The story
Il Marchese – Osteria Mercato Liquori describes itself as a contemporary osteria with the luminous grace of a salon and the cultured conviviality of a well-stocked home. It is also a cocktail bar that tells the story of Italian drinking culture with both rigour and imagination. This dual identity, recognised by the Michelin guide with a Recommended distinction for 2026, is rooted in a deliberate contrast. The name is freely inspired by Alberto Sordi’s film Il Marchese del Grillo, merging the spirit of the carbonaro – the common man who sought honest food and wine in simple osterias – with that of the noble, who enjoyed long, lavish meals in bourgeois drawing rooms.
The project was born from a thirty-year friendship between Davide Solari and Lorenzo Renzi, schoolmates who shared a vision of Italian excellence expressed through taste, beauty and genuine hospitality. Their first outpost opened in Rome, on via di Ripetta, and has since expanded to Milan, Poltu Quatu in Sardinia, and Courmayeur. Each location carries the same recognisable concept: contemporary Roman cuisine paired with author mixology and an amaro bar that is the first of its kind in Europe, boasting over 600 Italian labels.
At the heart of the Roman location is executive chef Daniele Roppo, whose cooking philosophy is rooted in Roman tradition but lightened for a contemporary palate. The menu draws on classic recipes – including vegetarian options – and presents them with the refinement the space suggests. The atmosphere, with décor that nods to nineteenth-century French aristocratic elegance, sets the stage for both the osteria’s lunch and dinner service and the cocktail bar’s aperitivo and after-dinner rituals. For those who enjoy food tasting with mixology, drinks can accompany the meal itself. Whether you come for a plate of Roman pasta or to explore one of the country’s most ambitious collections of amari, Il Marchese offers a cohesive experience where past and present meet with natural equilibrium.
Recognition
Ambience
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