From P. Navona, exit and turn left onto V. Coronari; continue and make a sharp left onto V. Montevecchio. Happy hour drinks with free buffet €8. Beer €5. Wine €6. Cocktails €8. Open Tu-Su 6pm-2am. Aperitivo 6:30-10pm.
MOOD
C. Vittorio Emanuele 205
CLUB
06 32 90 64 22 40
It may be painted entirely silver, but it meets the golden standard as far as Roman discos go. Room after room in Mood’s cavernous downstairs lets guests choose between lounging or dancing. But with the stereo blaring Top 40 early on and drinks flowing generously (student specials abound), most people will be up on the floor by the time 1am rolls around. Because it’s downstairs, the Centro Storico’s 2am norm for closing may as well not exist.
Near Campo dei Fiori. Americans get in free. 2 drinks for €10 or open bar €15 until 1am. €2 shots for ladies. Student specials; show ID. Cocktails €10. Open daily 11pm-4am.
FLUID
V. del Governo Vecchio 46
BAR, CLUB
06 68 32 361 www.fluideventi.com
Fluid seems to be working a “natural” theme—though the fake tree branches, caged rocks, and faux ice cube stools don’t exactly scream “crunchy granola.” With a lounge early in the evening and an upbeat DJ set later in the night, this is the place to come for post-dinner drinks and company. The drink menu, which is essentially a book of cocktails, features unorthodox mixes, like the cinnamon red: a smoothie of cannella rossa liqueur, yogurt, crema di limone, and whipped cream (€7.50).
From P. Navona, exit onto P. Pasquina and continue as it becomes V. del Governo Vecchio. DJ nightly. Aperitivo buffet €7.50. Beer €5-6. Cocktails €7.50. Open daily 6pm-2am. Aperitivo 6-10pm.
ARISTOCAMPO
P. Campo dei Fiori
BAR, RESTAURANT
On the doorstep of Campo dei Fiori, this fast-paced bar gets crowded early thanks to its better-than-average aperitivo buffet. Pumping music pulses from the small bar inside, but most of the action is on the patio where nearly every stool is occupied. Great panini—good for carni-, herbi-, and omnivores—satisfies those late night cravings wrought by yet another cocktail.
In Campo dei Fiori. Aperitivo €5. Beer €5-6. Cocktails €7. Panini €4-5. Salads €8. Open daily noon-2am. Aperitivo 6-8pm.
ANIMA
V. di Santa Maria dell’Anima 57
CLUB, BAR
Anima’s copper entrance leads into a dim lounge, complete with black lights, low couches, and two bars. Lounge music plays in the early evening as a mixed crowd of students and 20-somethings wander in. Starting around midnight, the dance floor heats up with house and commercial tunes spinning until the wee hours. Head up the tiny spiral staircase if you want to step off the floor and people-watch from above.
From P. Navona, turn left onto V. di Santa Maria della’Anima. Ladies’ night 2-for-1 drinks on M. Open bar Th and Su. Happy hour beer €2.50, cocktails €4.50. Beer €4-5. Cocktails €6, €10 after midnight. Open daily 7pm-4am. Happy hour 7-10pm.
Piazza Di Spagna
There’s a reason the Spanish Steps are so popular at night, and it’s not their beauty (though that’s a definite perk). Young travelers seeking nightlife in this neighborhood would rather lounge on the steps than pay €15 for drinks and light music at a lounge nearby. There’s no reason to stay in this neighborhood for a night out, unless you like walking down empty streets of closed boutiques or rubbing shoulders with businessmen and the residents of five-star hotels.
ANTICA ENOTECA DI V. DELLA CROCE
V. della Croce 76b
RESTAURANT, ENOTECA
06 67 90 896
Escape the pretentiousness of the surrounding snazzy bars and head to this old-fashioned enoteca for a drink and a meal. The airy feel set by tall ceilings and rustic arches is refreshing compared to nearby places. A plate of homemade pasta with duck sauce and a glass of wine will cost you less than €15 and can be enjoyed in comfort at the long bar or a small side table. Unfortunately, there’s no happy hour, but that just means you can enjoy €5 draft pints at 3pm.
