This spot is a little gem of the house of blues in the Trastevere area where you can eat and drink as you listen to a Blues concert. The place is relatively small and therefore you have to call in advance if you want to reserve a table to sit at. But the cool thing about the place is that you feel that you are part of the group that is playing.

One of the first times that I went to listen to a Blues group, it was the “Blues Stuff” a group from Naples and some of their songs can be very entertaining, but the bar has other groups and singers that go there such as Andy Summers, Scott Henderson or Chad Wakerman.

I like Big Mama because of its small size. The groups or singer usually gets the crowd involved making it a more fun and interesting experience.

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Big Mama | Bars, Music | Membership € 12.00
Vicolo di San Francesco a Ripa 18 | Trastevere | +39065812551
21:00 – 01:30 daily

Scholars Lounge is an Irish Pub in the midst of Rome’s Center near an amazing view of Piazza Venezia. The pub is actually medium size even though it will seem extremely small because it is always packed especially if there is a rugby game going on.

When I have out of town visitors, I often bring them here for a good time because they have good food, my favorite being their black olive bruschetta and the artichoke ones, good drinks such as Spritz or Guinness (if you like strong beers). Also they have several big screen TV’s to watch games on (mainly rugby) and music too. I also like the fact that they play on the pubs’ name and inside you can see a big picture of famous scholars like James Joyce etc.

And do not worry if you do not speak Italian since all the waiters and bartenders will speak English to you!

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Scholar’s Lounge | Bars, Music | 2 bruschetta € 6.00
Via Del Plebiscito 10b | City center | +390669202208
11:00 – 03:30 daily

Coyote, this is a club located in the Testaccio area, the ambiance is very detailed and informal at the same time and the atmosphere gives an idea of being on an eternal vacation, as the enormous balcony faces the Monte dei Cocci and you can enjoy the view of Rome by night. You will find a wide range of people from their 20′s to their 40′s.

The club has an open space during the summer months and it is closed during the winter months but you can still go in the area as it has something to cover the roof. It has two internal rooms and a patio that goes all around the club. Once you go in, you can enjoy a drink or two in their patio. They have a vast menu of drinks, and during summer your drinks will be served with a bowl of fresh fruit such as pieces of melon, watermelon and chunks of pineapple. Yummy!

I like to go a little early and sit on the patio and sip a Bellini, before they move all the tables to create a dance floor, as this is one of favorite drinks but sometimes especially during those warmer months I switch to a refreshing mojito. Then I like to hit the dance floor inside, and dance till dawn. Coyote plays a mix of music mainly pop, hip-hop and disco music and on Sundays they play only house music.

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Coyote | Bars, Music | Bellini € 8.00
Via di Monte Testaccio 48B | Testaccio & Ostiense | +393394639667
23:00 – 05:00 daily

Parco Pappacci is a park near my house and it is a nice park to go relax, bring your dog (there is a separate area just for your pets), run or bring your children.

I go mainly to relax and walk around and maybe sit down on a bench and catch up on some reading, I usually do this during the spring time where you can catch some rays of sunshine as well, while I read or do some people watching and take a break from work and home.

In March when spring time is close you can admire the trees blossoming and the daisies which make the park so much prettier. I keep on going during the summer as well because the shades of the trees makes the heat so much more bearable, even though there is less people watching to do.

During the colder months, the parks get more people walking or jogging around than sitting at the park! You can still enjoy the people walking and stop and chat with one of the elderly ladies from the neighborhood, which always have great stories. And if you want to warm up there is nothing like a run or jog in the park to do the trick!

And now they added more events like a pony ride around the park…the children love it, and for the adults there is some evening music, which is a great way to meet the people that live in the neighborhood.

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Parco Pappacci | Music, Relaxing | Free
Via di Grottarossa 124 | Cassia & Montemario
05:00 – 22:00 daily

This little bar is located in the city center, close to the Pantheon area. If you go early enough before midnight, you can enjoy live music while drinking either a beer, a martini special (my absolute favorite drink, it is a chocolaty sweet martini but the recipe seems to be a secret!) or any other tropical drinks from martinis, tequila sunrises or pina coladas.

Their drink menu is pretty extensive and their average drink goes for 5.00 Euro and they come with some food such as chips, saltines or popcorn.

After midnight be ready to start burning those calories with the 90′s disco style music, modern pop and rock and oldies!

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Habana Cafe | Bars, Music | Chocolate martini € 8.00
Via dei Pastini 120 | City center | +39066781983
Tue – Sun 21:30 – 03:00

This is a great big place if you like the underground scene; it has 2 rooms for live music or concerts, a disco room and a pub.

The music is varies from electronic, hip-hop, and rock and house, and often they also have performances based on contemporary art.

Inside there is also a corner shop to buy CD’s, t-shirts and magazine and they also offer dinner. The corner shop is situated near the stage and it is a place to listen, buy and discuss music, but you can also buy tickets for future shows, such as concerts, theater or sporting events.

This is also a good venue if you like live music, and hang-out with your friends for an alternative evening to the usual bars and clubs.

A good spot if you are in a group that have all different tastes, it will be a good compromise for everyone.

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l circolo degli artisti | Bars, Music | Entrance € 6.00
Via Casilina Vecchia 42 | S.Lorenzo & Pigneto | +390697250663
19:30 – 04:00 daily

Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Uri Caine, Mark Turner, Joe Locke, Eddie Gomez. If you are a jazz lover, Rome’s Casa del Jazz is the place for you.

Inaugurated in 2005, by then mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, this is now one of the best venues in Rome to get a chance to listen to world-renowned jazz musicians.

In the winter months, you can attend concerts in the indoors auditorium, cozy yet large enough to seat about 150 people. Great acoustics, great experience. In the summertime, concerts take place outdoors, al fresco, in the villa’s beautiful park close to the Aurelian Walls.

Many events are free while others cost only €10-15. Casa del Jazz also houses a restaurant and a bookstore. To get to it with public transportation you can either take bus 714 from Termini or get off at subway station Piramide on line B and walk a little.

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Casa del Jazz | Art & culture, Music | Concert from € 10
Viale di Porta Ardeatina 55 | Testaccio & Ostiense | +3906704731
Check website for opening times