Bologna
The natural wine movement is slow on the take in Italy, but this storied – if somewhat touristy – enoteca features the best natural, organic and…
Must-see nightlife in Italy
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sandi Skerk's property is only 500m from the border of Slovenia; here he continues the family tradition of making natural wines avoiding the use of…
Naples
Groove away at this Vomero favourite, a hybrid music shop/cafe/bar. Hunt for new and used vinyl and CDs spanning electronica and classic rock to jazz,…
Sorrento
Think locked-eyes-over-cocktails time. This is the place to impress your date with cocktails (€8) on the candlelit terrace, surrounded by orange, lemon…
Ancient Rome
A historic wine bar, Cavour 313 is a snug, wood-panelled retreat frequented by everyone from tourists to actors and politicians. Housed in a bottega …
Trieste
Trieste's cosmopolitan gaze usually faces east, but here we have a bar that feels like you've been transported to an ultra-hip neighbourhood of Madrid…
Riomaggiore
Set on a hillside lane, the friendly Fuori Rotta makes a fine escape from the busier spots by the harbour. Here you can sit at outdoor tables overlooking…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
Few places evoke the San Lorenzo student vibe quite like this grungy drinking den near Piazza dei Sanniti. A diehard icon of this working-class…
Milan
Whether experienced inside beneath the giant botanical sculptures at the earth-toned bar or outside on the terrace overlooking the brilliantly green…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Buzzing with a buoyant, young, staunchly Roman crowd, this sassy corner cafe is a relaxed and easy spot for lapping up a bit of local dolce vita over a…
Syracuse
A popular, people-watching cafe, Minerva pours one of the best cappuccinos in town. The coffee here is made using wood-roasted beans and the espresso has…
Naples
Beer fiends will find their happy place at this intimate Chiaia favourite. Its ten taps and rotating selection of bottled brews showcase unique drops from…
Taranto
Inspiring the slow but steady reinvigoration of Taranto's centro storico is this cool and compact cafe. Local cats mooch around on bench seats outside,…
Elba
A fun and laidback mixed bag of a hangout, Il Rifrullo is a well-established spot for listening to live music over a beer, cocktail, grilled meat or tasty…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
On a narrow street lined with raucous drinking holes, this brick-vaulted bar-pizzeria wins plaudits for its outstanding collection of craft bir (beer),…
San Giovanni & Testaccio
All exposed brick and mismatched furniture, this large, New York–inspired venue caters to all moods, serving aperitivo (drink plus buffet €10), restaurant…
Milan
At the forefront of Milan’s nascent third-wave coffee scene, Brent Jopson’s passion for single origin roasts is encouraging the Milanese to slow down…
La Spezia
That heart-warming combination of heavy metal and medieval ambience draws young revellers to this quirky drinking den just off Via del Prione. Tapered…
Venice
Not to be confused with it's large sister bar-restaurant Bakarò on the corner, this trendy, pocket-sized bar is so small that the crowd inevitably spills…
Oltrarno
'No fear, just beer!' is the tongue-in-cheek strapline of this microbrewery, tucked away off the main strip in the hipster 'hood of San Frediano. Expect…
Bolzano (Bozen)
Dating back to 1404, with a cosy interior with leaded glass windows and a sunny beer garden, this centrally located brewery cranks out an appealing mix of…
Central Sicily
Vintage gardening paraphernalia and retro furniture combine with a friendly welcome at this cafe tucked away in Caltagirone's historic city centre. Order…
Matera
A watering hole appropriate to a city of caves, this cosy little taverna might be claustrophobic, if it wasn't so convivial. Pitted stone walls, colourful…
Valle d’Itria
Treat this laid-back little place either as a sandwich shop or wine bar, sampling prosit (sparkling rose), verdeca and other niche wines of the Valle d…
Modica
High ceilings, antique mouldings and vintage tiled floors create a delightful backdrop at this buzzing, atmospheric enoteca in the upper town. Daily…
Venice
This wine bar boasts a small but impressive restaurant, but the focus is very much on all things oenological. It hosts regular wine-tasting evenings, as…
Florence
Just beyond San Niccolò, a busy road divides this riverfront lounge bar from the water. But once inside, a sharp contemporary design of soothing aqua…
Ostuni
Our favourite of the cafes framing Ostuni's sunny Via Indipendenza, Pausa's outdoor seating is ideal for a lunch platter or an aperitvo later in the day…
Venice
This laid-back bar is all bare brick and low lighting; it's one of a handful that remain open until the early hours. Enjoy a selection of drinks, snacks…
Palermo
Chipped concrete floors, old sewing machines turned tables and a gramophone turned lamp: welcome to one of Palermo's most eclectic (and best) wine bars,…
Venice
Entire university careers and international romances are owed to Al Parlamento's powerful espresso, happy-hour cocktails (6pm to 9pm) and excellent…
Monterosso
Going strong since the 1980s, this back-lane enoteca (wine bar) run by the welcoming Eliseo and Mary makes a charming setting for a glass or two. Grab an…
Venice
This walk-in closet somehow manages to distribute wine, craft beer and cicheti to the overflowing crowd of young Venetians in approximate order of arrival…
Naples
They may be a little older, but the ’90s kids are still partying at this tiny veteran bar, tucked away on a centro-storico side street. Here, well-mixed…
Perugia
Join Perugia's aperitivo set at this trendy hotspot decked out in Scandi-inspired minimalism with plenty of blond wood, clapboard tables and smooth…
Capri
On a street flanked by tasteful shops and near two lovely piazzas, this is the best place in Anacapri to park your gluteus maximus for a bit of tourist…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
Think living room with zebra-print chairs, walls of indie art, Lou Reed biographies wedged between wine bottles, and owner Gabriele playing his favourite…
Venice
After a stroll along the Zattere, retreat to this snug local drinking hole, right opposite the city's oldest functioning gondola workshop. Wines are well…
Elba
An old farmhouse on a hill overlooking Marino di Campo, 4.5km north of town along the SP25, is the on-trend venue for Elba's biggest music club, firmly on…
Bay of Naples
From May to September, the floating pontoon bar sets sail to the centre of Lago di Miseno (Miseno Lake) at around 9.30pm each night, with a shuttle-boat…
