If Italy is on your travel bucket list, chances are that a visit to Rome makes the cut. Rome is a place where you can see one of the seven wonders of the world while sipping a rainbow cocktail at a gay bar. While the Vatican City sits in the middle of the city, trust and believe that gay Rome still very much exists.
As you walk through cobblestone streets, you would be hard pressed to not marvel at the remnants of ancient Rome. There’s a reason why Rome is called “Eternal City.”
While historical landmarks seem to exist at every turn, gay Rome is a bit hider to find especially if you are not a gay cisgender man. This list of gay Rome must see spots aims is inclusive. This means you’ll find places where folks across the LGBTQ+ community will feel welcomed.
Coming Out Bar
If you know anything about gay Rome, you probably know Coming Out Bar. It’s a Roman institution that’s been around since 2001. The location is just as iconic. Coming Out Bar sits directly across the street from the Colosseum on San Giovanni. This small strip of gay bars is the closest thing Rome has to a Gayborhood.
Although I wasn’t out when I studied abroad in Rome in 2008, I visited Coming Out Bar in the evening. I remember feeling welcomed and I always wanted to go back. Fourteen years later, I made that dream come true as an out queer woman.
After a tour of the Colosseum, I enjoyed lunch at Coming Out Bar. The day time vibe is perfect for someone whose idea of seeing gay Rome doesn’t center around nightlife.
The service was impeccable. Our waiter made us feel right at home. The menu also impressed me. Every cocktail had a Pride theme. The “Queer Ice Tea” was a pleasant surprise. It’s not everyday you see your identity on the menu in the Motherland!
Libreria Tuba
My friend Max of recommended Libreria Tuba and it did not disappoint. Libreria Tuba is part bookshop part coffee bar and located in the Pigneto area of Rome.
A group of feminists and lesbians built the shop to create a space where women could be free, joyful and creative. With a grounding in social justice, Tuba prides itself on being a place where people are welcomed regardless of gender, sexual orientation, class condition, race, color or origin.
From kids books to feminist classics, Tuba was stocked. I grabbed two books in Italian with English translations and I’m excited to dive into them. While you’re visiting Tuba, check out the culture of the neighborhood. The local feel of Pigneto is a welcomed reprieve from the crowded tourist-lined streets of Rome.
Casa Internazionale Delle Donne
I first visited in 2008. space This gave me my first look at the women’s liberation movement in Italy. My visit inspired my “Io Sono Mia” tattoo. Although the center’s roots are in the fight to protect reproductive health, advocating for and educating on LGBTQ rights have become a core part of their mission as well!
The walls of this space are lined with historical images but that doesn’t make Casa Internazionale Delle Donne stuck in the past. One of the exhibits that I loved seeing was the black and white images of iconic women lining the courtyard wall. You could scan a QR code to read more each women’s impact.
Casa Internazionale Delle Donne is home to an library and archive, a hostel, a restaurant and a range of meeting spaces. From yoga classes and film screenings to stand up comedy and life coaching, you can find a bit of everything here!
As LGBTQ+ travelers, we don’t take our identities off when we leave our homes. We want to know there are places in every destination where we can feel at home. Rome may not be a top LGBTQ+ destination but you can find a home amongst the small but mighty gay Rome community.
What are your favorite spots in Rome for LGBTQ+ travelers? Let us know in the comments so we can pay them a visit on our next trip to Rome!
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