Le Stanze occupies a former chapel of the Bentivoglio family on Via del Borgo San Pietro, with rooms of 17th-century frescoes set against post-modern sofas, a cocktail list at the bar and DJ sets that push the crowd past midnight on weekends.
Tip: Aperitivo buffet runs from 18:00 with the cocktail; the room peaks on Friday and Saturday past 22:30 when the crowd spills onto the sidewalk.
Address: Via del Borgo San Pietro 1, 40126 Bologna
Kinki has run a house floor on Via Zamboni since 1975 in the same room that opened as Whisky a go-go in 1958, making it the oldest standing gay club in Bologna with a mixed crowd, resident DJs and international house bookings.
Tip: The room is on the corner of Via Zamboni and Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, two steps from the Two Towers. The floor warms up after 01:00.
Lab 16 runs a cocktail room and kitchen under the porticoes of Via Zamboni a few doors from the Two Towers, pairing an aperitivo buffet, a small dinner menu and a vinyl-led listening programme that swings between indie, rock and pop.
Tip: Aperitivo from 18:00 includes a buffet with the drink; reserve a table inside if the live programme runs that night. Outside seats fill fast in summer.
Cassero has anchored the Italian LGBTQ scene since 1982, housed in a former salt warehouse by the Reno canal, with a tower-room dance floor, a rooftop garden, the Gender Bender festival and house and disco nights that fund the centre's cultural and advocacy work.
Tip: Arcigay tessera required at the door; sign up at the desk or online before. The rooftop dance floor opens in summer and is the seat to get.
Red Club runs the busiest gay floor in Bologna from a Zona Roveri warehouse east of the centre, with a main commercial room, a darker side floor and a summer pool that opens in the warm months for the Tunga party series.
Tip: Zona Roveri sits well outside the centre with no late transit; budget for a cab back. ANDDOS card at the door, bring cash for the membership fee.
Kinki has run a house floor on Via Zamboni since 1975 in the same room that opened as Whisky a go-go in 1958, making it the oldest standing gay club in Bologna with a mixed crowd, resident DJs and international house bookings.
Tip: The room is on the corner of Via Zamboni and Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, two steps from the Two Towers. The floor warms up after 01:00.
Bar't runs a men-only multi-level club on Via Polese a couple of streets from Pratello, with house DJ residencies on Friday and Saturday, themed nights through the week and a cruise area downstairs.
Tip: ANDDOS card at the door; the underwear-only Monday night runs 21:30 to 03:00 with a dress code at the door. Cash works for the membership fee.
Borgo Hi-Fi opened on Christmas Eve 2025 as Bologna's first listening bar, set inside the Borgo delle Erbe arcade of the Mercato delle Erbe with a vinyl-only DJ booth, a tuned Hi-Fi system and a short cocktail and wine list.
Tip: Saturday nights book up; reservations via prenotazioni.borgoerbe@gmail.com. Sunday tardeo runs from afternoon into evening with a softer playlist.
Lab 16 runs a cocktail room and kitchen under the porticoes of Via Zamboni a few doors from the Two Towers, pairing an aperitivo buffet, a small dinner menu and a vinyl-led listening programme that swings between indie, rock and pop.
Tip: Aperitivo from 18:00 includes a buffet with the drink; reserve a table inside if the live programme runs that night. Outside seats fill fast in summer.