If you’re sailing on MSC Poesia and wondering what the bars are like, the first thing to know is that the main bars and lounges are spread across several very different parts of the ship.
The two outdoor pool bars are on Deck 13 and are busiest during warm sea days. Most of the indoor bars are concentrated across Decks 5, 6 and 7, close to the atrium, theatre, shops and main dining rooms. Higher up on Deck 14, S32 Disco becomes the ship’s main late-night venue.
Some MSC Poesia bars are used for quizzes, activities and live music throughout the day. Others work better for a quieter drink, watching sport, meeting before dinner or sitting somewhere with views over the wake.
In this MSC Poesia bars guide, I’ll walk through the main bars and lounges onboard, explain where they are and look at what each venue is best for during your cruise.
Watch My Full MSC Poesia Ship Tour
You can also watch my full MSC Poesia ship tour below to see the bars, lounges, restaurants, pool areas, entertainment venues and public decks as they looked when I sailed.
The tour takes you through the ship deck by deck and gives you a better idea of how the different bars fit into the overall layout.
MSC Poesia Bars Guide: How Many Bars Are on MSC Poesia?
I would count 12 bars and lounges on MSC Poesia. These are:
Pirania Bar, Mojito Bar, the Villa Pompeiana Buffet Bar, S32 Disco, Hitchcock Lounge, Il Grappolo d’Oro, Pigalle Lounge, Zebra Bar, Bar dei Poeti, Giada Bar, Bar Smeraldo and Le Rendez-Vous Bar.
The bars are mainly spread across Decks 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14. Deck 13 is the main pool deck and is where you’ll find Pirania Bar and Mojito Bar, along with the drinks counter inside the Villa Pompeiana Buffet.
The buffet bar is more of a practical place to order a drink while eating rather than somewhere you’d visit for the atmosphere, but it still forms part of the overall drinks offer onboard.
Deck 14 is home to S32 Disco, which is a quiet aft lounge during parts of the day before becoming the main late-night venue.
Deck 7 has several very different evening options, including the Hitchcock Lounge cigar room, Il Grappolo d’Oro wine bar and the large Pigalle Lounge.
Deck 6 has the greatest concentration of bars, including the popular Zebra Bar, Bar dei Poeti, Giada Bar and Bar Smeraldo.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar is on Deck 5 beside the atrium and Guest Services.
There isn’t one single bar area like a Royal Promenade on a Royal Caribbean ship where every venue sits together. Instead, the bars form part of the ship’s wider public spaces, and the atmosphere changes depending on the time of day and the entertainment taking place.
Pirania Bar
Pirania Bar is on Deck 13 beside the Coral Bay pool area. This is one of the two main outdoor pool bars on MSC Poesia and is the most convenient option if you’re sitting around the forward part of the pool deck.
Coral Bay is one of the ship’s two main swimming pools and also has two hot tubs nearby. Pirania Bar serves this section of the deck, so it works best during the day when passengers are using the pool, sitting outside or watching the organised activities.
The atmosphere depends heavily on the weather. MSC Poesia doesn’t have an indoor pool, so the pool deck is at its liveliest when the conditions are warm and sunny. On a cooler or breezier sea day, this part of the ship can feel much quieter.
Pirania Bar is a practical poolside drinks stop rather than somewhere you would normally spend an entire evening. If you’re using the Coral Bay pool or sitting towards the forward section of Deck 13, it is the easiest bar to use.
Mojito Bar
Mojito Bar is also on Deck 13 and sits centrally between the two main pool areas. It’s position makes it one of the most prominent outdoor bars on MSC Poesia. It acts as a natural meeting point and is close to the main areas used for music, entertainment and organised pool-deck activities.
On a warm sea day, Mojito Bar can become one of the busiest bars onboard. It’s close to the Cayo Levantado pool area, which is the second main swimming pool and also has two hot tubs. There is a designated smoking section near this pool, which is worth knowing when choosing where to sit.
Mojito Bar is likely to suit you if you enjoy the busier pool-deck atmosphere and want to be close to the daytime entertainment. If you prefer somewhere calmer, the indoor bars or the quieter upper-deck areas may suit you better.
S32 Disco
S32 Disco is at the aft of Deck 14 and is MSC Poesia’s main late-night venue. During the evening, it is used for music and dancing and stays open later than many of the other lounges around the ship.
