In Rome Now Complete City Guide Italy Nightlife, discos, shopping, hotels, restaurants

Rome is alive at night. If New York is the city that never sleeps, Rome is the party that never ends. (Clubs don't get going until after midnight.)Discos compete for extravagent themes and decor, and if they don't always keep up with the latest trends in London or L.A., they still provide a great evening for the young and foot loose. Thursdays through Sundays are club nights when the whole city seems to be out on the town. Monday through Wednesday the streets are much quieter.

Akab
Start here for a night of club-hopping at one of the largest and most established clubs on Via di Monte Testaccio, Rome's night-life row, a street with wall to wall clubs Akab's dance floor is an enormous and atmospheric underground "cave" which can accomodate hundreds of happy campers. There's an open garden in the warmer months and a smaller sala on the ground floor. The music varies from night to night. Tuesday is "L'Elektric" and weekends tend towards a danceable blend of easy listening and soul, with occasional live acts. Continue your tour by rolling down the via Monte Testaccio to other Rome hotspots, such as Jungle Club (at number 95) , Metaverso (38a), Caffe de Oriente ( 36) and) Zoobar (22),
Via di Monte Testaccio 69. (Testaccio)

Alpheus
One of the most spacious clubs in Rome. You can immerse yourself in a variety of musical atmospheres: house reigns in the main sala; while smaller rooms:blast techno, hip hop and rhythm ‘n’ blues. Watch Out:|Crowds can be rough here.
Viale del Commercio 36 (EUR)

Art Café
Located in the subterranean Villa Borghese Parking Structure, Art Café holds the prize for being the most fashionable disco-club in Rome at the moment. It's happening, hot and underground, located in the Villa Borghese Car Park, where cars, walkways and the Metro Line (subway) form a network that converges into Piazza di Spagna.The music rocks "Happy" tunes (from dance to funky house and revival, in several rooms); the place is ALIVE with movement: spacious dancefloors surrounded by private lounges. Friday nights the place is mostly packed to the rafters with university students, and Saturday is not much quieter. Dress code is fashionably chic; door cover expensive; be a gender-mixed couple to make it over the threshold. (Finding the entrance can be tricky. Take the long tunnel under the steps at Piazza di Spagna, but don't retrace your steps, or enter from the Muro Torto.)
Viale del Galoppatoio 33 (Villa Borghese)

Baja
This two-story disco is unique in Rome, rising on a barge floating on the Tiber River. Because the focus on cocktails, Baja is very bar-oriented, its dance floor sharing space with tables.
Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia at Ponte Margherita (Roma Centre)

Bar Bar
Once the popular Rome disco Follia, now trasformed into cocktail lounge offering a relaxed atmosphere in a minimal, modern setting. Open early for appertivi, the club stays busy until the wee hours with a cigar room, coffee, wine and cocktail bars.
via Ovidio, 17 ( Prati)

Brancaleone
This "socio-cultral" center which has occupied a converted Roman villa for 15 years, hosts film openings, parties, disco nights and other events. On Fridays, dj Agatha is sat the console with electronic sounds. Thursdays are reggae nights called "One Love." Saturdays are dedicated to house music. International dj's are frequent guests. The decor is modern and monochromatic with burnished steel accents. Classy, but not as expensive as some upscale clubs such as Gilda. Films are screened on the upper floor where there is also an organic cafe, and an art gallery.
Open Thursday-Saturday only.
Via Levanna, 11 (Montesacro) tel 06 820 04382

Classico Village
A Rome destination for a full evening's entertainment, with a restaurant, a large outdoor courtyard, two bars, a performance space with stage, an enormous loft. Dance floors, djs, all sorts of live music.
Via G. Libetta, 3 tel.06.574 3364 Closed Monday, restaurant open Tueday- Saturday. (Garabatella)

Chalet
This small, Rome comfortable disco has open open-roof atmosphere that gives dancers the sensation of being immersed in nature. It has been known to feature world-famous dj’s such as Dave Morales, Italy’s DJ Ralf and many others.
Piazzale dello Stadia Olimpico 5 (Monte Mario)

Circolo Degli Artisti (Artists' Circle)
This is a great place to hear live music or just dance the night away. While it doesn’t offer the luxuries, such as couches and tables, like other, more prestigious clubs, the dance floor here is huge and always filled with a lively young crowd. The club is split into two concert stages, the huge dance floor, a pizzeria and a pub. And there's a canopy-covered outside area with beautiful, picnic-style benches, perfect for that warm night. The club is also a venue for many well-known bands. Stop in on a weeknight, when you probably won't have to pay a cover charge. Drinks are only €5, probably the cheapest you'll find among the Rome clubs . The music selection includes anything from Italian pop rock to electronica, to hip-hop, and even punk. Open 10 pm - 4:30 am. Closed Mondays.
Via Casilina Vecchia, 42 (Prenestino)

