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Nightlife in Vienna may not be as legendary as in London or Madrid, but it is unexpectedly exciting. As much as it is the capital of classical music, the Austrian capital is a mecca for night owls and ravers who love to rock the dancefloor into the morning.
At the forefront of the house and techno music scene in the 80s and 90s, on a par with iconic dance music cities such as Detroit and New York, Vienna still boasts first-class clubs with top Austrian and international DJ sets.
The Viennese nightclub scene is not very broad, although top DJs of very different musical varieties play in the city. The clubs are often intimate, while huge discos are rare. Vienna in particular has a prominent history in electronic music, which exploded in the mid-1990s with the downbeat and its lounge atmosphere. Today, trendy clubbers mainly dance to techno music, electronic sounds and breakbeats, preferably in unusual locations.
Viennese clubs and discos are therefore generally small: for mega-discos, it is better to look elsewhere, but a few exceptions can be found, such as the staggering Praterdrome.
If clubs and discos aren’t for you, you can listen to live music, not necessarily classical, or spend a pleasant evening with drinks and conversation in the lively Nachsmarkt or MuseumsQuartier.
Vienna’s old town is not the best area for late-night partying: the trendiest bars and clubs, which are open late, are almost all located outside District 1. But where to go then? Here are the best areas to find bars and clubs in Vienna.
Under the Jugendstil-style arches of the former city railway in the Gürtel, the area of Vienna just outside the city centre that includes districts 2 to 9, hide some of Vienna’s coolest nightclubs.
It is a secret known to all young Viennese: this is the best area for nightlife in Vienna, where the noise does not disturb the residents, who are already accustomed to traffic noise, and young people can enjoy themselves until late. The urban setting adds atmosphere to an electrifying night, to be experienced to the beat of the music you like best: electronic, house, indie, punk, britpop, groove…
The first club to open in the area when it was still considered only a red light district was the historic Chelsea1, still a reference point for live music in Vienna, from alternative to pop. As the name and decoration of the venue suggest, the owner is a former footballer and in fact there is no shortage of English beers and big screens for football matches.
A stone’s throw away is B722, one of Gürtel’s top venues, housedunder the historic arches of the former city railway. Ithas two levels, so you can choose whether to watch the live concerts in the middle of the crowd or go up to the balcony and enjoy the view from above.
Finally, we recommend KJU Club3 the Gürtel’s ‘in’ place: sophisticated ambience, dress code, impeccable bartenders. Perfect for those who like a sophisticated place to drink excellent cocktails, it is Vienna’s most popular after-work club.
But in addition to these now classic haunts, new music venues continue to open under the arches of the elevated underground.
At the end of August, the Gürtel celebrates itself in a big open-air party organised by the local clubs, the Gürtel Night Walk. It is a joyous music party that lasts well into the morning and has become a regular event for thousands of visitors.
The Bermuda Dreieck4 (Bermuda Triangle) is the area with the highest concentration of clubs in the historic centre of Vienna, located in the first district near the Danube Canal. This area, which used to be home to factories and textile trade, has been transformed since the 1980s into one of the hubs of Viennese nightlife.
The main streets are Seitenstettengasse, Sterngasse and Rabensteig, a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with bars, Irish pubs, breweries and cocktail bars. Seitenstettengasse is home to clubs such as Kaktusbar, First Floor, Slammerbar and the Vienna Gnadenlos disco. Especially popular is the Vulcania Bar, which offers a spectacular atmosphere with eclectic décor, vintage console games and affordable prices.
Sterngasse is characterised by numerous Irish pubs and traditional beer gardens, perfect for those seeking a more relaxed and informal atmosphere. Many pubs offer happy hour from 7pm to 10pm with reduced prices on shots, long drinks and spritzers, making this area particularly popular with students and young professionals.
Many young Viennese meet up in the evening at the Naschmarkt, Vienna’s most famous market and one of the city’s liveliest areas, where you can find a huge choice of bars, cafés and restaurants, both traditional and modern. You could come here for dinner and then stop for a drink in the trendy Naschmarkt bars, just like the Viennese do.
