MSC Poesia takes a more traditional approach to bars and lounges than MSC’s newest ships. Instead of relying on a handful of large themed venues, the ship spreads its drinking spots across several decks, with smaller pre-dinner bars, dedicated wine and coffee venues, large lounges for music and dancing, and outdoor bars around the pool deck.
That variety makes it fairly easy to find a place that matches what you are looking for. You can grab coffee near Guest Services in the morning, stop for wine before dinner, spend the evening listening to music in one of the large lounges, or settle in at the pool with a drink during a sea day.
Most of the indoor bars are concentrated on Decks 5 through 7, while the outdoor bars are on Deck 13. MSC Yacht Club guests also have access to their own private lounge and outdoor bar.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar
Le Rendez-Vous is located on Deck 5 near Reception and Guest Services.
It seats approximately 106 guests and serves as both a bar and coffee bar, making it one of the more useful daytime gathering spots on MSC Poesia.
This is the type of venue that works well for meeting up with the rest of your group, grabbing a coffee during the day or having a casual drink without necessarily looking for nightlife.
Because of its central location, Le Rendez-Vous is also an easy place to stop while moving between your cabin, Guest Services and the lower public decks.
If specialty coffee is important to you, check our MSC Cruises Coffee Guide for more information about what is available onboard and what may be covered by a drink package.
Bar dei Poeti
Bar dei Poeti is located on Deck 6 and seats approximately 137 guests.
It is a mixology bar with music and a dance floor, giving it more of an entertainment feel than some of the smaller pre-dinner bars nearby.
This makes Bar dei Poeti a good option if you want something livelier than simply sitting down for a cocktail before dinner.
Entertainment schedules can vary by sailing, so check the Daily Program or MSC for Me app once onboard to see what is happening during your cruise.
Bar Smeraldo
Bar Smeraldo is a smaller pre-dinner bar on Deck 6.
With seating for approximately 43 guests, it is considerably more intimate than venues such as The Zebra Bar or Pigalle Lounge.
This is the kind of place to consider when you want a drink before dinner without necessarily looking for live entertainment or a larger nightlife atmosphere.
Its smaller size also makes it a good option for passengers who prefer a more relaxed bar experience.
Giada Bar
Giada Bar is another pre-dinner venue on Deck 6.
It seats approximately 41 guests, making it similar in size and purpose to Bar Smeraldo.
Poesia’s collection of smaller bars is part of what gives the ship a more traditional cruise layout. Rather than funneling everyone into one enormous central bar, there are several places where you can stop for a drink as you move through the ship.
If one pre-dinner bar feels busy, you have other nearby options.
The Zebra Bar
The Zebra Bar is one of MSC Poesia’s primary indoor nightlife venues.
Located on Deck 6, it seats approximately 325 guests and features music and a dance floor.
That makes it much larger than most of Poesia’s other bars.
If you are looking for drinks along with music, dancing and a more energetic evening atmosphere, The Zebra Bar should be one of the first places to check.
It also provides a good contrast to the smaller pre-dinner bars on the same deck. You can start the evening somewhere quieter and move to The Zebra Bar later once the entertainment picks up.
Exact music and entertainment schedules vary by cruise.
Il Grappolo d’Oro Wine Bar
Il Grappolo d’Oro is MSC Poesia’s dedicated wine bar.
Located on Deck 7, it seats approximately 120 guests.
This is one of the easiest bars on Poesia to understand because it has a clearly defined purpose.
If wine is your drink of choice, Il Grappolo d’Oro is likely to be one of the venues you visit most often. It should also work well as a quieter alternative to the larger entertainment lounges.
Whether a particular glass of wine is included in your drink package depends on the package you purchased and the price of the individual drink.
Check our MSC Drink Package Guide for the latest package rules and inclusions.
Casino Royal Bar
Casino Royal Bar is located on Deck 7 alongside Casino Royal.
Its primary purpose is convenience for passengers spending time in the casino.
This probably is not a bar most passengers will specifically seek out as a destination, but it is useful when you are playing or watching others in the casino and want a drink without leaving the area.
We cover Casino Royal itself in our dedicated MSC Poesia Casino Guide.
Pigalle Lounge
Pigalle Lounge is one of the largest lounges on MSC Poesia.
Located on Deck 7, it seats approximately 348 guests and is designed for shows, music and dancing.
If you are looking for live entertainment rather than simply somewhere to order a drink, Pigalle should be one of the most important venues to watch during your cruise.
The lounge’s size gives MSC flexibility to use it for different types of entertainment.
