Jakarta100bars - Nightlife & Party Guide

Bandung nightlife is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up with it. This is the fifth time I update this article and I'm pretty sure that within a couple of years, most nightclubs on this list will have disappeared.

A good way to stay updated is to follow some Instagram accounts with the latest events. I suggest you Signatures Media (cultural and clubbing), Bandung Konser (live music and concerts), and What's New Bandung.

Because Bandung is a vibrant student city, its nightlife caters mainly to young people in their late teens and early 20s. There are dozens of affordable cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs that are specifically targeting them, especially in areas like Jalan Setiabudi or within trendy malls such as Cihampelas Walk, Paris Van Java, 23 Paskal, or Trans Studio Mall. Note that for a majority of these students, the nightlife is alcohol-free and consists mainly of hanging out with friends in coffee shops.

There is also another nightlife scene, focused on domestic tourists who flock from Jakarta on the weekends. They usually head for the hills surrounding Bandung (like Dago Atas) where the cool air and the nice views offer a pleasant break from their life in the Big Durian. There, you will find mostly lounges and restaurants, some of them offering live music. If this is what you are into, you can check Skyline or Boda Barn.

Nightclubs in Bandung are modern, but they are adapted to local taste. Almost all of them will follow a similar concept. At the beginning of the evening, you will have some live music, usually a mix of Indonesian and English famous songs (it is not rare that customers will ask to sing a song or two).

Later in the night, you will normally have a DJ who will play mainstream party hits (EDM, pop, RnB). As often in Indonesia, clubbers will typically remain static and stay with a group of friends around a table. Unfortunately, this means that it is less easy to meet people at night.

During the whole time, an MC (Master of Ceremony) will be yelling in the microphone to hype the crowd. It can be more or less annoying depending on who's in charge.

In the following review, I will give you a quick overview of Bandung's nightlife: The best bars and clubs, where to stay near them, and how to meet people.

Hotels Near Bandung Nightlife

Bandung is a sprawling city that I haven't completely figured out yet despite visiting it at least 10 times.

There are various areas where you can stay, but if you come for the nightlife, the most strategic is anywhere near Jalan Braga. It is a walkable street, near the train station and near some famous tourist sites.

On Jalan Braga itself or nearby, there are several bars and nightclubs such as F3X, Triangle Beer House, La Baraga or Pati Braga. 5 minutes away by taxi, you can go to Paskal Hyper Square, a complex with top nightclubs such as Tiger and Southbank Noir.

Here are some hotels that I recommend near Jalan Braga, from cheapest to most expensive:

Kimaya by Harris (35$/night)

Artotel (40$/night) - It has a bar called Conclave in its basement

Grand Dafam (40$/night) - Inside the mall Braga Citywalk

Crowne Plaza Bandung (80$/night)

Another central location to enjoy Bandung nightlife is near the City Hall. Janévalla Hotel would be my top choice there. It is reasonably priced (45$ per night) and it has a cool rooftop bar.

Bandung Nightlife Map

Below is a map of the most famous bars and nightclubs in Bandung. Please click on it for more details.

Dating in Bandung

Seeking.com
Discover the World's number 1 sugar dating website. Free to register and to look at all the girls' profiles.

There are great dating opportunities in Bandung as it is a student city with many single, educated women (and men).

The girls in Bandung are mostly Sundanese (unless they came from other provinces for their studies). I wrote an article about the stereotypes surrounding Sundanese girls that you can read here Is it better to date a Javanese or Sundanese?. To summarize it, they are considered beautiful because of their lighter skin, but they also have the reputation to be materialistic.

The best dating apps in Bandung are probably Bumble, Tinder, Badoo, OkCupid. They will work well, especially if you live in Indonesia and if you are young. Among older foreigners, I know that Seeking.com is popular as well even though it is more controversial.

Best Bars and Clubs in Bandung

Below are some of the current happening party spots in Bandung. I linked to the Instagram of the venue so you can check if it is still open or not. If you know of a new place, please don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end of this article.

Tiger Club

If you are looking for the best nightclub in Bandung, look no further than Tiger Club in the Paskal Hyper Square complex.

Opened in mid-2023 by HW Group (also the owner of Atlas Bali and H Club SCBD), it is without any doubt the most modern and luxurious club in the city.

Shaped like a square, its most impressive feature is its massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I don't know if it was done on purpose but it makes the whole place look like a boxing arena. Just below, there is a dance floor which is mostly occupied by standing tables. On three sides, it is surrounded by premium sofas, which are on a slightly elevated platform, and on the fourth one, by the podium of the DJ.

The concept of Tiger Club is more that of a bottle-club: It's better to come as a group and get a table. For that, you need to spend a minimum amount. Normally, buying a bottle of liquor among 3-4 people is sufficient.

You can still visit without booking a table but, in my opinion, the experience will be less satisfying in terms of comfort and service.

The nightclub is open every day from 11pm to 4am. There are different promos every night such as Daebak Party on Sunday, Millennial Party on Monday, Tiger U on Tuesday, and ladies night on Wednesday. There are also regular special events, with famous DJs such as P. Joana or Winky Wiryawan.

You can get all the latest infos about events and parties on their Instagram @tiger.paskal.

HW Group also owns Helen's Live Bar near Rumah Mode. This is a smaller and cheaper venue where you can listen to daily live bands.

Southbank Noir

This nightclub is also in Paskal Hyper Square, near Tiger. You could try both on the same night as they are walking distance from each other. However, their concept is quite similar and I think Tiger is bigger and more happening.

Opiuci

Trendy bar near Bandung Zoo, it looks nice but not so professionally managed. Young crowd, some fun events (like the karaoke nights). Music is usually RnB, EDM, oldies or pop. Ladies night on Wednesdays.

If you like this bar, you can check Wu Backroom, Waiting room and Upstairs. Walking distance from Opiuci, you can also find Lucy in the Sky Bandung. It is a more relaxed venue with an outdoor garden and a regular live band.

August 2023: The Opiuci group just opened another bar called Panic Paradise.

F3X Executive Club

Located on Jalan Braga, this is a club and KTV that targets an older crowd. Music is EDM/progressive house. Many girls seem to be prostitutes or lady companions.

Shelter

Cheap and popular bar/nightclub with a young crowd. Near ITB Bandung.

Triangle Beer House

Located on Jalan Braga, this is a small bar with DJs and reasonable prices: 50k for a large Bintang and 35k for a small one. Typical student hangout place. Music is better than average for Bandung.

North Mockingbird

Open in May 2023, this nightclub is not so modern or sophisticated compared to Tiger/Southbank. It is still quite empty, even on weekends, so I'm not sure it can survive for a long time.

For a foreigner, Seoul nightlife is easy to map. There are three main party areas where you can go out after dark:

- Itaewon (foreigner area)

- Gangnam (upscale area)

- Hongdae (student area)

Let's review each of them in details:

Seoul Nightlife Areas + Hotels

Itaewon

You can click on the map to enlarge it:

Recommended hotels near Itaewon nightlife:
- Hamilton Hotel (US$105 per night)
- Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel (US$110 per night) - Same complex as Made Club

Historically, the area near Itaewon metro station was the first in Seoul where foreigners (mostly U.S. military) would go to drink and party. It has remained popular until today, especially among tourists, English teachers, soldiers, businessmen, expats, and diplomats.

Once a gritty neighborhood, it has changed a lot over the past 10 years. While it isn't particularly pretty, it has become much trendier with dozens of upscale shops, hipster coffee shops, and cool bars.

It is considered the most foreigner-friendly area in Seoul. In particular, there are many Western-owned pubs, such as Sam Ryan's Sports Pub (Canadian-Australian). Coincidentally, due to the presence of Seoul's Central Mosque nearby, Itaewon also has a high number of migrant workers from Muslim countries (especially from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia).

Despite this, most people you'll encounter in Itaewon are Koreans (at least 80%). Among them, a few may be interested in chatting with foreigners to improve their English or to make new friends.

The busiest nights in Itaewon are from Thursdays to Saturdays. On weekdays, it is not as happening, but still, it is usually more crowded than anywhere else in the city.

If you can afford to spend some money, I'd recommend starting your night out in the fancy Korean BBQ restaurant Maple Tree House (if you are on a budget, don't worry as you also have much cheaper options, including some kebab joints).

After eating, you can crawl from bar to bar easily as they are all within walking distance to each other (if you are alone, you may want to join Seoul's official pub crawl). Another good thing about Itaewon is that clubs will rarely refuse foreigners (unfortunately, this can be quite common in Gangnam).

