Lugano reigns as the center of the Ticino's nightlife circuit, with options that attract local residents from quieter towns throughout the district. The most obvious options involve visits to either of the two casinos described in this guide.

Other Nightlife Offerings

Other than gambling, you'll find a dense roster of bars and cafes, many of them lining the edges of the historic center's most famous square, piazza Riforma. One of the most interesting is the Café Olimpia (tel. 091/922-74-88), an elegant stone building with hundreds of chairs set out in front and a focus on live music some evenings. A few steps away is the Café Tango (tel. 091/922-27-01; www.tango-ti.ch), more like a bar than a traditional cafe, where an Argentine motif (and recorded music) often attracts clients from everywhere in Europe.

If striptease artistes are your thing, consider Dancing Cécil, Via Guisan 3, in the nearby suburb of Lugarno-Paradiso (tel. 091/994-97-24). It's open daily from 10pm.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.