Best Cheap Buffet Bars in Rome for an Italian Aperitif

Visiting Buffet Bars in Rome for an Italian Aperitivo is an excellent idea because you can eat typical Roman food for a lower price and meet with your friends to discuss the latest news. Mainly, aperitivo (aperitif) is an Italian version of happy hour.

The typical aperitif includes a drink and a buffet that you could pass up during the entire dinner or a particular set of dishes that come along with your drink.

Also, the apericena time starts from 6.30 pm more or less, while between 9 pm and 10 pm it ends. The average price for an aperitif per person is 10-15 euros. Here is my rating of the Best Cheap Buffet Bars in Rome for an Italian Aperitif:

Camillo B.

Camillo B. is a restaurant, cafe, and pizzeria right on Piazza Cavour, in the heart of the historic center of Rome. It is located only 500 meters from the Vatican City. Furthermore, the restaurant’s philosophy is in its relaxing atmosphere where food is understood as a moment of pause and conversation with people you love. Therefore, this place is ideal for having an aperitif with a good choice of food, high-quality cocktails, and a warm ambiance in the center of Rome.

• Address: Camillo B, Piazza Cavour 19-21 Roma.
• Price for aperitivo: 10-12 euro per person (depending on drink) + buffet included in price. On the second drink, there is a price reduction.
• Aperitivo hours: from 6 pm until 8.30 pm
• Website: www.camillob.com
• Phone: +39 06 6832077

Momart Cafè

Momart is a famous place for its great brunches, lunch, and aperitivo because of the rich choice of food offered and a list of wonderful cocktails, where each guest can find something that matches his tastes. The aperitif costs 11 euros, plus 6 euros for every additional cocktail, with a buffet included from Monday until Saturday. Regarding Sunday, the price for the first cocktail with buffet leaves the same, while every additional cocktail can be ordered for 11 euros.

Advice: You should better book a table in advance because Momart is usually full of guests

• Address: Viale Ventuno Aprile, 19, 00162 Roma
• Aperitivo hours: from 6 pm until 10.30 pm
• Email: info@momartcafe.it
• Website: www.momartcafe.it
• Phone: +39 06 86391656

Rec 23

Rec 23 is located in the popular area of Testaccio. The restaurant offers a wide selection of the most famous rums and aged whiskeys without neglecting the important Italian grappa, while the list of wines includes more than 100 labels. Speaking about aperitivo, every day Rec23 offers a wide selection of dishes for 10 euros per person, where the drink and unlimited buffet are included in the price. You can find popular cocktails on their menu and unique drinks with excellent taste. Undoubtedly, Rec 23 is a perfect place to spend your evening in good company with a wonderful ambiance.

 Advice: Try Baby Zombie cocktail

• Address: Piazza dell’Emporio ½, 00153, Roma
• Aperitivo Hours: Mon-Sat 6.30 pm-9 pm; Sun 6.30 pm-10 pm
• Phone: +39 06 87462147

VinAllegro

VinAllegro wine bar is located in the famous area of Trastevere, where you can find many bars and restaurants with Italian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican food. The price for the aperitif is 10 euros with 5 euros for the second cocktail/beer/glass of wine. It is famous for its food choice for “happy hour” and friendly ambiance with excellent service.

• Address: Piazza Giuditta Tavani Arquati, 114, 00153 Roma
• Phone: +39 06 589 5802
• Website: www.vinallegro.com

Cencio La Parolaccia

Two restaurants are located right near each other in the famous area of Trastevere: La Parolaccia and La Parolaccia & Sons. La Parolaccia is not simply a restaurant but a unique place with excellent food and a cabaret show with obscene vocabulary. The animators, the pianist, and waiters will take care making you spend an unforgettable evening by involving you in their gags and sometimes insulting jokes. The price for aperitivo there is 10 euro.

• Address: Vicolo de’ Cinque, 3, 00153 Roma
• Phone: +39 06 580 3633
• Website: www.cenciolaparolaccia.it

‘GUSTO

‘Gusto restaurant offers one of the best aperitivo buffets in Rome with an extensive list of wines, beers, and cocktails. You can come for aperitif every evening until 9 pm but be prepared for the queues. For 10 euros per person, you will enjoy a variety of typical Roman food in a great ambiance with gentle waiters and bartenders.

• Address: Piazza Imperatore Augusto 9 | angolo con (corner of) Via di Ripetta, 00186 Rome, Italy (Campo Marzio)
• Phone: +39 06 322 6273
• Website: www.gusto.it

Freni e Frizioni

This restaurant is located in the Trastevere area, a few steps from Piazza Trilussa. Freni e Frizioni has two spacious rooms with colorful retro furnishings, chandeliers, and contemporary art paintings on the walls. Also, Freni e Frizioni has a wide range of wines, beers, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. The buffet is vibrant with various pasta, salads, couscous, rice, focaccia, bruschettas, and sauces of different kinds. This place is one of the most famous for aperitivo in Rome.

Advice: Discover Trastevere area, it is plenty of unique bars and local restaurants with great food and good prices

• Price for aperitivo: 8-10 euros (depends on the drink, buffet included)
• Aperitivo hours: 7 pm-10 pm
• Address: Via del Politeama, 4/6, 00153 Roma RM
• Website: www.freniefrizioni.com
• Phone: +39 06 4549 7499

Fluid Cocktail & Wine Bar

The Fluid Cocktail & Wine Bar is a modern place located in Rome’s city center, right near Piazza Navona. The buffet consists of various first and main courses, fruits, and small portions of desserts. In addition, the buffet is unlimited with a cost of 10 euros on Sunday, while during the week, the price is 8.50 euros per person, with a drink included. The feature of this place is its location and the high quality of food offered at an excellent price.

• Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 46, 00186 Roma RM
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/fluideventi/
• Phone: +39 06 683 2361

La Zanzara Bistrot

La Zanzara is another excellent place where to spend “happy hour.” However, compared to other bars and restaurants, there is a rule: “You only pay for what you drink” every day from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Moreover, you can find 21 types of wines by the glass on their menu, a list of 21 cocktails, and many craft and bottled beers. La Zanzara is against the Buffet Aperitivo. So that, when you order a drink, you will receive it with finger food version appetizers.

• Address: Via Crescenzio, 84, 00193, Roma
• Website: www.lazanzararoma.com
• Phone: +39 06 68392227
• Email: info@lazanzararoma.com

You might also like: Where to have breakfast in Rome

Doppio Zero

After the war, Doppio Zero was the most famous bakery in Rome. Today, Doppio Zero is one of the most favorite places for aperitivo, brunch, breakfast, lunch, or just a cup of coffee because of the high quality of food served and good choice of dishes on the Buffet for aperitivo and creative cocktails offered in the menu. Moreover, the price per person is 10euro (9 euros for non-alcohol drinks), where one drink and an unlimited buffet are included.

Advice: Try their sweets, especially Cheesecake with raspberry and lemon jam

• Address: Via Ostiense, 68, Roma RM
• Phone: +39 06 57301961
• Aperitivo Hours: Mon-Sat 6 pm – 9 pm; Sun 6 pm – 10 pm
• Website: www.doppiozeroo.com

Now you know the best buffet bars for an Italian aperitivo chosen from my experience in Rome. According to you, write in comments which aperitif in Rome is the best!

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)