A bar in Naples is serving up a new take on Italian coffee, called the “caffé al bacio”. “Bacio” means ‘kiss’ in Italian, and much like the bacio gelato flavour, this involves using Italy’s premier hazelnut spread, Nutella.

The caffé al bacio uses a brandy glass with the inside coated in nutella, adding a shot of espresso coffee and some milk foam on the top, sprinkled with cocoa. It’s an even more elaborate version of the “marocchino” coffee, which is a bit like our mocha combining chocolate and coffee.

You can find the caffe al bacio at the Intra Moenia bookstore-coffee shop in Piazza Bellini, Naples. According to Italian Notebook, the bar is just down from the music conservatory so that sometimes you’re treated to a free musical concert in the form of practicing notes of music drifting down the street.

Source | ItalianNotebook.com

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If you’re looking for great happy hour in Rome, try the American Bar Ballantine’s when next you’re in the eternal city. It’s located on via Salvatore di Giacomo, 19/23 and has jumped on board the current trend of happy hour and aperitifs that many Italians are now enjoying as essential part of their Saturday night out.

Ballantine’s serves food with aperitifs from 6pm to midnight every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, including hot pasta buffet, for about ten euros a head. You should consider this your drink and dinner all in one - we certainly don’t recommend backing up for food at a restaurant somewhere after this happy hour!

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The Rione Monti district has always been a world apart from the other areas of Rome; even its dialect was slightly different from the one spoken in the city. In order to make room for the famous Via dei Fori, the Rione Monti district, which is rather small if compared to other areas of the eternal city, was dramatically altered during the fascist period. But despite this rather dramatic change, the district tucked between via Nazionale and via Cavour, has kept intact all its enchanting beauty and this is thanks to its lovely narrow side-streets and superb examples of architecture which never fail to take your breath away. One of the District’s chief attractions remains the beautiful piazza Santa Maria dei Monti which features two imposing churches that deserve all your attention. Not too far away from it there’s the infamous Palazzo Borgia from which one can enjoy an amazing view of San Pietro in vincoli or Saint Peter in chains (a basilica best remembered for being home to Michelangelo’s famous statue Moses).

Continue reading: Discovering Rome: the Rione Monti district

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The San Lorenzo district appears to encapsulate both the beauty and the shortcomings of Rome; partly destroyed by aerial attack during World War 2, San Lorenzo has, over the years, developed into a district of beautiful contrasts where old and new abide - more or less harmoniously - together. Originally built to house workers and their families (when Mussolini marched on Rome, its inhabitants try to stop him) and situated in the shadow of the famous Varano, the monumental cemetery of Rome. Along the Aurelian walls, the district is teeming with life and colour. People are to be seen having breakfast - some still in a sleepy mood at such picturesque cafes as bar dei Belli, bar Marani and Buddha bar or eating, later in the day, at kebab shops. The chief attraction of the district remains its colourful morning market on Volsci street and when strolling among the stalls one can discover a myriad of interesting things, while the church of Santa Maria Immacolata, like a voice from the past, strikes the hour. After wandering around the market you can enjoy a fine pizza at Manna del Cielo on via Dei Latini street and then spend the rest of the afternoon at the Pifebo; a veritable paradise of a shop which sells vintage clothes, old records, items of bric-a-brac and various pieces of object d’art.

Continue reading: Touring Rome: the San Lorenzo district

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If you’ve been to Rome, you’ve probably toured the area of Garbatella without even knowing it. This area of Rome is home to the lovely basilica of St Paul’s outside the walls, or “San Paolo fuori le mura”. If you’ve never been, this is one Italian church you don’t want to miss for its stunning mosaics. There are many churches to visit in Rome, but if you’re prioritising this should sit somewhere high up the list.

The area of Garbatella has a mixed history, and no-one is really sure of the origin of the name. The most popular theory is that it was named after a woman, and a fountain in Piazza Ricoldo da Montecroce would seem to attest to this. The fountain has since been rebaptised “the fountain of lovers” and is topped by a statue of a woman.

The Garbatella district was originally a “garden city”, planned by the king in 1920 to house the workers that would be building the new city port. Much of the green space and small villas then gave way to fascist buildings and architecture. Using the old theatre cinemaTeatro Palladium as your landmark, you can almost lose yourself in this corner of Rome.

