Bar del Fico

Bar del Fico stands at the corner of Via della Pace and Piazza del Fico, a small square in the tangle of lanes just west of Piazza Navona. The bar traces its origins back about a century, to a dairy shop that also served drinks. According to the bar, the square takes its name from the craftsmen who once made cooking pots here, called figulus, close to a market that was held in the area.

Over the years Bar del Fico has become one of the classic meeting points of the historic centre, popular with Romans as well as visitors. It works across the whole day. In the late morning there is coffee and breakfast; at lunchtime a fresh, modern menu; and in the early evening aperitivo with cocktails, wine and snacks, when the outdoor tables fill up and the crowd spills into the square. At dinner, the kitchen serves Roman-style pizza and traditional Roman dishes, and later in the evening DJ sets turn it into a lively late-night bar.

The bar is open seven days a week from 10:30 to 2:00. Tables can be booked online through the bar's website, by phone on +39 06 6889 1373 or by WhatsApp on +39 342 507 0486, which is worth doing for dinner or for an outdoor table at aperitivo time. There are also private rooms for events, with space for groups from about 20 to 160 people. Enquiries can be emailed to [email protected].

It suits groups of friends, couples and anyone who wants a sociable evening in the centre, from a relaxed aperitivo outdoors to a later night with music. The atmosphere becomes busier and louder as the evening goes on, especially at weekends, so come early if you prefer a quieter drink. Prices are moderate for this central location.

Via della Pace is a short walk from the north-western corner of Piazza Navona, and the area is full of bars and restaurants, so it is easy to make a night of it. The cloister of Santa Maria della Pace, designed by Bramante, is next door and hosts exhibitions by day. Terrazza Borromini, with its rooftop over Piazza Navona, is a couple of minutes away, and buses stop on Corso del Rinascimento and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.