Overview of clubs and bars in Itaewon

Many of the popular venues (like Glam, Prost, or the Fountain) are located on the road Itaewon-ro 27-ga-gil, just behind Hamilton Hotel (Exit 1 of Itaewon Station). You may also want to check Soul Train and Sam Ryan's Sports Bar, which are low-key but fun places. Club Made attracts an almost 100% Korean crowd, including some really attractive people.

On the opposite side of the Hamilton hotel (exit 3 and 4 of Itaewon Station), there are other famous spots, such as Bulldog, great for salsa on Saturday, Casa Corona, a newly renovated rooftop which is quite trendy, La Bamba (another Latin bar), and Soap (young crowd).

In the past few years, many alternative clubs have opened in Itaewon. They attract a local and international crowd who enjoys techno, deep house, trance, dubstep, and any kind of non-commercial music. The current hotspots are Cakeshop, Pistil, Faust, and Volnost.

You can end the night out at one of the local Noraebang (there is a famous one close to Exit 4), the Korean-style karaoke rooms.

Gay nightlife

There are also many gay clubs and bars in Itaewon, especially on street 12 Usadan-ro 12-gil (also known as Homo Hill).

Prostitution scene

Finally, Itaewon is also infamous for its prostitution scene, especially in the so-called "hooker hill" (alley Usadan-ro 14-gil) where you may be surprised to find hostess bars, karaokes and naughty massage parlors.

Behind Itaewon, on the Namsan hill, the Grand Hyatt Seoul is popular with businessmen, mainly because of its bar called J.J. Mahoney. It is a fun venue with live music and an outside pool in the summer.

Hongdae

You can click on the map to enlarge it:

Recommended hotels near Hongdae nightlife:

- Nine Brick Hotel (US$100 per night)
- L7 Hongdae by LOTTE (US$150 per night)

Hongdae is the preferred Seoul nightlife area for students (Hongdae is the Korean abbreviation for Hongik University). While the crowd is younger than elsewhere, it is also popular with older people, especially hipsters and some foreigners. Beware though that in some venues, you will be denied entry if you look too old (even if you are in your 30s).

To party in Hongdae, you can go first to the busy exit 9 of Hongik University Station. From there, you can then walk to Eoulmadang-ro street up to Jandari-ro street. Many bars and clubs are located in that area, such as Mike's Cabin (most popular with foreigners), Aura (hip-hop), Made (EDM), FF (Live music), Thursday Party (crowded, part of a chain), Henz (trap music), and Vurt (techno).

A singular place in Hongdae is the Retrogame bar, co-founded by a Swedish, the perfect mix between videogames, alcohol, and fun!

Gangnam

You can click on the map to enlarge it:

Recommended hotels near Gangnam nightlife:
- Aiden by Best Western (US$100 per night)
- Hotel Cappuccino (US$102 per night)

Gangnam is the fancy area of Seoul.

During weekdays, fewer people are going out in Gangnam compared with Itaewon, but it is similarly popular on weekends.

New trendy bars open all the time in Gangnam. It is part of the "pali pali" culture (fast-fast, or "hurry up"), an essential concept in Korea: Customers are always looking for something new, meaning businesses often close, then re-open under a different name with a slightly improved concept.

Personally, I don't really enjoy partying in Gangnam as a foreigner for three main reasons:
- The first one is that many clubs may deny entry to non-Korean speakers. They may also refuse to let you in if you don't look rich enough or if you are too old (over 30).
- The second one is that the area is more spread out, so it is not as easy as in Itaewon or Hongdae to go from one place to the other by foot.
- The third one is that it can be really expensive to party there. Drinks may cost up to three times as much as in the cheaper venues in Seoul, and you may be requested to book a table in some clubs (with a minimum spend of around US$300). Visiting those places solo is pretty much useless anyway as nobody will talk to you: Groups of friends will stay between themselves and they won't be interested in socializing with outsiders.

If, despite this, you still want to party in Gangnam, then I advise you to check the upscale bars and speakeasies of the Apgujeong neighborhood. Two of them, Alice Cheongdam, and Le Chamber, are considered among the best in Asia.

Other Interesting Areas in Seoul:

If you stay in Seoul for more than a few days, you can also visit these three areas:

- Euljiiro (close to Euljiro 3 metro station), a nice neighborhood with many local restaurants and bars, including trendy speakeasies.

- Sajik-dong (Gyeongbokgung Exit 7) also has a few nice upscale bars, such as Cobbler (ask for a smoky cocktail!)

- Ikseon-dong is situated across the touristic neighborhood of Insa-dong. It has chic shops and restaurants. The perfect place for a walk in the afternoon or to grab something to eat in the evening.

Seoul Nightlife Tips:

Here are a few things to know before going out in Seoul:

Bring your ID
Your passport or ID will be asked before you enter a club, especially if you look under 19 (the legal age for drinking alcohol in Korea).

Dress Code
Of course, it varies depending on the club/bar you want to go to. As a general rule, though, Koreans pay a lot of attention to their own appearance (and that of others). In any upmarket venue, especially in Gangnam, you will need to dress to impress. For guys, this means that, at the least, you need to wear closed shoes, a shirt, and a pair of pants. For girls, high heels and a skirt are recommended.

Unfortunately, racism is a reality in Korea. If you are dark-skinned, you should try to dress even nicer if you want to avoid being denied entry at a nightclub.

Cost of Partying
Even though Korea is a developed country, I didn't find it so expensive to enjoy Seoul's nightlife.

Typically, you will need to pay between US$10 and US$20 to enter a club (up to US$30 for the best ones). This includes your first drink. Then, you can drink Soju for around US$4-5, a bottle of beer for around US$6-8, and a cocktail for US$9-12. A night out will normally cost you less than US$100.

However, if you want to get into the best clubs, the bill will rise sharply as you may be required to book a table. In that case, you'll probably end up spending around US$200 for your night.

Wondering where to party in Tokyo?

In this guide, I will tell you about the best nightlife areas, the happening bars and clubs, and plenty of useful tips to enjoy a night out in the city.

General Tips About Tokyo Nightlife

Dress Code:
Surprisingly, it's not that strict. Still, I recommend wearing at least a pair of jeans with a collared shirt. If you have tattoos, you will have to cover them in most nightclubs (except Zero).

ID:
You'll need to show a valid ID to enter most clubs. Photocopies are rarely accepted, but you can bring a driver's license.

In nightclubs, you need to be 20 to enter. Bars generally don't care, unless you really look like a teenager.

Dating

Tinder, Bumble have mostly English-speakers but few that will be interested in meeting with a tourist.

An alternative is the luxury dating site Seeking.com that matches wealthy guys with younger women.

Finally, if you are not in Tokyo yet, you can use Japan Cupid. Girls on this website tend to be a bit older (25-40) and they are generally looking for foreigners who want to marry. They won't mind if you are not physically in Japan when chatting. You can subscribe to the site a month before going to Tokyo and arrange all your dates even before arriving.

Best Time to Go to Nightclubs:
Friday and Saturday from 2 AM to 5 AM. There are often discounts if you arrive before 12 AM, or on weekdays.

Prices:
It is rather expensive to party in Tokyo, especially if you are a man since you won't get any discounts. Before midnight, you'll pay ¥1,000 on average for an entrance fee (USD 7). After midnight, it generally ranges from ¥2,500 to ¥4,500 for the best clubs. On special events, expect to spend even a little bit more. Girls almost always pay less (from ¥0 to ¥2,500). You often get a free drink with your ticket.

A standard alcoholic drink will cost you between ¥700 and ¥1,200 and a half-pint of beer between ¥300 and ¥600.

Overall, I would say that to enjoy a night out in Tokyo, you will need to spend between ¥10,000 and ¥15,000 (USD 65 to 100).

Bring cash as many venues don't accept cards.

Going Around:
Forget Uber, they are more expensive than taxis. The latter cost about 4-5$ per kilometer, with a 20% surcharge from 10 PM to 5 AM.

Note that most trains and buses stop working shortly after midnight. They start again in the morning around 5.30 AM, so what most people do is just party until then. You can also hang out in a McDonald's or a 24-hour internet café.

That said, I would really recommend you to choose a hotel walking distance to the nightlife. I'm recommending a few properties below that are ideally located, highly-rated, and budget-friendly.

Drugs in Japan

Abstain from consuming or trying to obtain drugs while traveling to Japan. The country has some of the toughest drug laws in the developed world. If you get caught, expect a nightmare.

Beware of scams!

There are many touts in the streets of Shinjuku and Roppongi who will invite you to try a bar, often enticing you with the promise of free/cheap alcohol (and possibly girls). You'll most likely end up in an empty place with overcharged drinks. Never follow them!

