Must-see nightlife in Northwestern Italy

  • La Vite Turchese

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    This friendly enoteca is run by passionate young staff who will talk you through their good stock of local wines – from a cheap and cheerful Nebbiolo or…

  • Les Rouges

    Genoa

    One of Genoa's surfeit of crumbling palazzi is being put to excellent use in this atmospheric cocktail bar. Three bearded, vest-wearing, red-headed…

  • Nessun Dorma

    Manarola

    On a wave-kissed promontory overlooking the pastel-coloured houses of Manarola, this leafy terrace bar makes a magical setting for a sundowner. Great wine…

  • Cantine Matteotti

    Genoa

    The Puccini wafting up the laneway gives you some clue that this is a special little place. The owners here have a passion for good music and brilliant…

  • La Scuna

    Corniglia

    Craft beer on draft, first-rate cocktails and creative appetisers make a great combo at this surprisingly hip little spot in this most traditional of…

  • Outdoor area of Al Bicerin, Piazza della Consolata 5.

    Caffè Al Bicerin

    Turin

    Founded in 1763, with an exquisitely simple boiserie interior dating to the early 1800s, this one-room cafe takes its name from its signature drink, a…

  • Bar Cavour

    Turin

    Named for its most famous barfly, the ubiquitous Count Cavour, this beautiful historical room combines a magical, mirrored setting with a great collection…

  • Malkovich

    Genoa

    Tucked under the bar Groove, Malkovich is one of Genoa's most atmospheric and secretive drinking dens. To get in, you'll have to provide the password …

  • Farmacia Del Cambio

    Turin

    Cambio Corner – home to one of Turin's best restaurants, not to mention bars – also has this 'informal' but glamorous all-day space, set within an old…

  • Enoteca Internazionale

    Monterosso

    One of the best places in Cinque Terre to discover the wines of the region, this family-run wine shop offers various tastings from its selection of over…

  • A Pié de Mà

    Riomaggiore

    A delightful spot for an afternoon pick-me-up, this open-air gem has a terrace perched right over Riomaggiore's wave-kissed shoreline. You'll find local…

  • Cantina Nessun Dorma

    Manarola

    The best place in Manarola for learning about (and more importantly tasting!) the wines of Cinque Terre occupies a stone-walled 16th-century building near…

  • Vinarium Enoteca

    Turin

    Hidden in the southern reaches of San Salvario, Vinarium has a laid-back, free-spirited ethos, with beautifully balanced wines by the glass (from €2.50 to…

  • Orso - Laboratorio Caffè

    Turin

    Pouring some of the best espresso in town, Orso is a cosy coffee-lover's den with reclaimed wood furnishings, coffee gadgetry galore (Chemex, Syphon, cold…

  • Resilience Cafe

    La Spezia

    An atmospheric spot for a pre- or post-dinner drink, the Resilience Cafe exudes effortless style, with its wine red walls, shelves of books, twinkling…

  • Terra Rossa

    Corniglia

    Just off the road that leads down to the station, this vine-covered terrace has pretty views over the vineyards tumbling down to the water, and…

  • A Rumènta

    Genoa

    A Genovese original with delightful staff and an easy-going crowd, A Rumènta serves up local craft beers (nine taps from a changing rotation), alongside…

  • Maama Bar

    Savona

    Never mind that the sign says Mighetto Vini d'Asti, Maama Bar is one of the best places to be for an afternoon or evening libation. Join locals for an al…

  • Birrificio B63

    Aosta

    Secreted south of the Piazza near fragments of Aosta's Roman past, this beer hall brews up a variety of craft beers, including seasonal flavours (chestnut…

  • Enoteca Pesce

    Genoa

    Tiny wine bars dot Genoa's old city, although this one, under the arches by the port, is particularly characteristic and full of colourful locals. They…

  • Al Faro di Portofino

    Portofino

    Situated at the base of Portofino's lighthouse, this terrace bar has mesmerising views over the sea from its clifftop perch. Keep your eyes peeled for…

  • Voglia di Vino

    Alba

    What started as a wine shop in 2014 has quickly morphed into an elegant wine bar and restaurant. The variety is astonishing, with more than 400 types of…

  • Antica Vineria della Marchesa

    Genoa

    If you've been yearning for some late-night drinking fun, this antica-is-the-new-black place is your answer. A completely untouched old-school backstreet…

  • Boia Fauss Pensavo Peggio

    Alba

    A 15-minute walk from the old town, this microbirrificio e ristoro (brewery and restaurant) is also one of the city's liveliest places for a drink. Join…

  • Burgus Bar

    Vernazza

    A charming little hole-in-the-wall, with only a couple of ringside benches looking over Piazza Marconi to the little beach, this neighbourhood bar serves…

  • Al Nido Della Cinciallegra

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    Join Neive's winemakers and restaurateurs here for a wine and a generous aperitivo plate; if the weather's warm, you'll all boisterously spill out onto…

  • Fuori Rotta

    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…

  • La Taverna del Metallo

    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…

  • Enoteca da Eliseo

    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…

  • Sabot Italia

    Santa Margherita Ligure

    Just around the corner from the historic centre, Sabot serves some of Santa Margherita Ligure's best aperitivi, where a generous platter of snacks…

  • Bar O'Netto

    Riomaggiore

    Riomaggiore's liveliest drinking den is a local institution – around in one form or another since 1921. Stop in here to catch up on village gossip (if you…

  • À Cáneva

    Corniglia

    Near the Chiesa San Pietro, this tiny bar has a few low tables and cleverly placed cushions right on the stairs of a peaceful lane. It feels like a hidden…

  • Enoteca Il Pirun

    Corniglia

    Spread across two floors of an old village house, the old-fashioned Il Pirun is named after the odd-looking wine pitcher that allows thirsty customers to…

  • Bar Terza Terra

    Corniglia

    The draw of this tiny cafe is the terrace located just a bit further along, on the right. Here you can contemplate Manarola off in the distance while…

  • Floris House

    Turin

    Set in an 18th-century palazzo, Floris House has fragrances from around the globe, scented candles and jewellery scattered in a warren of plant-filled…

  • Scurreria Beer & Bagel

    Genoa

    A little bit of Brooklyn or Melbourne in the caruggi, this brewpub packs out with Genoa's black-clad young. There are over a dozen taps of local and…

  • Vertical Bar

    Riomaggiore

    With outdoor tables on a prime stretch of Via Colombo, Vertical Bar is a great spot for coffee or cocktails – depending on which direction you're steering…

  • Caffè-Vini Emilio Ranzini

    Turin

    Location scouts looking for a neighbourhood bar from Turin's midcentury glory days would jump on this little place. A crew of local shopkeepers, creatives…

  • Monviso Coffee Factory

    Alba

    Hidden on a tiny lane just south of Piazza del Risorgimento, Monviso pours the best coffee in town. Amid low-playing indie rock, recycled furnishings and…

  • Luogo Divino

    Turin

    The excellent, and not ridiculously priced, wines here are poured after a discussion about your likes, mood and whims. While wine is the raison d'etre, it…

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