Dirt Cheap Rome

Romans—and Italians in general for that matter—are not known for their riotous drink-a-thons, although the city is hardly short on bars, pubs, and vinerie (wine bars) where you can get your buzz on relatively cheaply…even if the Romans don’t.

La Vineria
This historically popular wine bar sits right on the edge of Campo de’ Fiori, and for a sit down drink you’ll pay for location. Come evening, however, the place sells house wine by the (plastic) glass for €1.50 to be sipped off the premises amid the thirsty crowd.

Address: Campo de’ Fiori.  15 Campo de’ Fiori. Telephone 0668803268.

Bar San Calisto
It may look like just your ordinary Italian coffee bar, but this place draws a huge late-night crowd for more than bedtime lattes. Despite the location just off of  gorgeous Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the drink prices here hit rock bottom.
Glass of house wine: €1.40
Bottle of domestic beer: € 1.50

Address: Trastevere. Piazza San Calisto. Telephone: 065835869.

The Drunken Ship
The ultimate party bar and frat party away from home, the Drunken Ship is also the place to get rip-roarin’ drunk in the historic centre for surprisingly little. Students receive discounts on most drinks (Beer: €3.50; Cocktails €5.50) and there’s a live DJ set nightly. For the shameless and pennyless, body shots are usually on the house.

Address: Campo de Fiori. 20 Campo de’ Fiori. Telephone: 0668300535. www.drunkenship.com

Freni e Frizioni
This ex-mechanic and auto body shop’s name means ‘brakes and clutches,’ but nowadays the bar is famous for wine starting at €3 a glass. If you come around 6.30pm when the aperitivo is on, drinks start at €5, but you can stuff yourself silly at the buffet of raw veggies, couscous, cheeses and pasta salads. The crowd is mostly  in denial of their trendy-ness and quite friendly. At glass of wine starts at €3. Aperitivo (free buffet!) €5-7 a glass.

Trastevere. 4-6 Via della Politeama. Telephone: 0658334210, www.freniefrizioni.com

Sally Brown
In a refreshing take-off of the cosy neighbourhood pub, this place is Jamaican themed and plays mostly reggae and ska. The crowd is made up of students and folks from the block in for a fuel-up. 
Beers about €3.

Address: San Lorenzo. 3A Via degli Etruschi. No telephone.

Visiting European cities on a tight budget? Check out our other dirt cheap guides!

Amsterdam budget travel guide.
Barcelona budget travel guide.
Berlin budget travel guide.
Birmingham budget travel guide.
Copenhagen budget travel guide.
Istanbul budget travel guide.
London budget travel guide.
Madrid budget travel guide.
Vienna budget travel guide.