Craft Beer Festival (Eataly Rome Ostiense)

A beer festival in the heart of Ostiense

The Craft Beer Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events held in the outdoor square of Eataly Rome Ostiense, in the municipality of Rome, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio. For four consecutive evenings, the open-air space of the former Air Terminal Ostiense transforms into a true village of independent beer: pouring stations, food trucks, communal tables, and live DJ sets, in a format that has already won over both locals and visitors.

Over fifty craft beers on tap

The heart of the event is the brewing selection: more than fifty Italian and international labels, chosen from independent microbreweries and established names in the craft movement. Recent editions have featured breweries such as Mosto Italiano, Happennino, Oxiana, Kobi Brewing, MOU - Contadini Birrai, Birrificio Lepino, Birra Flea, and Baladin, alongside an international selection (United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic) curated by Beer Fellas, as well as Eataly's own house beers, some brewed with Carnaroli rice and Italian hops.

Guests are free to wander between the taps and curate their own tasting experience: crisp lagers for the hottest nights, IPAs and American Pale Ales for hop lovers, and stouts or sour beers for the more curious palates. The staff at the counters are always happy to offer pairing suggestions without any formality.

Street food and food trucks

Accompanying the pints is a selection of food trucks and street kitchens: lobster rolls, gourmet burgers, burritos and tacos, gyoza, Roman supplì, fried snacks, and artisanal gelato. The concept is one of free pairing, with dishes designed to stand up to complex beers without weighing down a summer evening outdoors.

• Gourmet sandwiches and regional specialties
• Traditional Roman fried foods and international street food
• Desserts and artisanal gelato
• Ready-to-drink cocktails for non-beer drinkers

Music and atmosphere

From sunset until late at night, the square is animated by different DJ sets each evening, with selections ranging from soul to tropical disco, and afro-baile to urban rhythms. The atmosphere remains that of an extended neighborhood block party: you can stand or sit at the large communal tables, share space with strangers, and hop from one tap to the next until late.

Free entry and token system

Admission to the event is free. Drinks and food are purchased using a token system, available at dedicated cash desks at the entrance. In past editions, pre-sale packages including a tasting glass and holder have also been available. This system helps reduce queues and allows visitors to sample more beers in smaller portions.

Why it's worth a visit

Rome may not have a brewing tradition as long as Northern European regions, but over the last twenty years, Lazio has become one of the most vibrant territories for the Italian craft movement, with farm breweries and microbreweries scattered between the Castelli Romani, Ciociaria, and the Pontine area. An event like this, hosted in an urban, easily accessible setting, is the simplest way to understand what drinking craft means in Italy today, away from the influence of big brands.

A neighborhood in transformation

Ostiense is one of the most interesting districts in the capital: industrial archaeology, large-scale street art, the Gasometer, the General Markets, and the Centrale Montemartini with its ancient statues set among turbines. The Craft Beer Festival fits naturally into this landscape, adding a convivial touch to the Roman summer calendar.