However, S32 feels very different during the day. When there isn’t an activity taking place, it can be a calm and quiet place to sit. There is plenty of seating and views towards the aft of the ship, making it worth visiting even if you don’t plan to use the nightclub later.
This is one of the best examples of how MSC Poesia’s public spaces change throughout the day. It may feel almost empty when you visit in the morning or afternoon, then become much livelier later at night.
Just outside S32 is a small outdoor viewing deck overlooking the wake. This is easy to miss, but it is a good place to step outside during sail-away or early evening. It also gives you an alternative to the busier pool deck if you want open sea views.
Villa Pompeiana Buffet Bar
There is also a drinks bar inside the Villa Pompeiana Buffet. This is mainly a convenient place to order drinks while eating in the buffet rather than somewhere you’d choose for an evening drink.
It serves the standard range of soft drinks, bottled drinks, beer, wine and other options available onboard. Depending on how busy the buffet is, it can sometimes be quicker to use one of the nearby pool bars instead.
Hitchcock Lounge
Hitchcock Lounge is on Deck 7 and is MSC Poesia’s cigar lounge and is a designated smoking venue and is primarily intended for cigars. The lounge is separated from the ship’s main bar areas, but passengers who are particularly sensitive to smoke may still prefer to be aware of its location when moving around Deck 7.
This is a more specialised venue than the other bars onboard. It won’t appeal to everyone, but it provides a dedicated indoor space for passengers who want to smoke a cigar during the cruise. If you don’t smoke, Il Grappolo d’Oro or Pigalle Lounge are likely to be more suitable options on the same deck.
Il Grappolo d’Oro
Il Grappolo d’Oro is the wine bar on MSC Poesia and is located on Deck 7. It has a more relaxed feel than some of the ship’s larger entertainment lounges, particularly during quieter parts of the day. This is one of the better venues to consider if you want a calmer drink without sitting in the centre of the atrium or around the pool deck.
Il Grappolo d’Oro also has large screens showing sport, including football. That makes it one of the most useful bars to know about if there is a match you want to watch during the cruise. When an important game is being shown, the atmosphere can become much busier than it is during the daytime.
Although it is described as the ship’s wine bar, you don’t necessarily need to be a wine drinker to use it. Its location and sports screens give it a broader role onboard.
Pigalle Lounge
Pigalle Lounge is at the aft of Deck 7 and is one of the largest and most important entertainment lounges on MSC Poesia. During the day, it can be a comfortable place to sit. It has full-height windows and views over the wake, which make it a good indoor option when you want sea views without sitting outside.
The atmosphere changes considerably in the evening. Pigalle Lounge is used for live music, themed parties and larger organised events. During my cruise, this included events such as the silent disco and White Party. This makes Pigalle one of the liveliest evening venues onboard.
Because it is a large lounge, you may also have a better chance of finding a seat here than in some of the smaller bars, although it can fill up when a major event is taking place.
If you want entertainment, music and a more social evening atmosphere, Pigalle Lounge is one of the main venues to check in the daily programme. If you want a quieter drink with views over the wake, visit earlier in the day before the evening entertainment begins.
Zebra Bar
Zebra Bar is on Deck 6 and was the most popular bar on MSC Poesia during my cruise and is a large, colourful venue used for activities throughout the day and entertainment in the evening. Depending on the programme, you may find quizzes, organised games, live music and other events taking place here.
Although Zebra Bar is often busy, its size and layout mean it can sometimes be easier to find somewhere to sit than you might expect. That makes it a useful venue when some of the smaller bars around Decks 5 and 6 are full.
Zebra Bar is one of the most flexible bars onboard. You might visit for a daytime quiz, sit there before dinner or return later for live music. It’s location close to the Teatro Carlo Felice also makes it practical before or after an evening show.
If you’re sailing on MSC Poesia for the first time, Zebra Bar is one of the venues you are likely to use regularly because so many activities take place there.
Bar dei Poeti
Bar dei Poeti is on Deck 6 in the central shopping area. The surrounding shops include the MSC Logo Shop, jewellery, perfume, a boutique and the Mini Mall. The MSC Excursions Desk is also nearby. Because of this central position, Bar dei Poeti is somewhere you are likely to pass regularly while moving through the ship.
