Charade

The story

Charade Bar in Rome – Intimate Cocktails & Italian Dining at Hotel De' Ricci

Behind a blue velvet curtain on Via della Barchetta lies Charade, the bar and restaurant of Rome’s boutique Hotel De’ Ricci. Hand-drawn scenes of the dolce vita by artist Andrea Ferolla line the walls, setting a nostalgic, romantic tone. The space feels like a private salon—low lighting, leather armchairs, and a sense of old-world elegance.

Charade is as much about drinking as it is about food. The cocktail list changes seasonally, inspired by the history of spirits, infusions, and even wine. Signature drinks include the namesake Charade—a blend of cognac, chambord, lemon, and a touch of mezcal smoke—and the White Angel, a twist on Audrey Hepburn’s favourite. The bar’s barlady encourages guests to get hands-on, creating their own cocktails alongside her.

The food menu leans Italian, with a focus on seafood. Dishes such as scallop carpaccio with melon and pink pepper, octopus with carasau bread and stracciatella, and tonnarelli with prawns and bottarga are typical. The kitchen uses simple, high-quality ingredients, letting the flavours speak. Lunch and dinner are served daily, as is afternoon tea and a generous continental breakfast.

Charade also benefits from the hotel’s extraordinary wine cellar—over 1,500 labels and 10,000 bottles, which earned Hotel De’ Ricci the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2019. Guests can enjoy a glass from the hotel’s curated selection, or book a private guided tasting. For those who prefer something stronger, the Cigar Lounge offers premium cigars paired with rare spirits.

Whether for an aperitivo, a full dinner, or a late-night drink, Charade delivers an intimate, distinctly Roman experience. It’s a place that feels both timeless and personal—exactly as its creators intended.