This Enoteca comes from the golden years of the 60s grocery. It’s still a good, fairly priced, experienced grocery open also in the morning and covered in wood, as was usual at that time, with knick-knacks on the walls. At night, the ambiance is joyful, thanks to the owners, Nello and Francesco. These two guys put all their passion into this job. The care with which they explore the flavors of Italy is impressive. No product has been chosen at random: wines of all kinds and of all prices, salumi, formaggi, seasonal vegetables, legumes cooked according to tradition… I love the vibe, I could stay all night long at the bar chatting with strangers.

My advice is to have mixed coccetti (little bowls of pleasure) because they’re perfect for an apericena (an abundant appetizer) and for tasting most of the products they have accompanied by their amazing focaccia. The street via Macerata itself is beautiful: there are several night bars, an old cinema with a new look called Avorio, and another favorite restaurant of mine, Dar Parruca.

In short, it’s a walk in the neighborhood of Pigneto you should have. Francesco and Nello hide a poet inside their hearts. Enoteca di Via Macerata also hosts Enopoietica: an event, a poetry’s pamphlet, a wonderful mix we might need more often in our lives, even more in this time, even more in Rome: evocative words plus a glass of wine.