Meet il Marchese, Europe’s first amaro bar & Roman trattoria in Rome’s centro storico

Il Marchese unites the best of two worlds: a bar with elegant French salon accents, pompous chandeliers, and a restaurant with the coziness of a Roman trattoria. But it’s not just the décor that’s impressive. When you walk into Il Marchese you step inside Europe’s first Amaro bar with more than 500 different Amaro labels.

Opened in 2018 in an eighteenth-century palazzo on Via di Ripetta, a few steps from the Ara Pacis and the city’s fashion streets, Il Marchese is the work of Davide Solari and Lorenzo Renzi, friends since their school days.

What began here has since become a name that now extends across Italy. After Rome came Milan in 2022, followed by a summer location in Poltu Quatu on the Costa Smeralda, and a mountain opening in Courmayeur for the 2025-26 winter season. The Rome address, though, remains the original: an intimate Roman house looking onto the street, in the heart of the city yet tucked away like a private drawing room.

During the 2021 G20 in Rome, Il Marchese had two special customers: the American First Lady Jill Biden and the French Première Dame Brigitte Macron. The two ladies said they were “delighted with the lovely welcome”, complimenting the staff and the quality of the products.

Il Marchese takes its name from the Marchese del Grillo, made famous by Alberto Sordi in the classic Italian film: a true gentleman, always inclined to irony, a lover of tradition but equally at ease with those who come from different cultures. That double soul, the aristocrat and the everyman, runs through the whole place.

Cocktail bar & Amaro Bar

The amaro and cocktail bar at Il Marchese pays tribute to the elegance of nineteenth-century French aristocracy, with fine stuccoes, wallpapers and velvets. Leading it is Fabrizio Valeriani, the group’s bar manager, who designs the seasonal drink lists across all the venues.

The mixology here has always centred on amaro. Il Marchese was the first in Europe to open an amaro bar, with around 500 labels from the start, ranging from the most prestigious names to small local producers. The drink list is built around this and changes roughly twice a year.

The heart of it is the Americano section, with six variations, each made with a different amaro and marked on the menu by its level of sweetness or bitterness. The Americano n°1, always on the list, blends Campari, Cinzano 1797 red vermouth, Velluto Braulio Riserva, black tea soda with pear and cinnamon, and chocolate bitters. Alongside it you’ll find the Twist on Classic drinks, where the Cavaliere di Franciacorta has become a signature, a selection of Luxurious cocktails for something more special, and a line of low-ABV options for drinking well with less alcohol, including a Negroni Zero.

A refined Roman trattoria

In the kitchen is Roman chef Daniele Roppo, with Solari and Renzi since the very first opening and now executive chef across all the venues. His cooking has strong Roman roots, drawing on traditional recipes lightened for a contemporary palate, with vegetarian dishes on the menu too.

Quality comes first. Ingredients are sourced from local producers: the guanciale is from Re Norcino in Ascoli Piceno, an award-winning producer, and the pecorino is from Cibaria.

Among the starters, don’t miss the bollito croquette with green sauce, a Roman dish from Roppo’s grandmother. The first courses are a tribute to the “Roman poker” of Carbonara, Amatriciana, Gricia and Cacio e pepe, served in the restaurant’s iconic little pan. Also worth trying is the tortello filled with porcini, finished with butter and Parmesan. Among the mains are the veal fillet cooked as a saltimbocca and the lamb meatball “alla scottadito”, plus lighter options like a Caesar salad or mixed greens with citrus-marinated salmon and guacamole.

Desserts are all homemade, from the great classic of Italian pastry, tiramisù (in both the traditional and pistachio versions), to a plate of three chocolates, salted caramel and popcorn.

So how do you describe Il Marchese? A place with two souls, mixing Roman recipes with a contemporary twist and countless amaro labels, a new way of spending time together in contemporary Rome, seven days a week, from 12pm to 2am. Quality food, quality drinks and quality people, all day long.

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A Local’s Guide to Prati, the Vatican’s Under-the-Radar Neighbor

Known for its wide, sweeping avenues, elegant buildings, and modern European charm, Prati has a distinct personality and a style reminiscent more of a quartier in Paris than a former marshland in Rome. Its convenient location (above the Vatican and across the Tiber), high-end shopping street and cool restaurants make it the Roman’s best-kept secret.

