It has not been long since I moved to Rome. I visited the city a few times in the past and fell in love with it each and every time. It seems to me I am not the only one, many of the people I meet who moved here were moved by it before; a sort of a natural process which may be required in order to blend in this massive metropolitan.

Being a large European city, Rome absorbs all worlds citizens and takes part in the world’s progress and demand for new trends and creativity; while the endless remainders of history are scattered aside the tough ancient streets and create unique urban spaces which makes Rome the city it is.

One of these spaces is the Downing Square. It is located in Piazza Sallustio, along with an ancient building and garden from the Roman Empire, which endorses my point and presents the fusionbetween old and new in the city.

The Downing Square is a Tartare Bar, which makes it immediately special and rare compared to any typical Italian bar or restaurant before you even get inside. Once in, the place has beautiful vintage interiors with a twist of industrial style that matches perfectly with an elegantly shining French chandelier. Many curios objects and art jouets are spread punctiliously, adding an extra playful vibe to the surroundings. Pleasant jazz music is played in the background, which for me is the exact atmosphere to feel invited to explore.

Arches divide the space into three rooms and each occurs a different delight. The first is the kitchen, which in Italy is sometimes called ‘”laboratory”(usually where the most “basic”products are made like pastries, pasta, etc.); a term I really like because it makes food preparation sounds even more mysterious and precise. But here, as the bartender emphasized, they serve only raw food.Once a place decides to focus on one thing it sure gives a lot of character to that one thing; and those tartars are handily taken care of to a simplicity and accuracy that balances beautifully in your mouth.

Second is the place where the bottles comes to rest before they start working on your taste buds and brain cells. This small bar contains way more than you may think and is about to offer you some original fine cocktails, along with a marvelous selection of wines.

Third is where you have the room of joy: full of old wood, a few seats, and a wine storage. It is the place where everything comes together and lets you enjoy comfortably a high quality evening for either a quick aperitif or a long lovely night. I love places that are light enough to come, have a drink and continue, but also have a dark corner for you to collapse and disappear after a bad day. It is a combination of space, sound, and flavors that capture your most desirable moments.

Asking for the menu will provide a peculiarmoment in which the waiter brings you one of the Victorian looking books you may have noticed on the shelf, which looks more like a diary then a menu of any kind. You will find out as well that it is way shorter than the existing amount of pages, with only food written in it; wine list is on a blackboard and the waiter will kindly explain it to you and willingly recommends your perfect glass. People at Tartare Bar will recommend you to “do it differently”this time and pick one of their numerous brand cocktails.

Hint: ask the bartender to mix a tailored drink for you.

I had a white wine: Ribolla gialla to be exact, and felt Randy Newman’s song My Life is Goodright into my ears with every sip of the rich, dry, and mineral pale liquid, while the night falls on Rome. From the menu I had huge difficulty to decide, finally went with the Cheesecake tuna tartar for having the most unique name. Perfectly assembled beautiful raw cubes of tuna and cheese on top of a crumble bed with lemon zest and balsamic vinegar on top. As simple as it was, it was so good it left me without any further words.

Rare are the places that combine simplicity and quality in such handled care. It is one Roman corner out of thousands throughout the city but it is one of the corners that makes you take a glance, maybe a picture, light up your curiosity, look inside, and make you stay.

Check out their arty tartars:

Downing Square Tartare Bar serves not only tartars though. Try some of their best sellers:

• Plum cake (Maritozzo for the locals) stuffed with endless variety of delicious and perfectly matching ingredients.
• Bottoncini (little button-shaped panini), again, it will not be easy to choose the filling.
• Specialty Salads with only high quality fresh vegetables and fish.
• And, their recent newborn Chirashi Bowl. Head over to Downing Square to discover this
• Of course people at Tartare Bar will delight you with their fanciful dessert creations and lovingly selected

Animal friendly, Wi-Fi, English, and French speaking. Accepts Visa and Mastercard. Take away.

Downing Square

Piazza Sallustio15

06 8837 6610

Open:    Tu – Fr       11:30 – 15:00 for lunch

              Mo – Su     18:30 – 22:30 for dinner