Must-see nightlife in Northern Germany

  • 500px Photo ID: 49612506 - This is the terrace of a club in Hamburg, called "Golden Pudel (Poodle) Club". Very unique and enjoyable!

    Golden Pudel Club

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    In a 19th-century bootleggers' jail, this tiny bar-club is run by members of the legendary ex-punk band Die Goldenen Zitronen and is an essential stop on…

  • Zur Ritze

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    The uniqueness of this Reeperbahn classic begins from the moment you pass through the long laneway and between the legs of the large 'receptionist'…

  • Strandperle

    Hamburg

    Hamburg's original beach bar is a must for primo beer, burgers and people-watching. All ages and classes gather, mingle and wriggle their toes in the sand…

  • Zum Silbersack

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    A real St Pauli icon, Zum Silbersack is one of our favourites in the area. It's the sort of place where you'll find students, junkies, executives,…

  • Zum Stadtkrug

    Northern Germany

    The dark beer brewery at this 1936-established pub consistently rates among the best in Germany. It’s full of antique brewing equipment, and it opens to…

  • Katze

    Hamburg

    Small and sleek, this 'kitty' (Katze = cat) gets the crowd purring for well-priced cocktails (the best caipirinhas in town) and great music (there's…

  • Im Alten Zolln

    Lübeck

    This classic pub inhabits a 16th-century customs post. There's an excellent beer selection. Patrons people-watch from terrace and pavement tables in…

  • Sa Bacca

    Northern Germany

    Fronting onto Marktplatz, Sa Bacca couldn't be a more central pit stop as you explore town. The vaulted brick cellar and extravagantly tiled bar are the…

  • Café du Port

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    One of our favourite little perches in St Pauli, this gorgeous cafe does buttery croissants, cakes and other pastries, with fine coffee to nurse as you…

  • Hafenklang

    Hamburg

    A collective of Hamburg industry insiders present established and emerging DJs and bands, as well as clubbing events and parties. Look for the spray…

  • Studentenkeller Rostock

    Rostock

    This cellar and garden joint has been rocking Rostock’s learned youth for years. Check the website for parties, DJ sets and other events. There's a well…

  • Clouds Bar

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    This elegant bar, above Clouds Restaurant at the eastern entrance to St Pauli, is popular with an upmarket crowd who come here for the highballs (of…

  • Komet Musik Bar

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    Vinyl and only vinyl spins at this treasure of a music bar. Nightly themes range from ska and rocksteady to '60s garage punk and hip hop. Order a Helga,…

  • Indra Club

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    The Beatles' small first venue is open again and has live acts some nights. The interior is vastly different from the 1960s and there is a fine beer…

  • Molotow

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    This legendary indie club still rocks on as hot 'n heavy as ever after moving to new digs when its old location was torn down.

  • Gasthausbrauerei und Brennerei Nolte

    Northern Germany

    They've been brewing here since 1906; the dark beer is especially good out in the garden. Unlike many beer-centric places, food is taken seriously at this…

  • a.mora

    Hamburg

    Perched on the jetty overlooking Aussenalster, this suave bar is as good for breakfast or a coffee as it is for a late-night cocktail. It attracts a…

  • Aurel

    Hamburg

    One of our favourite drinking holes in Altona, Aurel is warmly intimate by day, cool and classy by night – in the finest Hamburg tradition, it doesn't…

  • Bar Hamburg

    Hamburg

    A favourite haunt of A-list celebrities (Mick Jagger and Claudia Schiffer have both passed through its doors), Bar Hamburg has more than 70 different…

  • Pons

    Northern Germany

    If Pons looks this cracked, crooked and uneven when you walk in of an evening, just imagine how it will seem when you stagger out after a few drinks. This…

  • Frau Möller

    Hamburg

    It's 2am Saturday and you can't live without a pork steak? Head to this St Georg institution where outside tables wrap around the corner location and the…

  • Café Central

    Rostock

    In the heart of the KTV bar scene, Café Central has cult status among Rostock locals. Students, artists, hipsters and suited-up professionals all loll…

  • Frau Hedis Tanzkaffee

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    On a boat moored permanently at pier 10, this unusual nightclub is also the ultimate party boat. A full program of visiting DJs keeps things interesting,…

  • Kyti Voo

    Hamburg

    A mixed crowd mixes it up with an especially rewarding menu of craft beer and cocktails until very late. At sunnier (or less dark) times, grab a table on…

  • Docks

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    They keep it fairly simple and none-too-challenging at this long-standing Reeperbahn club – house in all its forms, reggae, downtempo and hip-hop dominate…

  • Café Knuth

    Hamburg

    Students, creative types and work colleagues come to chat in its split-level lounge areas. Or grab a picnic table outside and enjoy your drinks in the…

  • Golden Cut Club

    Hamburg

    One of Hamburg's top clubs, Golden Cut has a pretty strict door policy and lines can be long. The stage acts can be wild and some of the best DJs in town…

  • Prinzenbar

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    With its cheeky cherubs, stucco flourishes and sparkling chandeliers, this intimate club has luxe looks but is in fact a former cinema that now hosts…

  • Reh Bar

    Hamburg

    If you could somehow bottle the Altona spirit and turn it into a bar, Reh Bar would come close. Cosy and welcoming, as good for a morning coffee as for a…

  • Familien-Eck

    Hamburg

    It's just a hole in the wall, but this Altona classic is everything a good Hamburg neighbourhood joint should be: friendly, unassuming, yet always ready…

  • Cafe Geyer

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    You could come here for the breakfast, or the reasonable meals. But we love it in spring when the sun is shining and the view of the blossom trees from…

  • CafeBar

    Lübeck

    Cafe by day, bar by… you get it. During daylight hours savour coffee drinks while grazing fresh and tasty casual fare. But the real appeal here are the…

  • Bar M & V

    Hamburg

    The drinks menu is like a designer catalogue at this grand old St Georg bar, which has been beautifully restored. Settle into one of the wooden booths,…

  • Wunderbar

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    An extravagant gay bar with luminous red interiors, Wunderbar has been around since the 1990s and shows no signs of slowing down. Up-for-a-good-time DJs…

  • Kieler Brauerei

    Kiel

    This city-centre microbrewery produces a very fine unfiltered beer that's redolent with herbs and hops. The menu is casual and has German standards (yes,…

  • Lunacy

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    As the name would suggest, this is a bar with attitude – the music stays pretty intense with punk, ska, rock and metal, and even the table football is…

  • Moondoo

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    Amidst all the sex shows and sleaze, Reeperbahn does good, old-fashioned nightclubs rather well – Moondoo is a fun, casual place with terrific DJs …

  • Public Coffee Roasters

    Hamburg

    Lovers of fine coffee consider it worth crossing town to enjoy the quiet, casual atmosphere and the selection of excellent coffees straight from the…

  • Uebel und Gefährlich

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    DJ sets, live music and parties rock this soundproof WWII bunker. Doors open around 7pm weekdays but as late as midnight on Friday and Saturday.

  • Generation Bar

    Hamburg

    A popular gay bar right in the middle of the St Georg gay strip. The red light adds to the hazy mood – this is a smokers joint.