The owner, an American woman who lived in Rome, found her inspiration for the restaurant name from her native town of San Francisco, California.

In 1950, a new owner bought the place and decided to renovate the business and change its name from Golden Gate to Harry's Bar Rome.

Celebrities who used to spend their time in this bar include Jean Paul Belmondo,[3] Ava Gardner,[3] Federico Fellini,[3] Lana Turner,[4] Marlon Brando,[4] Alberto Sordi,[3] Audrey Hepburn,[5] Sophia Loren[5] and Silvana Pampanini.

[6] The paparazzi crowded the exit of Harry's Bar Rome in order to take celebrity photos, including Rino Barillari, a historic Dolce Vita photographer.

[5] Many later celebrities visited Harry's Bar Rome, including Mel Gibson,[8] Woody Allen,[8] Katherine Kelly Lang,[8] Romina Power,[9] Carla Bruni,[10] Antony Hopkins,[5] Pamela Prati,[11] Paolo Sorrentino[12] and United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.