The Stravinskij Bar sits within Hotel de Russie, between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, with the Secret Garden visible and accessible from the bar itself. The space shifts from a social aperitivo setting to something more considered as the evening progresses, with guests moving freely between indoors and the garden.

The interior was recently refreshed around a new ivory marble counter, which replaced the previous leather bar and now acts as the visual focal point of the room. Arched bottle displays sit behind it – carrying around 250 bottles across all major categories – with soft pastel tones and classic Roman shutters completing the backdrop. The cocktail menu carries the garden connection into its design – a leather-bound cover opening onto pages illustrated with botanical drawings of flowers, plants, and fruits inspired by the space outside.

The drinks list is built around Italian ingredients and house-made preparations, developed collaboratively over around a month – the bar manager sets a conceptual direction and each bartender interprets it before the cocktail menu launches. The bar unveils each new menu annually at the Roma Bar Show, and hosts regular guest shifts with bars such as Paradiso Barcelona.

Behind the bar, a dedicated prep operation runs every two to three days to keep house-made components fresh at the volume the bar requires. Technique includes fat-washing – a butter infusion features in one of the signature cocktails – alongside milk clarification and immersion circulation for temperature-controlled infusions. Garnishes are produced in collaboration with the pastry kitchen, including a Maldon salted toffee candy. Glassware is drawn from the Salvatore Calabrese collection alongside pieces from Nude Glass.

The non-alcoholic menu draws on a different source of inspiration – the figures who stayed at the hotel over the years. Picasso, Stravinsky, and Nijinsky each inform one of the drinks, with the bartenders translating their personalities and creative histories into alcohol-free builds using house-made cordials and infusions.