Testaccio

Testaccio, Rome –

A bit isolated from the rest of Rome, Testaccio is the city’s club district and home to more than a dozen nightspots heavily frequented by a hip local clientele. Built into the side of a hill, the circular area features a road around its perimeter that leads patrons from one club to the next.

Some of the highlights include Akab (Via di Monte Testaccio, 69) or Joia (Via Galvani, 20) for dancing, Villaggio Globale (Via di Monte Testaccio, 22) for live music, and On the Rox (Via Galvani, 54) for a lively bar setting.

Entertainment varies by venue, but revelers can expect high-energy crowds packing the dance floors no matter where they go.

Most venues have both indoor and outdoor seating, some serve food, and all usually charge a cover and may entail some waiting. Those who arrive in Testaccio early may want to grab a few moderately-priced drinks at Il Buongustaio (Via Campitelli, 1) before entering the clubs.

The district is known to attract a dressier mainstream crowd, but the live music venues like Conte Staccio and Villaggio Globale – which presents well-known artists and DJs in outdoor tents – are far more alternative and punk.

Although many of the clubs close in July and August – or move operations to the river for the summer months – a few like Coyote, On the Rox, and Conte Staccio do stay open, keeping the heart of Testaccio pumping no matter what time of year.