As evening falls in the Eternal City many of Rome’s residents make their way to local bars and restaurants to meet up with friends, kick back and relax or enjoy a bite to eat and a drink after a long day. One of Rome’s favorite pastimes as the day winds down is to take part in a unique Italian dining concept known as Apericena.
What Is Apericena?
Apericena takes place in the evening and combines the best of a traditional Aperitivo and a full-blown dinner. Typically, an Apericena involves an all-you-can-eat buffet and drinks from the bar. In other cases, you may order side dishes, platters of snacks to share and, if you’re feeling hungry, a main course and dessert as well.
However, what makes Apericena different from a normal restaurant experience is that it tends to be a lot more informal. There is sometimes live music and the atmosphere can often be quite lively.
Meeting up for Apericena is a great way to spend quality time with your friends, family or work colleagues in a casual setting. Another major advantage of an Apericena is that it is much cheaper than eating out in a traditional restaurant, especially if you have access to an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Most Popular Places For Apericena In Rome.
The following are some of the most popular places for Apericena in Rome:
Mille 13 Bistro Roma.
This beautiful bistro has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and serves a fantastic buffet, a wide selection of cocktails, wines, beers and soft drinks each evening. Located just around the corner from Roma Termini station, it’s a great spot to drop by in the evening as you travel through the city. As the night progresses you can enjoy live music and DJ sets and, if you’re inclined, you can party late into the night after your Apericena.
The food is based on traditional Roman recipes but there’s a good choice of international dishes as well. If you want to book a private event you can reserve the terrace and choose from numerous types of buffets as well as full access to the bar. All in all, the Mille 13 Bistro Roma is an excellent establishment for a fun Apericena in central Rome.
Tribeca.
Elegant, stylish and sophisticated, the Tribeca has a chic bohemian vibe and serves wonderful food and a massive selection of drinks. During the evening you can sample a top quality buffet while enjoying a drink and chilling out with your friends. The prices are astoundingly reasonable and you can have a full Apericena, including a buffet meal and a drink, for under 15 Euros per person.
The kitchen specializes in a unique fusion of classic Roman and New York flavors, so the all-you-can-eat buffet is not worth missing. The Tribeca staff are super friendly and are always on hand to give you tips on the best offerings behind the bar. During the evening you can take in the live music performances and for private parties, you can book a part of the establishment for your group.
Abitudini E Follie.
This stunning glass-fronted cafe services magnificent Italian cuisine, divine cakes, pastries, bar snacks and has an extensive wine list. Abitudini e Follie, literally meaning ‘Habits and Follies’, is a great place for a relaxing bite to eat in the evening. Some of the highlights on the menu include the Gourmet Mini Hamburgers and the homemade Beetroot Dumplings on Pumpkin and Ginger Fondue, both of which are absolutely mouthwatering.
There’s also an enchanting selection of cakes and pastries as well as the full-blown a la carte menu. If you’d like to unwind with a cake or pastry you can also order hot chocolate, tea or an infusion drink. The cafe serves a nice breakfast each morning and a casual brunch each day before it launches the Apericena in the evening.
Binario Zero Caffe.
Open late into the night, Binario Zero Caffe is a laid-back dining room with an outdoor terrace that serves a top quality Apericena in the evening. Originally founded in the early 1960s as a family-run ice cream bar, it soon grew in popularity and opened a pizzeria that just continued to grow! Today, there’s a great menu that includes sandwiches, salads, meat dishes, seafood, pizza and a delicious selection of desserts.
Of course, there’s a fully stocked bar with special prices at Happy Hour each night. The establishment runs a luggage storage facility where you can leave your baggage for as long as you need to before arranging to pick it up. The bar is also a haven for soccer fans as it shows all the major European Champions League and Europa League matches live on the wide-screen TV.
Momart.
This trendy bar and cellar restaurant has a delightful outdoor heated terrace and serves a magical candlelit Apericena in the evening. During the Apericena you can pick from an enticing all-you-can-eat buffet, with hot and cold foods including oven cooked pizzas, and enjoy a drink from the bar for under 15 Euros per person.
