Where to go out in the evening in Imperia (and nearby), summer 2026

Let's start with a lie I'd rather not tell you: if you're after big-city nightlife, queues outside clubs, a night that never ends, Imperia is the wrong place. From May to September there's life, especially down by the sea, but the pace is that of a small provincial town enjoying summer without rushing. I say it up front because I mean it: better to know what you'll find. And what you'll find, if you like the sea in the evening and a slower rhythm, has its own charm.

In the evening, in Oneglia, you go down to Calata Cuneo. It's the harbour, and it's the town's living room once the sun drops. I wrote about it in full when I told you about the harbour of Oneglia, but the short version is this: the bars line up under the arcades of the quay, in summer they're packed, and you're spoilt for choice. For a serious aperitivo there's the Surf, which makes proper drinks and that's no joke: I've written it before and I stand by it. Nearby is the Monkeys' Bar, another harbour-side aperitivo stop. And at the end of the quay, towards Piazza De Amicis, the Caffè del Porto, busy in the evening between a glass of wine and a slice of savoury green tart. For a few years now, by the way, Imperia has put on a Cocktail Week in September with many of these places taking part across town: a sign that here they take it seriously. Don't expect a show: expect to sit down with the sea in front of you and feel good about it.

One of the drinks at Surf, the cocktail bar on Oneglia's harbour in Calata Cuneo

If instead you want the old town, in the evening you cross the stream and climb up to Porto Maurizio. The Parasio after sunset is another thing entirely: the lanes spiralling upwards, the sea appearing at every turn, a few small spots to stop at. It's more intimate, more of a stroll than a drinking scene, but it's the most beautiful thing Porto has to offer, and that's an Oneglia man talking. Lower down is Borgo Marina, the old fishermen's quarter beneath the Parasio: in summer it's one of the liveliest areas, with bars on the quaysides. An honest note, though. For years the landmark of the nightlife here was the Greenwich, but it closed in early 2026, so if someone recommended it, know that it's gone. There's still Il Chioschetto, on the quays, doing a nice aperitivo right by the water. And on the Prino seafront, towards the west, there's the Tapas, happy hour on the beach in the afternoon and a bit livelier at night. For a properly made cocktail, again in the Borgo Marina area, there's the Agave, a cocktail bar that does its drinks well. And if what you really want is to dance with your feet in the sand, there's Koko Beach, on the beach of the Spianata di Borgo Pieri: in summer it puts on evenings by the water and a dance floor from Thursday to Saturday. Not a mega club, but for music and sea together it's the right spot. And at the far end of the Prino seafront, to the west, there's a kiosk I'm fond of: the Chiosco 100%, run by Fulvio and Fabrizio, the team that once kept the Rabina. Nothing pretentious, but it's one of those places where the welcome is what counts, perfect for an aperitivo by the water.

The window of Agave in Borgo Marina, Porto Maurizio: cocktails, wine and tapas

The entrance to Koko Beach, a beach club and disco on the sands of Imperia

Chiosco 100% at the far end of the Prino seafront: an unpretentious aperitivo by the water

That said, here's the real tip: for an evening out, don't fixate on Imperia. The coast around here is full of villages that are worth the twenty-minute drive at night, and often have more atmosphere than the main town.

My favourite is Cervo, the village of the coral fishermen, fifteen minutes to the east. The little baroque square in front of the Corallini church, in the evening, with the lit-up façade and the sea below, is one of those things that stops you in your tracks. In summer there's even a chamber-music festival, and you can catch a concert with the sea at your back. Below the village, by the small harbour, is Il Porteghetto, a beach club with a terrace looking onto the water: sunset aperitivo, a few oysters, a pinsa, nothing complicated, but the view does half the work. Open from April to September. The only nuisance, I'll tell you, is parking: in Cervo in summer it's a small war, so allow for a couple of loops before you find a spot.

The terrace of Il Porteghetto on the small harbour of Cervo, its tables facing the sea

The village of Cervo overlooking the sea, seen from the forecourt of the Corallini church

Going down towards Diano Marina and San Bartolomeo al Mare the register changes: the beach tourism there is more mass-market, and so the bars on the seafront are more numerous and more "holiday" in feel. Diano has its lounge bars in the seafront hotels, with terraces overlooking the gulf from Capo Berta to Capo Cervo, and plenty of spots for an after-dinner drink. In late June the Diano Gulf hosts Aromatica, the festival devoted to aromatic herbs and good food, with restaurants and bars competing with cocktails too: if you happen to be around those days, it's a good excuse to wander.

And then, if you fancy stepping it up a notch, there's Sanremo, a good half-hour to the west. There the evening really comes alive: the heart of it is Piazza Bresca, behind the old port, a square packed with bars one next to the other, tables outside, people out late. It's the right place if one evening you want a bit more buzz. Further along is Bordighera, quieter and more genteel, with its seafront promenade and palm trees: lovely for a slow evening, less so for anyone chasing a crowd.

Sanremo at dusk: the town's first lights coming on over the sea

One last thing, in fairness. If what you're after is real nightlife, the wild kind, summer clubs that go till dawn, you won't find it around here, and I'll say it plainly: you have to travel. To the east there's Alassio, which in summer is one of the Riviera's capitals of fun, historic discos included; to the west, across the border, there's the whole Côte d'Azur, from Monte Carlo down — and a little further on there's Nice, with its proper nightlife. You can get there in an hour or so, one way. But the next day, trust me, you'll be glad to wake up to the silence of our sea.

In the end my take is this. In the evening, from home, I go down to the quay in Oneglia for an aperitivo, and nine times out of ten the evening ends right there, almost with my feet in the water. When I want something different, I head to Cervo for the village or Sanremo for the buzz. It's not big-city nightlife, and that's just fine: here the evening tastes of the sea and of the right pace, and after a few days you wouldn't swap it for any club.