The most promising decoration in a dining room can be a shelf of wine. At Del Frate, on Via degli Scipioni, the restaurant sits within a historic enoteca, making the bottles part of the setting and the choice of what to drink an essential part of dinner.

The meal follows the seasons, with a menu that changes according to the produce available. That gives the kitchen and cellar a shared purpose: finding a pairing that makes a particular dish more interesting. Ask for guidance, especially if the evening feels like an opportunity to discover a producer you have never tried.

The wine selection includes small estates alongside established names. There is something appealing about dining in rooms that also serve the practical pleasure of choosing bottles to take home. The surroundings give the experience a tangible connection to the people who buy, recommend and enjoy wine every day.

Del Frate is an address for an unhurried dinner in Prati with someone who likes the conversation around a glass. Start with the menu or start with the bottle; either can lead you somewhere worthwhile. By the time the evening ends, you may have discovered a new wine and a new reason to return to the neighbourhood.

Del Frate
Via degli Scipioni 118, 00192 Roma
Telephone: 06 3236437
Official website & reservations