Naples Nightlife
Those looking for a quiet drink of an evening after a hard day's sightseeing would be well advised to stick to the hotel bar. Naples is as bustling and as manic at night as it is during the day, which is great news for those with the stamina to head in to the early hours.
Having said this, budding night owls arriving in the height of summer should be warned that the streets might be eerily quiet during the evenings. This is because the nightlife scene tends to decamp to the resorts of Miseno and Bagnoli, where Vibes on the Beach and the Arenile are two of the most popular spots for the city's young dance fans. As such, many of the top establishments in the city shut up shop between the months of June and September until the youngsters return.
Superfly and Kinky Bar are two such establishments that close down in the summer, but when open are home to some great bar action. Both are located on via Cisterna dell'Olio and both are small but extremely lively.
Neapolitan haunts can be on the pricey side, with cover charges especially steep, which can make bar hopping an expensive business. For those on a tight budget, the old city centre is perhaps the best place to head to. The neighbourhood caters mostly to university students and provides its fair share of alternative clubs to be alternative in. The dei Martiri, Amedeo and San Pasquale piazzas are the main places to go.
If you like a challenge, trying to get in to the Chez Moi bar on Via del Parco Margherita should keep you busy. Its bouncers are notoriously picky and its clientele generally include some of the top officials in the city, as well as clothes designers and the occasional pop star or two.
Madison Street has the title of largest nightclub in Naples. The place is huge and appeals to a young, hedonistic crowd, who certainly don't hold back. The establishment is open on Thursdays to Sundays although Friday is acknowledged as the time that the older, more professional members of society get their turn on the dance floor.
The gay scene is based around the Posillipo area, which affords some wonderful views over the Bay of Pozzuoli as well as Mount Vesuvius. Tongue is the largest establishment in the neighbourhood and is popular with techno fans who can dance until 3am although it's only open on weekends.
For live music, the bars around the piazza Bellini are the place to go, with a decent mix of different styles available to choose from. Intra Moenia caters to most musical tastes, with a varied line up each night and is well worth a look. Riot is the place to go for blues and jazz enthusiasts and is always lively.
If you're looking for an evening's entertainment of a more refined nature, perhaps as a last night treat, the Teatro San Carlo is the place for you. Built in 1737, this fine building provides some of the best acoustics around for the many large operatic productions that are put on here from December to October each year.
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Nightlife