Alternatively, you can order from the menu which includes delicious seafood, pizzas, meat, salads and traditional Roman side dishes. The kitchen uses organic ingredients in all its food and there are numerous vegan and vegetarian options as well. Each night there are bargain prices at the bar during Happy Hour although if you prefer you can opt for a coffee and a snack instead.
The Apartment Bar Roma.
The Apartment Bar Roma is an industrial-styled vintage bar that serves an Italian-themed buffet, tasty snacks and platters to share, cocktails, wines and soft drinks. All the food is served fresh from the kitchen and always uses seasonal ingredients in the recipes.
The bar has a beautiful outdoor terrace and if you’d like to try something new you can even ask the barman to invent you a unique cocktail on the spot! There’s a great range of food on offer during the Apericena including side dishes, salads, first courses, second courses and plenty of traditional Roman cuisine.
Gatsby Cafe.
This cafe, named after the legendary protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, has a sophisticated atmosphere and serves beautiful cocktails, cafe style meals and hosts regular performances of live jazz. There are cut prices at the bar during the daily Happy Hour and the food is served late into the night.
The ambiance is unbeatable for Apericena although you can also drop by for brunch during the day. The Gatsby Cafe is super trendy and laid back making it the perfect place for a romantic evening or meeting up with your friends in the city. Lastly, unlike many of the other sophisticated establishments in the city, dogs are not only allowed but more than welcome at the Gatsby Cafe!
Molino Bakery Bar Cucina.
The super-friendly Molino Bakery Bar Cucina is a pizzeria, hamburger bar, tavern, bakery and bar, all in one. It has a lovely dining room, great staff and is the perfect place for a cozy Apericena in the evening. There’s a real home-from-home feel at the bar and the handmade, oven baked pizzas are definitely worth trying. Each pizza is left for the traditional 72 to hours to slowly rise and is seasoned with local ingredients, including some unique toppings that you won’t find anywhere else.
Libreria Caffè Bohemien.
This cafe and bar has a shabby-chic décor with walls that are lined with books, a superb choice of drinks and magnificent food, snacks and platters to share with your friends. The ideal place to unwind after a busy day in the city and even if you drop by on your own no one will mind if you dive into your favorite book while having a drink and some food.
As the evening progresses, the establishment hosts live music performances by local artists and during the Happy Hour, you can get some great deals behind the bar. This dreamy establishment is one of the city’s best-kept secrets so if you’re passing by it’s definitely worth checking it out one evening.
Rooftop Spritzeria Monti.
Rooftop Spritzeria Monti is situated on a 5th-floor rooftop terrace above the boutique Condominio Monti Hotel and has spectacular views of the iconic Colosseum. There’s a sophisticated atmosphere where you can enjoy an informal Apericena with soothing background music, smart modern décor and a drinks list that is primarily based on the Spritzes.
The food is top quality with a huge choice of shareable platters including cold-cut meats, cheeses, raw foods, snacks, vegetarian items and a wide range of traditional regional cuisine. There are few places in the city that have a better atmosphere, views and choice of drinks and food in Rome, so make sure you add the Rooftop Spritzeria Monti to your itinerary.
Appia Caffe.
Appia Caffe is a down-to-earth bar and restaurant that serves fantastic paninis, bar food, sandwiches, cakes, pastries and coffees. Of course, there is also a fully stocked bar that serves all the usual cocktails, spirits, beers, wines and soft drinks and although the prices are low to mid-range the quality of the food is very good.
This is a really laid-back establishment and has spacious outdoor seating as well as a nice indoor dining area. The staff are extremely friendly and you’re guaranteed to have a truly memorable Apericena if you visit with a few friends after work, so what are you waiting for?
Apericena In Rome – Start Your Evening In Style.
Apericena is one of the best ways to get your evening off to a great start. The perfect way to meet up with friends, have a bite to eat and a few drinks, Apericena offers the best of a restaurant meal and an Aperitif. During Apericena you have the chance to sample a wide range of different dishes and if you have access to an all-you-can-eat buffet you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth!
