Sexy, timeless and always bustling, romantic Gay Rome still serves up "la dolce vita." Gay Bar life in Rome is a social affair. Whether you want to laze around in the open terraces or get down and dirty with hot roman guys, there is a bar for you.

Just to the south of the Colosseum there are two convenient gay refreshment spots, to relax after all the walking you'll be doing, both open in the afternoons.

Coming Out (Via di SanGiovanni in Laterano 8) is a Gay bar and restaurant for gay men and women, open daily from 11am to 2am, is the big meeting places for Rome's gay community; busiest on weekend evenings. All the local gay mags are distributed here and they have cocktail specials every evening if you need another excuse to come early.

Anfiteatro (Via di SanGiovanni in Laterano 12) is the gay bar next door to Coming Out, and together they sponsor the Gay Street Roma events. All summer this street closes to traffic for events that include free movies, music performances, and art displays.

Ice Cream Bears (Via di San Giovanni in Laterano 120) is just down the street, with tempting sweets and beverages, and a cabinet full of rich gelato flavors to sample, served up by Gianni and Carlo, friendly local bears who've made this a gathering point for guys in the area.

Also conveniently located along the gay trail, Citta in Fiore (via Cavour 269) is a friendly Chinese restaurant. Low prices and great food here, plus the welcome always extended by owner Jada and staff, make this place very popular with locals. La Bagette (Via Merulana, 83) is a typical little Italian bar, owned by two lesbians, with a rare and pleasant gay ambience for wine, cocktails, coffee, delicious fresh fruit juice and light afternoon meals.

Hangar (Via in Selci 69) which started as a casual get-together for gay friends 20-some years ago, has proved to be one of Rome's most enduring gay institutions. John and partner Gianni open the place every night but Tuesday from 10:30pm until 2am, hosting Rome's most international gathering place for gay men. Tip: conversation flows easily here, as does the inside scoop on what to see in Rome.

For getting directly down to business, Rome boasts several man to man bars-cum-sex-clubs.

Skyline Club (Via Pontremoli 36), near San Giovanni metro, has two darkrooms, porn videos, and pulls a generally younger crowd that likes the high-energy music they play. Third Saturdays here are devoted to bears. Co-owner Gian Carlo offers friendly tourist advice.

Frequency (Via Enea 34), three metro stops further down Via Appia Nuova, (beyond Furio Camillo), is a gay bar open nightly except Tuesdays, with a weekend sex club that's known for it's naked parties. The Leather Club of Rome (Lcroma.com) meets here too.

The Sphinx Club formerly at Piazza Manfredo Fanti, is now closed, but has plans to reopen at a new location. Check local leather websites for updates.

Other gay sex clubs include Diavolo Dentro (Largo Itri 23) with darkrooms and cabins, labyrinth and sling, food, drinks, shows and hardcore movies -- open weekends only; and K-Men's Gay Club (Via Amato Amati 8), a gay men's cruising and sex bar with shows, open daily except Mondays.

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