One would not expect to find a garden in the heart of Via Tuscolana, but instead, in a corner hidden from the chaos of the city, a black gate pops up among the monuments of Ancient Rome to welcome guests to a magical place where time seems to slow down. It is the 692 Secret Garden, a true secret oasis with a modern and captivating design. During the day, it is a pleasant bistrot that offers cuisine somewhere between traditional and contemporary, but from 6 p.m. onwards it becomes one of the Capital’s most suggestive spaces for happy hour.
692 Secret Garden has its strong point in its unusual location: the restaurant’s outdoor space is nestled between the Claudio and Felice Aqueducts in the Porta Furba area, 600 square metres with tables and seats next to authentic Roman walls. The garden is made even more magical by the tree decorations, the skilful use of lighting, including designer lamps and country party lights, and the stars in the night sky do the rest, creating a natural vault of great charm. The evenings begin at happy hour and continue late into the night accompanied by an ever-changing music programme, all to be enjoyed seated at the tables, under the gazebos or in the lounge areas.
The menu is the final treat that makes the evenings at the 692 Secret Garden even more enjoyable: the barman came up with a list of original drinks offered alongside classic, imaginative cocktails at an affordable price (between €8 and €10). Obviously, a good happy hour is not a good happy hour if it is not accompanied by plenty of appetisers, and here too 692 Secret Garden has added a personal touch to its offer, proposing plates of cured meats and cheeses, various types of supplì and a selection of ‘Roman-style’ tapas including tempting stuffed focaccia, both sweet and savoury.
If you are looking for a trendy place that at the same time retains the historical charm that only Rome can offer, if you are looking for a quiet place that also knows how to entertain, 692 Secret Garden is the right address. An unexpected corner in the heart of the city, where you can eat and drink with pleasure in an atmosphere you can lose yourself in to forget the hustle and bustle of the day.
