The Court Bar. Palazzo Manfredi — Restaurant in Rome

This is a must read, considering that many of the reviews are unclear on how the bar works. For context, my wife and I visited the bar in April of 2025 with a reservation that started at 10 pm.

I warn all customers - temper your expectations for this bar and realize what you're getting for the price.

Arrival:

First and foremost, the reservation is simply the time when the bar is open for seating to those who aren't staying at the Palazzo Manfredi, the adjacent 5 star hotel. The reservation is only for a table inside of the bar, not necessarily the location. Before the reserved time, a line will form outside of restaurant on via Labicana. From this line, the restaurant staff will escort those reservations on a first come - first serve basis. This means that you are more likely to get a table that you want by being in front of the line. Likewise, you are more likely to be a disgruntled guest if you're towards the back of the line (of which, we had a few during our experience).

From what I can remember of the evening, there are approximately 8 spots (16 seats) that face the Colosseum. Because those that are staying at the Palazzo Manfredi can sit in the bar before it is open to those who reserved seats, there could be less availability. During our night, there were two sets of two already occupying these seats. With that in mind, you'll want to be of the first four or five to better your odds at a decent seat.

Drinks:

Once seated, a waiter will bring you a bowl of potato chips, toasted almonds, and olives for snacking - free of charge. There are additional food items available for purchase, but my wife and I were stuffed from a meal we had earlier and didn't purchase anything else. We placed our order for drinks, which arrived shortly after. Cocktails are 27 euros each and beer was 15 euros each. Last call for drinks was at 1100 (2300) pm, only an hour after being seated.

Experience:

Our experience was delightful, but I attribute that to just having great company with my wife. My review is more directly pointed at the process and the restaurant itself. With a 72 euro cancellation policy and absolutely no description on how the evening is executed, it appears to be predatory. The staff corral you in for a short period and charge excessive amounts for mediocre and over-sweetened cocktails / drinks. With the evening rushed, we felt like cattle being processed through a money farm.

Recommendation:

Stay away from this bar, but if you must attend this one then show up well before the reserved time slot. My wife and I were 20 minutes early to the reservation, but after reading other reviews - that may not be enough time. I believe we were lucky and ended up being the first ones in line. This allowed us to essentially pick from the seats available as we were the first ones to enter the bar. However, other unsuspecting customers arrived just minutes before the reservation and did not receive a relaxing view of the Colosseum as they enjoyed their drinks. Instead they were stuffed into bus-like oriented seating which provided them with amazing views of our backsides and perhaps a glimpse of Ancient Rome in...

GLOBE & GLASS Review: The Court at Palazzo Manfredi, Rome Rated by Ivy & Gigi Date: March 10, 2025 Rating: One Glass ("Worth a Visit—If You’re Nearby")

When Gigi and I arrived at The Court at Palazzo Manfredi, right on time for our reservation, we didn’t exactly get the Roman welcome we’d envisioned. Ten minutes loitering on the cobblestones—dressed to the nines, naturally—felt more like a stamina test than a luxe prelude. Still, the promise of that Colosseum view kept us from storming the gates.

Vibe & Aesthetic: Once seated (eventually), the reward landed. The terrace stares straight at the Colosseum, lit up like a timeless diva against Rome’s afternoon sky. Sleek tables—well, not ours, a pint-sized affair barely bigger than an open school binder—soft lighting, lounge vibes, and a chic, well stocked bar whispered “luxe.” It’s Italian elegance with a modern edge, a spot where you sip and channel Fellini, sans paparazzi.

Service Swagger: Here’s where the chariot stalls. Ten minutes to be noticed at our table, then a 25-minute wait for drinks—were they chiseling the ice from the Colosseum? Complimentary olives, nuts, or whatever small bites blessed every other guest only hit us after a nudge, arriving 35 minutes in, post-meal like a belated apology. Silverware? Two chopsticks, one napkin—we tore it in two, rationing like castaways while the staff perfected their “ignore-the-couple-in-the-corner” routine and avoided eye contact at all costs. No whisper of a second round. Swagger? More like hospitality with a hearty limp.

Drink Excellence: The cocktails, though, nearly salvaged it. The “Pornstar Martini” flickered in with a fiery garnish, a mini Roman torch, while “The Court’s Signature” unfurled from a glass dome, smoky and seductive. Skill and passion? Check. Taste and punch? Oh yes. Timing? A Roman odyssey too slow.

Wow Factor: That view—mamma mia, it’s a stunner. Sipping with the Colosseum as your backdrop feels like a privilege, even with a price tag that doesn’t blink. The smoke-and-fire drink show added flair, but the wow faded when round two stayed off the menu. Upselling seems to be a dirty word in these quarters.

Replay Value: Would we return? Perhaps, for the view and drinks—if we pack snacks and a timer. Brilliance glimmers here, but consistency’s playing hide-and-seek. It’s for the patient or the pre-buzzed.

The Verdict: The Court at Palazzo Manfredi nabs “One Glass”. The Colosseum vista and cocktails make it worth a stop if you’re nearby, but the service stumbles hard—shocking, since Italy invented hospitality, and we’ve been spoiled by Italian finesse elsewhere. Ivy’s still swooning over that view; Gigi’s plotting to nab the smoke dome and bolt.

Cheers (Olives Optional),

Ivy & Gigi, GLOBE & GLASS Sip with us at GlobeSippers:...

Do yourself a favor and make a booking at The Court if you're headed to or already in Roma. This places not only serves what are likely some of the best cocktails in the world, but it does so while giving one of the most picture-esque views of one of the ancient wonders of the world - The Colosseo.

Upon arrival, we found ourselves whisked into the Palazzo Manfredi. It is one of the most beautiful 5 star property I've had the pleasure of coming across, while containing a Michelin star property on the roof. Passing through the hotel, we made our way to the back patio, which seems to overlook some ancient ruins, creating an unfettered, 270-degree sightline to The Colosseo. We just happened to be seated at the edge of the patio, providing us with likely the best view of the night. On another day, I'd prefer the couches and other seating on the patio, but for the first time here, I think the edge of the patio provided the best experience.

The night started off with us being handed a glass of champagne almost immediately as soon as we sat down. We were then quickly greeted by Paolo, who was going to be taking care of us for the night. Paolo expertly guided us through the menu, and, after taking our preferences and notes into consideration, recommended the first round (which did not fail to exceed expectations. While we waited for our drinks, we were bombarded with an excellent surprise - a picnic basket worth of snacks and finger food to munch on (that I could've mistaken to have come from the neighboring Michelin restaurant given it's taste and presentation).

As we made our way through the night and got closer to the end of our reservation, we were courteously offered to move over to the bar to extend our experience as we finished our second round of the night. The highlight of the night was Paolo and his magnificent service and finding the right drinks to quench the taste we were yearning for that specific evening.

This has to be one of the most romantic and stunning spots in all of Europe, not just Rome. We lost track of time as we sipped away on our drinks and admired the millennia old wonder that was calling for our attention our entire stay.

Do whatever you can, hell or high water, to make your way to this place during your stay in Roma- whether you are here for a short stay or for a long time. And be sure to sit in Paolo's section to elevate your experience to the...