Pub Crawl

A fun way to explore Tokyo's nightlife and to meet new people is to join the Tokyo Pub Crawl.

Nightlife Areas - Where to Party in Tokyo?

As you can see on the map above (click to enlarge), there are 3 main nightlife areas in Tokyo:

➤ Roppongi: Upscale nightlife, popular with tourists and 30+ expats/businessmen

➤ Shibuya: Trendy nightlife with large clubs, popular with both young Japanese and expats

➤ Shinjuku: Busy area with an eclectic nightlife (LGBT, red-light, speakeasies, live music, nightclubs).

Let's look at each of them in details:

Roppongi

Roppongi, 六本木, literally “six trees”, is well-known as the city’s most popular nightlife district for foreigners (or "gaijin"). If you don’t speak Japanese, this is where it will be the easiest for you to go out.

Japanese in Roppongi are more open-minded and welcoming towards expats or tourists, and you'll have more chances to bump into English speakers. There are actually many who work in clubs, bars, or even in the street as touts (see below).

The most famous clubs in Roppongi are V2 and 1OAK. V2 offers a more local vibe, with commercial EDM, while 1OAK is an exclusive bottle club with hip-hop. A newer club, R3, is interesting too if you are into afro-beats and R'n'B.

You can also dance in El Cafe Latino which, as you could guess, focuses on latin music (salsa/bachata).

Another busy spot is the English pub HUB, part of a chain with over 50 locations in Japan. It has a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere with good value-for-money drinks and food. It tends to be really busy on weekends with foreigners so you might want to start your night there.

If you need a late-night club, Odeon may be your spot. It is a small space, but friendly. DJs play a mix of everything famous.

Most Recommended Hotels in Roppongi Near the Nightlife:

Candeo Hotels Roppongi (rated 9/10 - About 130$ per night): New hotel, comfortable, ideal position for clubbers, affordable price, near the subway.

Remm Roppongi (rated 9/10 - About 115$ per night): Conveniently located next to Roppongi station, great price, rooms a bit small.

If you can afford them, you should know that the Grand Hyatt and the Ritz-Carlton, both in Roppongi, have amazing bars.

Shibuya

Shibuya (渋谷区) is probably one of the most iconic areas of the city. Any trip to Tokyo should include a visit there, and particularly to the famous Shibuya Crossing. It’s a major commercial, shopping and business center, served by two enormous railway stations.

It is also a great nightlife area, where you'll find many of Tokyo's hippest clubs and bars. Compared with Roppongi, you have bigger nightclubs, and they attract mostly young and trendy Japanese. Some clubs also have tons of foreigners, among which many international students.

Within Shibuya, the most popular venues are Womb (very famous among foreigners, pricey, with 3 floors, each with different music like House, EDM, techno), Camelot (large club, also on 3 floors, with mainstream popular music, EDM and Hip-Hop), Atom (near Womb, similar to Camelot but with a more local vibe, EDM), TK Shibuya (cheap, very young crowd, mostly Japanese, EDM) and Harlem (Hip-Hop, R'n'B, Old School).

Baia, a relative new-comer, can get really packed and fun. The DJs will play all types of famous upbeat songs to a 20-30 mixed crowd. Overall nice design + it has an open-air terrace on its last floor.

Cé La Vi, a popular rooftop bar on the 17th floor of Tokyu Plaza Shibuya. Plenty of foreigners. 3500 Yen cover charge for men. Also a restaurant.

Enter, best club in Tokyo if you like techno. For an underground vibe, you can also party in Oath Bar.

Most Recommended Hotel in Shibuya Near the Nightlife:

Excel Hotel Shibuya (rated 8.4/10 - About 350$ per night): Business hotel, great location in Shibuya walking distance to bars and restaurants, fantastic view from the upper floors.

Shinjuku

A fun way to discover Shinjuku's nightlife is to join a tour, try this one for instance.

Shinjuku, 新宿, the world’s busiest railway station, is handling more than two million passengers every day!

It has a very diverse and eclectic nightlife, which makes it one of the favorite neighborhoods to explore after dark in Tokyo.

For instance, you can try Golden Gai, a network of several alleys full of tiny bars, each with a unique style. It is packed with an alternative crowd of artists and students who often drink in the alleys themselves.

Nearby, you will find Kabukicho, Japan’s largest and wildest red light district. You can walk around, but beware that most of the venues make a specialty of scamming foreigners. Two "normal" bars that you can try there are St James Pub and the live music venue Rock Bar Mother.

The whole area of Shinjuku 2 Chome is dedicated to the gay/LGBT nightlife. Some of the bars are targeting foreigners, while others are more local.

There are currently 3 main nightclubs in Shinjuku: Space (best music, both live bands and DJs), Warp (world-famous, impressive set-up, lighting, sound, EDM, hip-hop), and Zero (largest club in Tokyo with 4 floors, expensive, DJs changing every hour).

Most Recommended Hotel in Shinjuku Near the Nightlife:

Gracery Shinjuku Hotel (rated 8.7/10 - About 150$ per night): New property, next to Zero and Warp, walking distance to Kabukicho.

Taipei nightlife is considered by many expats as one of the greatest in all Asia. It is a combination of the best things the region has to offer: Modern venues, reasonable prices, friendly people and safety.

The number of nightclubs is limited though. Many are only open 3 nights a week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesdays are actually getting more and quieter, even with lower entrance fees.

Where to Party in Taipei + Hotels

As you can see on the map above (click to enlarge), there are two main nightlife districts in Taipei.

The first one is in the neighborhood of Xinyi, near the Taipei 101 Tower. There are four complexes, including ATT4FUN, that are all next to each other, and where you will find several famous nightclubs and bars in each. It can be a good idea to start your night out there as it is quite easy to meet people and try different venues in one night.

The second one is called Dong Chu (or Dongqu), for East Area. Its center, near the MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua, is about 20 minutes by foot from the Taipei 101 Tower. Its nightlife is more spread out, and more expensive. As a result, you will see fewer young people and more expats/professionals.

Below is a selection of the best hotels to enjoy Taipei's nightlife:

Luxury/5-star ($300/night): W Taipei, Le Meridien, or Grand Hyatt
4-star ($100/night): Pacific Business Hotel
3-star/2-star (under $60/night): Just Inn Xin Yi, Cloud Hotel

Even if you stay further from the city center, you have an efficient MRT system that can take you to the clubbing area quickly. Just make sure that you are within reach of Taipei City Hall MRT Station or Taipei 101 MRT Station (last train around midnight though so you'll need a cab on the way back).

Quick Tips on Taipei Nightlife

Smoking
It is forbidden to smoke in clubs, bars and restaurants, but some still allow it anyway.

Dress code
Many clubs are pretty relaxed in Taipei and will allow shorts (but not sandals or flip-flops). That said, if you plan on visiting nicer venues, and if you don't want to look like a tourist, put on a pair of pants and a collared shirt.

Prices

Mixed alcoholic drinks on average: 200 TWD, Cocktails 300 TWD, Entrance Fee between 500 TWD and 1000 TWD (with 1 or 2 free drinks). You can often get a free entry by showing up before midnight or 11pm. Most ladies nights are on Wednesdays.

Bottles and tables
Some of the most popular party places in Taipei are "bottle clubs", for instance Omni, AI and Kor. This means they prioritize groups who book a sofa and order bottles. Those who don't will be crammed into a tiny dancefloor and they will need to queue to get a drink.

To obtain a sofa, you have to spend a minimum amount of money. The best venues will ask around 15,000 TWD for 10 people on weekends. If your budget is tight, you can go during the week instead and pay half of that.

Dating in Taipei
Please check my reviews: Best Online Dating Apps and Websites in Asia and Best Countries to Meet Asian Girls.

ID
Important - You should always bring an official photo ID with you, even if you look 45. For foreigners, only the passport is accepted. Bouncers will ask you for it. Police ID checks also happen from time to time.

Drinking
Taiwanese, both girls and guys, get pretty wild inside clubs. They often drink until they pass out. It is not rare to see someone throw up because they couldn't make it to the toilets.

Recommended Weekly Schedule
If you are in Taipei on a particular day, these are my party recommendations:

Monday: Frank
Tuesday: Wave
Wednesday: Omni, Triangle
Thursday: Wave
Friday and Saturday: You can take your chances anywhere.
Sunday: AI

Recommended Bars and Lounges for cocktails
Bar Mood, Ounce, Wa-Shu (Japanese)

Expat/Sports Bar:
Brass Monkey

Best Nightclubs in Taipei:

Kor

A high-end lounge/bar/club with a beautiful décor and the best sound system in Taipei. There is a nice bar in the middle of the room, but you better arrive early if you want to get a seat. Otherwise, it's best to reserve a table and order some bottles. Wide selection of whiskies and bourbons. Music is anything but EDM, meaning hip-hop, soul, oldies, rap, RnB.

