Drink Kong is a chic cocktail haven in Rome, where Japanese street style meets a mood-based drinks menu, offering a playful and inventive sipping experience.
"Drink Kong, situated in Rome, is known for being a fantastic spot for after-dinner drinks. It is recommended for its vibrant atmosphere and excellent cocktail offerings." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Drink Kong is one of the world's 50 best bars, featuring an '80s dreamland aesthetic and creative cocktails by Patrick Pistolesi." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Rome’s best mixologist, Patrick Pistolesi, runs this very slick 1980s-style cocktail-lounge that regularly makes The World’s 50 Best Bars list. There’s neon art, loud music, and a very cool crowd. Alongside the cocktail menu, there’s also a spirits, wine, and sake list. Menus are a work of art in themselves, with drinks broken down by tastes (acid, sweet, bitter), glass (coupe, high ball, tumbler, wine glass, bowl). Each drink gets its own page with a little description, plus its own special graphic artwork. The Paradox cocktail, for example, is made from gin and amber vermouth, and is described as ‘bitter, bizarre, deep’. We ventured for the ‘Big Trouble in Oaxaca’, drawn by the ‘adventurous, naughty, green’ description—and were not disappointed." - Maresa Manara
"First impression? Rome’s best mixologist, Patrick Pistolesi, runs this very slick 1980s-style cocktail-lounge that regularly makes The World’s 50 Best Bars list. There’s neon art, loud music, and a very cool crowd. They can pair cocktails with small plates or make you something bespoke to suit your taste. How’s the crowd? Extremely good looking and well-dressed. In keeping with the Blade Runner-décor, expect to see a lot of black and a lot of leather. Somehow, it works. How are the drinks? Alongside the cocktail menu, there’s also a spirits, wine, and sake list. Menus are a work of art in themselves, with drinks broken down by tastes (acid, sweet, bitter), glass (coupe, high ball, tumbler, wine glass, bowl). Each drink gets its own page with a little description, plus its own special graphic artwork. The Paradox cocktail, for example, is made from gin and amber vermouth, and is described as ‘bitter, bizarre, deep’. We ventured for the ‘Big Trouble in Oaxaca’, drawn by the ‘adventurous, naughty, green’ description—and were not disappointed. If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat? The menu’s a mashup of Mexican and Japanese dishes, done with an Italian slant (Roman oxtail tacos; Cantabrian anchovies; bao buns; edamame hummus). Did the staff do you right? They’re friendly but unobtrusive. If the menu’s overwhelming, ask them to recommend a drink—they’re usually spot on. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? An otherworldly experience of moody lighting, strong drinks and Mexican-Japanese culture… in Italy." - Maresa Manara
"Drink Kong is the neo-noir, Manga-meets- Blade Runner– inspired bar created by Rome’s Patrick Pistolesi. A labyrinth of dark-colored lounge spaces, with long bars, neon lights, and harlequin-patterned floors, Kong is both hang-out and experiment. Pistolesi, who has curated some of the city’s best bar menus and is one of the key players in Italy’s cocktail evolution, created an instinctive menu based only on flavors: bitter, sweet, dry. Either peruse the menu for a Kong signature cocktail like "Big Trouble in Oaxaca," a spicy and slightly fruity tequila and mezcal drink or chat with Kong’s expert bartenders who can craft cocktails customized to your tastes. Or take a leap of faith in the Omakase Room, a Japanese-influenced wood-paneled room for private tastings in the omakase style—your drink will be whatever the bartender chooses for you."