The two venues that have made Naschmarkt popular with young people are Cafe Do-An5 and Deli Naschmarkt6: the latter, famous for its legendary DJ sets, is the ideal bar for those who want a lively evening with drinks and music, but don’t like the crowds at the discos.
Other popular evening hangouts for young people in the city are Karmelitermarkt, Freihausviertel and Yppenplatz square, next to the Brunnenmarkt market.
Have you always thought fun fairs were the stuff of children? Not Vienna’s Prater, which is also a fairground for adults looking for fun after the sun goes down.
There are plenty of dining options, but what makes the Prater one of the top nightlife areas in Vienna is the presence of the legendary Prater DOME7, Austria’s largest disco. Two floors, four dancefloors and twelve themed bars are the jaw-dropping numbers in this legendary club, which will also amaze you with a spectacular laser show and moving walls used for spectacular effects.
The music caters for all tastes: from the ever-present electronica, house, elektro, trance, to r’n’b and soul, Seventies/Nineties and Latin American music.
A very lively area in the evenings is, surprisingly, the MuseumsQuartier: one of the most culturally important areas of the Austrian capital is transformed at night into a meeting place for those who want an evening of good food, drinks and chat.
In this area you will findAux Gazelles8, a venue that is a restaurant, hammam and club. Casual-chic ambience and an original music programme with exotic and sophisticated names such as ‘electronicque soirées’ or ‘oriental global beats and ethnogrooves’.
The club Grelle Forelle9 on the Danube Canal is the first stop in Vienna for lovers of high-quality electronic music.
However, the best known nightclub in Vienna is Flex10, a cult club on the Danube Canal that hosts top DJs and is famous throughout Europe. Flex is a historic Viennese nightclub founded in the 1990s. Only five years after it opened, it moved to a former underground tunnel along the Danube Canal, where it still stands today. It is far from the centre but this does not discourage its loyal audience and numerous occasional visitors, so much so that the club has become a landmark for the Austrian dance scene.
Other interesting venues are ROXY11, with progressive music and a small dance floor, Club U12, popular with the alternative crowd with live avant-garde music, Goodmann13, a tiny club that becomes a haven for sunrise revellers, and O - the club14 and Babenberger Passage15, frequented by a trendy crowd.
The Club Schwarzenberg16 offers top-class entertainment and an amazing party atmosphere, inspired by that of Ibiza.
The aforementioned Praterdome, on the other hand, is simply the biggest disco in Austria, has two floors and comprises four dance floors and twelve theme bars.
An underground club in a somewhat hidden location is DonauTechno17, with no sign outside: here, seven days a week, you can listen to electronic music and especially techno.
In Vienna, the line between a bar and a dance club is often a thin one, and it happens that clubs change during the course of the day. The dance floors are small but often well frequented. Such bars include the Europa, the Tanzcafé Jenseits, the Café Leopold and the Wirr, where well-known DJs regularly perform.
For those who like jazz and quieter sounds, there is Club Porgy & Bess18, Vienna’s legendary jazz club, considered one of the 10 best jazz clubs in Europe. Capable of seating up to 350 people, it attracts an attentive and curious audience. In addition to the best jazz musicians on the Austrian and international scene, the musical offer includes innovative musical themes and unusual initiatives.
There are also numerous venues in Vienna that play live music, with bands from Eastern Europe stopping off here in particular.
The Eden Bar19 is a Viennese institution that has existed for more than 100 years and has welcomed a large number of illustrious guests, immortalised in the photos displayed in the windows. The interior design is reminiscent of the elegance of yesteryear and brings it to life, offering a journey back in time with champagne and live music.
In addition to high-quality champagne, delicious cocktails, fine spirits and small snacks are available. Prices are high-end and an elegant style is a must if you want to spend the evening in this historic bar. The Eden Bar represents the more classic and refined Vienna, perfect for a sophisticated aperitif or to end a special evening.