Frank

If you are a tourist, it is a good idea to have a few drinks at this rooftop bar at ATT 4 FUN to admire the view of Taipei 101. Drinks are quite light on alcohol and not particularly tasty. Lounge atmosphere. It's better to book a table to avoid being seated at the bar.

Entrance Fee:
TWD 600 with two drinks.

Revolver

Alternative bar with live music (rock, indie). Many foreign students and travelers.

Triangle

This is the most foreign-friendly nightclub in Taipei in terms of concept and crowd. Unlike other venues, you can easily buy drinks by the glass and you don't need to book a table to have fun. Laid-back, unpretentious vibe. They have different themed nights every day, so check their Instagram for the latest update. Generally speaking, the choice of music can be pretty eclectic from 90s pop to Caribbean songs. Student nights on Wednesdays are recommended (free entrance). Owned by a French guy.

Note that Triangle is located about 20 minutes by car and 40 minutes by metro from Taipei 101.

Studio 9

Techno club/bar. If you are into non-mainstream music and crowd, check also Pawnshop, Grey Area, and Final.

Cé La Vi

Most famous rooftop restaurant in Taipei, incredible view of the 101 Tower. Check their Instagram for special events and parties.

AI Club

This is the club that replaced the now-defunct Elektro in ATT4FUN. It is a trendy venue, medium-sized, which is visually impressive with a huge DJ podium and a great dancefloor. There are plenty of laser lights, smoke and screens. The sound system is pretty good too. It's really best to book a table here as it will be extremely packed on weekends. EDM music. They have some famous DJs once in a while (recently: R3HAB).

Entrance Fee:
TWD 1,000 for guys with 2 drinks and TWD 700 for ladies (weekends). Overall, it is expensive.

Omni

Omni is an impressive nightclub with an award-winning design (360° LCD panel circling the club, plenty of lasers and fog, etc), an amazing sound system and regular famous guest DJs (Hardwell, Skrillex, Dash Berlin, etc...).

It is a money-making business though, and money comes from tables/bottle service. If you are just by yourself ordering whisky-cokes at the bar, I'm not sure you will enjoy the experience. I'd recommend Omni if you are coming with friends and don't mind spending a few hundred US dollars for the night. Bottles at 150US$. When you order champagne, sexy sailor girls will bring it to you with firecrackers.

Music is almost always EDM/trance/house. For DJs, their reference is the DJ Mag Top 100. They have some hip-hop nights too. Many foreigners.

Entrance Fee:

1000 TWD (on average)

Wave

Self-proclaimed the best open bar in Taipei, Wave is one of the nightclubs located at ATT4FUN. It isn't my favorite, but if you are hoping to get drunk with a small budget, this is the place. Mostly a Taiwanese male crowd.

Best days are on Tuesday and Thursday.

The music is EDM and house. Sometimes hip hop.

Entrance fee:

The entrance fee comes with a free selection of drinks. They offer a discount if you come before 11pm. The trick is that you have to be inside the club at that time, which can be difficult considering the queues.

Every day before 11pm: Free for ladies, 400-500 TWD for men

Weekdays after 11pm: 700 TWD for men and 400 TWD for women

Friday and Saturday after 11pm: 800 TWD for men and 500 TWD for women

Ruff Taipei

Packed club, no ventilation, a lot of cigarette smoke. Hip-hop. Cheap (700 TWD with 6 drinks), so it attracts mostly young people.

The area has many similar venues that you can reach by foot. For instance, Underlink (hip-hop), DD (EDM), Barcode (Shisha bar).

1001 Nights

This shisha lounge-bar-club is about 3 kilometers from ATT4FUN. In case you are wondering, yes it does serve alcohol. It is a fun place with a different atmosphere than elsewhere in the city. Latin nights on Saturday with reggaeton are quite popular. It also serves as an after-hour club as it closes at 6am.

The owner is from Iran.

Entrance Fee:
First drink charge on weekends: TWD 200 for girls with 2 drinks and TWD 300 for guys with 3 drinks

Astana may seem like an unlikely destination for partying. Yet, as the capital of Kazakhstan and the country's second largest city after Almaty, it has a decent nightlife with at least 3 popular nightclubs and dozens of bars.

This review will be quite short as I only stayed in Astana on transit for 2 days. Still, you should find here all the basic information you need for a great night out. If you have a comment to add, please do so at the end of the article.

Where to stay near the nightlife:

The map above (click to enlarge) shows you the location of the best bars and clubs in Astana.

I would recommend staying in the area around the Bayterek tower, near the pedestrian Nurzhol Boulevard.

The best hotels near the nightlife and near the main city sights are the following:

- ⭐⭐ Under 40$ per night: Mini Hotel Sultan

- ⭐⭐⭐ Under 60$ per night: Best Western Plus Astana (Most recommended)

- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Under 90$ per night: Sky Luxe Hotel

- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ More than 150$ per night: Hilton Garden Inn (near the 6/45 Resto Bar) and Ritz Carlton Astana. Rixos Hotel also has excellent ratings, and it has an Irish Pub.

All these hotels are very central, but you'll still need a short taxi ride to go to most of the bars and clubs listed below. As you'll find out, the city is spread out and the cold makes it impossible to walk for too long during the winter.

What to expect:

When to Party?

During the week, nightclubs and bars are generally quiet, if not closed. During those days, it's better to visit pubs like O'Hara that stay open until 2-3AM. Things get better on Friday and Saturday, with bars staying open until 5AM and nightclubs until 6AM.

Dress Code

The venues that mention (on their Instagram) Face Control/Dress Control, will require you to dress well to enter. This means at least a pair of pants, closed shoes, and a shirt.

Expats bars and pubs typically do not have any dress code.

ID Card

It is better to bring your ID with you as it is sometimes required to enter nightclubs.

Cost of Partying

It is generally affordable to party in Astana: For a full night out, you can expect to spend around 25,000 Tenge (65$).

The best clubs have an entry fee of around 3,000 Tenge (8$). A pint of beer will cost from 600 Tenge to 1,500 Tenge (1.5$ to 4$) and a glass of decent imported whiskey between 1,000 Tenge and 2,000 Tenge (2.5$ to 5$). A taxi ride will cost you 500 Tenge for 10 minutes.

When going to a nightclub, always consider buying a bottle to reduce your cost and to get a table.

Dating

Compared with Almaty, the people living in Astana are predominantly Kazakhs (Asian type), with a minority of Russians. An issue you may encounter is that many of them only speak broken English. If you know some Russian, it will certainly help you tremendously. Finally, it is also more conservative than Almaty: Almost all women in particular only date with long term relationships in mind.

The dating apps that work well are Tinder, Bumble, Mamba. Also many profiles on Seeking.com (luxury dating).

Best Bars and Nightclubs:

You can click on the name of the club/bar to check their social media page. Make sure that the places are still open before heading there.

Bla Bla Bar

The trendiest bar in Astana. A large space where you can dine, drink, and dance. You need to dress up to enter. Live music/DJ. Expensive (6-7 dollars for a beer, 9-10 for cocktails). It only gets really full on weekends.

Ray Bar

On Dostyk Avenue, in the city center, this is a fun place to go to on weekends. It starts as a chic restaurant and turns into a bar/club with a DJ after 12 (mainstream dance music). Crowd is 25+ executives and government employees. USD 7 for a cocktail.

Resto Bar 6/45

This trendy bar/restaurant is frequently recommended by locals. Next to the Ritz-Carlton, in one of the city's most prestigious locations, it has a great terrace that is very enjoyable during the summer months. Quiet on weekdays, it can be packed and lively on weekends. Good cocktails.

Zima

Next to the 6/45 restobar, in the luxury shopping center Talan Gallery, this is a new club targeting wealthy Kazakhs. A bit too formal and exclusive to be really fun. Nice lighting, sound system and shows. Recommended for groups.

Aura

For locals. Music depends on the DJ (EDM, R'n'B, etc). They also have live acts and sexy dancers.

Similar nightclub: BHB

The Bus

A cool drinking joint with a British theme. It got its name from the huge bus in front of the pub. Quality live music and food.

Good Bar

Open every day until 5AM. Basic but popular with a younger crowd. Live music and DJ.

Harat's

Another Irish Pub, quite expensive and lacking charm. Live music.

Chechil Pub

This pub has cheap drinks (especially for members who get an extra discount) and snacks. Popular with the middle-class crowd. Very loud music (house, pop, rock, etc). Small dance floor.

