Freni e Frizioni

A former auto-repair garage (the name means 'brakes and clutches') transformed into Trastevere's most stylish aperitivo bar. The draw is the lavish aperitivo buffet served from around 19:00 — order a cocktail and you get access to a spread of pasta, bruschetta, salads, and cured meats that constitutes a full dinner. The cocktail list is creative and well-executed. The small piazza outside fills with a buzzy mix of young Romans and visitors on warm evenings. It gets loud and crowded by 21:00, which is either the appeal or the reason to come earlier.