Das LOFT20 is located atop a building in Praterstraße 1 and offers a breathtaking view of the entire city. This rooftop bar combines luxury and relaxation with a modern look and a natural, classy atmosphere. The music is a mixture of new and old hits, creating a fun but relaxed atmosphere.
The venue attracts a mix of stylish locals and cosmopolitan tourists, all attracted by the spectacular view and sophisticated ambience. Das LOFT is perfect for a romantic aperitif or to spend time with friends in a quality setting. The generous hours allow you to enjoy the sunset and continue the evening while watching Vienna illuminated.
The Tanzcafé Jenseits21 (meaning ‘the other world’) is the perfect place for those who want to experience a special, alternative evening. Hardly anyone leaves the place before dawn thanks to its alternative charm and unique atmosphere that attracts a diverse and unconventional crowd.
DJs play commercial music with a mix of funk, soul, big hits and pop, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere. The club appeals to those looking for something different from the classic Viennese discos, offering a more informal and spontaneous experience.
From a sauna to one of Vienna’s coolest clubs, Pratersauna22 is a perfect example of a creative conversion. This sophisticated and trendy venue is continually topping the charts of the best clubs in the German-speaking area.
In summer you can enjoy the scenic setting of its garden with a swimming pool: on Wednesday evenings you can even go night swimming! On the indoor dance floor, which surrounds the cold pool of the former sauna, some of Austria’s most popular DJs play minimal techno and high-quality electronic music.
The elegant toilets, created by All Austrian Arts together with the façade and bar area, have become almost legendary. The Pratersauna is open on summer afternoons on Fridays and Saturdays as a regular pool (13:00-21:00), while the club opens Wednesday to Sunday from 21:00-6:00 from May to September, and Thursday to Saturday from 23:00-6:00 from October to April.
Prices are expensive, from admission to drinks, but the location, services and quality DJs justify the expense for a truly special night out.
Why Not23 is the oldest gay club in Vienna, existing since 1980, but not outdated or old-fashioned. The LGBTQ+ community gathers on three floors on Friday and Saturday nights to dance, party and have fun in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Depending on the event and party theme, different music is played: there are 90s, Latin, chart parties and more. At drag shows and themed parties, a wide variety of creative costumes and artistic performances can be admired.
The club does not consider itself an exclusively gay club but welcomes all people from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Admission is usually free before 23:00, so it is worth arriving early. The atmosphere is always festive and free of prejudice, making Why Not a landmark for the community.
The Gürtel Night Walk, held at the end of August, is one of the most anticipated events in Vienna’s nightlife. During this festival, all Gürtel venues organise simultaneous events with live music and DJ sets both outdoors and inside the clubs.
Thousands of young people invade the streets of the district, moving from club to club in a long night of partying that lasts until morning. The atmosphere is that of a big street party, with the possibility of discovering new clubs and new genres of music. Many clubs offer discounted or free admission during the event.
During the summer months, the Danube Canal is transformed into an open-air stage for free music festivals and events. The canal promenades host concerts, DJ sets and art performances that attract locals and tourists alike.
These events provide the perfect opportunity to experience Vienna’s nightlife in a more relaxed and informal way, while enjoying the warm weather and the festive atmosphere that characterises the city in summer.
Vienna’s clubs open relatively early, around 10pm to 11pm, and generally close around 4am to 6am, although some clubs stay open even longer on weekends. If you are still not tired of partying, there are some afterparty clubs that open around 8:00 am.
For clubs with live music such as Porgy & Bess, it is advisable to arrive at opening time (usually 7pm) to secure a place, as many do not take reservations. Happy hours in the city centre bars generally run from 19:00 to 22:00.
The price of admission to clubs varies greatly depending on the night or event, ranging from clubs with free admission to others that charge 20 euros or more. The more exclusive discos such as Babenberger Passage and Pratersauna have higher prices, while clubs such as Fluc maintain affordable admissions
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
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