The Rock's Bar

Intimate, laid-back live music pub and restaurant. Only 5 minutes away from Chechil. Open from Thursday to Sunday.

Leprechaun Irish Pub

An Irish Pub, again, in Yesil district in the south of Astana. Modern design but quiet. Food and live music. They also have a branch in the airport.

Shoreditch

A hipster burger restaurant serving beer. Popular with foreigners after it was featured in a Guardian article. Expensive but convenient. Check their IG for special events (live music, DJs). Shisha and foosball available. Open daily.

The Local

A chic, but unremarkable pub in the area of Highvil. You might bump into a few expats there.

I was surprised to discover that Kathmandu has one of the best nightlife in South Asia.

The capital of Nepal, with a population of over 2,5M inhabitants, has a rather high number of nightclubs and bars, and a party culture which is much more liberal than in neighboring India.

The below review is a summary of everything I learned from my stay in Kathmandu. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

Kathmandu Party Areas + Hotels

If you are interested in Kathmandu nightlife, you should choose a hotel in the Thamel district.

Thamel is the most popular tourist area in Kathmandu. It used to be the go-to spot for hippies and drug users back in the 70s. Nowadays, it is much more mainstream, attracting backpackers and travelers from all over the world. Most of them stay in cheap guesthouses and mid-range hotels. It is a colorful and exciting area, but it can be quite noisy and busy.

Within Thamel, the intersection between Chaksibari Marg street and Paryatan Marg street is the best location for partying. From there, on foot, you can easily reach dozens of cafés, restaurants, bars, and clubs. If you don't know where to start your night out in Kathmandu, just go there first.

The hotels I recommend near that spot are:

⭐⭐ Flying Yak Hotel (rated 9/10, US$30 per night) - Super cheap, clean and comfortable

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ambassador Garden Home (rated 8.7/10, US$40 per night) - Best value for money

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jampa Hotel (rated 9.2/10, US50 per night) - My favorite property

Durbarmarg

There is also some nightlife in Durbarmarg, a large avenue leading to the Royal Palace with luxury hotels, shops, and restaurants. It is more residential and less touristy.

For long term residents
If you are staying in Kathmandu for a longer period of time, I'd recommend upmarket neighborhoods like Lazimpat or Lalitpur. They are more laid-back yet they still have a bit of nightlife.

Kathmandu Nightlife Tips

Cost of partying in Kathmandu

The local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (Ns.) with 1$ ≈ Ns. 133.

The average cost of a night out in Kathmandu is around Ns. 5,000 (USD 45). For an entrance fee in a club, you can expect to pay between Ns. 500 and Ns. 2,000. For drinks, Ns. 3,000 should be enough to get you tipsy (around Ns. 300-600 per drink).

Typically, a foreign beer like Carlsberg or Tuborg costs around Ns. 400-500 whereas local beers like Gorkha, Nepal Ice, Everest, and Arna Beer are available for around Ns. 350-450.

Khukuri Rum, an authentic Nepali rum, is quite popular and cheap. A 750 ML bottle costs Ns. 2,000 in pubs.

Transport is inexpensive as you can go to most bars and clubs on foot (if you stay in Thamel).

Dress code:

It is generally relaxed, but all the higher-end clubs will require you to wear closed shoes and pants. Clubs and bars are rarely well-heated so you will probably need to wear a jacket during winter, even when inside.

When to party:

May to September is the busiest season for partying as this is when the weather is the warmest. The nightlife is also interesting just after Diwali, usually in late October or early November.

Clubs are officially required to close at 12 PM, but the rule is not really enforced and you can actually party until morning in many venues. Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights.

Drugs:

Kathmandu used to be considered as a heaven for marijuana lovers up until 1973. Before this date, it was legal to smoke weed or hashish, and hippies would flock from all over the world to enjoy this freedom. World-class marijuana was cultivated in Nepal, especially near the town of Pokhara.

Nowadays, the laws have become much more strict and prohibitive, yet you can still obtain marijuana easily. Street dealers sell it quite aggressively to tourists in Thamel but, unfortunately, it might not be the best stuff. As elsewhere, your best bet is to find it through a local friend.

Prostitution:
Prostitution, in spite of being illegal, is widely practiced in the Thamel area. If you just walk around, you will see some guys distributing massage parlors flyers or offering to hook you up with girls.

Meeting other travelers and expats:
I recommend checking the Facebook group Kathmandu Hang Out. You will find information about the latest parties and meetups with foreigners living in the city.

Best Nightclubs and Bars in Kathmandu

This is a list of the most happening bars and nightclubs in Kathmandu (if I forgot one, please mention it in the comment section below).

Lord of the Drinks (LOD)

This is currently the poshest nightclub in Kathmandu, attracting mostly rich locals and a few foreigners. Great lighting (hydraulic chandelier going up and down, lasers, LCD panels) and a sound system of international standards. The venue is quite large (1,000 pax capacity), with a square bar in the center surrounded by elevated VIP areas. A rock band plays until 23.30, followed by a DJ (mostly EDM). A few famous international artists have played there (Asap Tyy, Quintino, etc). The entrance fee is high at Ns. 2,500 (USD 20) and a beer will cost a whopping Ns. 800-1,000 (USD 7-9).

The same group also owns and operates Karma, which attracts a hip crowd of locals and foreigners.

10X

Smaller than Lord of the Drinks, but just as packed. Great lighting and sound. EDM music. Pricey.

Senate Club
An eclectic venue with various events each day of the week, from techno nights to live Nepali rock. Cheaper than Lord of the Drinks (and also less pretentious), it is a good place to party with locals or travelers without breaking the bank. Central location on Thamel.

There are several clubs that are quite similar to Senate in terms of crowd, price, and music: Turtle Club, Playboy, Fire Club, or Fahrenheit.

Purple Haze

Probably the best rock bar in Kathmandu. They have local (or international/Indian) bands daily until 12 PM. Music can be soft rock, pop, metal, etc depending on who's playing. They play mostly covers of famous songs. Popular with tourists and older locals. The entrance fee is Ns. 500 during weekends with one free drink.

Other good live music bars (with different music): Reggae Bar and Jazz Upstairs.

Bar Bar Black Sip

One of my favorite bars in Thamel, along with Dancing Yak. It is rather intimate, with a regular live band and decent food. Cocktails are normally good (though it doesn't seem they have a standard).

Irish Pub

This "traditional" Irish pub is located in Lazimpat, about 15 minutes from Thamel. A bit on the pricey side, and rather quaint, it is nonetheless a nice venue to get a drink while listening to live music. Average pub fare. Most customers are Nepalese.

Iclub Durbarmarg

A rather simple club, where most customers are local guys (and there might be some working girls). The music and drinks are similar to other places.

Sam’s Bar

This discreet bar on the second floor of a souvenir shop is one of the oldest in Kathmandu. Nothing special except that it is quite cheap. Popular with budget travelers, locals, and long-term foreign residents. They have live music on selected nights.

Similar bar: Tom and Jerry

Semarang is the 5th largest city in Indonesia with almost 2 millions inhabitants. Yet, its nightlife is not very developed apart from a few male-oriented bars and clubs.

As a friend from Semarang told me, the problem is that most young people fall into one of these categories:

- They are single but they still live with parents

- They are conservative or not interested with clubbing

- They married young and already have kids

- They left Semarang for Jakarta, Surabaya or Bali

- They cannot afford partying

In the end, the few people you see in clubs are local businessmen/government employees, some Indonesians on business trips or traveling, very few expats and occasionally, students.

This does not mean that you cannot have fun, especially on weekends as you still have a few good venues for partying.

In this small guide I will give you a few tips to make sure you enjoy the best of Semarang nightlife.

Hotels near the Nightlife:

Hotels are cheap in Semarang. You can stay in a 4-star branded hotels for less than 50 dollars per night.

I recommend you to book one of the following properties because they are close to the tourist attractions and near the best nightclubs. They are also used to welcoming foreigners.

⭐⭐⭐
Khas Hotel, Louis Kienne, Holiday Inn Express Simpang Lima

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Novotel Semarang, Hotel Santika Premiere

Also, the Artotel has a rooftop bar called 11/12.

Best Nightclubs and Bars in Semarang

Nightclubs in Semarang always work with a similar concept: They are small lounges with live music at the beginning of the evening, and then a DJ afterward. You rarely have a dance floor, only people drinking and dancing around tables. Many have a karaoke concept and they let the crowd sing along while the band is playing.

Tiger Club

Part of a large entertainment group with nightlife venues all over Indonesia. Best nightclub in Semarang at the moment. Modern setting, good lighting and sound system, middle-to-upper class crowd. Open every day.

