Gilda attracts Rome's rich and famous and beautiful crowd. Never mind that the VIP set is made up mainly of minor TV celebrities, you may also spot some footballers, aging politicians and personalities too. There is a piano bar for private parties, as well as two dance floors where disco music is always playing. Jackets are required. In July and August the establishment moves out to Fregene, on Rome's coast (www.gildaonthebeach.it). Next door (at no. 99) is a pricey restaurant.

This new bar buzzes just a few steps away from the Coliseum. Tucked away in the Celio neighborhood, Maud welcomes local crowds and creative luvvies. High white leather banquettes ascend pale walls; the décor screams "minimalist chic," right down to the artful branch bouquets. This bar doubles as a restaurant and an art gallery. The music varies nightly, but all the resident DJs are equally talented. Thursdays celebrate Japanese culture with sushi and sake. Reservations essential.

Across from Hadrian's Temple, this small, sleek venue's walls are lined with art, design and fashion books, while the room is filled with sofas and comfortable chairs. By day it has a cozy, but highbrow, feel. At night it morphs into a buzzing cocktail bar for the hip, 30-something crowd. Closed in August.