A: Spagna. From the Spanish Steps, walk down V. della Croce. Wine €4-10 per glass (also available by the bottle). Beer €5. Cocktails €8. Primi €8-9; secondi €12-16. Open daily 11am-1am.
GILDA
V. Mario dè Fiori 97
CLUB
06 67 84 838 www.gildabar.it
We don’t think the gold walls and chichi leather couches are a coincidence—dress sharply and prepare to schmooze with Rome’s elite (or those with aspirations). One of the city’s most famous discos, this upscale spot caters to an exclusive crowd wanting only the best cocktails and music. Pay for a table or rent a private room while you sip that martini and wait for the dance floor to fill up with stylishly-clad clubbers. Colored lights, multiple stereos, and ceilings rivaling St. Peter’s in height don’t disappoint. Our advice: if you make it here, just forget that “budget” thing and resign yourself to weeping in the morning.
A: Spagna. From the Spanish Steps, walk down V. Condotti and turn left onto V. Mario de Fiori. Disco open Sept-mid-June; moves to the beach at Ostia during the summer. Happy hour buffet with drink €8. €20-30 for a table, includes 1 drink. Cocktails €15. Disco open Sept-June Th-Su midnight-4am. Restaurant open daily from noon. Happy hour 5-9pm.
Trastevere
Trastevere is home to some of the best nightlife in the city—student and otherwise. Whether you want a small bar, a classy lounge, or somewhere where you can move around a bit, make the trek over the river and get ready for a late night.
FRENI E FRIZIONI
V. del Politeama 4-6
LOUNGE, BAR
06 45 49 74 99 www.freniefrizioni.com
To find this place, don’t look for a street number: turn your head skyward until you spy a jam-packed bar. Located just up the stairs off Via del Politeama, Freni e Frizioni has essentially created its own piazza. (And you thought only high Roman authorities could do that.) The white interior, decorated with art work and bookshelves, feels more like a living room than a lounge. The extensive bar is only a precursor to the aperitivo room in back—a dining table to rival that of the Last Supper’s, constantly replenished with fresh entrees served directly from the pots they were cooked in, awaits you.
From P. Trilussa, head down the tiny V. del Politeama and look for the steps on the left. Wine €6. Cocktails €7-8. Aperitivo buffet €6-10. Open daily 6:30pm-2am. Aperitivo 6:30-10:30pm.
CAFE FRIENDS
P. Trilussa 34
CAFE, BAR, CLUB
06 58 16 111 www.cafefriends.it
Like good friends (well, even mere acquaintances) should, the servers here know your name. Locals and international students alike crowd this hip cafe-lounge at all hours of the day. Fully decked out with a swanky silver bar, stylish cartooned walls, and spatious indoor and patio seating, Cafe Friends caters to more American tastes: a full breakfast is served daily 8:30am-12:30pm. But abandon those early-morning ways for the more typically Italian aperitivo mixed-drink buffet, served nightly 7-10pm (€6-8), which draws the biggest crowd. The special Friends drinks, like the “Zombie” (rum, Jamaicano, cherry brandy, orange juice, and lime; €6.50) will keep you going to music that blasts all the way into the early evening.
From Ponte Sisto, head into P. Trilussa. Beer €3.50-5. Martinis €7. Cocktails €8. 15% discount for international students with ID. Open M-Sa 7am-2am, Su 6:30pm-2am.
PEPATO
V. del Politeama 8
BAR, LOUNGE
06 58 33 52 54
Follow the illuminated red Pepato sign into this dim haven of drinks and music, where predominantly black decor sets a sophisticated vibe. Sleek black stools line the silver bar where young staff serve Pepato specials like the “Royal,” a powerful mix of Absolut Peppar, peach vodka, and champagne (€7). Although there are plenty of couches and tucked-away corners for sitting, rock and house tunes blaring on the stereo will probably have you moving before the night is ou
t. The wooden patio outside offers some reprieve from the pulsing interior, reminding you that you are on a historic, cobblestone street in a good ol’ Catholic city.
From Ponte Sisto, turn left onto Lungotevere Raf faello Sanzio; head down the stairs in the piazza on the right, and make a left. Shots €3. Beer €4-7. Wine €5-7. Cocktails €6. Aperitivo buffet €10. Open Tu-Su 6:30pm-1am. Aperitivo 6:30-10pm.