Continue reading: Exploring Rome's districts: Garbatella and St Paul's outside the walls

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After walking the Pigneto district in Rome to discover an avant garde area of the eternal city, scene of Roma città aperta and Bar Necci, you can continue your exploration of this district by going over the Aquila bridge and entering Casilina Vecchia.

Here is Rome’s artistic heart with the Circolo degli Artisti and l’INIT. The Circolo is one of Rome’s best live clubs for independent music, set in a large garden with two interior rooms and bars everywhere. Frequent DJs to the Circolo include “Screamadelica” and “Fish and Chips“.

The Circolo also hosts a shop selling CDs and t-shirts, and on Sundays is the location for a Japanese and vintage market in Rome. At the nearby pizzeria you can meet the musicians who perform here, to stay on the pulse of all there is to know about the Rome music scene.

Continue reading: Touring Rome: live music in the Pigneto district

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All you can eat buffet and Happy Hour in Italy is the best! You can try Italian cocktails or a nice prosecco, paying a bit more for the drink and enjoying the Italian snacks available for free at the bar. Just a little advice for living in Italy.

For Italian cocktails, try a negroni, aperol spritz, americano, bellini or rossini, or get some advice on the Italian wine available by the glass. Go with white wine - only ignorant people wanting to show off go for red.

And when we say snacks, we don’t mean picky finger food. We’re talking a smorgasboard of mega pasta salads, hot pasta dishes, savoury pastries galore, chillies stuffed with ricotta, various parmesan cheese platters, more prosciutto than one pig could provide etc etc.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON HAPPY HOUR. But bear in mind our advice on drinking in Italy. Check out the bars in Milan, Rome and towns all over the country between 6 and 8pm.

Photo | Flickr

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Rimini is one of the most famous sea-side resorts here in Italy, but its fame has now reached a new peak thanks to the Times’ list of Europe’s best beach parties. The article partly focuses on the Turquoise beach club which is 12,000 miles in size and features three amazing bars with main one turning into a disco as soon as the summer night falls; at the Turquoise one can easily meet celebrities on the look out for a bit of fun. But if you are in the mood for a romantic tête a tête with your sweetheart, don’t worry, you can always take refuge on the beach among deckchairs and candles romantically blowing in the wind. Summer in Italy can be really fun! To see the complete list click here.

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Despite the great variety and quality of Italian wines, Italy has cultivated a cocktail culture, particularly associated with summer vacations by the sea and Italian discos. If you’re in Italy, look for cocktails such as the Mojito, Caipirina, Caipiroska or the Cuba Libre.

Classic Italian cocktails and pre-dinner drinks include the Negroni, Bellini, Rossini and Aperol Spritz (great for the Italian summer). On the subject of mixer drinks, Italy in SF is not entirely correct when she says that Italian’s don’t put ice in their drinks (Tip 37).

Take a gin and tonic, for example. A large, high tumbler glass will normally be served, filled with ice, and then filled with gin virtually to the brim; Italy hasn’t yet got draconian alcohol laws where everything must be measured in small cups. A little tonic water may be squeezed in at the top, otherwise you’re left with a small bottle of tonic water, drinking straight gin on ice until there’s enough room to include the tonic part of the mix. Regarding relaxed drinking laws, you should remember that one gin and tonic might be two or three gin and tonics of your regular drink back home.

More on the Italian cocktail culture soon, with a special piece on the great Happy Hour - absolutely not-to-be-missed. I am a Happy Hour convert and believe it should be implemented internationally in the interests of good Saturday nights out!

Photo | Flickr

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We’ve looked at Rome’s nightlife more than once, and a holiday to Italy’s liveliest city wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a bar, and while you’re at it, why not choose a distinctive destination? Il Palazzetto is a bar on the Spanish Steps and while it’s not budget, it’s prices are not exorbitant either.

You can enter this wine bar from Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top of the steps, going to the left of the obelisk. Il Palazzetto has quite elegant decor, with two terraces overlooking the Spanish Steps.

The Italian wine and cocktails on offer are extensive, with elaborate cocktails costing 12 euros and standard cocktails costing ten. If you want a fruit mocktail, it’s about eight euros. Service is fast and friendly, try the happy hour too. The area is lively and if you enjoy people watching in Rome, the Spanish Steps are where to go.

Photo | Facebook

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