more For starts the sushi was easily some of the best sushi I have ever had, it was simple but every ingredient was fresh and thought through. The edamame we had was soft and boiled/spiced to perfection. Originally we were just going to get a roll and a bowl but after trying the food we immediately got another roll. The staff was a whole new level of mind blowing. To start the waiter made us feel exactly where we belonged (even though we were a little underdressed for a classier restaurant). You could've just sat there and watched the bar tender all night, she looked like she was a professional I wouldn't want anyone else making me drinks. The atmosphere of the whole bar embodied a classic American jazz bar, even the other people and tables we were by were friendly and really added to the whole experience. Was very well worth the price and couldn't recommend any other restaurant.

    A jazz club for American tourists…read more Okay, there was one Australian lady and a few Chinese. Everyone else was American. Prices are sky-high because this is a soak the tourist situation. Alexanderplatz which is the premiere jazz club in Rome charges $18 euros for a month membership - no cover after that - and $12 per drink. So once you have paid your monthly cover charge, you can hear all the jazz you want for free - or if need be for $12 euros a drink At Alexanderplatz, the performances are legendary with some of the most innovative and technically amazing musicians in Rome. We dropped over $150 euros at Gregory's. We got a perfectly reasonable yeoman guitarist. But nothing like the artistic lions that routinely perform over at Alexanderplatz. Now to be fair, we had dinner at Gregory's and we never eat at Alexanderplatz. The standard "sushi dinner" was perfectly reasonable yeoman sushi. There was so little of it that we both had to order a la carte dishes afterwards. The extra extras seriously expanded the final tab. * * * One argument in Gregory's favor: their bar is extraordinary. The bar at Alexanderplatz is mediocre. Gregory's charges top dollar for its bar offerings, but what they mix and what is in their bottles is worth every single euro they ask for. I would be perfectly happy to just go to the bar, and order a few premium beverages. I would hear my wallet cry. But I would know that I was drinking supremely well in return for my investment. Fortunately, the bar is downstairs from the club. I would not have to put up with the shenanigans in the club. * * * The problem with the club is the crowd. At most, one third of the customers are actually there to listen to jazz. The room is filled with tourists taking selfies. There are also hot-daters playing snuggle-buns. Many of them will leave mid-set so they can go back to the hotel. Gregory's is less about the music and more about selling happy memories of Rome. * * * Alexanderplatz gets a mostly Italian crowd. You are looking as musicians, music critics, academics, and all purpose artsy types - as well as normal Italian human beings who just want to hear fine music. The music is taken very very seriously. Yeah, there are usually two or three tables with good time Charlies who are doing the phone recording, party hearty thing. But this is 8% of the audience at Alexanderplatz as opposed to 70% of the audience at Gregory's. To be fair to the crowd at Gregory's, the music at Alexanderplatz is simply better. The jazz at Alexanderplatz is capable of transfixing even philistines with tin ears. Gregory's jazz doesn't put that much on the table. But the crowd at Alexanderplatz sets me up for listening to mystic, complex music with the highest level of attention and aesthetic receptiveness. The crowd at Gregory's just gets me irritated. * * * If you are in Rome with a hot date, go to Gregory's. Be prepared to shell out the bucks. * * * If you are in Rome with someone who can truly appreciate once-in-a-lifetime musical experiences, take them to Alexanderplatz. After you talk about the music for half an hour after the concert, You can still go back to the hotel. Just figure that the hotel will be the second best part of the night.

    Photos
    Gregory's Live Jazz & Dinner Club
    Gregory's Live Jazz & Dinner Club
    Gregory's Live Jazz & Dinner Club - The jazz club

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    The jazz club

    Jerry Thomas Speakeasy - Entrance door

    Jerry Thomas Speakeasy

    4.3(86 reviews)
    0.8 kmCentro Storico
    €€€

    Still my favorite bar in the world, the class and service here is the best! I love the interesting…read moresetting and seating position for guests to feel unique and private. On this recent, I had the famed blue blaze which shutdown the lights in the bar as they meticulously prepared this specialty. This was special and I enjoyed many penicillins on this trip! The main bar and staff were excellent!

    Sometimes you just get lucky and stumble upon an experience that completely blows you away. My…read morehusband had read about this speakeasy in Rome and wanted to go. You have to make a reservation, as this is a private club. How intriguing! The club opens at 9:00 PM and closes at 4:00 AM. So, we made a reservation for a Sunday evening. It is located down a dimly lit street off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II - adding more to the intrigue. There is really no signage except on the door there is a brass plaque that says "Prof. Jerry Thomas." You ring the bell, the door is answered, you give your name and the password (Yes, there is a password to get in), and you are admitted to the club. There is a €5 per person annual membership fee. We were warmly greeted by Roberto and seated at a comfortable table. This speakeasy held about 25 people, with two bartenders mixing drinks. Euro and Roberto saw to our every need and were excellent! When my husband asked if they had rye whisky on the bar, Roberto suggested he go to the bar and look. They had probably 14 different bottles of rye, but none from Maryland. When he asked for a rye Manhattan, Roberto brought over a bottle of their "house" rye, which was made especially for them. After he mentioned that if his Manhattan was made using their house rye, the cost would be €40. My husband quickly declined and opted for a regular rye Manhattan for €15! I am not much of drinker, so they made me an Amaretto. Both were served on the rocks, except this time, each had one huge ice cube - we had never seen such large cubes before. We both thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Speakeasy and told Roberto we would be back again. It was such an interesting, fun and enjoyable concept.

    Photos
    Jerry Thomas Speakeasy - Doorbell - need secret password to get in!

    Doorbell - need secret password to get in!

    Jerry Thomas Speakeasy - Manhattan

    Manhattan

    Jerry Thomas Speakeasy - Bar

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    Bar

    Freni e Frizioni - wine_bars - Updated July 2026

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