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Where can you find all-you-can-eat scrumptious food and sauces, smooth drinks, an artsy atmosphere and a piazza full of people all for 5 Euro? Freni e Frizioni, a trendy bar in Trastevere, Rome, that’s where.

In Rome, from about 7 to 10 p.m. every evening of the week at most bars or locali, you’ll find aperitivi. It is Happy Hour Italian style with tasty bites to accompany an otherwise lonely drink. You know since Italians aren’t fond of drinking on an empty stomach. And, if you happen to stumble upon Freni e Frizioni (translating to Brakes and Friction), as you’re strolling around Trastevere, make sure you’ve got an empty belly begging you to feed it. There, you’ll encounter much more than the usual potato chips and peanuts crowd.

Take a 5-euro drink and enjoy a complimentary food buffet

At Freni e Frizioni, the common cocktails are 6 euro, the house specialties are 7 euro and all wine, beer and non alcoholic drinks are 5 euro. Now, 5 euro for a glass of wine may seem like a lot by Italian standards, but if you pop your head into the side room, you won’t complain.

Platters of fresh, steaming tomato penne pasta, curried rice, barley orzo with seasoned vegetables or perhaps some fagioli with tart, cherry tomatoes sit loudly on one side of the table and wonder when you’ll indulge. On the other side, crispy, crunchy vegetables wait patiently to be dressed by an array of homemade sauces such as ginger, Greek or spicy. And if that’s not enough flavor for you, you can always sprinkle on some bright yellow curry powder, fennel seeds or walnuts. For the sweet tooths, there may even be an autumn delight of handpicked apples sliced and marinating in lemon juice, cinnamon and sugar. All these treats for as little as 5 euro. Yes, that’s right, and you can eat to your heart’s content. No one has ever told me I’ve taken too many plates.

But you’d best get their early, not because the food ever runs out, but because the tables, chairs, counter tops, bar stools and the couch are quite limited. If it’s a nice evening you can just post yourself on the brick wall outside and people-watch, but if not, you might be munching on your feet along with the rest of the hungry gente. Either way, you’ll walk away very satisfied.

Where to find Freni e Frizioni

To be exact, Freni e Frizioni is located between Piazza Trilussa and Lungotevere Rafaello in Trastevere, Rome, right next to Ponte Sisto. You can take tram number 8 (or walk) from Largo Argentina for two stops and then walk by the river on Lungotevere Rafaello or weave through Trastevere’s narrow streets until Piazza Trilussa.

Go on now, eat, drink and be very, very merry!

Photo of mojito cocktails originally posted by Frine