Rapallo's perfect climate and fairy-tale setting among bays, inlets and rocky coastline make it one of the most popular spots for nightlife for locals and tourists alike. The streets in the historic center and seafront promenade dotted with bars light up after dinner with long happy hours, DJ sets and live music.
The hustle and bustle continues long into the night, and you can end your evening in the small hours by letting your hair down in a disco in this beautiful town on the Gulf of Tigullio. Fancy a good night out? Here are 7 spots for a lively night out in Rapallo with music, cocktails and fun.
- 1
Centro Storico
Enjoy a spritz with riviera views
- Nightlife
Rapallo has a fair share of traditional tavernas where you can enjoy a cocktail or 2 to end your day. After walking along the promenade to see the sunset and the castle silhouette, we recommend heading to Centro Storico (the historical center) to sip beverages with riviera views.
Some of the best hillside bars in Rapallo include Sole Bar, Bar Nostromo, Uno Bar, and Zino&Zino. If you fancy a tipple with unobstructed views of the Rapallo Castle, the Italian Riviera and the promenade, we recommend heading to Taverna Paradiso Club, which serves excellent cocktails until 3am.
Location: Via Venezia, 72, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Daily from 5 pm to 3 am
Phone: +39 345 237 9212
Map - 2
Le Saline
A lavish aperitif with DJ sets
- Nightlife
Le Saline bar, popular due to its strategic location on the seafront and cheerful service, is the place to go in Rapallo to start the evening with an aperitif by the sea. Be sure to try their fantastic cocktails, including Bloody Marys and G&Ts made to perfection, along with a plate overflowing with an assortment of appetisers.
If the aperitif wasn't enough and you fancy spending a little longer in this delightful setting, stay where you are: when the sun goes down, the bar comes alive with wild DJ sets, making it a popular local haunt for night owls.
Location: Via Fratelli Cairoli, 1B, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +39 01 8556 729
Map - 3
Taverna Paradiso
The place for discovering new craft beers
- Nightlife
Taverna Paradiso, in the heart of Rapallo, offers an impressive selection to help you quench your thirst for local and non-local craft beers. And it's not only the contents of your tankard that are rustic: the tavern's setting and interior have retained the atmosphere of the ancient land they were carved out of.
If you start to get peckish between rounds of beer, no problem; the menu includes an assortment of scrumptious sandwiches, perfect for a midnight snack at one of the outside tables.
Location: Via Venezia, 72, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Daily from 5 pm to 3 am
Phone: +39 34 5237 9212
Map - 4
Gallo Nero
An extravagant pub that holds cultural events
- Nightlife
Taverna Gallo Nero offers a varied selection of after-dinner delights and strikes a perfect balance between carefree nightlife and more cultured evenings out. The pub can be found in Rapallo's bustling center along the main road.
Live music alternates with book presentations and local cultural events. With the pub's ample menu and reasonable prices, you can order a cocktail, bottle of wine or a craft beer from the outdoor tables. Be sure not to miss the piña colada, made with fresh pineapple.
Location: Via Magenta, 10, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 5.30 pm to midnight, Friday–Saturday from 5.30 pm to 2 am (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +39 34 6603 5505
Map - 5
I Papi Neri
Live music in the town center
- Food
- Nightlife
I Papi Neri is the place for you if your ideal evening includes lots of friends and live music. Located in the bustling part of the historic center, this pub has a large outdoor seating area where you spend the evening listening to various bands (on a rotating calendar) with friends.
The menu's a real crowd-pleaser, with a selection of cocktails, wines and draught/bottled beers for an aperitif or after-dinner nightcap. If you're getting peckish and want a little evening treat, there are snacks available.
Location: Piazza del Pozzo, 4, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Daily from 9 am to midnight
Phone: +39 34 7462 9609
Map - 6
Caravaggio Cafè
The homemade aperitif on the seafront
- Food
- Nightlife
Caravaggio Cafè is considered a real fixture by Rapallo's inhabitants and is located on the seafront in an ideal spot for concluding a walk or meeting up with friends. Its aperitifs (accompanied by generous helpings of snacks) and exquisitely made cocktails have made it famous around Italy, so it's not unusual to see visitors and tourists spending an early evening here.
Expect pizzas and focaccias that are made by hand and served with utmost care. It’s the perfect place for a cocktail or beer before heading to the nightclub or for after-dinner ice cream.
Location: Lungomare Vittorio Veneto, 37, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Daily from 7.30 am to 9 pm
Phone: +39 34 7347 4584
Map - 7
ZiPier
Watch sports and have a drink while admiring the view from the terrace
- Food
- Nightlife
You'll feel right at home in Cafè ZiPier in Rapallo if your ideal evening ranges from watching sports matches on TV to enjoying live music. In the eastern part of the seafront, on the edge of the beaches that are buzzing with life by day, Cafè ZiPier is the ideal place to stop for some instant inspiration.
The cafe offers a wide range of activities, from guest bands so you can go wild to the rhythm of the music to an assortment of board games for a quieter evening with friends. As well as beverages, there's a large selection of pub-style food options. Finish in style with a breathtaking sea view from the terrace.
Location: Via Arrigo Boito, 74, 16156 Rapallo GE, Italy
Open: Daily from 6 pm to 2 am
Phone: +39 34 0865 3134
Map - 8
Covo di Nord-Est
The most popular nightclub on the Eastern Ligurian Riviera
- Food
- Nightlife
An evening of dancing in Covo di Nord-Est is a must to experience the Riviera's nightlife in all its glory. Covo di Nord-Est is a short drive from Rapallo, in the nearby Santa Margherita Ligure. It's a household name in the Italian nightclub scene.
Boasting an unparalleled location overlooking the gulf of Portofino, it’s a unique hangout in that it's partially formed out of a cave and features enchanting seating neighborhoods both inside and outside. Perfect for a carefree evening of beats from famous DJs who alternate at the mixer or for meeting one of the numerous VIPs who grace its floors, this club combines chic ambience with entertainment.
Location: Lungomare Raffaele Rossetti, 1, 16035 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy
Phone: +39 01 8529 0348
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