It works well as a meeting point or somewhere to stop for a drink while exploring Deck 6. It doesn’t have the same dedicated entertainment role as Zebra Bar or Pigalle Lounge, but it’s location makes it a useful general bar and you’ll normally have live musicians here in the evening.
This is the kind of venue you may use before dinner, while waiting for someone or when you want a drink without going to one of the busier entertainment lounges.
Giada Bar
Giada Bar is one of two smaller bars on Deck 6 close to Il Palladio Restaurant. This makes it a convenient option for a pre-dinner drink, particularly if you have been allocated Il Palladio as your main dining room.
Because it is smaller than Zebra Bar or Pigalle Lounge, the atmosphere is more dependent on how many passengers are waiting for dinner or moving through this part of the ship.
It’s not necessarily somewhere you would choose for a whole evening, but its position makes it a practical meeting place. If you are dining in Il Palladio, Giada Bar is worth finding early in the cruise so you know where to meet before your allocated dining time.
Bar Smeraldo
Bar Smeraldo is also on Deck 6 near Il Palladio Restaurant. Like Giada Bar, it is a smaller bar that works well before dinner or as a meeting point in this part of the ship. The two venues sit close to the entrance of the dining room, so they naturally become busier around the main evening dining times.
Bar Smeraldo is useful if you want a drink without walking back towards Zebra Bar, Bar dei Poeti or the atrium and is one of the more practical bars onboard rather than a major entertainment destination.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar
Le Rendez-Vous Bar is on Deck 5 beside the main atrium. This is one of the most central meeting points on MSC Poesia because it is close to Guest Services, Reception and Le Fontane Restaurant.
The atrium opens upwards through Decks 6 and 7 and is used for live music and smaller events during the cruise. That means Le Rendez-Vous can feel relaxed at some times and much livelier when music or entertainment is taking place nearby. It’s position also makes it a good option before dinner if you are eating in Le Fontane Restaurant.
You will probably pass through this area several times each day, particularly if you need Guest Services or are moving between the forward and aft parts of Deck 5. If you want an easy meeting place that everyone can find, Le Rendez-Vous Bar is one of the most practical choices onboard.
What Is the Best MSC Poesia Bar for Live Music?
Zebra Bar and Pigalle Lounge are the main venues to check for live music.
Zebra Bar is used throughout the day and evening for quizzes, activities and entertainment, while Pigalle Lounge becomes one of the ship’s main evening venues.
The exact programme changes each day, so it is worth checking the MSC for Me app or requesting a printed daily programme onboard.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar may also have live music or smaller entertainment in the atrium area.
What Is the Best MSC Poesia Bar for Watching Sport?
Il Grappolo d’Oro is the main bar to check if you want to watch sport. The wine bar has large screens and shows events including football. It can be quiet during the day when nothing major is taking place, but the atmosphere is likely to become much busier when a popular match is being shown.
What Is the Best MSC Poesia Bar for a Quiet Drink?
The best option depends on the time of day. S32 Disco can be surprisingly quiet during the day before it becomes the late-night venue. Pigalle Lounge can also be calm earlier in the day and has views over the wake. Il Grappolo d’Oro may suit you if no major sporting event is being shown.
The smaller bars near Il Palladio Restaurant can also be quieter outside the main dining times. MSC Poesia’s bars often change atmosphere depending on the programme, so a venue that feels quiet in the afternoon may be busy later in the evening.
What Is the Liveliest Bar on MSC Poesia?
Zebra Bar was the most consistently popular indoor bar during my cruise. It’s used for activities, quizzes, live music and entertainment, so there is usually something happening there.
Pigalle Lounge is one of the liveliest venues during larger evening events such as parties and the silent disco.
S32 Disco becomes the main late-night venue after many of the other bars and lounges begin to quieten down.
During warm sea days, Mojito Bar is likely to be one of the liveliest outdoor bars because it sits centrally on the main pool deck.
Which MSC Poesia Bars Are Best Before Dinner?
The most convenient pre-dinner bar depends on which main dining room you are using. Giada Bar and Bar Smeraldo are close to Il Palladio Restaurant on Deck 6.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar is close to Le Fontane Restaurant on Deck 5. Bar dei Poeti is also a useful central option on Deck 6 if you want to meet before heading to dinner.
