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Hours
Sun
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Mon
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Tue
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Wed
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Thu
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Fri
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
Sat
6:30 AM - 1:30 AM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travelers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
Cafe
Meals
Late Night, Drinks
FEATURES
Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
Details
About
Negli anni sessanta Marcello Forti decide di partire da Busci, un paese della provincia dell’Aquila per venire a Roma, alla ricerca di una nuova prospettiva lavorativa. Inizialmente fa diversi lavori sempre nel settore della ristorazione. Dal lavapiatti al cameriere all’aiuto cuoco. Alla fine degli anni ’60 gli capita l’occasione di acquistare il bar, che era in vendita dalla precedente gestione. Inizialmente era solo una serranda con a fianco un negozio di merceria, poi, visto che le cose andavano bene e c’era bisogno di spazio interno, quando la merceria decise di chiudere Marcello non si fece sfuggire la possibilità di allargarsi. Ora, anche nelle giornate fredde si può consumare nella sala interna piena di quadri e ricordi che i tanti amanti del Bar San Calisto, hanno prodotto.
CUISINES
Cafe
Meals
Late Night, Drinks
FEATURES
Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar
Contribute
4.5
753 reviews
Excellent
498
Very good
183
Average
36
Poor
11
Terrible
25
Bill A
Spring Lake587 contributions
Dec 2021 • none
Bar San Calisto is exactly the type of place that I like to frequent when I am traveling. Located in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome, San Calisto offers great drinks and bar food at very reasonable prices. As an example, I ordered the same food and drink at San Calisto that I had at a pasticceria in the Spagna section of Rome and the price was 5 euros compared to 25 euros. More importantly, the quality of the food and drinks served at San Calisto was superior. It is no wonder that you'll find many locals here. I highly recommend that you make a point of seeking out Bar San Calisto no matter where you are staying in Rome. Also, I suggest that you try one of their maritozzo's - a brioche bun with a light glaze that you can have filled with whipped cream (as featured on the Rome episode of Stanley Tucci's show Searching for Italy).
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie R
Seattle157 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
We saw this place on the Stanley Tucci series about Italy. What a great find. I was interested in getting the breakfast pastry shown on the episode on Rome. Our first night in Trasterve we walked around, listening to outdoor music, nibbling on food and drinking beer. We wondered in and bought a couple bottled beers to drink outside to listen to the live music. I went back in to use their bathroom which was surprisingly clean. The next morning I went in search of the famous breakfast pastry and much to my surprise this little dive bar was the place. In the morning it is all locals. The breakfast pastry on first look appears to be a hotdog bun stuffed with cream. Oh how I was wrong..... it was a doughnut type roll with FRESH homemade whipped cream! YUM!!!!! I had one everyday during my stay in Trasterve. At night this place is a hopping local bar with live music and partygoers outside. This place on the outside doesn't look like much so don't let it fool you. Go there rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy all they have to offer. The service is great whether it is for a breakfast pastry or an evening beer or cocktail. Don't miss this local spot
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobertoGigli
133 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
It may not be glamorous but it is the best Hit Chicolaate in Town especially for their Whipped Cream that is done by hand and not with the machine that puts gas in the cream. Notable also the Granita di Caffè con Panna. Remember not to go after 8 pm it is. A place where students and young people go and there is no social distancing or mSk wearing at all. The rest of the day is really good.
Written October 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica S
Edinburgh8 contributions
Sep 2023 • couples
Overhyped spot and the elderly man behind the counter was incredibly rude, when I tried to order he shouted and refused to give us the pastries we asked for, all very aggressive. He treated all the older Italian male customers with much more respect, classic! Can get much better coffee and pastries elsewhere…
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dapper777
Monaco65346 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We were around the area and decided to stop by just for some drinks.
This place has been and is very polular among locals and tourists on a budget.
The cappuccino was inexpensive, but pretty mediocre.
The great thing about Bar San Calisto is the location in Trestevere and the overly relaxed atmosphere.
There is a large seating area inside, where locals drink and play cards.
It is very noisy.
And there are many tables and chairs outside as well.
We didn’t even try to look for a seat, because we were not crazy about the place and we do not think that we will go back.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canto
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Good prices for drinks in Rome, however, terrible service, very rude to anyone who isn't Italian.
We asked for a table and got seated outside without being handed a drinks or food menu. The manager behind the bar whistled for one of the waiters to lead us to our table and we were able to make out that the manager pointed out to his staff that we were english tourists. From this point on it all downhill.
When the waiter came outside to take our order we asked for a menu to which he tutted and huffed at us, stormed back into the bar to get us menus and threw them on our table.
