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Sciam
Kick back kasbah-style, where under a mass of coloured-glass lanterns, ex-pats and trend-sensitive locals sip mint tea (there's no alcohol), munch on meze, or smoke sishas (around €7 ) over a languid game of backgammon.
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Shaki
Shaki is a sleek wine bar with outside tables along a cobbled street, plum in the centre of the designer shopping district. It's consequently pricey for what it is but ideal for a flop to watch the fashion hits and misses wander past. Of the light meals, salads are the best bet, with fresh ingredients. There's another branch at Via del Governo Vecchio 123, near Piazza Navona.
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Silvano Toti Globe Theatre
In the form of an Elizabethan theatre, this is an open-air, inspiring space in the middle of Villa Borghese park. The season - mainly Shakespeare - includes occasional productions in English.
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Skyline
An American-style gay bar in San Lorenzo, Skyline is just the place for those boys who've got it and feel the need to flaunt it. The uniform and nude torso theme nights are popular with hunky bears, while bodies of all shapes turn their attention elsewhere as they cruise on the balcony.
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Société Lutèce
A group of Turin trendsters opened Société Lutèce and it's one of Rome's hippest bars - boho, cool, and art-school rather than dressed-up and glitzy - like their other venture in Trastevere, Freni e Frizioni. The music's genuinely funky, aperitivo tasty, and the effortlessly good-looking crowds spill out onto the piazza outside.
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Stardust
Stardust was a Trastevere institution, a tiny low-lit bar with a sultry atmosphere, boho crowd, and occasional live music. Atmosphere and all, it's been shifted to just off Piazza Navona. The new Stardust is larger but remains intimate, with a series of red-and-black rooms decorated by blown-up works of Iranian photographer Arash. Punters hang out on the cobbled street, while music veers from Velvet Underground to Vivaldi. Charismatic owner Anna hopes that live jazz gigs will restart once soundproofing has been completed.
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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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Stravinsky Bar At Hotel De Russie
With its lushly planted terraces, potted orange trees and love-to-please-you waiters, it's hard to beat Hotel de Russie's chichi courtyard bar for that garden-party vibe. Order a 'de Russie' martini, slip on some shades and scan for checked-in stars.
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Supperclub
Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? Is it a cabaret joint? No, it's the Supperclub! Resembling its cousin in Amsterdam, but with less reefer, here you recline on white divans, eat a violin-serenaded dinner, and then strut your designer-clad stuff in the disco.
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Tastevin
Tastevin's tiny, cool interior is a great escape on a summer's day and it has an exceptional collection of 1005 Italian and French wines, including an excellent choice of Barolo and Brunelli. While you drink you can nibble on cheeses and salamis, tuck into a daily hot dish or chomp on a choice of salads.
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Taverna Del Campo
A breakfast bar for the campo's market traders, the Taverna metamorphoses into a hip drinking haunt during the day, almost merging with Vineria next door. Grab an outside table to watch the human traffic.
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Teatro Ambra Jovinelli
A home from home for many famous Italian comics, the Ambra Jovinelli is a historic venue for satirists and alternative comedians. Besides government-bashing, the theatre also hosts productions of classics, musicals and opera, and the odd concert.
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Teatro Argentina
Rome's foremost theatre is one of the two official homes of the Teatro di Roma; the other is the Teatro India. Founded in 1732, it retains its original frescoed ceiling and a grand gilt-and-velvet auditorium. Rossini's Barber of Seville premiered here. Today it hosts major theatre and dance productions, with occasional performances in English. Book early for the dance productions, which often sell out.
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Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
The functional Fascist-era exterior of Rome's premier opera house makes the plush red and gilt interior a stunning surprise. It has an impressive history: it premiered Puccini's Tosca , and Maria Callas sang here. Built in 1880, it has great acoustics, but contemporary productions don't always match the splendour of the setting. From July to mid-August, performances shift outdoors to the Roman Terme di Caracalla, an unparalleled location.
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Teatro Dell'orologio
A well-known experimental theatre in the centro storico, the Orologio offers a varied programme, with works by contemporary authors - including theatrical dance pieces - and classic names, such as George Bernard Shaw. There are occasional performances in English.
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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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Teatro India
Inaugurated in 1999 in the postindustrial landscape of Rome's southern suburbs, the India is the younger sister of the Teatro Argentina. It's a starkly modern space in a converted industrial building, a fitting setting for its cutting-edge programme, with a calendar of international and Italian works.
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Teatro Olimpico
Home to the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, the Teatro Olimpico keeps the Rome dance scene on its toes, with frequent world-class productions ranging from jazz to classical, ethnic to contemporary. Regular performances by big international stars - dancers, choreographers and companies - add to the glamour.
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Teatro Palladium
Set in the now-hip suburb of Garbatella, this curvaceous 1920s theatre boasts a kick-ass programme of edgy, top-notch performance art, theatre, seminars and music events ranging from revamped classics to pure avant garde. It's also a venue for the worldly RomaEuropa festival. Check the website for upcoming gigs.
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Teatro Quirino
Within splashing distance of the Trevi fountain, this grand 19th-century theatre produces well-known works by well-known playwrights. Expect to see works (in Italian) by Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare, Seneca and Luigi Pirandello. For some productions there's a free babysitting service for children aged six to 11 (reservation necessary).
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Teatro Sistina
'Life is a cabaret old chum', and this is the place to tap your toes to show tunes. Big-budget theatre spectaculars and musicals are the staples of the Sistina's ever-conservative, ever-popular repertoire.
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Teatro Valle
This perfectly proportioned 18th-century theatre is like a pocket opera house, with three levels of red-and-gold private boxes. There are occasional English-language works performed in English with Italian subtitles, as well as concerts from rock opera to recitals.
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Teatro Vascello
Left field in terms of vibe and location, this is an independent theatre that stages interesting fringe work, including avant-garde dance performances, multimedia events and new works by emerging playwrights.
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Trimani
Part of the Trimani family's wine empire - their shop just round the corner stocks about 4000 international labels - this is a great, unpretentious place. Always bustling, it's Rome's biggest wine bar and has a vast selection of Italian regional wines as well as a small food menu. Book ahead to take one of the regular wine-tasting courses.
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Trinity College
A historic city-centre pub, Trinity College is a big booming place just off Via del Corso. Spread over two floors, it attracts a cosmopolitan crowd up for a good time. It gets packed to overflowing at weekends, when men might find it difficult to get past the heavies on the door.