GOOD CAFFE
V. di San Dorotea 8/9
CAFE, BAR
06 97 27 79 79 www.goodcaffe.it
Alcohol really finds a home here—a refrigerator full of white wine, a bookshelf full of red, and an armoire of liquor make the place especially homey. Of course, the twinkling lights, colorful chandeliers, and festive red walls don’t take away from the comfy feel. Most customers come for casual conversation over drinks, but live jazz and blues M and Th and a DJ F-Sa make Good Caffe a better-than-good place to check out any night.
From P. San G. de Matha, take V. di San Dorotea as it veers left. Free Wi-Fi. Beer on tap €4.50-7. Cocktails €8. Aperitivo buffet with wine €5, with cocktail €8. Open daily 8am-2am. Aperitivo 7-9pm.
BEIGE
V. Politeama 13-14
BAR, LOUNGE
06 58 33 06 86 www.beigeroma.com
Somehow swanky black and white decor equals... Beige? Distinguishing itself from some of the more low-key establishments nearby with its plush stools, modern black arches, and dark green lounge, Beige caters to a sophisticated crowd all evening long. Its 12 page menu, organized solely into pre- and post-dinner beverages, gives a drink to match nearly every hour until 2am. Mellow music and plenty of seats.
From Ponte Sisto, turn left onto Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio, head down the stairs in the piazza on the right, and make a left. Cocktails €8. Open Tu-Su 7:30pm-2am. Aperitivo 7:30-10:30pm.
Termini and Northeast Rome
There are plenty of bars surrounding Termini, most of them close to hostels and thus especially popular with students. If staying out late, travel with a group and watch your purse. Stay away from the station as much as possible. If you want to venture slightly further north, Via Nomentana and its surrounding streets are also home to plenty of good bars.
BOEME
V. Velletri 13
CLUB
06 84 12 212 www.boeme.it
An expansive downstairs disco lined entirely in black and white stripes and funky flowered wallpaper brings in a happening crowd on the weekends. Multiple platforms for dancing, flashing lights, a sound system blaring house and Top 40 hits, a huge bar, and neon accents create a psychedelic experience for partiers willing to drop a few euros.
From P. Fiume, walk up V. Nizza and turn left onto V. Velletri. Cover €15-20; includes 1st drink. Drinks €10. Open F-Sa 11pm-5am.
AI TRE SCALINI
V. Panisperna 251
CAFE, ENOTECA
06 48 90 74 95
Look down V. Panisperna and you’ll see two things: a hanging curtain of vines and a crowd of people. The sorridenti customers at this socially-conscious enoteca and cafe often spill out onto the street, wine glass in hand. Inside, the giant blackboard menu features only locally grown and seasonally harvested products hailing from Lazio. The beverage selection is just as sustainable, including organic and hand-cultivated wines (the Sangiovese was made by prison inmates); the restaurant also refuses to sell bottled mineral water. Blues in the background, frescoed walls, tiny tables, and dim lights make this the perfect spot for casual conversation, a game of chess (check out their antique set), or some Roman history catch-up (their mini bookshelf should help).
From the intersection of V. XIV Maggio and V. Nazionale (near Trajan’s column), walk up V. Panisperna. Free Wi-Fi. 10% discount at lunch hours. Beer on tap €3-5. Wine €3.50-6 per glass, €11-70/bottle. Sfizi (bite-sized appetizers) €2.50-3; primi €3-8. Open M-F noon-1am, Sa-Su 6pm-1am. Aperitivo 6-9pm.
YELLOW BAR
V. Palestro 40
CAFE, BAR
06 49 38 26 82 www.the-yellow.com
Feeling a bit homesick for college, or perhaps just your home country? Whatever locale you have a hankering for, the international folks at Yellow Bar are sure to cure your case of the blues. Next door to its hopping hostel, this bar caters to a mixed crowd of travelers and students who come for cheap drinks, relaxed music, and good company. Order one of their special cocktails like the Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick to the Face Crazy Shot (don’t ask what’s in it...just drink up) before heading downstairs to the beer pong room, fully equipped with two regulation-size tables and an official list of house rules.
