Afterline is the historic gay bar of Via Sammartini, a few steps from Milano Centrale. It was one of the first meeting places for Italy's gay community, has a long history and a guest list that has included well-known names from culture and entertainment, and it reopened under new management at the start of 2017 with the room completely refurbished. It has kept its original description of itself — a disco bar — and it is open to the public, with no membership card required.

The week runs in two sizes. Sunday to Thursday is the small room; Fridays, Saturdays and the big occasions — Christmas, New Year, Carnival, Halloween, Valentine's, Mister Afterline — are the big one. Thursday has a name of its own: SEXY Bar, served by an erotic waiter. Two DJs and a go-go boy work the busier nights, and the venue lists WiFi and a dark among what it offers.

Mister Afterline is the fixture the place is known for — a seasonal contest the bar runs itself, and by its own account an electrifying night where the contestants give their best. Enquiries are taken by WhatsApp message only; the venue asks plainly that you do not telephone, because it will not answer.