Of course, afternoon aperitivo is a favorite pastime in Italy and La Spezia is no different! Without trying too hard, you’ll find dozens of bars in La Spezia that will satisfy your urge for a spritz and salty appetizer. But after sunset, there is a different vibe and energy that rings through the back streets and laneways of La Spezia’s old town.
If you’re looking for nightlife, pubs, and cocktail bars in La Spezia, then look no further!
In this post, I will share some of our favorite cocktail bars, pubs, and places to enjoy the La Spezia nightlife.
Hint: Skip to the end of the article to find our convenient interactive map.
A Little About Us
Hi! We are Justin and Lu and we moved to Italy from Australia. Our new home in La Spezia near Cinque Terre, has woken us to this little corner of Italy.
La Spezia Guide is our way of embracing our new home and sharing the best it has to offer with visitors coming to the area.
Buon Viaggio!
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Wine & Cocktail Bars in La Spezia
More and more cocktail bars popping up around La Spezia, and some are setting the bar high. In my list, I’ve included the cocktail bars that are making their mark with stylish interiors, professional bar staff, and mixologists with serious skill!
Nomad Bar La Spezia
Nomad Bar topped the list of cocktail bars at Cocktail Fest earlier this year! Crowning Nomad Bar as the best place to get a cocktail compared to any of the other La Spezia bars!
This stylish and energetic spot is a great place to enjoy an evening and hang out with friends.
If you’re a cocktail aficionado, then I’m sure you’ll be impressed with their designer cocktails that are expertly crafted and look amazing!
New cocktails hit the list regularly and the mixologists showcase new flavors with the change of seasons.
Emporium 87
The shelves dazzle with bottles of select alcohol, teas, and blends. But there is no drinks menu!
The concept at Emporium 87 is to delight guests with personalized cocktails and intimate service in a welcoming atmosphere.
Emporium 87 has a reputation for creating an experience that is unmatched in the La Spezia nightlife scene.
The bartenders are friendly and encourage guests to “sit at the counter” and enjoy the process of chatting and getting to know each other.
This is a moment to savor and an opportunity to appreciate and respect artists at work as they create cocktails made specially to suit your taste.
La Casina
La Casina is relatively new to the La Spezia food and beverage scene. They are open from breakfast (coffee and pastries to die for…literally!!) until late and serve all-day food and drinks.
I had to add La Casina to this list because they are amongst only a few brave souls who are swimming against the tide and have brought a modern vibe to the doorstep of the La Spezia nightlife.
Instead of your typical Italian pizzeria, you can expect a contemporary space that is transformed into a lively cocktail bar later in the evening.
This place is fun with a pop art feel, serving classic and modern creative cocktails.
Unusually, they also have on-tap “draft drinks” (Fancy? Not Fancy?) of pre-made signature spritz and cocktail blends.
Other Cocktail Bars to Try
This is by no means a full list of wine and cocktail bars in La Spezia, and there are others that I think are also worthy of a mention such as:
- Resilience Café: This is a relaxed place to meet friends. An early start with aperitivo can easily turn into a late affair.
- Accanto: This lounge bar serves expertly mixed cocktails in an up-market art deco-styled interior. Their bar food is also top-notch! If a snack isn’t enough, you can always venture next door to its sister restaurant, Osteria delle Corte, which is one of La Spezia’s best restaurants.
- La Rosa Blu: We love this little wine bar. It’s a happy place for us and one of the first places we had a drink in La Spezia. It’s tucked away in a little laneway, and easy to miss, but it’s well-known and enjoyed by locals. The vibe is very chill and a touch of eclectic boho. La Rosa Blu is proud to serve local wines such as the Cinque Terre Vermentino, served with delicious appetizer plates and with very cool music as a backdrop.
Classic Pubs
There aren’t so many classic pubs in La Spezia. In fact, culturally, this isn’t a norm, and I haven’t seen many in Italy.
In my selection of classic pubs in La Spezia, I’ve chosen pubs that (most importantly) serve good beer, have tables suitable for groups, and offer good honest pub grub.
Murphy’s Pub
This is a regular haunt for us because they serve Guinness on tap and have an excellent variety of home-style food and great wood-fired pizza.
Murphy’s is an Irish Pub, pizzeria, steak house, and sports bar in one! This blend of cultures and styles means it has something for everyone, making it ideal for group gatherings.
They also have TV screens for lovers of sport and plenty of good beer on tap!
And like any great pub, they are open every day, from noon until late.
If you enjoy meat, then I can definitely recommend their Tagliate plates – sliced steaks cooked and served in terracotta stone dishes.
Also, the Maialino (suckling pig ribs) is always amazing!
La Taverna Del Metallo
This beer house has a distinctive medieval style, serving draft beers and hearty food. The pub only opens after 8pm and is always busy with thirsty and hungry patrons.
We were buzzing with excitement about trying this place because they are distinctly different from everything else around.
You’ll find La Taverna Del Metallo, down a side street and hidden behind a large imposing wooden door.
The interior is tiny, and together with a solid reputation, it means a booking is advisable!
There is a small but interesting selection of European draught beers, and the food is proudly local with generous portions.
