he closeting power of the Catholic Church remains strong in Rome, but a look at the many naked statues decorating squares and fountains reminds you that the sacred and the sexual have always coexisted here. The city hosted its first gay pride events in 2000, naturally resulting in a negative reaction from the Pope. But queer has always been here, and everyone is slowly getting used to it.
If you happen to be in the city in the summer, look for Gay Village, a ten-week party with live acts, restaurants, and discos celebrating gay life. At any other time, look for your own Roman god or goddess at these places:
GAY BARS
COMING OUT
A friendly place with a pleasant atmosphere, this bar mixes gay men and women, and hosts events like speed dating and live music.
Website: www.comingout.it
MY BAR
Conveniently located by the Colosseum, this is a gay bar that also attracts straight tourists during the day. At night it’s much more LGBT, with a resident DJ mixing dance hits.
Facebook Page: mybarroma
FRENI E FRIZIONI
Located in romantic Trastevere, this is a gay-friendly bar with an attractive interior. It’s a good choice for a cocktail right before or after dinner, but there’s also a mostly-vegetarian buffet for meals.
Website: www.freniefrizioni.com
GARBO
This small bar is mostly gay but you’ll find all kinds of people, as it’s located in Trastevere, where many tourists end up at night. It serves cocktails in a classy chandeliered interior plus a few snacks.
Website: www.garbobar.it
GAY CLUBS
QUBE
Friday nights are for Mucca Assassina, a gay party at Qube, with international DJs mixing house music heard over its 3 floors and 5 bars.
Website: www.qubedisco.com
COMPANY ROMA
In business since 2014, this club is a favorite of Roman bears. Part dance club playing the latest dance hits and some old favorites, part cruising club, it’s open throughout the week. If you don’t feel like dancing, head to the “playroom.”
Facebook Page: Company.Roma
CRUISING CLUBS
SKYLINE
This cruising club with a dark room, maze and video bar, hosts theme parties which attract different types of men of all ages.
Website: www.skylineclub.it
K MEN CLUB
It’s a leather club since 1997, but on some days the dress code is nothing at all. There’s a bar, a cinema, cabins and a maze, attracting men who became regular customers on day one, plus a few tourists.
Website: www.kmenclub.com
IL DIAVOLO DENTRO
This large club brings out “the devil inside” every man. It features a maze, a dark room, cabins, and a bar for clothing-free nights.
Website: www.ildiavolodentro.net
SAUNAS
APOLLION SAUNA
Located in the heart of the city, this sauna has the look of an ancient Roman bath house. There’s Turkish bath, a jacuzzi, video room, dark room and massage services.
Website: www.apollionsauna.it
EUROPA MULTICLUB
Said to be Italy’s largest gay sauna, it has a hydromassage pool, Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, a video room, a bar, and even a small gym.
Website: www.europamulticlub.com
SAUNA MEDITERRANEO
Divided into three levels, this is a clean sauna with Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, dark rooms, a maze, and a bar. It’s especially popular with the bear community.
Website: www.saunamediterraneo.it
GAY HOTELS
B&B SECOND FLOOR
Located right across from the Colosseum, this gay bed-and-breakfast couldn’t be more central. Most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance, as are many of the gay spots. The rooms are quite stylish and named after historic or legendary LGBT figures like Sappho, Michelangelo, and Freddie Mercury.
DOMUS VALERIA
This good-value gay-owned bed-and-breakfast also stands out for its location by the famous Spanish Steps. The classic décor recalls the building’s 18th-century origins, but only in the interior, as the large rooftop terrace is contemporary.
HOTEL FRANKLIN FEEL THE SOUND
This music-themed hotel is just a short walk from the Vatican. It’s quite gay-friendly and a good value for a central 3-star hotel in Rome.
MAISON DEGLI ARTISTI
This modern guesthouse has spacious suites with jacuzzi. It’s perfect for gay guests who want some privacy and who wish to stay close to the city’s main attractions (Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps are just a short walk away).
LORD BYRON
Named after the bisexual English poet, this 5-star hotel in a beautiful villa presents a luxurious Art Deco interior. The rooms and suites have vintage marble bathrooms, large dressing rooms and balconies. It’s perfect for those looking to splurge on a special romantic getaway, although the classic double room can be a good value for a hotel of this category in low season.
ROME ACCOMMODATION
Look for the hotel or apartment that best matches your budget, type of trip or personality. You may guarantee your reservation but do NOT pay anything at the time of booking. Payments are only made at the property, and there are no booking fees. Most hotels and apartments allow cancellations with no penalty if done up to 24 or 48 hours in advance. You’ll see that information at the time of booking and again in the confirmation email:
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