Often referred to as the “white-collar” neighborhood, Prati also serves as a residential zone for upper class Romans. Its organized grid layout and elegant “Art Nouveau” and “Umbertino” style give it a unique personality.  During the weekdays, Prati serves as Rome’s corporate hub, the fast-paced stomping ground for business-oriented professionals.

In addition to the enormous Palazzo di Giustizia, in Piazza Cavour, which houses the Supreme Court, Prati’s two tribunal courts make it the hot spot for lawyers. When the sun goes down and the workweek comes to a close, businesses pump the breaks and the social scene comes alive. Wine bars, live music venues, and international and classic Roman restaurants spread throughout the neighborhood, being mostly frequented by locals.

However, the neighborhood’s major attraction is the extensive shopping street, devoid of tourists called Via Cola di Rienzo, named after a Roman senator and nobleman. A less-crowded version of via del Corso, Cola di Rienzo is lined with many high-end and affordable International and Italian brands. The long stretch of shops has its fair share of major labels, alongside Italian boutiques, cafés and restaurants.

Unlike the cramped center and its dreaded “Varco Attivo”, Prati’s spacious streets offer more options for groups of friends to hang out on the weekend.

​​Remarkably, it is one of the few neighborhoods that has not yet been overrun by tourists. Whether it’s because the Vatican steals its thunder, or because it doesn’t look like the typical “Rome” pictured on postcards, we can’t say for sure. What we can do is give you the inside scoop on where to eat, shop and what to see when you venture to the other side of the Tiber.

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A lush outdoor restaurant with a dreamlike atmosphere, right by the Palatine Hill.

In front of Rome’s Palatine Hill and inside 400 years of history lies Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant – the lush outdoor restaurant of the four-star Kolbe Hotel Rome. Originally a monastery, the building was transformed into a hotel and restaurant in 2007. Since then, Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant has become one of our favorite spots for enjoying an al fresco dinner in the heart of Rome.

The area has recently gained even more beauty and tranquility thanks to the construction of a new sidewalk along Via di San Teodoro — perfect for an evening stroll around the Colosseum archaeological park after dinner.

But this isn’t just any outdoor dining spot… this one is extra special! Just step inside to get a taste of what we’re talking about. As you enter the garden, you find yourself immersed in a dreamlike atmosphere: blossoming trees and centuries-old olive trees and citrus trees, away from the clamor of the city. The restaurant’s garden is everything one could wish for. It’s an oasis of peace to taste delicious flavors away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant offers traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist using innovative cooking techniques. Ingredients are fresh and the produce is exclusively Italian for an authentic taste around the Italian territory.

We especially love their seafood offerings. As a starter, we tried and adored their tuna tartare with mango and red loin eggs. For the first course, their paccheri from Gragnano with grouper sauce is a must-try. And as a second course, who could resist their frittura: delicious fried prawns and shrimp, still incredibly delicate. For those who prefer meat, the Roman-style grilled lamb chops or the pink pepper fillet with sautéed spinach are excellent choices.

There are also tasty options for vegetarians. And remember to leave some room for a delicious tiramisu, or for a p istachio parfait served on a chocolate wafer! The superb wine list and excellent service will contribute to making this experience incredible.

Their garden is a magical location to dine in, as is their fabulous open terrace with a breathtaking view, which is only available for private parties. If you prefer to stay indoors, the restaurant also boasts a beautiful interior dining room with enchanting vaulted ceilings and a mix of wooden and red accents.

The setting is the perfect combination between the past and present, refined elegance and antique charm.

And within a stone’s throw away from Circo Massimo and the Jewish Quarter, Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant is the perfect place to stop by for a romantic candlelit dinner immersed in a charming garden with your other half, a place to organize a party, or even a business meeting.

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Step inside Il Marchese, Europe's first Amaro Bar with over 500 amaro labels uniting French elegance with Roman coziness and cuisine.

The post Il Marchese: a Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in Rome appeared first on Romeing | Rome's english magazine, events and exhibitions in Rome.

Right by the Palatine Hill lies Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant – a lush outdoor gourmet restaurant with a dreamlike atmosphere in Rome.

The post Unique al Palatino Garden Restaurant: an oasis in the heart of Rome appeared first on Romeing | Rome's english magazine, events and exhibitions in Rome.

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Taste delicious pasta, pizza and more at Eataly's newly redesigned Pizza e Cucina restaurant. Fresh ingredients, great prices and special encounters with pizza makers await you.

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