Rome 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 (☎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 V. 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. Check out the “shelf” of wooden drawers bearing foreign words, upon which international dips like Tzatiki and salsa tonnata are served. The outside piazza is possibly even more popular than the interior and is perfect for literally “looking down” on the world. From P. Trilussa, head down the tiny V. del Politeama and look for the steps (and the crowd) on the left. Happy hour €6-10. Wine €6. Cocktails €7-8. Open daily 6:30pm-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cafe Friends, P. Trilussa 34 (☎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 spacious 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 and gets cranked even louder on the weekends. From Ponte Sisto, head into P. Trilussa. Free Wi-Fi. Beer €3.50-5. Martinis €7. Cocktails €8. 15% discount for international students with ID. Open M-Sa 7am-2am, Su 6:30pm-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Pepato, V. del Politeama 8 (☎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 out. 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 Raffaello Sanzio; head down the stairs in the Shots €3. Beer €4-7. Wine €5-7. Cocktails €6. Open Tu-Su 6:30pm-1am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Good Caffe, V. di San Dorotea 8/9 (☎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 Monday and Thursday and a DJ on weekend nights 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. Open daily 8am-2am. Happy hour Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Beige, V. Politeama 13-14 (☎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 Cocktails €8. Open Tu-Su 7:30pm-2am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Baccanale, V. della Lungaretta 81 (☎06 45 44 82 68), While many places down the way may tout classier decor, none can approach Baccanale's prices or spirit. Bacchus would indeed be proud. The dark interior is made more colorful by dozens of alcohol flags and posters, an entire row of Aperol and Bacardi lining the wall, and a display of currency donated by the teems of international students that have visited over the years. Though their famous mojitos go for only €5, if you're with a crowd, you might consider ordering a pitcher for a mere €15 or 2L of Peroni for €18. Pop and R and B during the evening keep the crowds young. From Vle. Trastevere, turn right onto V. della Lungaretta. Drafts €3.50-5. Cocktails €5-7. Open Tu-Su 9:30am-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà, V. Benedetta 25 Cocktails? Wine? Forget it all. Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà's 16 taps and keg-lined interior will make you fall in love with beer—and only beer—all over again; even the lamps are made from recycled beer bottles. There is no “special” because, according to the friendly owner, they're all special; check out the chalkboard menu up front to order one of their constantly changing international brews. Customers can either retreat to what is essentially a wooden box in back or spill out onto the street as crowds accumulate in the early evening. Quiet music and tight quarters make casual conversation with amici about the only thing possible. From P. Trilussa, turn right onto V. Benedetta. Bottled beer €3.50-5, draft €4-6. Open daily 3pm-2am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
NY.LON, Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio 8b (☎06 58 34 06 92; www.nylonroma.it), If its name indicates anything, NY.LON will seem somewhat like a hip downtown loft in NY—exposed white brick, sky-high ceilings, and a slightly raw but modern feel. The red-lit bar and matching couches fill up around 7pm for a happy hour of fresh aperitivo and drinks (€10 nightly until 10:30pm). Thursdays, a live band sets up camp downstairs. The slightly quieter upstairs gives customers even more options. From Ponte Garibaldi, turn right onto L. Raffaello Sanzio and walk 5min. Beer and wine €6. Cocktails €8. Open M 7pm-2am, W-Su 7pm-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cantina Paradiso, V. San Francesco a Ripa 73 (☎06 58 99 799), It really is a little paradise here—stripped wooden tables topped with tiny lamps, red chandeliers and roses, cowprint stools, and purple beach chairs make for an unusual mix of rustic and couture. A lounge, wine bar, and cafe all in one, customers come to work (free Wi-Fi), dine (vegetarian buffet €5, with drink €7), or kick back for a mixed drink on the outside patio where you'll find a bit of beach and a bit of “cozy.” From P. San Sonnino, walk down Vle. Trastevere and turn left onto V. San Francesco a Ripa. Beer €4. Wine €5. Cocktails €8-10. Open daily noon-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning. Has outdoor seating.
D. J. Bar, Vicolo del Cinque 60 (☎338 85 98 578), Who ever said size matters? Although the tiny upstairs occupies just barely a street corner, this place packs a big punch with its loud music, colored lights, and over 100 types of cocktails. Cool black-and-white wallpaper decorates the upstairs, and a DJ blaring commercial tunes pumps up the crowd. The swanky green bar with lit-up Red Bulls fills up around 10pm, while the bigger arena downstairs gets crowded when people start wanting to dance. From Santa Maria in Trastevere, veer into P. San Egidio and turn right onto Vicolo del Cinque. Shots €3. Beer €5. Cocktails €7. Open daily 5pm-2am. Happy hour F-Sa 7-10pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
M8 Bar, V. Benedetta 17 (☎06 58 33 16 45; www.m8bar.com), A human-sized beer bottle towers over the entrance of M8, a brick-lined, warmly lit bar and lounge that feels a little bit like a cave. Upstairs, DJs spin house and commercial tunes (F-Sa), while a diverse crowd sips sweet specials like the "Mate" (vodka, sambuca, aperol, grenadine, and an orange). For a quieter and more intimate setting, descend the steps to two curtain-enclosed lounges. From P. San Malva, turn left onto V. Benedetta. Foreign-language exchange conversations on Th night. Free Wi-Fi. Shots €3. Draft beer €3.50-5. Mixed drinks €7. Open daily 7:30pm-2am. Aperitivo buffet daily 6:30-9:30pm, €5 euro buffet only, €7 with 1 drink. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Enoteca Trastevere, V. della Lungaretta 86 (☎06 58 85 659; www.enotecatrastevere.it), A quote by Oscar Wilde hangs on one of Enoteca Trastevere's stripped brick walls: “Life is too short to drink mediocre wine.” Enoteca Trastevere ensures that you won't: bookshelves filled with bottle after bottle treat customers to only the best. Though you can choose from one of their standby varieties, check out the weekly special menu (with dessert suggestions to match) on your little table. Indeed, it's hard to resist ordering a limoncello custard cake to go with your glass (€5) when the dessert case is right in sight. If the old-fashioned interior feels a bit dim for you, head outside to the comfy couches shaded by umbrellas and plants. From Largo San G. de Matha, turn right onto V. della Lungaretta. Hard liquor €3.50-6.50. Wine €3.5-10. Cocktails €6.50-8. Desserts €5-7. Open M-Th noon-1am, F-Sa noon-2am, Su noon-1am. Happy hour M-F 6-8:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.