The bars near the restaurants can become busier shortly before the main dining times, so you may need to arrive slightly earlier if you want a seat.
Are There Smoking Bars on MSC Poesia?
Hitchcock Lounge is the designated indoor cigar and smoking lounge on Deck 7. There is also a designated outdoor smoking area near the Cayo Levantado pool on Deck 13.
Passengers who want to avoid smoke may prefer to choose seating away from these areas.
Final Thoughts
MSC Poesia has a good mix of outdoor pool bars, central meeting places, entertainment lounges and quieter daytime spaces. Pirania Bar and Mojito Bar are the main choices around the pool deck.
Zebra Bar is one of the busiest and most useful indoor venues because it hosts so many activities. Pigalle Lounge is the main place for larger evening entertainment, while S32 Disco takes over later at night. Il Grappolo d’Oro is worth knowing about for sport, and the smaller bars close to the dining rooms are useful before dinner.
The most important thing is to check the daily programme. Many MSC Poesia bars feel completely different depending on the time of day and what entertainment is taking place.
Related MSC Poesia Guides
For a complete overview of the ship, my What’s Onboard MSC Poesia guide covers the pools, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, cabins, family facilities and outdoor spaces.
My MSC Poesia refit guide explains the major changes introduced during the 2026 refurbishment, including the new MSC Yacht Club, Butcher’s Cut, redesigned spa, upgraded gym and Top 15 Exclusive Solarium.
My MSC Poesia Dining Guide explains the main dining rooms, buffet, included food and extra-charge dining options available on the ship.
You can also read my MSC Poesia pools guide for a closer look at the main pool deck, swimming pools, hot tubs, quieter sunbathing areas and the outdoor spaces available around the ship.
My MSC Poesia embarkation day guide explains what happens when you first board, how to activate the payment card connected to your cruise account and the main things you need to do on embarkation day.
For my overall opinion of the ship, my MSC Poesia honest review covers what I liked, what could be improved and whether I think MSC Poesia is worth booking.
MSC Poesia Bars: Frequently Asked Questions
How many bars are on MSC Poesia?
I would count 11 main bars and lounges on MSC Poesia: Pirania Bar, Mojito Bar, S32 Disco, Hitchcock Lounge, Il Grappolo d’Oro, Pigalle Lounge, Zebra Bar, Bar dei Poeti, Giada Bar, Bar Smeraldo and Le Rendez-Vous Bar.
What is the best bar on MSC Poesia?
The best bar depends on what you want. Zebra Bar is one of the best choices for quizzes, activities and live music. Pigalle Lounge is best for larger evening events, while Il Grappolo d’Oro is useful for watching sport.
What is the liveliest bar on MSC Poesia?
Zebra Bar is one of the liveliest indoor bars throughout the day and evening. Pigalle Lounge becomes particularly lively during parties and organised events, while S32 Disco is the main late-night venue.
Where are the pool bars on MSC Poesia?
Pirania Bar and Mojito Bar are both on Deck 13 around the main pool areas.
Does MSC Poesia have a wine bar?
Yes, Il Grappolo d’Oro is the wine bar on Deck 7. It also has large screens showing sport, including football.
Where can you watch football on MSC Poesia?
Il Grappolo d’Oro on Deck 7 is the main bar to check for televised sport and football.
Does MSC Poesia have a nightclub?
Yes, S32 Disco is at the aft of Deck 14 and becomes the main late-night music and dancing venue.
Does MSC Poesia have a cigar lounge?
Yes, Hitchcock Lounge on Deck 7 is the ship’s designated cigar and smoking lounge.
Which MSC Poesia bar is best before dinner?
Giada Bar and Bar Smeraldo are close to Il Palladio Restaurant on Deck 6. Le Rendez-Vous Bar is close to Le Fontane Restaurant on Deck 5.
Which MSC Poesia bar is best for live music?
Zebra Bar and Pigalle Lounge are the main venues to check for live music and evening entertainment.
Are drinks included on MSC Poesia?
Drinks included in your cruise fare depend on your booking and any drinks package you have purchased. Many alcoholic drinks, speciality coffees and other beverages cost extra without an included package.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard. I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you. I haven’t personally tested the Saily cruise eSIM yet, so check the current coverage, data allowance and compatibility with your phone before purchasing.