Freni e Frizioni

A former mechanic's garage in Trastevere turned into Rome's benchmark aperitivo bar — a generous buffet included with every drink, and a courtyard that fills up fast once the sun goes down.

Being a former mechanic's garage is more than a marketing line — the original tiled floor and garage doors, now folded open onto the street in summer, are still part of the fit-out. It set the template most of Trastevere's other aperitivo bars still follow, which also means it's the busiest: arrive by early evening if you want space in the courtyard rather than standing on the steps outside.