187 Best Bars in Italy

The Laurin Bar hosts jazz combos on Friday between October and May and a jazz pianist every Saturday evening. In summer, the bar moves outside to the pretty garden, where a DJ spins tunes on Thursday night.

The Quadrilatero Romano, which roughly corresponds to the grid pattern of Roman Turin near Piazza della Repubblica, is a hopping area filled with nightclubs and international restaurants. Places open and close with startling frequency here, but Pastis has shown considerable staying power.

Piccolo Mondo is the city's only disco, still going strong since 1963 (it was renovated in 2018).

At Pitti Gola you can order tasty tidbits to accompany your choices from the extensive and impressive wine list. The outdoor seats have a view of Palazzo Pitti.

For live music, bowling, or just a slice of pizza, this long-standing establishment has been a fixture for generations of Alghero's youth. The music is mainly jazz, blues, and rock, while a range of beers and cocktails are served as well as pizza cooked in a wood oven and dispensed by the meter.

This subterranean speakeasy is decked out in vintage decor inspired by motorcycle racing, with leather Chesterfield sofas and newspaper clippings plastered on the walls. Creative cocktails are fancifully presented and may arrive in an assortment of vessels, including a Moroccan lamp or a baby bottle. To access the bar, you'll have to become a member, which costs €5 (membership is valid for a year).

Some of Milan's most beautiful people congregate for an Aperol spritz and a selection of international tapas on this terrace with panoramic views of the city. Located at the top of the ME Milan Il Duca, the bar has heat lamps to keep visitors here even in cooler weather.

Easy to find on the main drag of town, this lively spot is made livelier by jazzy piano playing. Visitors enjoy cocktails, local beers, and wines, and should not be surprised if they get drawn into a friendly chat. Antipasti, bruschetta, and panini complement the drinks. It's popular, so be prepared for a bit of a squeeze.

A trendy, artsy clientele frequents this bar at aperitivo time. By 10 pm, the place is packed with mostly young folks sipping cocktails.

Favored by trendsetters, this concept store selling clothing and records also has a restaurant, as well as a bar where the cocktails are truly creative.

Though it's a bit difficult to find, on a side street in the popular aperitivo haunt of Navigli, the expertly mixed cocktails, well-prepared snacks, and excellent playlist make this classic worth the hunt. It also serves burgers, sandwiches, and more substantial plates for dinner.

The full name of this little bar is Rivendita: Libri Teatro e Cioccolata, and that's exactly what you'll find in this charming hole-in-the-wall: books and chocolate. Open only in the evenings, the used-bookstore-bar combo offers wine, sweet cocktails, or drinks with double-entendre names that are served in edible shot glasses made of pure chocolate.

S'move is something between a bar and a club, filling around midnight with a young crowd that wears its clothes with the designer labels showing.

Here, a labyrinth of rooms contains a bistro and champagnerie, which are stocked with delicious delicacies and sought-after vintages, and a nightclub with two dance floors featuring every genre of music—from electronic and underground, to hip-hop, lounge, and international.

For a relaxed aperitivo or a lively nightcap, head to this cozy hideaway in the heart of Sciacca. The bar menu includes an ample selection of cocktails as well as "aperitivo" finger food with local olives, cheeses, and bread. If you're lucky, you may run into a live music event. Wine lovers will appreciate the long list of choices featuring Sicilian vineyards and varietals. 

For arguably the best views of Venice anywhere, visit this buzzy eighth-floor hotel cocktail bar. There are regular DJ and live music events during the summer months. Their cocktails, such as their signature gin martini The Gentlemen (€22), are not cheap.

The romantic rooftop terrace at I Sofà has a 360-degree view of the Eternal City, so it's no surprise that it's a prime spot for a late-afternoon cocktail (weather permitting). The bar takes its name from the historic stone benches carved into the wall at the entrance to the Hotel St. George. Head downstairs in the cooler months for a wide selection of craft beers on tap inside the Hotel Indigo.

Via Cisterna dell'Olio hosts the tiny but agreeably funky Superfly, with classic jazz on the speakers and a huge collage of punters' favorite albums lining the wall.

This tiny bar is where trendy Vomeresi grab a predinner cocktail or postdinner cicchetto (shot).

Most aperitivos tend to be more all-you-can-eat than refined predinner stop, but that is not the case at Taverna Volpetti. The chic, bistro-style wine bar and restaurant sources all its ingredients from the gourmet food store by the same name that sits just around the corner. The warm atmosphere, stellar wine list, and excellent cheese and salami make it the ideal place for a drink and a snack—or to stay put with a bottle and sip the night away.

Want a peek at Rome's rooftops from atop an iconic, wisteria-draped palazzo? Head to the small terrace bar at the Hotel Raphaël, noted for its bird's-eye view of the campaniles and palazzos of Piazza Navona. This is one of Rome's most romantic spots, so booking a table (and being prepared for the relatively high prices) is advised.

Recharge with some wine or a cicheto or two—meat, fish, and vegetarian choices are on offer—at this cozy, friendly spot near the Miracoli church. Numerous wines are available by the glass, and the helpful servers are often happy to crack open a bottle for sampling if there's something you fancy.

In the center of Ischia Porto, this is the focal point for a clientele in its early twenties and above. Admission varies (€16–€25), depending on what's on offer.

If you want to escape from the noise and bustle of Ortigia during high tourist season, this well-hidden courtyard pub in one of the island's backstreets will feel like an oasis of calm. Sit in the secluded garden and finish off your night with a drink and a bruschetta or something more substantial from the reasonably priced menu.

Owner Federico is on the piano while his band plays live jazz, in styles including classic, modern, Latin jazz, and bossa nova, at this intimate venue. Concerts usually start at 9 pm every night except Thursday and Sunday, and dinner is available beforehand for an extra charge.

This spot hosts the only live jazz concerts in town; the cover gets you a concert, a table, and your first drink. They also serve cold cuts and sandwiches from when the doors open at 7 pm until the music begins at 9 pm. It's best to reserve a table (and you can book through the website).

This hot new cocktail bar by Italian flair bartender star Giorgio Chiarello is the first of its kind in Vulcano (and all of the Aeolian Islands). Sicilian born and bred but spending enough time abroad, Chiarello was inspired to create something unique in his homeland. It's a casual yet elegant spot with breathtaking views between the sea and the mighty volcano. Expect top-class hospitality and mixology and delicious signature drinks made from the island’s most seasonal products. The bar caters to both the VIPs who visit the Isole Eolie and your average tourist who is just looking for some great cocktails and vibes.