Legends Club

Following the closure of several venues, this is actually one of the few proper nightclubs in Semarang. It is a fun place with live bands and DJs. Nothing out of the ordinary, though. Note that it is part of a concept that also includes a KTV and a spa (both male-oriented).

Sakapatat

The favorite hang-out spot for students and younger expats. Good choice of beers.

A to Z

The most modern bar in Semarang. Good crowd but a bit pricey.

The Tavern

Upmarket restaurant and lounge with a great view of Semarang.

On On Pub

The most famous expat bar in Semarang. Old-style and relaxed.

Spiegel Bar

This bar is great for cocktails. It is within the old town in a Dutch heritage building. Popular with tourists.

Wishbone

Cocktail bar that was featured as one of the top 100 in Asia

Laroka

Similar to Spiegel and also located in the old town, it is a bar/restaurant with a retro theme.

Since I don't go to Semarang very often, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a comment below to update me about the new nightlife spots in the city (or the ones who have closed). Thanks in advance!

I spent a month in Vientiane, which was enough to explore its nightlife.

If you expect Vientiane to be a boring town, you are only partially right. After night falls, it isn't long before all shops and restaurants close, and by 10PM most streets are desperately deserted. At this time, even finding street food can be challenging.

If you go to the right places though, you'll discover some much more happening areas. As I realized, you can party every night in Vientiane until at least 3AM, well past the official midnight curfew.

Below is a summary of everything I learned about Vientiane nightlife:

Nightlife Areas in Vientiane

Most of the bars, restaurants and nightclubs listed in this article are in the tourist area, which starts at the north of the Chao Anouvong Park (location of the night market) and goes until Fa Ngum Park/Statue. Almost every visitor will stay there and you probably should too. It is an interesting part of town, near the Mekong riverside, and with beautiful colonial architecture.

There are many more small bars in restaurants in the tourist center, particularly on Setthathirath Road, Samsenthai Road and the riverside street (Fa Ngum Road). Many of these places are owned by foreigners married to a Laotian. They will rarely have more than 15-20 guests at once.

You can start at Wind West, then explore the area by foot. The map above should help you (click here to enlarge it).

These are some recommended hotels nearby:

- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Crowne Plaza (150$ per night)

- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Salana Boutique Hotel or Dhavara (80$ per night)

- ⭐⭐⭐ Sunbeam Hotel (30$ per night)

If you continue to the west, along Setthathirath Road, you will reach a more upscale and local area, less touristy. This is where rich Laotians hang out as well as some expats.

The nightclubs in Vientiane are not in the tourist area. They are in various locations all around the city. This is not so convenient as you'll need a taxi to get there. More information about these below.

👉 Renting a motorbike: I was using a motorbike to get around in Vientiane. It costs about 80,000-100,000 kip per day (less than USD 5) and it will save you the trouble of negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers every time you want to go somewhere (and to explain where you want to go). The police do not seem to hunt tourists and the absence of traffic jams makes driving relatively easy. Still, it remains dangerous and you should make sure you are properly insured. You can read my Travel Insurance Guide for more information (it's about Indonesia but it applies to Laos as well).

Dating in Vientiane

Please read my article: Best Dating Apps in Asia

Best Bars and Clubs in Vientiane

You will find plenty of small restaurants, cafés and beer gardens selling alcohol in Vientiane. They will almost always be recognizable by their yellow and green neon sign (paid by Beerlao, the largest brewery in Laos).

If you are looking for slightly more happening nightlife venues, you can try any of these:

Wind West

Open since 1992, this live music pub has a mixed crowd of Laotians and tourists. The bands are a hit-and-miss but it doesn't really matter as people will dance whatever is being played. Excellent venue to meet people. Close at 2AM.

Samlo bar

An old, European-style pub serving food and cheap beer. If it were another city, I would never recommend it, but for Vientiane it is among the best for meeting people. Pool tables and foosball. Pop and rock music. Close at 2AM.

Go Dunk

Beer garden with live bands and cheap prices. Most customers are young students from the middle-class. Laid-back and friendly vibe.

TG Club

This is the most modern and luxurious nightclub in Vientiane. Almost no foreigners go there, so you can expect a very local vibe. The music is extremely loud and fast-paced EDM, similar to Thai or Vina House, which is popular with Lao-Chinese. Not a place to visit solo but with a group (minimum charge for a table starts at 1,5 million kip or USD 70). I suspect that some of the customers are using drugs. It also has a KTV (male-oriented) and sexy dancers.

If you like this kind of place, you can also visit Dplus which is very similar in concept and crowd.

Tully Irish Pub

Not your typical Irish Pub. Tully is more like a local beer garden with an Irish theme. It is often packed, especially on weekends or when there are football games. Cheap beer, decent food, and they also have live bands. On the menu, you'll find about 50 kinds of Scottish and Irish whiskies.

If you like Tully, you can also check the beer garden Relax:

Dr Oscar

A massive nightclub that targets Lao people. The atmosphere there is pretty wild as they have constant entertainment (singers, DJs, dancers) and a young crowd. It is more suitable for groups as almost all the dance floor is occupied by tables and sofas.

Mark Two

Also spelled Mark 2, it is an upmarket beer garden and live music club popular with upper-class Laotians. In the beer garden, the bands will normally play soft and romantic songs while in the club they will play pop/rock. Giant screen with sports. It also serves food and they have karaoke rooms (where you can "rent" lady companions). Walking distance to Mercure Hotel.

Phoenix

Maybe the most foreigner-friendly nightclub in Vientiane (though the crowd is almost entirely Lao). Live music and commercial EDM DJs. They also have karaoke rooms.

Beer House

This is a rather upmarket venue with expensive imported draft beers (probably the largest choice in Laos). They also sell cigars.

If you are a beer lover, then you should also visit Corebeer Brewhouse. They make their own craft beer, from stout to pilsener, for reasonable prices (around 45,000 kip for a glass).

Khop Chai Deu

This is more of a café/beer garden. Popular with older travelers. Nice setting but a bit expensive. The only reason I put it here is because it is normally quite busy and because it serves good food.

Hard Rock Café

The Hard Rock Café Vientiane is far from the city center, expensive and not very crowded. Live bands may sing in Laotian or English.

Manilla has one of the best nightlife in Asia for several reasons:

- Party atmosphere:
Filipinos are famous for their fun and outgoing personalities. They love to drink, to dance, to sing, and to play music. Clubs in Manila are rarely uptight or boring, and dress codes are rarely implemented. The ambiance can get really wild, especially in the more local venues that foreigners seldom visit (in Quezon City for instance).

- Reasonable prices for alcohol, entrance fees, and taxis:
Even high-end nightclubs will only charge US$10-15 for an entrance with 2 strong drinks included. You can easily spend a whole night out for US$50 in Manila, which is the price for two cocktails in some bars in Singapore.

- Foreigner-friendly:
English is spoken everywhere in Manila, even by security guards or taxis.

- Great dating scene

Filipino girls are very friendly and they are interested to meet with foreigners. Most are quite religious though (Catholic), and living with their families. For this reason, one-night stands and hookups are not that common unless you are looking for it specifically (on the luxury dating site Seeking.com, for instance, which is known to be straight-to-the point).

A good idea is to download a few dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Badoo or Skout. Those apps work best if you are living in the Philippines or at least in Asia.

If you are only a tourist, then I would recommend the very popular FilipinoCupid instead. It can have up to 5,000 girls online, and many among them do not mind if you live abroad. Ideally, you should register on the site a few weeks before landing in Manila so you can already organize a few dates.

- Clubs and bars open late and every day:

You can go out any night of the week in Manila, you'll always find a crowded bar or nightclub. Also, there are no real curfews: Many clubs close at 6am, a few keep going until 8am (and the seedy LA Café is open 24/7).

- The negative sides of Manila

Not everything is perfect in Manila, unfortunately. The city is still developing so you have the usual pollution, poverty, mismanagement that you can see in HCMC, Jakarta, Phnom Penh, etc.

Hotels are usually a bit more expensive than elsewhere in Southeast Asia and their quality is average. The internet is terrible, even when advertised as being fast. During the day, you may spend a lot of time in traffic jams. There is a metro system but it is packed and hot. The food is not great unless you are a fan of junk food/fast-food chains.

Finally, security is an issue but it is quite exaggerated in my opinion. As long as you stay in the safest neighborhoods (like Makati) and use reputable taxi companies, you are not particularly at risk.

If you want to know more about Manila nightlife, this review will cover everything you need to know to party hard and to have fun.

Where to Party in Manila?

