Gay and Gay Friendly Bars in Rome, Italy

[TotallyOz]

1 Coming Out Pub | via S. Giovanni in Laterano 8 | 06 7009871 | http://www.comingout.it

The Coming Out is a gay bistro-cafe and cocktail lounge that is popular with the baby gays and lesbians, but it's easily the most famous gay bar in Rome, so everybody passes through eventually. Its big draw is the outdoor terrace, perfect for cruising as well as a front-row seat to Colosseum views.

2 Circolo Degli Artisti | via Casilina Vecchia 42 | 06 7030 5684 | http://www.circoloartisti.it

Part bar, part club, part lounge, part performance space, there's something different on every night at Circolo degli Artisti. Its live-and-let-live vibe is more than gay-friendly, and its Glamda event on first and last Fridays of the month are a huge gay draw (see clubs for more information).

3 Caffe Oppio | Via delle Terme di Tito, 72 | 06 474 5262 | http://www.oppiocaffe.it

Just up the hill from Coming Out is this fun, gay-friendly hangout that's open until late each night. In the morning it's a traditional Italian bar, with pastries and coffee; then at happy hour there's a free buffet, and at night it's more like a traditional bar with a full drinks menu. Big with the younger crowd.

4 My bar | via S. Giovanni in Laterano 12 | 06 7004425 | http://www.anfiteatro-mybar.com (doesn't work)

My bar is next to Coming Out, right near the Colosseum. It too has a large outdoor terrace in front, so the two bars tend to mix and mingle for a giant gay gathering after about 9pm.

5 Rome VideoBook Bar | via di Borgo Pio 192/193 | 06 68309523 | http://www.lilibri.it/rvb1/chi-siamo/

This is an actual bookstore, video store, and cafe/bar combination whose staff is very gay-friendly. At night it becomes a piano bar, which as we all know draws gays like moths to a flame.

6 Skyline Bar | via Pontremoli 36 | 06 7009431 | http://www.skylineclub.it

Monday is naked night at Skyline, so (don't) dress accordingly; the rest of the week you can cruise to your heart's content, and take a tasty young Roman twink into one of the private cabins.

7 Zest | Via Filippo Turati, 171 | 06 444841 | http://www.radissonblu.com/eshotel-rome/dining/zest

While not a gay bar, it is fabulous and a great place to have a sophisticated drink or snack before heading to Termini train station. It's on the roof of the Radisson Blu Hotel, and features a sleek pool and a very scene-y outdoor bar area. You never know who you'll see half-naked going for a swim.

8 Garbo | Vicolo di Santa Margherita 1a | 06 5812766 | http://garbobar.blogspot.com

The Travestere neighborhood is home to this cute little gay cocktail bar, which serves food as well as drinks, and welcomes locals and tourists alike into the gayborhood. The happy hour, from 7-9:30pm, is popular, so get there a bit ahead of time to grab a seat.