By evening the arcades along Via Po fill with people moving between Piazza Castello and the river, and the cafés of the historic centre serve their last coffees as the bars along the Po start to fill. Later, the crowds shift towards Piazza Vittorio Veneto and across the river to the Murazzi, where the night runs long.
Turin's nightlife is split between two moods: old-world cafés and vermouth bars in the historic centre, and livelier, younger drinking and music districts along the river and in San Salvario. It suits visitors who want a civilised aperitivo before a proper dinner, and those who want to keep going afterwards. Much of it is walkable, and the river is the spine that connects the main clusters.
Where to go out in Turin
1. The riverbank near Ponte Vittorio Emanuele
This is the main concentration of bars in the city, strung along the Po near the bridge. It suits an early-evening start, with a drink before moving on to dinner or to the busier squares.
Plan to pass through on foot rather than by taxi, since the bars sit close together along the water.
2. The historic centre
The centre has many old-world cafés, the kind of place for a seated drink in a period room rather than a quick round. It suits a quieter, earlier part of the evening, or a stop between sights.
This is also where you find the classic Torinese drink, the Bicerin, a mix of coffee, hot chocolate and cream; Caffe al Bicerin, in Piazza della Consolata, is named as its home, though it is described as pricey with long queues.
3. Piazza Vittorio Veneto
One of the late-night spots, this large square on the river side of the centre keeps going after the cafés have closed. It suits groups who want several options within a short walk.
Lab Vittorio, on the square, is a small lively bar with cocktails and tapas; the same operator has another bar at Via Mazzini 5.
4. Murazzi
The Murazzi, the arcaded riverfront below the centre, is named among the late-night spots. It suits a younger crowd and a later start.
Treat it as part of a river-focused evening, since it sits within the same stretch as the other late-night clusters.
5. Lungo Dora Firenze at the corner of Via Reggio
This address is listed among the late-night spots, away from the busiest squares. It suits a more local, less promenade-style night.
It is a specific corner rather than a whole district, so it works best as one stop rather than a base for the evening.
6. Largo Saluzzo in San Salvario
San Salvario's Largo Saluzzo is another of the late-night concentrations, in a neighbourhood south of the centre. It suits a long evening with food and drink close together.
It is one of several named clusters, so you can combine it with the centre if you are willing to move between areas.
7. Piazza Santa Giulia
Piazza Santa Giulia is also named among the late-night spots. It suits a low-key finish rather than a big night out.
Like the other clusters, it is best reached on foot from the surrounding streets.
8. Brewpubs and late cafés
Beyond the districts, Turin has venues that blur the line between café, pub and restaurant. Birrificio Torino, on Via Parma, is a brewpub restaurant with beers brewed on site and a menu matched to them, though it is described as more restaurant than pub and can be very busy.
Caffe Rossini, on Corso Regina Margherita, calls itself a restaurant but is really a café and late-night pub with music and a young crowd. Both suit a seated, food-led evening rather than standing at a bar.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not set out a fixed timetable, but the pattern they describe is an early evening in the historic centre cafés, a move to the riverbank bars near Ponte Vittorio Emanuele, and then the late-night clusters around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the Murazzi, Lungo Dora Firenze, Largo Saluzzo and Piazza Santa Giulia. Venue hours in the sources run as late as 01:00 on weeknights and 03:00 or 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays at some bars, so a full evening can extend well past midnight.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Torino Jazz Festival — late April.
- Turin Book Fair — May.
- Kappa FuturFestival — a techno music festival in Parco Dora, July.
- Terra Madre Salone del Gusto — local produce and Slow Food, held in even-numbered years over a week in September, in Parco Dora.
- Torino Film Festival — over a week in November.
- Cioccola — the first week of December, all about chocolate.
- Torino Marathon — first week in November.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the main concentration of bars?
Along the river near Ponte Vittorio Emanuele, according to the sources.
Where do people go for a late night?
The late-night spots are around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the Murazzi, Lungo Dora Firenze at the corner of Via Reggio, Largo Saluzzo in San Salvario and Piazza Santa Giulia.
What is the classic Torinese drink?
The Bicerin, a mix of coffee, hot chocolate and cream, associated with Caffe al Bicerin in Piazza della Consolata.
When is the opera season?
Teatro Regio, the city opera house, is active from October to June.
Decide whether you want a seated aperitivo in the centre or a late night by the river, and plan your route between the two before the evening starts.