Some of the many reasons we head downtown are to get our hair cut by our favourite backstreet barber, grab a cheap and tasty shawarma and find a place for a quiet drink, either alone or with some friends. We decided to give Spaccanapoli a go – the Italian restaurant at Crowne Plaza – to take the weight off our feet.
There are two levels for you to enjoy here: seating by the impressive grape cellar and up the staircase next to a cosy little bar area. We went upstairs (to burn off that shawarma) and prop up at the bar, which is only about two metres long. It’s charming and feels like an underground spot in Rome’s trendy Trastevere area.
Music is typically Italian, which adds to the ambience, and the decor sees terracota walls and wooden window shutters: hello, Tuscany!
The service here is fast, which could be due to our dashing hair cut, or it simply because the staff are very attentive. The bar staff are friendly and happily talk us through the drinks selection. Bar stools, sofas with tables and a hop-barrel high-tables fill the space. And it’s all it needs. This bar is simple yet trendy. In fact, it feels more like we’re in a Tuscan village than the manic Hamdan Street outside.
The bottom line Intimate and calm, this bar is an escape from the hustle and bustle.
