At the Taverna dell' 800, Via dell'Accademia 29 (tel. 081-8785970), owner Tony Herculano dispenses flavorful home-style macaroni (pink-tinged, it combines tomatoes with ham, cream, and bacon) and good cheer. From 9pm to midnight, the music of a guitar and a piano duet enlivens a cozy bar with flickering candles. There's no cover charge, and the food is cheap. The joint is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30am to 3pm and 6pm to 2:30am, and does lots of business throughout the day as a cafe and pub.
For a dose of Neapolitan-style folklore, head for the Circolo dei Forestieri, Via Luigi de Maio 35 (tel. 081-8773012), a bar/cafe whose views extend out over a flowering terrace and the wide blue bay. Music from the live pianist is interrupted only for episodes of folkloric dancing and cheerful music from a troupe of players. This bar is open March to November.
The town's central square, Piazza Tasso, is the site of two worthwhile nightclubs. The one that presents folkloric music is Fauno (tel. 081-8781021), where you can slug down a beer or two during the sporadic performances of tarantella, that traditional Italian music you've probably heard in numerous films, such as The Godfather. Brief but colorful, the live performances interrupt a program otherwise devoted to recorded dance (usually disco) music. At Matilda (tel. 081-8773236), dance music blares out to a youngish crowd from throughout Europe and North America. The cover is 10€ ($13/£6.70) and includes the first drink. It's open daily 10pm to 3am (depending on the crowd).
Sorrento is going pub crazy, with folks heading for Chaplin's Pub, Corso Italia 18 (tel. 081-8072551), which draws a lively, often boisterous crowd, some of whom keep drinking until the wee hours. Across the street, The English Inn, Corso Italia 56 (tel. 081-8074357), features recorded music and endless suds.