In addition, the staff were making gestures and calling me names that were quite easily transferable to english, in particular, the large waiter who was quick to cause unnecessary problems when i was just trying to speak to them politely.
Would NOT recommend. They overall made us feel like an inconvenience.
Written October 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ka S
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • friends
We went to take a coffee for takeaway and we didn't have cash with us at that point...while the owner had a right to be pissed (paying by card for a couple of euros is a struggle sometimes) this didn't mean that they could make gestures and tell us that we were stupid. Never again there - terrible customer service and they called us names etc. The grandpa at the checkout was awful to us. Maybe he thought that because we were young girls he could talk that badly to us and we won't react. Shame. Next time you should treat your customers better and learn manners as well as express more politely what you want. It is not tolerated.
Written June 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nic
Royton8 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
We found this hidden gem on the first day of our break and went every day!! Great bar with musicians playing in the square out front from mid afternoon on. The best and most authentic Gelarti kept in covered pots and Very cheap 2.50 euros for 2 scoops make sure you have the cream on top. Drinks were so cheap we bought a beer and a vodka lemon for €6.50 and the vodka measure was at least a double. Really eclectic mix of happy people similar to the Northern Quarter in Manchester. Make sure you go!!
Written June 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon13528 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Bar San Calisto is known for serving breakfasts that lure customers. Romans love the bar's heart meals. Breakfast i based on Italian-style donuts, which are served with rich Italian cream. This bar is popular with locals and travelers. Prices are moderate.
Written March 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie R
Seattle157 contributions
Sep 2022 • couples
This is a great place in the morning for an espresso and pastry or a late night beer. You will rub shoulders with the locals in the morning and sip a beer with a young lively crowd at night. The morning pastry I fell in love with was a doughnut like roll stuffed with fresh whipped cream. Yum! This place has been in business for decades. It’s just a joint. Nothing special from the outside but a great way to mingle with the locals in the morning.
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leonardo a. roberto
8 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
The bartenders and the spritz we had were fine, it’s really cheap and the drinks are as good as you can get for 3 euros each. Unfortunately when I went there with my wife (March 4th around 10:30pm) there was a rude blonde fella working as a clerk. Because of a minor communication problem (I had simply asked for two double spritz cause the regular ones are too small and they made one double spritz instead) I had with the bartenders (due to their lower-intermediate English level) the guy was complaining about having to bill me twice, he kept staring at me and we I left I could hear him cursing me in Italian. Saw him doing the same with someone else. Pretty low individual.in a nutshell: It’s a cheap joint with cheap drinks and an ignorant bar clerk.
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11162 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
I like noisy, lively Bar San Calisto, where people spill out into the piazza and you have to keep your eyes peeled for a spare table. There are no crystal glasses or quiet sipping on an aperol here. The aperol spritz comes in a plastic cup but the drinks are cheap and it’s all a bit of a party atmosphere.
On the other side of the piazza, local men gather in the afternoon to play scopa outside the old church doors and in the evenings, there’s often a street band and later in the night this sometimes gets people dancing in the street.
Written June 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janedoh
3 contributions
May 2024 • family
We were very much looking forward to visiting. A tour guide told us it was the place to check out before dinner in Trastevere. The music outside was lively, the vibe outside was fun. We walked in and learned that we needed to order and pay ahead then bring our slip to the bar. We ordered a spritz and a beer and handed the slip to a young woman with blonde hair and a septum piercing. She scowled and asked what I wanted… I let her know that I had ordered the spritz that was on the ticket. She rolled her eyes and loudly and rudely said “AND?AND?” I had no idea what she meant and then she pointed at my husband and he let her know he ordered the peroni (also on the slip I gave her. She proceeded to slam down a cup throw ice at it, in it, around it, add aperol before literally dumping the proseco into the cup and all over the place before handing it to me. It was awful and such a random act of hostility. My daughter was scared and almost started crying. We still smiled and tried to be polite because perhaps she was having a bad day but it was uncomfortable. I would say get an drink from elsewhere and catch the music outside.
Written June 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe O
Cork7 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
The title says it all we came around a corner and found this jewel of a bar/cafe. Sit outside and watch the world go by and imbibe the cheapest drink in Rome no frills just good service and the locals drink there as well.I will be back
Written December 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HH-Diamond-Traveler
Long Branch497 contributions
Oct 2023 • friends
100% LOCAL vibe. Great prices and great way to mingle with the locals. Get packed really early so advise to get there before 5:30. Beers and drinks were VERY cheap with a large Peroni beer running about 3.50 EU.
Written October 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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