A local culture of social drinking and
a constant influx of students and travelers means that Rome has a
simply mind-boggling amount of watering holes. But as opposed to
their Spanish friends to the west, Italian bars aren’t exactly
known for their late hours. If you aren’t hitting the clubs, it’s
hard to find barsin Rome that are open past the usual 2am last call.
But we know that sometimes you need a
late night out without having to deal with the lines, cover, and
dress codes of the clubs, and we refuse to let you walk out of a pub
defeated by an early closing time. So we skipped out on aperitivo
and got down to business, and found three wild Roman destinations
where the night doesn’t end till you say it does.
The Nag’s Head
Easily accessible in the middle of El
Centro, The Nag’s Head is a rowdy Scottish pub that stays open all
the way till 4am. A knight in shining armor will greet you at the
door (sorry, it’s just a statue), and though the pub décor is
traditional with lots of wood and Scottish adornments, the bar has
made a few additions to please the late night crowds. Thirsty English
speakers chat and drink while watching sports highlights on the flat
screens, pile onto the dance floor as a DJ spins, and rock out to
live music that performs multiple times a week. The pub also hosts
drinking games and themed parties to ensure debauchery ensues, and is
one of the few places in the city that remains open in August,
placing the Nag’s Head firmly on top of the El Centro party scene.
Anima
Those who want to dance but not wait at
the velvet ropes of the big nightclubs should head to Anima, a narrow
two-story lounge that turns into a boisterous dance party. As you
walk in, you’ll probably notice that the walls, railings, and
tables are all painted gold, complete with golden murals and
chandeliers. The first floor is a great place to lounge amongst the
couches and meet some friends, while the action really gets going in
the cellar below as a DJ spins for an international mix of youngsters
ready to flirt and mingle. As the rest of the nearby bars shutdown,
Anima begins to heat up, and with a 4am closing, you’ll have plenty
of time to test out your moves.
On the Rox
Right at the entrance to the Testaccio
district, Rome’s main clubbing corridor, is On the Rox, one of the
few bars in the area. It’s a rough around the edges interior with
an arched stone roof, tacky décor, and features giant beer barrels
as tables. But the buzzing bar has great discounts and is open till
5am, making it a popular destination for fun-loving young partyers
heading to and from the clubs. Loud music plays over the flirtatious
conversation as neon spotlights shine as an ode to the nearby scene.
If you want to escape the noise of the dance floor, there’s also an
outdoor patio perfect for relaxing on warm nights. On the Rox is even
open past most of the surrounding clubs, giving you one last chance
to find a drinking buddy for the night.
Daniel Hogan is a writer for Party
Earth - a global media and entertainment
company that publishes reviews and listings of the best social
experiences around the world including: bars in Paris, pubs in
London, beaches in Ibiza, plazas in Rome, parks in New York,
festivals and concerts everywhere, and more.