I Giganti
In the heart of the Campo de’ Fiori nightlife scene, this place is always crowded on weekends— often making it impossible to get inside. But you never know who you might meet in the crowd. The bartenders speak fluent English, and are quite nice to international students, so the club attracts a lot of Americans. €1 tequila shots are served every day of the week, and when the tequila runs out, they bring out the rum, so no one is ever left behind. Like most places in Campo, they stay open as long as there are customers, but expect everyone to move inside after 2 am.
Piazza Campo de' Fiori, 26 tel 06 687 418

Gilda
Since the “La Dolce Vita epoch”, when Jackie O’s reigned supreme, Gilda has been unrivaled as the most prestigious disco club in Rome. Located in historic centre, only one block from the Spanish Steps and the city’s most famous shopping streets, the club has managed to stay afloat by targeting a younger generation of disco converts, opening its doors for special teen-oriented private parties during the week, hosting afternoon disco events for an even younger set, aged 13 to 16. But weekend nights are still reserved for an older (over 21) crowd. Via Mario de’Fiori 97 (Spanish Steps)

Goa
Perhaps Rome's definitive club with an up to the minute dècor (currently in the etnochic style of Bollywood), in an attempt to stay one step ahead of other Rome clubs, and playing the newest swings, mostly specializing in Minimal/Tech-House. Ultrabeat Thursday's have seen world renowned celebrities behind the console — Sven Vath, Steve Bug, Italian star dj Claudio Coocoluto to name a few. Friday's theme "D'Lite" offers a less raucous but equally exciting evening; Saturdays it's "From Classics On", with a variation between Dance and Funky House. There's always a line outside, and the selection is so tough you almost need a raccomendazione to get in the door.
Via Libetta 13 (Garbatella)

Heaven
One of Rome’s oldest discos, recently completely updated with a state-of-the art sound system, maxi-screens around the dance floor and drinks made-to-order to perfection. Wednesday is University Night, Thursday nights go international, Friday is Happy Night and Saturday is devoted to house music. The club is open to a younger crowd on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Via di Porta Ardeatina 119 (San Saba)

Micca Club
This club, operated by Gruppo Innocenti Hotel, under the artistic direction of Alessandro Casella (Giaguaro Magazine), tries to incorporate the ambience of an evening's entertainment with the production of a magazine, record label, and online radio broadcast. The space is dominated by a huge circular staircase, at the base, a fountain, and a big dance floor with columns and soaring, arched ceilings. There are three bars, an art gallery, a "zona relax" and a smoking area, as well as a stage where live music is presented. The programming leans heavily towards jazz. Thursday nights are "Jazz a go go" with live performances. Fridays its "exotique fm live!" with resident dj Massimiliano Troiani and guest dj's of international caliber. The sounds are billed as ideal for anyone who likes the "sweet notes" of grand piano, the psychedelic rock of a Hammond organ or the dance beat of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Saturday is Vinyl Express, with dj's and live guests playing retro beat, bassa nova, plus, once a month, a burlesque show featuring the Lady Luck Club from London. Sunday, there's a cocktail buffet starting at 6 pm for €10. On Sunday the club hosts Micca Market, a flea and vintage sale. The Micca Club radio is broadcast streaming , and at night on 97.7 fm, Radio Città Futura.
Via Pietro Micca, 7a (between Stazione Termini and Piazza Vittorio) Info: 06 87440079

Piper
Awesome! A Rome institution since the ‘60s, now remodeled with state-of-the-art sound and lights, it targets its appeal to a modern crowd. The exciting mix of house and happy house music will keep you on the dance floor ‘til you turn to dust! Friday nights it’s the happening spot in Parioli, and all the gorgeous young things turn out.
Via Tagliamento 9 (Parioli)

Rock Castle
A great, cozy place to enjoy some cold ones and get away from the house/hip-pop music, heard in most bars, and groove to good rock sounds. Epect music on the lines of Led Zep, and AC/DC, with live acts often featured, both acoustic and plugged in. The decor seems to aim for the castle dungeon look, hence the name. The beer flows all night long so you won’t get the 2 am boot here.
Via Beatrice Cenci 8 (just across the river from Trastevere near Ponte Garibaldi) tel 06 688 07999

Suite
This small club is in Trastevere, a part of Rome known for its “hip nights.” It’s an economical use of space, but the décor is in stunningly elegant black and white with sweeping, curved walls and polished steel. It’s adjacent to the chic and ultramodern Ripa Hotel, so it attracts an upscale, international crowd. Music tends towards house and happy house hits.
Via degli Orti di Trastevere 1 (Trastevere)