You can click on the map above to enlarge it.

Metro Manila is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. It is actually made of several cities including Manila itself, Makati, Pasay, Taguig and Quezon City. You cannot visit everything in one night, of course.

The nightlife is active in the following areas, by order of personal preference:

Poblacion (Makati)

Makati is the main business and financial city in Metro Manila. As such, it is rather modern and it has a sizable foreign population (business travelers, expats, backpackers).

Within Makati, the most happening restaurants, bars and clubs are in a small neighborhood called "Poblacion". I counted at least 50 venues there in just a few streets. Many are trendy, with a unique concept, and they attract young, upper-class Filipinos and foreigners.

In the heart of Poblacion, on P Burgos Street, there is also a red light district with several gogo bars, massage parlours, some expat pubs, and a club. This aspect of the nightlife brings an older, male crowd (many Westerners/Arabs).

The hotels I recommend near Makati nightlife are the following:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'M Hotel - US$100/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1898 Hotel Colonia En Las Filipinas - US$60/night
⭐⭐ Lub d Makati - US$30/night

There are also many cheap hostels and guesthouses that attract backpackers from all over the world. White Banana and Z Hostel (rooftop) are well-known to host great parties.

Best Bars and Clubs in Poblacion:

NoKal

Great little club with eclectic music genres (funk, house, techno). 70s disco theme. Also serves burgers.

Apotheka

Cocktail bar, chic crowd. 500 pesos entrance.

Almacen

One of the most popular venues in Poblacion. Bar/club on 2 floors with a Mexican theme. For Gen Z/Millenials. Mainstream dance music.

Sanctuary

Rooftop bar with uplifting music. Popular with both Filipinos and foreigners. Free for ladies before 1AM. 500 pesos after with 2 beers.

Octopus

Biggest club in Manila. EDM music. Lots of foreigners and prostitution. Not my vibe.

URBN
A pub that turns into a nightclub after midnight. Middle-class crowd. Can get pretty wild. They also have a branch in Quezon City.

Bonifacio Global City (BGC or The Fort)

This is a newer business district that currently competes with Makati. It is more modern and attracts younger Filipinos and expats. It is built on a grid, with wide roads and sidewalks, making it easier to go around. It's probably the safest area in Metro Manila. The clubs and bars are located either in The Fort Strip (Bank Bar, Craft), Forbes Town Center (Tipsy Pig), or in The Palace Complex (#1 upscale nightlife spot in Manila).

Compared with Poblacion nightlife, clubs in BGC tend to be pricier, and they attract an older crowd (late 20s, 30s). You will see less students, less backpackers, and more executives and expatriates.

Accommodation is harder to find in BGC, especially in the budget segment. The available hotels near the nightlife are all quite expensive, for instance:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shangri-La at the Fort - US$250/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Seda Bonifacio Global City - US$150/night

⭐⭐⭐⭐ F1 Hotel - US$90/night

Best Bars and Clubs in BGC:

Xylo at the Palace

Probably the top club in Manila in terms of design, sound system and atmosphere. They attract many foreigners, especially when there is a famous guest DJ. Expensive (1,500 pesos for the male entrance with 2 drinks), but if you book a sofa with a group of friends, you can reduce the cost. Music is usually EDM.

In the Palace, there are several other clubs and bars such as:

Revel: Luxury bottle club for an older, wealthy crowd (corporate type, expats). Do not visit if you are alone.

Clubhouse: Smaller than Xylo, with a student crowd (but expensive nonetheless).

Yes Please: Cocktail bar, has a busy night on Mondays

Versus Barcade: Arcade-themed bar

Quezon City

It is actually the most populated city in the Philippines, before Manila. It is very authentic, mostly residential, but you have one area, on Tomas Morato Avenue that is full of bars and clubs. The crowd is usually young, middle class, and almost 100% local. Usually very fun and friendly.

The hotels I recommend near Quezon City nightlife are the following:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxent Hotel - US$75/night
⭐⭐⭐ Hopp Inn Tomas Morato - US$30/night

Best Bars and Clubs in Quezon City:

Lots of places that are quite similar: Adrenaline, Amnezia, Corte Ibiza, DD Club, GSide, URBN QC and Guilly's. I think it's best to go to one of these venues then explore the area by foot.

Ermita/Malate
These are two districts of Manila located next to each other near the Manila Bay. They attract budget travelers, backpackers, tourists and Koreans/Japanese businessmen. It is also where most government buildings are. The area can be considered a red-light district with its Korean-style karaokes and its pubs with freelance prostitutes. You also have some street prostitution and a few popular expat bars. For partying, go to Adriatico and nearby streets.

The club ZZYZX is one of the busiest in the area, especially with Koreans. Lots of girls but the majority seemed to be professionals.

The hotels I recommend near Ermita/Malate nightlife are the following:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sheraton - US$220/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ New Coast Manila - US$170/night
⭐⭐⭐ lyf Malate-Ermita - US$40/night

As the most liberal state in an otherwise conservative country, Goa is easily the best party destination in India.

Relatively small in size (Goa is only slightly larger than Hong-Kong or Luxembourg), it attracts millions of tourists every year with its beautiful beaches, a relaxed vibe, cheap booze and tons of crazy parties. There are also thousands of long term residents, including hippies who have been living there since the 1970s.

The following review will give you an overview of Goa nightlife. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comment section below.

Best Seasons to Party in Goa

Goa experiences unbearable heat and heavy rainfall from late April to September. This is the time when many foreign residents (and some businesses) pack their bags and leave for the milder climate of the Himalayas, in northern India.

October to March is a good time to visit Goa, especially the month of January when the best parties are organized. Unfortunately, it is also quite crowded then, and everything is more expensive. It is common for hotels to charge up to twice as much during this season.

It gets even worse during Christmas and New Year Eve. This is the peak season, and it can be complicated to find a decent hotel at a reasonable price. Some restaurants will even have a different menu with hiked prices just for these few days. Taxis charge more, motorcycle rent increases, etc. Be aware of this when planning your trip.

To summarize:

→ April to September: Off-season with few parties, many closed businesses (including bars, clubs, etc), but inexpensive hotels.

→ October to March: High-season (best to enjoy the nightlife and the beach).

Party Areas in Goa + Hotels

(You can click on the map above to enlarge it)

Just to make things clear in case you didn't know it yet: Goa is not a city.

It is an Indian state split between two main areas, North and South Goa, each with their own characteristics:

Generally speaking, North Goa is better known for its party vibe while the South is considered more secluded, with its pristine beaches and chic boutique resorts.

Naturally, this Goa nightlife review will focus on North Goa, even though I will also mention a few South Goa clubs as well.

In North Goa, these are the most interesting options for your stay:

→ Vagator and Anjuna

Former hippie destinations which have now morphed into a partygoer’s paradise (nowadays, mostly Indians, Russians, British, and Israelis). If you come to Goa mainly for the nightlife, you should choose a hotel in one of these two cities.

Vagator has the best bars and clubs, and many are walking distance to one another. Arjuna is quieter, more laid-back, with plenty of great beach cafés.

Here are a few recommended hotels to stay nearby:

⭐ Tropical Wave Hostel (rated 9/10, US$7 per night for dormitory and US$25 for a private room) - On Vagator beach, great party hostel for the budget traveler.

⭐⭐⭐ The Ivy Anjuna (rated 8.6/10, US$50 per night) - Very central, near the restaurants and shops, just 7 minutes to the beach

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Casa Anjuna (rated 8.3/10, US$80 per night) - Beautiful colonial-style garden with a relaxing garden

→ Calangute and Baga beaches

More crowded, tacky, and noisy. Its residents are beach enthusiasts who come from India or from Russia/Europe on cheap holiday packages. There is an infamous nightlife area called Tito's Lane where you will find tourist bars like Tito's, Cape Town or Mambo's. Beware as there are can be some prostitutes there. In the past few years, some upscale Indian bars have opened near Baga as well, such as Las Olas.

→ Candolim beach

Known for its exclusive hotels and peaceful environment. The nightlife is limited but you have a few holiday bars like Cohiba. Good, wholesome fun but nothing very edgy.

→ Arambol beach

Further north, it is an almost 3-hour drive from central Goa. It is an up-and-coming destination, where hippies, digital nomads, and backpackers from all over the world stay for longer periods of time.

Best Nightclubs and Bars in Goa

Enjoying Goa nightlife is all about knowing the right events, parties, and festivals. A great club may be packed on a Wednesday afternoon, but empty on a Friday night.

Therefore, it is crucial to get up-to-date information about the latest parties before heading out.

