Bars & Clubs
Coming Out Bar
Opposite the Colosseum, and at the start of Rome’s gay street Via San Giovanni, you will find a friendly cocktail bar called ‘Coming Out’. The bar is open to the whole LGBTQ+ spectrum and visited by both men, women and queers. The staff serves great food, affordable drinks and there are regular themed parties and speed date sessions. It is a nice place to relax in a welcoming environment and with a great view on the beautiful colosseum.
Website: www.comingout.it/
My Bar
My bar is located next to Coming Out Bar, and offers a similar, friendly atmosphere with nice food and affordable drinks. It is a good place to meet new people, and later in the evening, you can dance here as well. The music is great and there are occasional karaoke nights and live music sessions.
Beige
Beige is a cosy but elegant and modern gay bar in Trastevere. The bar offers a wide variety of cocktails, as well as Mediterranean meals. Later in the evening, you can dance on music played by a DJ or live band. The bar also hosts themed parties regularly.
Website: www.beigeroma.com/
Gay Saunas
Europa Multiclub (EMC)
Europa Multiclub is a large sauna with a modern interior. The sauna is popular among a younger crowd in Rome. There are several jacuzzis and steam rooms to choose from, and there is a large locker room and a new cafe area with nice food and a diverse range of drinks. The sauna is especially busy in the afternoon (14:00-17:00) and during the weekend when the sauna hosts its regular pool parties. Warning: to enter a gay sauna in Italy you need an ANDDOS or ArciGay card. You can buy this card when you enter, and it should cost around 15-17 euros.
Trans men: Not welcome 🙁
Entrance: €15/€13 Concessions
Website: www.europamulticlub.com/
Cruising Areas
Villa Borghese
Park Villa Borghese is a large area where you will find the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. It’s a beautiful park to sunbath and wander around in. There are kiosks where you can order coffee, rent bikes, buy sandwiches and so on. In addition, there are a lot of abandoned places in this park, like sheds, open fences, bushy parts and overgrown forests. People meet around the Piazza da Siena, in the forest behind Casa del Cinema, and in the track fields of Villa Borghese.
Location: 41.910927, 12.484452
Villa Gordiani
Villa Gordiani is a cruisy park frequented by gays. The park is really easy to find and has a lot of secluded spots.
Location: 41.892801,12.553990
Events
Immaginaria Film Festival
Immaginaria is the first International Independent Film Festival in Italy with a Lesbian and Feminist theme. It was founded in Bologna, in 1993, by the Cultural Lesbian Association Visibilia. For 25 years, the goal has always been the same: narrating lives, culture, art, history, politics of past and present, lesbian, feminist, bold and rebellious women, committed to building a different world.
When: April
Website: www.immaginariaff.it/
Roma Pride
Roma Pride is the capital’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ community. It is an irreverent, pacifist, anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstration that has a dual function. Firstly, it celebrates the conquests of freedom and self-determination that began almost 50 years ago, on the legendary night of Stonewall Inn in New York. Secondly, Roma Pride strives for legal institutions that provide equal marriage, parenting for all, and laws against LGBTQ+ discrimination. The pride is held on the 9th of June and centered around the Colosseum at the end of Via S.Giovanni in Laterano, also known as the Gay Street.
Website: www.romapride.it/
LGBTQ+ Organisations
Circolo Mario Mieli
Circolo Mario Mieli is the oldest LGBT+ association in Rome. Since 1983 it gives a safe place to many people with its activities and groups (hiv and std quick test, psycological and legal counselling, open library, youth group, feminist, trans* services, imigrants group, cinema and politics). Mario Mieli also organizes Muccassassina party and Roma Pride parade and events, with many LGBT+ associations and student groups.
Website: https://www.mariomieli.org/
Arcigay Roma
Arcigay is the main Italian LGBTI non-for-profit organisation. Since 1985 Arcigay fights for equality, self-determination, and against stereotypes and prejudice towards LGBTI people, as well as against any form of discrimination. The organisation strives for equal marriage, recognition of LGBTI parenting rights, legislation to protect LGBTI people from violence and discrimination, and a society and culture where homo-bi-transphobic and sexist acts are no longer tolerated.
Website: www.arcigay.it/roma/
Gay Center
The Gay Center is the home of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe. Organisations and individuals can use this place to promote initiatives that promote the well-being and rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The Gay Center is located in the heart of Rome, and provides a space for several organisations: Arcigay Rome, ArciLesbica Rome, NPS and Action Trans. The center welcomes new initiatives, and every week hundreds of people visit the Gay Center and dozens of groups meet and talk.
Helpline: 800 713 713
Website: www.gaycenter.it/
Arcilesbica Roma
ArciLesbica Rome is a non-profit, secular, anti-fascist, anti-racist, non-profit organisation, established and run by women with the objective of promoting cultural and aggregation activities for women, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. The organisation promotes emancipatory forms of artistic expression and thanks to their relationships with the entire LGBT network, the Association is able to provide medical, legal and psychological support to associated members.
Telephone: 0664501102
Website: www.arcilesbicaroma.it
Casa Internazionale delle Donne
The International Women’s House in Rome was designed in 1983 for social purposes, particularly in regards to women’s citizenship. The priorities of the house are tied to issues related to the self-determination and free reproductive health of women. The organisation listens to the demands of society, which have resulted in the expansion to other areas such as racism, violence, the mafia and organised crime and attention to women’s artistic productions. The magnificent scenery of the International House is home to theatrical events, music, entertainment, and a growing number of important activities, making the International Women’s House a cultural engine for women’s actions.
Website: www.casadelledonne.org/
