Best Nightlife in Rome – USA TODAY 10Best

The latest venture from the brains behind Rome’s famed Freni e Frizioni and Jerry Thomas Speakeasy bars, Agaveria La Punta gives you an authentic taste of Mexico in the heart of Trastevere! With an impressive variety of mescal cocktails to choose from, and delicious treats like tacos, seafood ceviche and fresh guacamole, Agaveria La Punta is bound to impress. There are only a handful of tables so be sure to call ahead and reserve if you plan to have dinner, otherwise, swing by at any time of night for one of their delicious cocktails. TRAM: 3, 8, BUS: 3, 75, H.

Santo is the cool and contemporary bistro and cocktail bar that Trastevere craved. The eclectic and fun interiors are a welcome surprise and change from the chequered tablecloth trattorie the neighborhood is used too. Sit at the bar and have the expert barmen mix you a cutting edge cocktail and choose some snacks from their comfort food bar snacks. Oh and don’t miss the creative cocktail list with caricatures of bar and restaurant staff. The menu is a creation of modern dishes, many an ode to local favorites but with a twist and homemade pasta is always a feature. The venue is regularly curated by local artists which adds to the super cool vibe. It’s another touch that, together with owner Daniele Fadda’s approach to staff management and service, makes Santo perfect for those Roman nights.
Open from 6pm until 2am Tuesday to Saturday.
TRAM: 8

Bars are plentiful in Rome but there is one on the Rome nightlife scene that only makes a mean cocktail but provides for a truly unique night out. The Jerry Thomas Project is a speakeasy bar located in the historic center of Rome, right by Piazza Navona. You need a booking and a password to get in but the effort is truly worth its weight in gold. The bar staff are dressed in vintage 1920s get up and are truly a sight to be seen as they mix those cocktails away. The place is small (with a great use of space and even a piano as a table) and you can even smoke if you carefully follow the bar rules. Metro: Spagna.

Fusing together cosmpolitan vibes from New York, Paris and beyond, Baccano offers all day dining and drinks at its prime location by the Trevi Fountain. The brasserie ambience is coupled with sleek service and table-side theatrics, while the swish oyster bar and faultlessly mixed cocktails add a touch of class. The menu covers all bases with luxury ingredients such as foie gras (including in the chef’s lush signature Croque Monsieur), caviar and lobster rubbing shoulders with traditional Roman fare prepared by ex-Roscioli chef Nabil Hadj Hassen, famed throughout Rome for his spectacular and unforgettable carbonara. METRO: Spagna.

Shari Vari Playhouse has fast become the new It-girl on Rome’s nightclub scene. The club, which was formerly known as the Supper Club, is huge and is conveniently located just around the corner from both Largo Argentina and the Pantheon. It has three levels of rooms to choose from with each featuring a different dance genre including hip-hop, retro, house and dance music. It attracts quite a stylish international crowd and very well-dressed Romans with a worldy attitude. To avoid disappointment, it’s highly recommended to reserve a table. The club hosts regular themed events and promote these ‘serate’ on their website. BUS: 64, 40, 46. TRAM: 8

Located in the Ostiense neighborhood, which has long been home to many nightlife spots, Vinile is kind of a new kid on the block. Well, sort of. The venue is very well known to Romans with the old 45 Giri nightclub formerly holding residence here. Opened in late 2014, the venue is open from Tuesday to Sunday from aperitivo time right through to the wee hours of the night. During the aperitivo time and through to about 11:00pm there is live music with local and international performers ranging from folklore, rock, swing, blues, big band orchestra and jazz. The aperitivo is quite extensive and in an all you can eat buffet style. With it’s high ceilings and floor to ceiling bar display, you could be mistaken for thinking you’ve walked into a New York club. After the live music ends, a DJ sets closes the evening. METRO: Piramide, TAXI from center around 15 euro.

Drink Kong is more than just a bar. More than a venue. Rome may not have the cool or cosmopolitan reputation of a London, Tokyo or New York but things here are changing. And Drink Kong – the brainchild of cocktail guru, Patrick Pistolesi – brings to the Eternal City a style and concept never seen before. The space sees mixology, food, music, visual art and fun come together. Pistolesi is known locally as the guy who has revolutionized mixology in Rome and with his talented bar team Livio Morena, Riccardo Palleschi and Davide Diaferia; business partners Claudia Gianvenuti, Massimo Palmieri, Richard Ercolani and Ilaria Valeri; and chef Marco Morello (owner of Testaccio Market—’s FoodBox), has brought this new venture to life. In the main cocktail bar, you can drink and eat at the counter and the menu is an eclectic international mix with tacos, steamed buns, dumplings and even scones making the cut. In the Tokyo-inspire hidden bar—’, the Ginza Room, private events and tastings take place. There’s also the Music Hall with nightly live entertainment and on the way to the bathrooms (hot tip – don’t miss them!), there are a couple of vintage 80s arcade games. So you could say, Drink Kong kind of has it all! Open nightly until late, except Mondays. METRO: Colosseo.

If a young, professional local crowd – the ‘after work drinks’ kind of crowd – is your thing, then you’ll love Sorpoasso. All-day dining places in Rome are rare and this one’s a gem. Grab a coffee and pastry up front, head to the counter for rare artisanal meats and cheeses, hit the cocktail bar any time, or get a table in the light, country-cool style back room for a meal. The food may sound simple, but it’s carefully sourced and perfectly executed. The extensive wine list and taglieri – platters of salumi and cheeses – are standout. METRO: Ottaviano. Bus: 87, 23

The old dame of Rome has a new and fresh face. LUMEN Cocktails & Cuisine in the olde world glamorous St Regis, has been named so as an ode to the unit measurement of light. And she sure stands out as a beacon in the impressive lobby of the hotel! Here, it’s all about all-day dining and drinking under the magical chandelier light with an extensive lunch, dinner and snack menu. All the classics from the staple hotel favorite, the club sandwich, to the hallmarks of Roman cuisine including the carbonara, make an appearance. It kicks off from breakfast and you can enjoy an expertly mixed drink until late in the evening. It’s the place to be in Rome for a stylish and impeccable aperitivo and be sure not to miss the signature St Regis champagne sabering ritual nightly at 7pm where the cork flies into the crowd and officially kicks of the nights proceedings. METRO: Repubblica

The Court is the high-end bar Rome has been waiting for. It has all the makings for perfection: it sits on a raised courtyard floor of a historic palazzo (the five star Palazzo Manfredi), chic furnishings and lighting designed by Italo-German architect Giorgia Dennerlei, expert mixologists and a Michelin star chef to curate the snacks. Oh and then there’s the view. Well to be honest, the view might just make you disregard and forget all the rest. The Colosseum spreads out in all its glory right before you eyes as you catch your breath. Traveling and renowned cocktail man Matteo Zed has devised the drinks menu for the 7.5 meter bar with a focus on the seasons, signature favorites and what he likes to call, ‘Forgotten Classics and Unforgettables’. His partner in crime managing the wine list is Gennaro Buono, the hotel food and beverage manager who won the best Sommelier of Italy in 2016. Aroma (1 Michelin star) sits on the prized rooftops of the hotel and Executive Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio, together with pastry chef Daniele De Santi, has created an elegant finger food menu to accompany your drinks.
METRO: Colosseo