That also differentiates Pigalle from The Zebra Bar.
The Zebra Bar is more of a traditional large cruise bar and dance venue, while Pigalle is set up for shows in addition to music and dancing.
Check the Daily Program for the current entertainment schedule because performers and programming can vary between sailings.
Mojito Bar
Mojito Bar is one of MSC Poesia’s main outdoor bars.
Located on Deck 13 around the pool areas, it has approximately 249 seats.
This should be one of the busiest daytime bars during warm-weather cruises and sea days.
Despite the name, Mojito Bar functions as a full pool bar rather than serving only mojitos.
Its size also makes it more of a destination than some small cruise ship pool bars. If you plan to spend much of the day around the pool, Mojito Bar will likely become one of your most frequently used drinking spots.
Piraña Bar
Piraña Bar is another outdoor option on Deck 13.
It seats approximately 108 guests and combines a bar with an ice cream bar.
That makes it a useful alternative to Mojito Bar, particularly if you are in a different part of the pool area or traveling with family members looking for ice cream.
Availability and pricing for ice cream and other items can vary, so check onboard for the current offerings.
Best Bar for Music and Dancing
The Zebra Bar is probably the most obvious choice for music and dancing.
It is one of the largest bars on the ship and includes a dedicated dance floor.
Pigalle Lounge should also be high on your list, particularly when live entertainment or a show is scheduled there.
Rather than declaring one universally better, we would check both during the first couple of nights and see which atmosphere fits your cruise.
Best Bar for Wine
Il Grappolo d’Oro is the clear choice if wine is what you are after.
It is a dedicated wine bar rather than simply another lounge that happens to serve wine.
That makes it one of the more specialized drinking venues on MSC Poesia.
Best Bar for Coffee
Le Rendez-Vous is the most obvious coffee stop.
Its location near Reception also makes it convenient during the day when many of Poesia’s entertainment-focused bars are quieter.
If you regularly buy specialty coffee, it is worth checking whether your MSC drink package includes the drinks you typically order.
Best Pool Bar
Mojito Bar will likely be the main pool bar for most passengers.
It is significantly larger than Piraña Bar and is located directly around the outdoor pool area.
Piraña offers a useful alternative, particularly because it also serves as an ice cream bar.
Having multiple outdoor bars also gives passengers options during busy sea days.
MSC Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge
MSC Yacht Club guests have access to their own private Top Sail Lounge.
The lounge is located on Deck 13 at the forward end of the Yacht Club area and provides a panoramic indoor space reserved for Yacht Club passengers.
This gives Yacht Club guests somewhere quieter to relax with a drink without having to use the public bars elsewhere on the ship.
The Top Sail Lounge is a major part of the Yacht Club experience and will be covered in more detail in our MSC Poesia Yacht Club Guide.
MSC Yacht Club Bar & Grill
MSC Yacht Club also has its own Bar & Grill on Deck 16.
This provides an outdoor option directly within the private Yacht Club sundeck area.
Because the venue combines drinks with casual dining, it overlaps with both the Poesia dining and bar experiences.
The Yacht Club Bar & Grill is reserved for Yacht Club guests.
Do MSC Drink Packages Work at Poesia Bars?
MSC drink packages can be used at many bars around the ship, subject to the rules and price limits of the package you purchased.
Which alcoholic drinks, wines, cocktails, specialty coffees and other beverages are covered depends on your specific package.
Because MSC periodically changes its drink package pricing and inclusions, check our MSC Cruises Drink Package Guide for the latest information rather than relying on an older menu or package list.
This is particularly important at venues such as Il Grappolo d’Oro, where the price of an individual wine may determine whether it falls within your package.
Our Take on MSC Poesia’s Bars and Lounges
MSC Poesia doesn’t rely on massive themed bars or flashy venues to create variety.
Instead, the ship has a more classic cruise layout with different bars serving different parts of the day.
Le Rendez-Vous works well for coffee and casual daytime drinks. Bar Smeraldo, Giada Bar and Bar dei Poeti give you multiple places for a drink before dinner. Il Grappolo d’Oro provides a dedicated venue for wine.
Later in the evening, The Zebra Bar and Pigalle Lounge become the more obvious places to look for music, dancing and entertainment.
During the day, Mojito Bar and Piraña Bar take over as the primary outdoor drinking spots around the pool deck.
That gives MSC Poesia plenty of variety without making the bar lineup difficult to understand. Once you know what each venue is designed for, it becomes pretty easy to find the right place for the atmosphere you want.