Open Baladin is a craft beer bar and restaurant on Via degli Specchi in central Rome, near Campo de’ Fiori. Its taps pour a wide range of Italian beers alongside international choices, and the backlit bottle display gives you plenty to explore beyond the draft list. Pair a beer with a burger or homemade chips, including cacio e pepe flavours. Citrus chicken and Beeramisu, a tiramisu made with dark beer, add something different to the bar-food menu. Lunch is a quieter time to visit; evenings get busy.
A Roman address for Italian craft beer
Open Baladin opened in Rome’s historic centre in 2009. It grew from the work of Baladin brewer Teo Musso and Birra del Borgo’s Leonardo Di Vincenzo, bringing Italian craft beer to a bar on Via degli Specchi.
Baladin began brewing in Piedmont, where Musso had opened his first pub in Cuneo in the late 1980s. The brewery followed in 1996. Open Baladin’s taps include beers from Baladin and other breweries, with international selections alongside the Italian choices.
How to choose a beer
The beer list is the main reason to linger. More than 40 beers are available on tap, spanning styles such as lagers, stouts, IPAs and sours. Bottles add further Italian and international options. A backlit wall of bottles behind the bar makes the range visible as soon as you enter.
If you are unsure where to start, tell the staff what styles or flavours you prefer and ask for a suggestion. The selection changes, so the current menu is the best guide to what is pouring that day. Baladin beers mentioned among the choices include Nora, an ale made with Kamut, spices and myrrh, and Isaac, a spiced witbier.
Food beyond the beer list
Burgers and homemade potato snacks make up much of the food appeal. The cacio e pepe chips bring a Roman pasta flavour to a bar snack; other versions include cheese, paprika and liquorice. The menu also includes dishes such as steak tartare and carbonara, along with citrus chicken. For dessert, Beeramisu puts dark beer into a tiramisu.
The food menu is smaller than the beer selection, so come chiefly for the drinks if you want to work through several pours. At lunch, the bar also draws a brisk crowd, while evenings are especially popular. The main room can be noisy; an upstairs table is a quieter option when available.
Preguntas frecuentes
How many beers does Open Baladin have on tap?
The bar has more than 40 craft beers on tap, with Italian and international choices. Bottled beers add more options.
What food should I order at Open Baladin?
Try a burger or the homemade cacio e pepe chips. Citrus chicken and Beeramisu, a tiramisu made with dark beer, are other options.
When is the best time to visit Open Baladin?
Lunch is a good choice if you want to avoid the busy evenings. Late arrivals may have to wait for a table.
Is Open Baladin noisy?
The main room can be noisy. Ask about an upstairs table if you would prefer a quieter spot.