Termini. From V. Marsala, near track 1, walk down V. Marghera and then turn left onto V. Palestro. Pub quiz on W €5. Open bar on F €15. Cocktails €8. Beer pong pitchers €14.50. Happy hour spirits €2.50; wine €1.50. Open daily 7:30am-2am. Kitchen open 7:30am-noon. Happy hour 3-9pm.
TWINS
V. Giolitti 67
BAR, CLUB
06 48 24 932 www.twinbar.com
Flashing lights, loud music, and red walls set a lively stage for the international crowd that packs Twins every night. Located just outside of Termini’s station, this club is as busy as the street outside. The front bars cater to those seeking more of a lounge, while the back room and its private outdoor courtyard pack it in with loud beats and dancing. Though it’s easy to get carried away here, keep your wits about you and your wallet close to your body—Termini’s station is known for pickpockets.
Termini. Right outside the station. Beer €3.50-5. Cocktails €8. Primi €7-13; secondi €12-23. Open daily 6am-2am. Happy hour 5-7pm.
DRUID’S DEN
V. San Martino ai Monti 28
IRISH PUB
06 48 90 4781 www.druidspubrome.com
Wait, we’re in Italy? You’d never know it in this green-lit Irish pub, the second oldest in the country. The brick walls are lined with memorabilia from the owner’s frequent trips back home, an assortment ranging from flags to wooden place-name placards. Popular mostly with Italians and expats in the neighborhood, this is the place to come for quality drinks against a backdrop of national soccer games or traditional live Irish music, depending on the night.
B: Cavour. Walk down V. Giovanni and veer left onto V. San Martino ai Monti. Live music F-Sa around 10pm. Special whiskeys €4-5. Cocktails €4.50. Drafts €5.50. Open daily 5pm-2am. Happy hour 5-8:30pm.
L’ISOLA CHE NON C’È
V. San Martino ai Monti 7/A
LIBRERIA
06 48 82 134
Lavender walls and a sleek wooden catwalk lined with books and bottles make up the little isola that, according to its name, “is not here.” (Maybe that’s because it’s a paradise?) Books are only a starting point for discussion, an excuse for intellectual folk to gather over good wine and food. Occasional lectures on environmental concerns and live music on select nights provide other reasons to pop by this place and see what’s going on. While classically Italian in its low-key style, Isola’s tiny menu is a bit spunkier, with specials like smoked swordfish and pineapple or vegetarian delights like tabbouleh with zucchini.
B: Cavour. Walk down V. Giovanni and veer left onto V. San Martino ai Monti. Free Wi-Fi. Live music most Th and Sa. Free buffet with purchase of a drink. Wine and beer €3-5. Cocktails €4-8. Primi €7-11. Open M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sa 11am-2am.
Testaccio, Ostiense, and Southern Rome
Off Rome’s central map, Testaccio and Ostiense cater to in-the-know partygoers: locals who’ve sought out the best clubs and the savvy tourists or students who’ve sought out the locals. The strip of clubs, restaurants, and lounges surrounding Via di Monte Testaccio begs to be explored, though as the evening rolls on longer lines make it harder to gain admission. The streets closer to the train station tend to have smaller, low-key establishments that stay open late, an option if you don’t feel like heavy-duty clubbing. Too far south gets quiet, though.
CONTE STACCIO
V. di Monte Testaccio 65/b
&n
bsp; BAR, CONCERT VENUE
06 57 28 97 12 www.myspace.com/contestaccio
If bumping and grinding to DJ’d music isn’t your thing, then you’ll probably love Conte Staccio. Live music ranging from indie rock to electro-funk draws a mixed crowd of internationals and not-so-mainstream students and locals. Two rooms—one with a stage, the other with tables for late-night nibbles—give you the option to enjoy the music from afar or rock out up close, though the smallish quarters mean that the huge stereos might blow your ears out before long, regardless of room. Head to the outdoor steps if you need a break from the music, but chances are the crowd outside will be just as packed.
B: Piramide. Walk up V. Marmorata towards the river, turn left onto V. Galvani ,and veer left onto V. di Monte Testaccio. Beer €2.50-5. Wine €3-5. Cocktails €6-7. Primi €8; secondi €10. Open daily 8pm-5am. Restaurant 8pm-3am. Music 11pm-5am.
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