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Accademia di Santa Cecilia
Rome's major classical-music organisation dates to the 16th century when it was founded by, among others, the composer Palestrina. The academy's programme includes a world-class symphonic season - featuring superstar guest conductors - and short festivals dedicated to single composers. The in-house orchestra is directed by Italian Antonio Pappano.
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Accademia Filarmonica Romana
The academy was founded in 1821 and its members have included Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi. Its programme concentrates on classical and chamber music, but also includes opera, ballet and multimedia events. Concerts are held at the Teatro Olimpico.
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Alexanderplatz
The big daddy of jazz clubs in a city that loves jazz, Alexanderplatz attracts a passionate crowd and some huge names; George Coleman and Lionel Hampton are two regular performers. You'll need to book a table if you want dinner, and the music starts around . From July to September, the club moves outside to the grounds of Villa Celimontana for an enchanting outdoor festival.
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Alien
Pure disco, Alien constantly changes its look to keep up with the newest fads. In its latest apparition it's lounge minimalist - flat maxi-screens on the walls, black leather sofas and satinised steel - and the music is house. Theme nights range from fetish to revival and there are also gay nights.
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Alpheus
A celebrated Roman disco, Alpheus defies most labels. Its three halls (Mississippi, Momotombo and Red River) host everything from Argentinian tango to house, hip-hop, rock and soul. Saturday nights are particularly animated, with a choice of hip-hop in the Momotombo hall or the weekly Kinder Gaarden gay night everywhere else.
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Anima
The interior is overdone Gothic-Hawaiian, the music hi-energy house and hip-hop. It gets busy at this fashionable, fussily dressed-up bar, and there are burly bouncers on the door but no admission charge. The cocktails are great (around €10 ) and the drinkers are young, good-looking and loving it. Come early for drinks or drop by late for a dance.
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Arco Degli Aurunci
A charming café-bar on one of San Lorenzo's rare idyllic corners, here the outside tables overlook a small piazza and a modern church. The interior is airy, with warm orange walls, brick arches and blown-up photos. It's a fabulous place for a drink (cocktails around €5 ), aperitivo ( to ; around €7 to around €9 ), or even a light meal (Euro5), with occasional live music.
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Auditorium Conciliazione
Formerly Rome's premier classical music venue, this was renovated after the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and hosts concerts (both contemporary and classical, from David Sylvian to Uto Ughi), dance performances and film screenings. There's also a specialist music bookshop on site.
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Big Mama
To wallow in the Eternal City blues, there's only one place to go - this cramped Trastevere basement. It's also good for jazz, funk, soul and R & B. There are weekly residencies from well-known Italian musicians and songwriters and frequent concerts by international artists. You can reserve a table via phone or online.
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Brancaleone Off
This centro sociale (social centre) is one of the hottest underground clubs in Rome, pulling in a young, alternative crowd and electronica meisters such as Stockholm's Tomas Andersson, Berlin's Paul Kalkbrenner and Detroit's Jeff Mills.
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Circolo degli Artisti
This laid-back club in Rome's eastern suburbs has established itself as one of the city's hottest. If you fancy a blast from the past, the Saturday 'Screamadelica' night dishes up classic 1980s pop, while Wednesday is for hip-hop and electronic music and Friday is gay night. There are also regular live concerts, modern art exhibitions and film projections.
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Classico Village
Well worth a look is this eclectic converted factory with a bar, restaurant and live-music venue, hosting music of all genres, and centred on a lovely courtyard.
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Etò
A shiny, hi-tech club, hosting shiny, dressed-up people, Etò plays commercial house and dance to a lively crowd, and serves knock-your-socks-off cocktails. Most summers it moves to the terrace of the Palazzo dei Congressi in EUR : go-go dancers on the walls of Mussolini's stern architecture have to be seen to be believed.
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Fonclea
Don't let the English country pub decor put you off - this is a great little venue for live music. Most nights there are cover bands playing a gamut of musical styles, from jazz to soul, funk to rock. Sustain yourself with the very eatable Italian and Mexican food, a choice of more than 200 cocktails, and English beer on tap.
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Il Posto Delle Fragole
For an alternative night out you can't get more offbeat than this homely Swedish associazione culturale (cultural association). It offers an ample selection of beer and wine, a menu of Scandinavian food (including reindeer meat) and an eclectic events calendar, ranging from world music concerts to chess tournaments.
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La Casa del Jazz
In the middle of a 2500-sq-metre park in the southern suburbs, the Casa del Jazz (House of Jazz) is housed in a charming three-storey 1920s villa that belonged to a mafia boss. When he was caught the Comune di Roma (Rome Council) converted it into a beautiful jazz-tastic complex. There's a 150-seater auditorium, rehearsal rooms, a café and a restaurant.
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La Palma
Housed in two 18th-century houses on a former farm, La Palma is worth the trek for top-notch jazz, DJ sets or classical tunes. In summer the courtyard hosts a balmy jazz festival.
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Lettere Caffè Gallery
This literary café is one of the best examples of Rome's trend for bars crossed with bookshops. You like books? You like blues and jazz? Then you'll love Lettere Caffè. Performances usually start at , followed by DJs playing indie and new wave.
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Locanda Atlantide
You wouldn't find this unmarked, back-street, graffiti-covered door among a string of workshops and warehouses unless you were in the know. Descend into a cavernous place with décor best described as recycled. Its lively alternative gigs are always fun and full; it's good to know that punk is not dead. Come here to tickle Rome's grungy underbelly.
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Micca Club
Pop art fills ancient cellars and brick arches change colour every few seconds at this curious underground venue. It's dedicated to the '60s but isn't a nostalgia trip, though Austin Powers types are in evidence. Expect live jazz followed by rare '60s grooves. Book online, or, if you can't make it, listen to it: Radio Città Futura broadcast shows live.
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Modò
A black-and-white confection: consider wearing black to fit in. This long narrow bar is a sophisticated, intimate venue, with live music (mainly jazz) followed by DJ sets. It's gay-friendly for a Sunday aperitivo .
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Rialtosantambrogio
You might feel that you've stumbled into an art school, but this ancient courtyard-centred building is the most central centro sociale (organised squat). It's open to all and is a radical melting pot, with gigs, club nights (a monthly funk night among others), exhibitions and art-house cinema.
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Stardust Live Jazz Bar
A well-known Trastevere watering hole, Stardust is loved for its smoky jazz atmosphere. There's often live music and the bar staff are equally happy playing Rossini as they are Louis Armstrong. It's open in the afternoon for tea and serves snacks in the early evening but the real buzz kicks in later on. On weekends there's brunch with bagels and American coffee.
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Teatro Ghione
A former cinema, the Teatro Ghione is a small but beautiful theatre near St Peter's that offers a varied programme featuring major international performers. You can catch anything from opera arias to Greek tragedies, Shakespearian comedies and contemporary Italian plays.
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Villa Celimontana
Lush pines and palms, a sprinkling of Roman ruins and a 16th-century villa set the scene for blissful chilling at this underrated hilltop park. Home to a modest playground for overactive tots, its greatest claim to fame is the swinging, summer-long Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival (www.villacelimontanajazz.com).
