The luxury boutiques by the Spanish Steps are world famous! Stop off for a coffee in between your purchases!
Head to the beautiful Via del Corso , a street full of Europe’s top department stores.
Rome is home to some of the worlds leading fashion brands. Most of the designer boutiques are clustered around the Spanish Steps, with big names such as Gucci, Prada and Missoni well represented. Even if you don’t have the funds to splash out, it’s a great area to window shop and people watch while enjoying an espresso in one of the many open-air gay Rome cafes.
The Piazza San Silvestro exhibits Rome’s best jewellers, Bulgari and Martinelli, among others. In Via del Corso one can find, in addition to an assortment of clothing department stores, the flagship stores for Ferrari (which is worth a look if nothing else) and Swarovski, with exquisite crystal-wrought crafts.
SHOPS ARE OPEN FROM 9 am to 1 pm and from 3:30/4 pm to 7:30/8 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and Monday afternoon. From the middle of June to the middle of September, the shops are closed on Saturday afternoon but would be open on Monday morning.
Rome’s flea markets are definitely worth a visit. Take your time to explore and find a real authentic memento of the city.
The Trastevere district is full of quirky restaurants and street vendors selling a wide range of quirky items! Go explore.
The markets of central Rome, which operate Monday to Saturday from 7am to 1pm offer a variety of tourist memorabilia and souvenirs. On Sundays, the popular Porta Portese flea market operates from the Trastevere district. While this market is stimulating for shopping enthusiasts, Rome has some of the most skilled pickpockets in the world and visitors are advised to take care with possessions.
Libreria Babele Rome (Via dei Banchi Vecchi 116) has been Rome’s gay bookstore since 1993. As well as the expected gay books and magazines, DVDs, and CDs, this gem is also a community center of sorts, with guides, maps, events and a comfortable drop-in and hang-out feel to the place. You can find titles in English.
Many local sex and fetish shops stock gay merchandise, but a couple are of more interest than the others: Alcovo (Piazza Sforza Cesarini 27) and Hydra II (Via Urbana 139) both stock leather and fetish items, and the latter also carries Western, vinyl, and vintage wear.
The Coming Out store offers everything a gay boy might need on a trip to Rome! And its on the Gay Street!
The Rione Monti district has been transformed over the past few years into the trendiest area of Rome.
Those looking for a typical gay boutique should visit the Coming Out store. The boutique is a mix of class and camp and offers souvenirs, rainbow gifts, books, CDs/DVDs, toys, clothing & accessories. Weekday opening times: Mon-Thu 15:00 – 24:00; Fri 15:00 – 02:00
Weekend opening times: Sat 15:00 – 02:00; Sun 18:00 – 01:00
Those looking for something a little different should pay a visit to Rione Monti, a hip neighbourhood that attracts a young and creative crowd. Locals like to walk here in the afternoons and shop in alternative boutiques before heading out for aperitifs once the sun has gone down. From 8 pm onward, especially on weekends, the square transforms into a vibrant meeting place.
The Suede Store in Rione Monti is a concept store with guest DJs & hard-to-find fashion brands.
Holypopstore pffers limited editions of Iconic Sneaker brands and unique fashion labels with flair and style.
Finally if you are looking for some unique sneakers from your favourite labels, check out Holypopstore, one of the iconic sneaker boutiques in Rome, located on Via Del Vantaggio where you will find a wide selection of Nike and Adidas items.
Suede Store, located in the heart of the Rione Monti district, also offers difficult to find editions of your favourite brands. It’s not simply a shoe shop, but more of a concept store. The design is minimal yet creative, and the selection of sneakers, caps and T-shirts is really alternative. Sometimes they even have DJ sets and illustration exhibitions.
The street in front of the two cafe-bars Coming Out and My Bar, Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, which is sometimes called Rome’s Gay Street is where all of the action takes place in the city!
Offering stylish rooms with free WiFi, J.K. Place Roma is located in the heart of Rome with the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon each a 10-minute walkaway.
The Artemide is in a 19th-century building on the vibrant Via Nazionale. A free minibar and free Wi-Fi access are available in each of the elegant rooms.
UNA Hotel offers contemporary design and bright interiors, plus a private parking garage and air-conditioned rooms with hardwood floors.
Set on a quiet street just 183 m from Rome’s Termini Station, the boutique Yes Hotel has contemporary rooms with satellite TV and air conditioning.
