Well known abroad, the trend of speakeasies and secret bars is spreading more and more also in Italy, especially among lovers of nightlife and good drinking. Are you looking for speakeasies and secret bars in Rome? Try Argot in Campo dei Fiori.
Speakeasies, what they are and how they come into being
Speakeasies are secret nightclubs, hidden behind restaurants, shops or buildings, which can only be accessed by password.
Also known as secret bars, these mysterious clubs are inspired by the American Prohibition years of the 1920s, when the US government banned the sale and consumption of alcohol.
In that period, from the 1920s to the 1930s, many clandestine activities sprang up, in which alcohol could be bought and consumed in secret. Today’s secret bars are totally legit businesses, but they retain that secrecy and mystery that so attract patrons looking for a unique and inimitable experience.
How to get into a secret bar, word of mouth
But what makes speakeasies so fascinating?
First of all, the sense of exclusivity. Searching for a secret bar is an intriguing adventure. You need to find the place where it is hidden and recognise the entrance, often unsuspected and disguised by other signs and premises.
In addition, most of the time, access requires knowing – or guessing! – the password or receive and invitation by word of mouth. In some speakeasies, then, entry is at the discretion of the bartenders who decide, according to very personal and unquestionable rules, who can and cannot enter.
Speakeasies are among the best cocktail bars in Rome
What makes secret bars so coveted is also the very high quality of the alcoholic offerings. Indeed, at a speakeasy it is possible to be served by experienced bartenders and enjoy cult drinks and cocktails that pay homage to the art of mixology with unusual ingredients and combinations.
Finally, these cocktail bars are often furnished in a retro style, reminiscent of the clubs of the Roaring Twenties, from which they take their inspiration. The vintage and elegant atmosphere makes them ideal locations for themed evenings and parties. Secret, of course!
Argot: the secret cocktail bar in Rome, between mixology and music
One of the most fascinating secret bars in Rome is undoubtedly Argot. Tucked away in Campo dei Fiori, in the heart of the Eternal City, Argot manages to capture the essence of speakeasy elegance and mystery.
Inspired by miracle courts of the 17th-century Paris, at Argot you will find a convivial atmosphere of good drinking, music and literature.
Argot’s strong points are definitely the welcome and the very high quality of the drinks. The bartenders at the Roman secret bar are expert mixologists, ready to experiment and create new masterpieces of mixology to add to the drink list Stream of Consciousness. However, the are also amiable hosts with whom it is a real pleasure.
