Duke's California Bar & Restaurant

Duke Kahanamoku is a name that may not mean very much to many people, but he is a legend in California. A descendant of the Hawaian royal family, he won five gold medals for swimming in the Olympics from 1912 to 1932. However, his real passion was surfing, and he took his board wherever he went, and introduced the sport of surfing to many places - including California.

Duke's Bar was founded in 1998 by the Flying Carrots, a group of three young men with careers in large companies who decided to do something a little different, creating the concept of Fine Casual Dining in Rome. The result is great California cuisine and one of the best cocktail bars in Italy's capital, in a young, trendy and sophisticated setting. The motto of the bar is "Healthy food, caring feelings," and this is expressed by the 8-strong team in the kitchen who prepare specialities based on the various ethnic groups present in California. Throughout the venue, constant attention is dedicated to informal hospitality and service. The team and menu are coordinated by chef Massimiliano Iannozzi. All raw materials are of utmost quality; all recipes, both on the restaurant menu and the list of cocktails, were revisited to evoke a specific reaction on the part of the customers: "wow!"

The interiors were designed by Studio Nemesi, with a highly contemporary feel. Published in several architecture magazines, the destructured design is a distinct contrast with the genteel setting of the Parioli district.
The venue is open from Tuesday to Saturday (except in June, July and August in which it is open from Monday to Friday). The cocktail bar is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., while the restaurant is open from 8.30 p.m. to midnight. Bookings are recommended for the restaurant.

LUXOS recommends: Indian Mojito, made with rum, lime juice, mint, fresh pineapple, liquid sugar flavoured with fresh bourbon vanilla