Centre, Torino

I have to make a tip about Chocowine, the only bar or restaurant in the world that has ever let me into the kitchen to prepare food that is actually served to the customers! One of the greatest moments in my life was preparing a pizza that was then served to real, live (paying) Italians!

Chocowine is a small winebar located at Via Botero, 8 (just off Via Garibaldi). The action picks up nightly around 10.30 pm, when young hipsters from Torino and the posh La Collina area descend upon Chocowine for the great selection of wines at fantastic prices. Dinner service is also available, but you should phone a few days in advance so they can prepare a menu suited to the size of your group and your taste preferences. Recently we had a dinner with two types of risotto (Milanese and with Barolo wine), followed by wild boar stew, and then a hazlenut cake. Fantastic! As the night goes on, the crowd spills onto the narrow street outside and the volume inside increases. Visit three or four times and they'll start to treat you like family!

To keep prices low, Chocowine requires that customers join the "Social Circle" for three euros (membership is valid forever). You will earn back your EUR 3 in one night- the prices are that good. The restaurant is owned by two Italians, one of whom is dating an English girl, so there will definitely be someone available to take your order in English!

Teatro is not a theatre, but rather a disco in the heart of Torino. We recently visited on a Saturday night, after having many people recommend it. We were impressed by the reception and coat check area, in which well-dressed people (who actually smelled good... rare for Torinese discos) mingled in an artifully-decorated ground-floor lobby. Then, we descended the stairs (about two floors) to the disco area. As we were entering the club, the lights suddently turned to black and lone, colored spotlights flashed upon the stage. Next thing we knew... BAM! A man in a white spandex suit with Rod-Stewart-esque hair had taken to the stage, and he was shortly followed by two women in silver sequined go-go dancing outfits. Next came the two men with long, curly black hair (a bit like a Gothic 1990s Michael Bolton) who were PRETENDING to play the guitar.

For the next hour we were "wowed" by the groups horrendous medly of disco tunes, from the Village People to ABBA to... yes... The Grease Megamix! Amazingly, the people around us seemed to find this the height of entertainment, and not in a funny or satirical way. Men in Armani suits swayed to the sweet sounds of Gloria Gaynor. We talked to a few people in the crowd... half of them said this was normal for Teatro, the others said it was unusual to have a disco cover band. Regardless, they were all enjoying it.

When the show was over (it ran from about 1.00 am to 2.00 am) the club returned to normal, mainstream house music.

There was no cover charge (yay!) and drinks were quite reasonable at about EUR 5 for a basic cocktail. Coat check charged EUR 2 PER ITEM, so I had to pay double even though I stuffed my scarf side the sleeve of my coat.

Dress Code: Dress to impress. Doubtful if they'd let a man in with running shoes, but girls were seen in some pretty ghetto (minus the fabulous) clothes.

Close to Via Po along the riverside (you have to go downstairs) there are a lot of bars and clubs ... its very nice to sit outside, drinking cocktails and listening to music!
Enjoy it!!! Its a must!

DJs, concerts, eating and drinking ...

Dress Code: no

The Huntsmen Pub near Train Station Puerto. Really fun English Pub with flat screen TV's for all sports. Owner is fun. Service is slow but the beer is darn good. Always busy. During the Olympics it was the place where all the hockey players hung out. Pool table

Dress Code: Anything, it is a English pub. Big sports crowd. You can even face paint your favorite soccer team here.

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Hafa Cafè has been one of the first bar to open in this that once upon a time not so far, was considered a degradated zone of Turin.
So it is now a institution for the nigthclubbing people.
The name itself resembles the moroccan ambience you find in this place. You can sip a sweet tea, or drink a cocktail. On the side there is an etnical shop.
In summertime, as the whole sorroundings, is overcrowded, also at the tables on the street.

Be patient because some waiters are not so kind as you would expect. On my last visit (30.12.2005) I and my friend were waiting others friends that were late. But the waiter did not wait, and gave our table to others (so we had to leave the Cafè).

Closed on Sunday.

Dress Code: no code

Shore is located in a busy piazza in the Quadrilatero Romano. It is new, with a sleek, modern interior (including a long, communal table on the ground floor that provides you with a perfect excuse to chat up a stranger). The television screens are more likely to be playing Fashion Television than football, and even the manliest men can be seen sipping cocktails like Cosmopolitans, Caipiroskas and Sex on the Beach. In the summer this place is off the hook, in the winter it is still bustling but there is more room to walk around. A good place for people-watching.

Dress Code: Look nice or you will feel out of place.

Dropped by The Loft the other night (Saturday) with some people aged 21-30 and we felt like senior citizens. Dance and house music for YOUNG teenagers who are dressed to impressed (for fourteen year olds). If you look too old they won't let you in.

If you don't like the vibe here, there is another club (La Gare) across the street but I haven't checked it out.

Dress Code: Revealing for girls, put-together for guys.

The Frog is located in the center of Torino, within walking distance of Piazza Solferino. When we visited there was no cover charge and drinks were really cheap. The club is HOT HOT HOT... no ventilation whatsoever and lots of sweaty bodies jam-packed together. The heat was almost unbearable but the rap, hip-hop and R&B music was great!

Apertitvo is also served but I would never go there when there are other classier options in the neighbourhood.

Dress Code: Casual