Pompeii had more than 150 taverns, or "thermopolia" (Latin for "places that sell something hot").
Since most Pompeiians didn't have kitchens, many would stop by these spots to grab a meal - similar to a tapas bar or fast-food restaurant today.
A typical thermopolium featured a L-shaped marble countertop with a stove, and clay jars embedded in the counter from which the servers would dish out food.
A typical snack might include bread, fish, dried meat, baked cheese, lentils, honey, and spicy wine.
The most popular spread was garum - a condiment made from fermented fish guts!
Taverns were busy and noisy places, often looked down upon by upper-class Romans.
The playwright Plautus describes them as "seedy places for lowly Greeks", where "thieves go when they've stolen something, with their heads covered, drinking hot drinks."
Graffiti one some thermopolia walls suggest a lively, rowdy atmosphere.
"I f****d the barmaid"
"We two dear men, friends forever, were here. If you want to know our names, they are Gaius and Aulus"
"Innkeeper. You sell us water and keep the good wine for yourself"
"Whoever wants to serve themselves can go on and drink from the sea."
Emperors were weary of these taverns and sometimes shut them down during times of crises.
Some thermopolia had political graffitti etched on their outer walls, such as :
"I beg you to elect Cn. Helvius Sabinus aedile, worthy of public office. Aegle asks for this"
"I beg you to elect Cn. Helvius Sabinus aedile, worthy of public office. Maria asks for this"
Fun fact : during excavations, a pot containing 3 kilos of coins was found inside one of the thermopolia - money made by the establishment right before the eruption!
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