We spent three nights at Hotel Locarno, and Bar Locarno was one of the property's greatest assets. We went twice for drinks and twice for the included breakfast (skipping one morning to tour the Vatican) and it was absolutely lovely every time.
Locarno, and its patio in particular, seems very well regarded within the Roman bar scene. It's on the World's 50 Best list for Rome and for whatever this is worth, Goop is all over it. We went for aperitivos one afternoon and a nightcap one night, and I totally understand. The patio was attractive, serene and comfortable, even during a brisk week in mid-November. The interior was great, too, elegant like the rest of the hotel, with character to spare. Service was excellent both for drinks and breakfast.
The cocktails were fantastic. The menu was pretty far-ranging, but we started with the most Italian-sounding drinks on our first visit. The Roma-Bracciano was my favorite of the ones we tried, a refreshing mix of Campari, Carpano Antica vermouth, Rabarbaro Zucca, and orange bitters, shaken up cold and frothy. The 1925 was another winner, made with gin, Campari, Barolo Chinato, and cardamom bitters. We later met up with Italian relatives and learned that Bar Locarno was known locally for its tiki cocktails. We decided to try some of the less it's-a-me-Mario options our second time around. I loved the Psycho Killer, a vibrant, citrusy drink with Cachaça, passionfruit, lime, honey, and black pepper. On the whiskey side, I enjoyed The Rocker, a boozy blend of Scotch Whisky Aberlour A'Bunadh and fig liqueur.
Bar Locarno is also the hotel's all-day restaurant. The food was very good, even just the free bar snacks served with the cocktails--Marcona almonds, potato chips, and addictive spicy olives. You can get 30-months aged Parma ham and 24-months aged parmigiano Reggiano, which make a great snack if, say, you're too hungry after a long flight to make it all the way to dinner.
I'm not much of a breakfast person, but I thought Locarno's was superb. Rich, foamy cappuccinos that went well with the bell jar of little coffee cakes that greeted each table. I tried several of these and they were all delicious.
There was no buffet, but the a la carte menu was all-you-can-eat, with a handful of the pricier items excepted. We skipped those and still ate in luxury. The portions were small by American standards, but this allowed us to try a lot of the menu without wasting food. There was a tiny, classic smoked salmon Benedict, pancakes with berries, more Parma ham. Caciotta Civitonica and buffalo ricotta cheeses with honey and fruit compotes. A bruschetta, this one larger than expected, came with buffalo ricotta, cherry tomatoes, and orange zest. Delicate Nero Lucano cooked ham with salted butter and brioche. Plentiful fuel for our long days walking around Rome.
We used Bar Locarno because we were staying at the hotel, but I'd honestly recommend the place to anyone. Quality food and drink in a beautiful environment, ideal for a restful hour or two in the bustle of central Rome. read more
