One of the liveliest terrace in Trastevere and other Rome, Italy Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Bar San Callisto

In my favourite Rome neighbourhood, Trastevere, in a little square just between Viale Trastevere and Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, lies the Bar San Callisto , an unpretentious, no fuss bar that became one of my favourite hang-out. The bar in itself is not much to look at but the terrace gets filled up at night with students and the local bohemian crowd. The tiny square is quite cozy, it is facing the old San Callisto church, now abandoned. The drinks are cheap, it’s a very relaxing place and it’s easy to make new friends here.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: What dress code?
Address: Piazza San Callisto

Nightlife Spot: ... A bere birra

Getting Wissal, my flatmate, to get out was always kind of difficult ... We were living on the southern side of town and "downtown" was always too far. For some reason, she was always willing to go with me to ... A bere birra. Located close the Trastevere train station, the name (drinking a beer) would make you think this is drunk-infested pub... not at all! It's more a quiet "beer-garden"... green is the dominant color here. It has a charming terrace overlooking Viale Trastevere but is far enough from the busy part of the neighbourhood. We would always stay inside (as we would try and catch "calcio" there). This bar is on the small side (even the tables are smallish) but cute with a narrow second floor overlooking the rest.
The particularity of this place is that you can actually pour your own beer from tap. They have special tables with all the equipment, I never tried myself (my grandma used to own a bar so, I know how to work it) but it seemed quite popular with groups.
Unfortunately, for a locale with a name like this, the choice of beer was not the best... at least not what I expected. The specialty of the house? A green beer. The idea was so bizarre for a beer purist like me that I never brought myself to try it (I should have though). They also have a menu (I tried the bruschetta... it was good) but the prices are not that great.

In short, a nice little pub to share with a friend or two who have passed the age or are tired of noisy pubs and binge drinkers.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Casual
Address: Viale Trastevere, 284
Directions: Close to the Trastevere train station

Nightlife Spot: Abbey Theatre

During our exploration of Piazza Navona's surrounding, Esther, Anne and I came across the Abbey Theatre, one of the many Irish pubs in Rome.
We were new, Irish pubs are always a reassuring place to find (no surprise, probably other foreigners there).
The decor is utterly Irish-pubbish, dark woods, a parquet that looks like it has seen-it-all, high stools at the bar, dark corners... During the afternoon is pretty quiet but at night, during the week-end (when there is a football or rugby game in the British Isles), it's PACKED! The bar has many TV's where expats (and locals during international competitions) can watch the game.
The bar staff is friendly and efficient, the prices are on the expensive side but if you need to have a Kilkenny or a Guinness, it's a nice place to have one!
I have a very nice memory of going to a chock-full Abbey just to watch a game Italy had to win during the European Football Championship... Italy's victory was just the cherry on top. It was awesome but then again, there's nothing like watching a football game in Italy when the "Azzuri" are playing.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: What dress code?
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 51/53

Nightlife Spot: Taverna del Campo

Yes, Campo de' Fiori is one busy piazza and places to drink abound... most of them catering to young adults. Hopefully, there is a place or 2 for those who still know how to party but feel jadded or fed-up with the "trendy" scene. This bar is for you!
There is nothing fancy in this small bar: exposed bricks, a small counter... but the mood is always great, wine barrels are full of peanuts for costumers to take (olives and cheese are also available).
In the afternoon, it's pretty quiet and you can have lunch there with their tasty crostini but at night... with the Campo being what it is, it gets full of carefree patrons enjoying wine or limoncello (theirs is particularly excellent) to get the night started. The little terrace gets full and soon enough, the crowd just overflows around the tavern!
And the prices are not outrageous!
One of my favourite bar in Rome.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: Campo de' Fiori, 16

Nightlife Spot: Il vecchio Gandalf

If the San Callisto hadn't been so packed, I probably wouldn't have paid attention to this pub.
One night that we were in Trastevere, Esther, Hubi and I couldn't find a place at the San Callisto and looked around the Piazza to find another refuge.
A banner for Belgian beer Stella Artois caught my eyes... We went in. What a difference with busstling San Callisto! I must say, I didn't even know about the Lord Of The Rings at the time (I am now an addicted to it) and I don't remember anything that was particular to it but... reading about it, the pub decided to play on the theme full blast and brings devotees of the Tolkien saga when they visit Rome.
This pub is small, narrow but cosy, with an arch and a second room. Music was playing (fortunately not too loud) in the background and a benediction for me: Belgian beers available (I heard they extended their selection)!
There is also a pub-fare menu available (never tried it so I can't say).
What struck us the most was... the staff was all female and for some reasons, they seemed to be in a competition about who was wearing the shortest skirt. It became kind of a running joke for us as we would go have a drink there just to see if they kept at it... and they did! But the waitresses were all very friendly.
In short, a nice place for the Fellowship's fans, beer amateurs and those who want to take some time off from busstling Trastevere.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: Piazza San Callisto, 15