Paolino’s Pub
This tiny little tavern is worthy of a mention as a pub of La Spezia. It’s very much a local place with draught beers and an owner who is as much a part of the place as the beer coasters.
It’s easily missed, but centrally located in Piazza Cavour at the fresh food markets.
Music & Dancing
La Spezia isn’t known as a place for hard and heavy, dusk until-dawn partying, but if you’re looking for live music or a DJ Set with a dance floor, then there are several spots where you can live it up to the early hours.
GROOVE Waterfront
This new food and music venue is setting down some new beats with an eclectic variety of music.
Groove Waterfront is close to the cruise terminal in La Spezia and within an easy walk of the city center.
The musical acts include rock bands, retro nights, and DJ sets.
The outdoor dance floor is right on the harbor and with views of the gulf.
Currently, (and in my opinion) there aren’t really enough waterfront food and drink spots. And since La Spezia has yet to truly ‘exploit’ the beauty of its harbor front, this music venue is uniquely positioned and is a welcome addition to the La Spezia nightlife.
It can be a bit tricky to find but you can get all the info you need from our interactive map below.
PIN La Spezia
This mixed venue has an outdoor street food vibe, that transforms into a live music and dance venue later in the evening.
PIN La Spezia is set under the umbrella of giant pine trees and a sky full of stars. It’s close to the harbor and as you breathe in the salty coastal air you can feel an energy that promises a good time.
The venue has a revolving door of entertainment from every genre and welcomes local and international musicians.
During summer, there is something different almost every night from techno DJ sets to 70’s disco to Latino nights.
There are also some great food options from many food trucks representing local restaurants and cafes.
Other places to try for some late night drinks, music and dancing
Wonderful Bar
Located close to the public gardens, Wonderful is a lounge bar with dazzling décor and an extensive cocktail menu. There isn’t a designated dance floor, but the bar does host DJ sets and music events.
La Skaletta Rock Club
This historic venue has been the home of La Spezia rock, punk, and blues since 1994. This ‘underground’ venue is exactly how you imagine it to be; with sticky floors, a sometimes rowdy crowd, and live music front and center!
Map of Best of Nightlife & Bars in La Spezia
Wrap Up
If you’re looking for the best bars in La Spezia, then I’m hopeful this guide will be helpful.
In this post, I’ve shared our list of favorite bars and places to go for a cocktail or to enjoy the nightlife and bars in La Spezia.
Lu and I enjoy going out, so save our blog to your favorites for more food and drink-related content!
FAQ
What is a typical drink in Cinque Terre or La Spezia?
A typical drink in Cinque Terre is Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà. This is a sweet, dessert wine made from dried grapes grown in the region. It's known for its intense sweetness and aromatic flavors of dried fruits, honey, and spices.
If you prefer something a bit less sweet, Vermentino is another popular white wine from the region. It's a crisp, refreshing wine with citrusy notes.
What is the most popular cocktail in Italy?
There isn’t a definitive cocktail that I can point to as being THE most popular in Italy. But in 2022 almost 90 million liters of Aperol was sold globally (which in layman’s terms is about 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools).
Other popular cocktails to try while in Italy are a Negroni and a Bellini.
What is the legal drinking age in Italy?
The legal drinking age in Italy is 18, but it’s not uncommon to see younger people drinking. Unlike Australia, I don’t often see bouncers or door attendants. However, if you are younger-looking, then it’s still a clever idea to carry some I.D.
How much do alcoholic drinks cost in Italy?
I’m always surprised at how expensive drinks are in Italy compared to buying alcohol from the bottle shop. (Compared to Australia alcohol in general is very cheap here in Italy).
Wine and beer are the cheapest alcoholic drinks that you can buy in a bar or restaurant. You can expect to pay around €5-6 for a glass of local wine or an Italian beer like Peroni or Moretti.
You should be prepared to pay between €5 and €8 for an Aperol Spritz and €10-15 for a classic cocktail.
Obviously, the fancier-looking places come with the associated price tag!
What are the typical opening hours for bars and clubs in La Spezia?
Weekday hours are generally 7 PM to 2 AM for bars and 9 PM to 3 AM for clubs.
On weekends, these hours extend to 6 PM to 3 AM for bars and 10 PM to 5 AM or later for clubs.
What are the typical opening hours for bars and clubs in Italy?
Bars
Weekday evenings: Open from late afternoon (around 5 PM) until late night (1 AM or later).
Weekends: Open from late afternoon until the early hours of the morning (3 AM or later).
Clubs
Weekends: Open from late night (11 PM or later) until the early hours of the morning (5 AM or later).
Weekdays: Some clubs may be open, but the atmosphere is usually less lively.
Is limoncello a typical drink of Cinque Terre or La Spezia?
Limoncello is a typical drink of Cinque Terre – not La Spezia.
It's a popular liqueur made from lemons, and the region's climate and abundance of lemon trees make it an ideal place for its production.
It is not really a typical drink of La Spezia, even though they are so close geographically. La Spezia is more renowned for its seafood and wines.
Limoncello is often enjoyed as an aperitif or after-dinner drink.
