A few nights ago while shooting episodes 2 and 3 of “Katie Parla’s Rome” (you can watch episode 1 here), my fearless collaborator Kat and I dropped in on Valerio at Birra +, the only truly stellar place to drink on bar-filled Via del Pigneto. While we lamented the abysmal quality of beverages served in this zone packed with watering holes, Valerio rejoiced at the opening of Pigneto’s newest–and Rome’s most ambitious–cocktail bar. Not one to throw around endorsements lightly, he directed us to via Braccio da Montone 80 and we hightailed it across the Circonvallazione Casilina to Co.So “Cocktail & Social”.

The small, contemporary space was decked out in furnishings that made the place feel like part design store, part hotel lobby, and nothing like Pigneto. Similarly divergent was the cocktail list with items like the Errata Corrige (fortified red wine, Campari, London dry gin, St. Germain, and a splash of Champagne style spumante), Co.So’s twist on the Negroni Sbagliato, and the Rome-inspired Carbonara Sour (pork jowl infused vodka, egg white, coarsely ground black pepper, lemon juice and simple syrup). I opted for a modified Sazerac in which Knob Creek replaced rye and brown sugar brought a warm, caramelized undertone.

Co.So. is the brainchild of Massimo D’Addezio, formerly of Stravinskij Bar, Rome’s most luxurious cocktail bar, located in the five-star Hotel de Russie. Massimo and Giorgia, his London-trained co-bartender, mix and stir with skill, style and verve. Drop in on them Monday thru Saturday and be sure to ask about the shower…