The Best Bar in Rome
A seat at The Court located in the Palazzo Manfredi hotel overlooks Ludus Magnus, ruins where gladiators lived and trained, and the Flavian Amphitheater, commonly known as the Colosseum. In a city like Rome, it is hard to determine the best of anything since there is so much to taste and explore; however, it is hard to rival the experience of sipping a cocktail while looking onto a place that endured man, beast--civilizations, since A.D. 72.
The Court cocktail bar is intimate with limited seating. Bottles line mirrored shelves and mixologists quietly prep drinks like a Caesar Sour or a Roman Martini. The menu boasts caviar pairings and an Amaro section, which requires the prescription of amaro expert and Bar Manager, Matteo Zed. Matteo moved back to Rome for The Court's opening in July after working in New York at Dead Rabbit, learning the art of ice-making in Japan, and spending the past two years on his soon-to-be-published Amaro book. He has high aspirations for this bar, hoping to see The Court recognized on the World's 50 Best Bars list, and conducts the space like a maestro, ensuring he interacts with each guest.
The price for a cocktail or a glass of wine is on the high-end, but if you have high standards for your cocktail, then it is justified. The Penicillin is the best I have had since P.D.T. in New York (trust me, if it's on the menu anywhere, I order it--usually to my disappointment), The Rising Sun with gin, yuzu, matcha, and served in a matcha teacup is balanced, familiar yet surprising. Like any apertivo hour in Italy, an assortment of snacks is served; sliders, smoked salmon, chips with lime oil, olives, focaccia, and grissini. If you are still hungry, you can order a few small bites from the sister Michelin-starred restaurant, Aroma.
During my visit, I overheard a guest ask Matteo for a casual seafood recommendation nearby. Matteo said he was going to call a place, and returned promptly with reservation details for the group. When it was time to say goodbye to The Court, we asked Matteo for a good pizza recommendation for our last night in Rome. Without skipping a beat, he recommended Pizzeria Remo, an authentic, casual Roman pizza place. He hailed us a cab, told the driver where to go and we arrived to a bustling pizza joint with locals eagerly waiting for their name to be called. We ended our night like we started it—in good hands.