Catania Nightlife

The largest Disco at Aci Castello, playing good commercial music. The large/tall palm trees being the characteristics of this place enclose a large dance floor with loads of people dancing till the early morning.

Dress Code: Anything that's cool and casual being an outdoor summer place.

There are two major "American" bars in the city. Waxy's is the most popular (the other one is Stag's Head - also cool). Lots of Catanian women go here to pick up the AFI (American Forces in Italy) guys and meet Americans, so it can be fun if that's what you're looking for, and of course if you're looking for a little American companionship this is the place to go to find it.

It's hellishly crowded on the weekends but it's not so pretentiously upscale that you feel bad about just jumping into the fray and grabbing a beer and talking to people, or just people watching.

They've usually got a live band playing inside.

Dress Code: Nothing special required - of course it's Italy, so dress your best and nobody will mind.

Piazza Bellini is the Piazza in front of Teatro Massimo Bellini, the Catania opera house. This is the one of the major nightlife epicenters (Piazza Universita' is another).

You see soe pretty crazy characters running around PB. Be forewarned. The stree near the face of the theatre heading to the south has many good bars on it. However, my favorite place is right on the eastern corner of that street. The cheapest beer in the city can be found here. It's kind of a grocery store or something - not a bar at all - but as you can drink on the streets it's no problem. I like to get a Corona with salt around the neck.

Dress Code: No code.

By day Via Crociferi is the hallowed center of Catanian spiritual power. By night it's... um... a big party.

On the staircase leading from Via Crociferi towards the center there is a bar called Nevsky. It features a diverse crowd but they work to attract the socialist youth element, and they succeed. The bar itself is too small to accomodate and the staircase has become an extension of it and the other bars on the street.

Positives: never seen anything quite like it, hundreds of people, lots of drinking.

Negatives: the drug scene is here also. The staircase itself also gets pretty filthy by four o'clock. Those looking for a quiet romantic passeggiata should look elsewhere.

Dress Code: "I fichetti", the Italian word for people who dress to the nines to go out, are kind of unwelcome here. Dress casual or go out of your way to look a little militant and you'll fit right in.

If you want nightlife in Catania, the Piazza in front of the Teatro Massimo (also known as Teatro Bellini) is the place to start. You'll see at least 4-5 pubs directly facing the square, plus you will find a few others if you dare wonder in the small alleys nearby.

The places are almost inevitably crowded of young and beautiful Sicilian youngsters, though you'll find people of a higher age in certain hangouts. Most of the bars will have tables outside in the summer, which get removed when closing time approaches. Some exceptions may occur though (see the tip picture).

The Bellini square is also a great place for people watching, especially at summer time when it is closed to private traffic (though the regular jams in the winter are also starkly fascinating to observe).

Dress Code: Don't overdo it... or then do, if you wish!

Generally speaking, I'm not a professional researcher in nightlife sites (Ido prefer to wake up at dawn and see the life beginning once again...), but I suggest to walk around via dei Crociferi, there are a couple of interesting places to spend the night.
Lots of young people space for sitting and discussing, spce for drinking wine or beer, indoor and outdoor.

Dress Code: Absolutely informal!

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This Irish-style pub was a favourite of mine and a regular hang-out for foreigners (stranieri in the local talk!) living or holidaying in Catania. Unlike the rest of the small, crowded pubs around the piazza 'teatro massimo,' the Stag's Head has room to sit, and features live bands with lots of english songs. Not to mention the gorgeous wait and bar staff that work there! :)

Dress Code: The locals are usually quite casual, if your into dressing up that's fine but otherwise jeans are totally acceptable!

For musicians, artists and those that love music and art. Technically, this is kind of a private club or space for young Catanese musicians and artists to present thier work. You will certainly be welcomed by the friendly patrons, in fact you may be handed a drum to join in or just absentmindlessly tap on while you sip a wine and chat. It was drum circle night while I was there. There seems to be "jam" sesion nights led by local musicians, nights with music shows and nights with art showings. There is a small bar (if you order a margherita you will get fresh squeezed limes), then an intimate music/art room beside that. Check out the myspace MUSIC website.