Bologna Nightlife

In the heart of the student quarter, you can't help but be drawn to Le Stanze. Its high ceilings and 17th-century frescoes make this former chapel a completely unique watering hole. Arrive early for a delicious aperitivo buffet that's just an extra euro on top of the price of your drink.

For an authentic glimpse of an ancient Italian inn, serving up booze since the 15th century, plunge into the Osteria del Sole. If you buy a picnic lunch from the nearby market you can eat it here, as long as it's accompanied by a glass of wine purchased on the premises.

Wander past this rustic-looking bar and restaurant in the evening and you're likely to see people spilling on to the street with a glass of red in their hand. The atmosphere is upbeat and lively, and the food is very good too.

Kinki, situated just metres from the Two Towers, is a long-time clubbing favourite. Founded in the 1950s, it has hosted many big names over the years, including Jimi Hendrix. However it by no means stuck in time: expect hip visuals, cutting-edge house and multimedia happenings.


With four rooms on two levels, Link serves up an experimental selection of ambient, techno and electronic music with Lazar light shows and special effects. Open daily from 2200-0500, avant-garde performance art and live bands often make up the earlier parts of the evening.

Near Casteldebole train station, to the west of the city centre, students flock to Matis for techno and hip hop from local and international DJs. Following the very latest music trends, the main club nights are on a Friday and Saturday. Matis also holds large dinners with live acts.

Bar Wolf opened in 1960 and is a hotbed of eclectic live music, hosting everything from folk rock to experimental funk. With a selection of Italian beers on tap, and cheap plates of pasta, burgers and salads flying out of the kitchen until gone midnight, there's no need to even move from your chair.

In Bologna's jazz quarter, this bar and restaurant hosts live music most nights of the week. The food is hearty Bolognese fare with homemade pasta that they roll out by hand. They boast 250 labels on the wine list, but of course, it's the music that is the major pull.

A cross between a wine bar and a restaurant, this Bolognese institution hosts live jazz. It is nearly always packed, so it is advisable to book. In July and August, the music moves outside, when it joins adjacent restaurants to create the Salotto del Jazz – a live music festival in a closed-off portion of the street.