Yesterday, a friend asked me for some suggestions of places to drink wine in Rome. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Casa Bleve Via del Teatro Valle 49 (Pantheon). They have a fabulous lunch buffet for around 25 euros and now they serve dinner, too: cheeses, salumi, smoked fish and a few hot dishes. Their treccia di bufala (braided buffalo mozzarella) is ridiculous. Ask to see their cellar which is built around a wall from the Baths of Agripps (c 19 BCE).

Cavour 313 via Cavour 313 (Monti). This place is about 200 yards from my house and their list is pretty good though the benches inside are horribly uncomfortable. Eat the carpaccio.

Cul de Sac Piazza Pasquino (Piazza Navona). Ditto on the bench situation. This is a physically uncomfortable place to be, but with their cheese list you are guaranteed to be in a food coma in minutes and you will barely notice.

Al Vino Al Vino Via dei Serpenti 16 (Monti). This is my local joint. I love their Quintarelli Primofiore with formaggi misti and caponata (sweet and sour eggplant made by owner Giacomo’s mamma). Great place to go to see how many lunatic drunks live in my neighborhood. Its also nice to duck in for lunch. Giacomo’s mom sends him to work with food she makes (eggplant parm is damn good) and he usually also has some torte rustiche on hand.

Categories: Restaurants, Rome & Lazio, Wine