Rome Takes a Detour Down Columbia Road at Freni e Frizioni

Photo Credit: Freni e Frizioni

Freni e Frizioni is a vibe. It’s also where Roman nightlife comes to life. A former mechanic shop turned “street cocktail bar,” it’s been an institution since opening in 2005, firmly anchoring itself in Trastevere — the neighborhood known for narrow alleys, the Tiber bridges, and the kind of buzzing bar-and-restaurant scene that makes it one of the most electric corners of the city after dark.

The décor nods to its past life with rustic, industrial touches layered against contemporary art scattered across the walls. Walk inside and you’ll find two distinct moods: the first room with its massive counter, where bartenders move like athletes behind the stick to keep pace with the high volume; and the second room with its long marble table, where their beloved aperitivo is served daily from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. Step outside, though, and you’ll find the real magic — the little square in front of the bar, a Roman summertime ritual in itself, filled nightly with locals and travelers holding drinks al fresco, especially on weekends when the crowd swells.

The atmosphere is always the same: fun, relaxed, and vibrant — exactly what a dive bar with a cult following should be. Drink lists, refreshed every six months, come with playful themes and graphics; no one style dominates, but there’s always something for every palate, plus a reverence for the classics (never printed, but always executed flawlessly).

That balance of personality and professionalism has pushed Freni e Frizioni into the big leagues: it’s earned recognition on global lists like World’s 50 Best Bars, Tales of the Cocktail, and Top 500 Bars. And Riccardo Rossi and his team haven’t stopped there. In 2016, together with the Jerry Thomas Project, they launched La Punta Expendio de Agave — one of Europe’s best agave bars, serving true Mexican food alongside an unparalleled collection of agave spirits. Then came Freni e Frizioni Bar Selection, a line of draft cocktails brewed in central Italy and distributed nationwide.

Nearly two decades on, Freni e Frizioni isn’t just a cocktail bar — it’s a cultural landmark, a piece of Trastevere’s DNA, and the kind of place where aperitivo hour is just the beginning of the night.

Photo Credit: Freni e Frizioni

And on that note, so is our cocktail of the week pick, the Columbia Road, a refreshing gin and lavender libation that owner Riccardo Rossi shares as being, “inspired by Columbia Road in London, where every Sunday there’s the biggest flower market of the city. It’s a drink between a gin fizz and a gin tonic, refreshing with strong flower notes.” Here is how to make this sleek Italian-meets-British cocktail at home.

HOW TO MAKE THE COLUMBIA ROAD

Photo Credit: Freni e Frizioni

1 oz Tanqueray Ten

.5 oz Venturi Aperitivo

1 oz Flower Power Cordial

3 oz Galvanina Tonic Water

2 drops Lavender Bitter

Freni e Frizioni is located at Via del Politeama, 4, 00153 Roma RM, Italy