For 19 years, Freni e Frizioni has been a key player in Trastevere’s nightlife, embodying a vibe fueled by punk energy and street culture. The new drink list stays true to the bar’s bold spirit, drawing inspiration from the world of tattoos. Named Inked, it’s all about five graphic styles, five cocktail categories, and a total of 15 creative recipes.
Freni e Frizioni, A Trastevere Institution
The name says it all: Freni e Frizioni (Brakes and Clutches) was born in 2005 inside a former mechanic’s workshop. What used to be a place for getting your hands dirty fixing cars is now a hub for craft cocktails. Since 2013, with the arrival of bar manager and co-owner Riccardo Rossi, the bar has gained international recognition, including a spot—and repeat appearances—on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, landing 53rd in the 2024 edition.
Inked Presents Liquid Tattoos in a Glass
For their latest menu, Rossi and his team focused on tattoos. The 15 cocktails are inspired by five distinct styles: Old School, New School, Tribal, Chicano, and Asian.
Old School takes cues from the classic tattoo tradition of sailors and convicts, drawing inspiration from timeless cocktails and giving them a playful twist. This includes creations like the Go and Back Martini (gin, dry vermouth, citrus liqueur, rosemary water), the Keith Collins (rum, peach-jasmine soda, tonic, guava, and lime), and the Otzi (American whiskey, apple BBQ bitters). Rossi notes that Otzi is named after the famous 5,000-year-old mummy found in the Alps, known as the first tattooed man in history.
New School, on the other hand, is all about vibrant colors and cartoonish designs. Its liquid counterpart includes the Picked Mule, a draft cocktail with vodka, Benedictine liqueur, and strawberry hard seltzer. Other highlights are Origini (whiskey, avocado, coconut, dulce de leche, and churrasco) and 4KIDZZ (non-alcoholic gin, Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo, aloe, and strawberry).
More Styles, More Cocktails of Inked
Tribal tattoos, often associated with Maori and Polynesian cultures, are represented by tiki-inspired cocktails. This section includes the Tatau (rhum agricole, triple sec, mango, blue cheese) and the Geronimo (bourbon, red vermouth, pumpkin, hay, and walnuts). Another standout is the Hawaiki, a bold mix of pisco, oloroso sherry, mint bitters, lime, and ube.
Next up are the Chicano-inspired cocktails, drawing from the vibrant Mexican tattoo tradition. Drinks in this category feature tequila and mezcal as key ingredients. The Pachuco combines mezcal with mandarin, miso, agave syrup, saffron, and lime, while the Michelada Highball offers a twist on the classic michelada with tequila. The Smile Now rounds out the section with tequila, bergamot rosolio, fennel, dill, thyme, grilled pineapple, and absinthe.
Finally, the Asian style pays homage to Japanese and Thai tattoo artistry. Highlights include the Shi Shei (gin, amaro, rosé vermouth, citrus tonic, raspberry, and mustard), the Mikoi Tori (citrus gin, yuzu, basil, mint, violets, and organic tonic), and the Tom Tom (rum, lemongrass, coconut, green curry, ginger, and peas).
Images courtesy of Freni e Frizioni
