Societas Via Romana - Discussion Archives

Salvete omnes,


I just arrived from a visit to the Ploeg (my favorite pub, ask allegra ) and now (a little tipsy, I had three big gueuzes ) I asked myself: did they have pubs in Rome too? I know the public life mainly happened on the forum, the thermae and even in the toilets, but did they have pubs?


Valete,


Locatus

Thermae were usually for the richer people I think.

Bars and such... yes it would be very logical! I know that in Rome there were "snackbars" were many Romans of all classes ate some sort of hasty "lunch", usually outside. I suppose that, reflecting the society, there were those establishments with a better name than others. I'm not sure what kind of drinks they served (wine, water, milk, beer I reckon...) but the food was probably rather simple. Romans liked to save some room in their stomach for the copious diner or cena .

Scorpio

Salve Locate,

Yes, most of the "snack bars" at Pompeii were found with amphorae of wine stacked in the back. They differ from pubs, however, in that the bars were on the sidewalk so patrons did not actually enter the premises. Wouldn't work in rainy Belgium or England.

Tergestus