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Introduction
Don’t go thinking that Frankfurt’s financial reputation means the city’s nightlife is all hotel bars and expensive bottles of booze. In fact, the city is positively buzzing with places to go out, grab a drink and party the night away. Whether visitors wish to kick back in a speakeasy-type joint or catch a live show, Frankfurt has got it covered.
Many bars in Frankfurt offer live music, particularly jazz. The best venues are around Kleine Bockenheimer Strasse, otherwise known as Jazzgasse (Jazz Alley). Most cultural performance venues are closed during July and August. There are a number of ticket outlets in the city, the main one being Frankfurt Ticket, Hanauer Landstrasse 417 (tel: (069) 134 0400; www.frankfurt-ticket.de).
Prinz (www.prinz.de) is the magazine (in German) to pick up for the latest bars, club and nightlife information. Free magazines Strandgut (www.strandgut.de) and Kultur News (www.kulturnews.de) also have information on culture and nightlife in Frankfurt in German and are available at the tourist information centre. Excellent sources of information and listings are also available from the online service for Frankfurter Neue Presse (www.fnp.de) and Journal Frankfurt (www.rhein-main.net) as well as Toytown Germany, an English-language website for expats (www.toytowngermany.com/frankfurt).Bars
Die Rote Curious visitors will need to sweet talk their way into this speakeasy, hidden in plain sight inside a classic building on the banks of the Main. Once granted entry, drinkers be served by nattily-dressed staff, all of whom can mix a mean cocktail. Whether its a Manhattan or and an Old Fashioned, cocktail lovers can get a decent drop here. With plenty of dark corners and cosy chairs, Die Rote has a similar vibe to some of East Berlin’s best boozy haunts.Mainkai 7 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 293 533. Web: http://www.rotebar.com/ Harvey’s This ever-changing bar, redecorated in a different, swanky style numerous times a year, is one of the best places in Frankfurt to grab a cocktail. Whether it’s decked out in brocade or painted gold, the rock solid drinks menu stays the same, so customers can tease down a life-changing Cosmopolitan in rarefied surroundings. A little on the pricey side, drinkers should up their credit limit and double check their bank balance before entering.Bornheimer Landstraße 64 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 4800 4878. Web: http://www.harveys-ffm.de Roomers Bar Found inside the luxury Roomers Hotel, this is the kind of drinking den that every hotel should aspire to. Think leather-lined booths, studded walls and a cocktail menu that may stretch budgets but will leave its customers feeling very merry indeed. The long bar and dimmed lighting give the place a mysterious, New York feel, while the patio is perfect for a summer aperitif.Gutleutstraße 85 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 271 3420. Web: http://www.roomers.eu/bar Clubs Silbergold The closest Frankfurt has to a super club, Silbergold is the place to be for those that like their music loud and their crowds big. Expect to queue to get in, but once past the door staff, clubbers groove all night. DJs play a variety of dance classics with different guests on the decks each weekend.Heiligkreuzgasse 22 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 2032 5558. Web: http://www.silbergold-club.de/ Club 101 For clubbers that prefer to party with a view, Club 101 is the spot to hit. It sits on the 25th floor of the Japan Centre, in Frankfurt’s business district, serving up classic house tunes. The bar is well stocked but the dance floor is a touch small, so many grab a drink and admire the vista whilst waiting for some space to open up.Taunustor 2-4 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 9746 0555. Web: http://www.club101.de/ APT-Apartment Situated on Frankfurt’s legendary Hanauer Landstrasse, a street laden with clubs and bars, APT-Apartment is one the city’s hottest night spots. The playlists focuses on funk, house and acid jazz, with big name DJs passing through regularly. There’s also a bar lounge area for chilling out when the music gets a bit too much. One for the younger crowd, the club opens until 5am at weekends.Hanauer Landstraße 190 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 1755 44130. Web: http://www.apt-apartment.de/ Live Music Elfer Music Club Live music is the main focus at Elfer Music Club. This is a proper rock venue that caters for fans of metal and indie in particular, but also branches out with the odd dubstep night now and then. It’s a good alternative to the dance and techno joints on Hanauer Landstrasse, with plenty of local bands given some stage time.Klappergasse 5 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 4786 9559. Web: http://www.11-er.de/ Jazzkeller Leading German and international acts regularly feature at this prominent Frankfurt jazz venue, located in a cool basement in the heart of the city centre. Opened in 1952, Jazzkeller has hosted such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker. It is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but can sometimes open on these days for special concerts. It is relatively small, but boasts a lot of atmosphere.Kleine Bockenheimerstrasse 18A Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 288 537. Web: http://www.jazzkeller.com Batschkapp Without question, the best place to catch bands and live music in Frankfurt is Batschkapp. It may have recently moved to a new spot, but it has been a key presence in the city for 37 years and continues to attract some of Germany and Europe’s most critically acclaimed acts. The likes of Mogwai and Deer Tick have performed in the past and the venue hosts regular club nights if there aren’t any shows on. Gwinnerstrasse 5 Frankfurt Germany Tel: (069) 9521 8410. Web: http://www.batschkapp.tickets.de |
