Rome's original secret bar, hidden behind a bookcase door near Campo de' Fiori. You'll need a password (sent via their website) to get in, but once past the entrance you're in one of the most theatrical cocktail experiences in Europe — a dimly lit Prohibition-era basement where the bartenders treat every drink like a performance. Named after the father of American mixology, it's been ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars nine times, and the cocktails genuinely live up to the hype.
A password-protected Prohibition-era basement near Campo de' Fiori serving some of the finest cocktails in Italy — ranked 9× in the World's 50 Best Bars.
Request your password through their website before heading over — without it, the bookcase door stays shut.
Rome's best-kept secret — and the cocktails are too
This is the bar that put Rome's cocktail scene on the world map. Tucked into a basement off Vicolo Cellini, you enter through what looks like a bookcase — but only after whispering the password you've requested through their website. The whole thing feels like a 1920s Prohibition den: low ceilings, candlelight, vintage decor, and a soundtrack that keeps the mood just right. It's small, it's dark, and it's absolutely worth the effort of getting in.
The cocktails are the real star. These bartenders take their craft seriously — every ingredient is deliberate, every pour measured, and the presentation is theatrical without being gimmicky. The Old Fashioned is a standout, but the menu rotates and the bartenders will happily build something off-menu if you tell them what you like. Reviewers consistently call these some of the best cocktails they've ever had, and the attention to detail in each glass backs that up.
It's not a place for a quick drink — expect to settle in, pay a bit more than your average Roman bar (there's a small cover charge/taxe), and savor the experience. Go on a weeknight if you can; weekends get crowded and the intimate atmosphere suffers a bit when it's packed. Book ahead, get your password, and don't skip it.