To help you, you can follow these social media groups and pages:

Nightlife in Goa and Events in Goa: Weekly parties and events

Goa Freaks: Info about the underground party scene in Goa

What's Up Goa: A hip guide to all events in Goa

Goa Vibes Only: All the parties in Goa

These clubs are some of the most happening ones in Goa at the moment:

House of Chapora (Vagator)

An indoor event space with techno, trance, and psychedelic music (DJ or live). Open during low season.

Salud (Vagator)

Also in Vagator, an elevated restaurant/café with a beautiful panoramic sea view. Techno parties on weekends. 1000 rupees entrance for men.

Curlies (Anjuna)

Another beach shack, similar to Shiva Valley (and right next to it), where the best parties are held on Thursdays. It's also a good spot to have a beer during the day.

If you walk 10 minutes north, you will find Cafe Lilliput which has some good events during the high season.

Club Cubana (Arpora)

If you need a change from your beach party routine, Club Cubana offers a memorable experience on top of Arpora hills. Hosted in a large building, this club boasts several bars and dancefloors with different styles on each level (mostly commercial: House, hip-hop, EDM). The place also features a serene outdoor area with a guarded swimming pool to relax under the stars.

Opened only during high season. Stag entries (single guys) are strictly prohibited. INR 3,000 entry for couples with unlimited drinks. Go early as it closes at midnight.

Hilltop (Vagator)

As its name suggests, this iconic venue is an actual open-air hilltop. It has been known since the 1970s to host some of the biggest parties in Goa, including music festivals like Sunburn (see below).

I recommend going there on Sunday afternoons. They will have several different DJs (local and international) playing mostly trance sets. It is a huge venue so it can often feel a bit empty, unfortunately.

Hilltop parties are subject to noise pollution norms and hence they shut at 10 pm unless they have special permission, which is usually for music fests, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Leopard Valley (South Goa)

Leopard Valley is an offbeat venue in the southern part of Goa, not too far from Palolem. You need to go about 5 kilometers into the jungle in order to reach it. They have a big open-air party on Fridays that lasts until morning. The music is techno and trance and there are some shows like sexy fire dancers. A great experience but a bit more pricey than the usual Goa nightclub (INR700 entrance). Beware that it does not open every year (check their Facebook page for more information).

Hammerzz (Baga)

Upmarket nightclub, quite expensive (over 4000-5000 rupees for a couple, up to 7000 for a guy alone, but you can buy drinks with this credit). They have a strict dress code so do not come with shorts, sandals, or sleeveless shirts. Music is EDM/Techno/Trance. Quite spacious and it usually gets full. Also serves food.

Another popular club nearby in Baga is Las Olas. It is much less classy, though.

SinQ (Morjim)

SinQ is an upmarket Indian club with different daily events (the retro nights on Thursdays being the most popular). Nice cabanas near the poolside for those who want to chill. Forbidden for single guys, but you can enter if you accompany a couple (INR 2,000 for the couple, and INR 3,000 for the guy).

LPK Waterfront (Candolim)

LPK - Love, Passion, and Karma - is a waterfront club on the Nerul river in Candolim. Surrounded by water on three sides, this place has an old heritage feel. Popular among the upmarket Indian tourists. It is known for cocktails, Goan Chicken Cafreal, and unlimited house brand drinks at a low price of Rs. 1000 (~$14).

Bora Bora (Morjim)

Morjim’s gem Bora Bora is the only bar in Goa that stays open 24/7. It's a good place to crash after a long night out and to order some food. They have nice music and a relaxed atmosphere. Most customers are Russians (the owner of the bar is Russian as well). Closes on winter.

Music Festivals and Parties

Goa is a popular destination for music festivals in India. During the high season, there is at least one happening every month. Two events worth going to are:

Sunburn Festival

With the distinction of being Asia’s largest music festival, Sunburn attracts artists like Sam Feldt, David Guetta, KYGO, Martin Garrix, and many others. It was also ranked as one of the top 10 music festivals in the world by CNN. This 3-day festival is spread across multiple stages with artists playing day and night. Sunburn was hosted in Goa until 2015 before shifting its venue to Pune. In 2019, the organizers brought it back to Goa. It usually happens just before the New Year. Prices start at USD50 for one day pass.

Sunsplash Reggae Festival

Located in AntiSOCIAL café, this is the largest reggae festival in India. It usually features up to 50 local and international artists, for an event that lasts 3 days. Prices start at USD30 for a day pass.

Goa Nightlife Tips

Places to avoid

→ Baga / Calangute

Unless you like to be on cramped beaches with endless EDM and Bollywood music blaring out of every beach shack, you should avoid visiting Baga or Calangute beaches. These beaches were, about a decade ago, the go-to destination. Over time, they have been polluted and crowded beyond imagination. Many tourist guides and blog posts still feature them, but the authors are yet to visit them in 2019.

→ Tito's / Mambos on Tito's Lane

You will find Tito's and Mambos on most “must visit” listicles online. These two bars are one of many that are located in Baga/Calangute, on Tito's Lane. They can be OK to visit once out of curiosity, but I doubt you will enjoy partying there. The entrance fee is a whopping INR2,700 for single males, for which you get a free flow of cheap alcohol. Poor food, poor music, poor atmosphere.

Cost of partying

The cost of partying in Goa can be divided into three categories:

One is the entry fee. This can vary from season to season ranging from INR200 (~$3) to INR1500 (~$22). A few clubs, like Hammerz, charge even more than that but they give you more free drinks.

The second most important cost is the transport cost to and from the party place. Goa is one state in India where you cannot find Uber or similar cab services. Taxis in Goa charge an exorbitant amount of money. The best way to go is to rent-a-car if you have one sober driver to get you back. If not, it is wise to share a cab with other people in your hotel/hostel.

The third is the cost of booze and food. For top party places, this ranges from Rs. 500 (~$7) to Rs. 2000 (~$28). Alcohol is cheap in Goa. A can of beer will cost you less than $1.5 in most places.

Safety

It is important to follow traffic rules for safety. Many tourists rent motorcycles to save money and end up in a hospital or caught by traffic police. Locals may encourage you to rent a motorcycle but beware. If you meet with an accident, it is going to cost you dearly (for this reason, make sure you have travel insurance before heading to India - personally, I use WorldNomads which costs about US2$ per day).

Another thing to be careful about is drugs. Pay attention so that no one is spiking your drink. Do not accept drugs from people you do not know. They might sell you fake drugs or worse, bad quality substances.

Drugs are illegal in India, including soft stuff like Marijuana. That being said, they are quite common in many nightclubs and bars. In recent years, the police have started a crackdown on drugs in Goa. They keep a tab on every popular party and will barricade the roads leading out of the venue. If suspected, you will be thoroughly checked and penalized.

Prostitution is illegal in India too. There are places where you will find prostitutes offering their services but it is important to be cautious and stay away. Just like drugs, there is a crackdown on prostitution too. If you are suspected of inviting a prostitute to your guesthouse or hotel, the staff there can report you to the police.

Finally, I should mention that I was bitten by a wild dog once while riding a motorbike. There are quite many around and it can be annoying. Again, it is useful to have travel insurance for this kind of issue.

Macau nightlife is not very interesting for the young traveler. If you are expecting to party like in Las Vegas, you will be disappointed: There are actually very few nightclubs and bars, and you rarely have famous guest DJs or performers.

Macau is really focused on hardcore gambling, with a rather large high-end prostitution scene. That makes it a popular destination for sex tourists, mostly from mainland China, but it's not my thing. Therefore, I was happy to spend only a couple of days there before heading back to Hong Kong, which is way more fun.

The following article will give you a quick overview of what I learned during my trip. If you have more questions about partying in Macau, please just leave me a comment below.

Where to Stay in Macau Near the Nightlife

As you can see on the map above (click here to enlarge), Macau consists of:

- The Macau peninsula, which is the oldest part of the special administrative region. This is where you have most tourist attractions, the 5-star hotels, and the casinos.

- Taipa island is more residential, also more expensive as the apartments are more modern. It has a nice historic old town with a few good bars, and some luxury casino complexes as well.

- Coloane island is the southernmost point of Macau. It is where many expatriates are living, in a complex called One Oasis.

As a visitor interested in the nightlife, I think it is best to stay on the Macau peninsula. The best location is anywhere near the Wynn Macau (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rated 9.0 on Agoda, US$250 per night).

If you need something more affordable, check the Grand Emperor Hotel (⭐⭐⭐⭐ rated 8.4 on Agoda, US$130 per night) or the Sintra Hotel (⭐⭐⭐ rated 8.4 on Agoda, US$75 per night).

Macau doesn't have any decent budget hotels. There aren't any hostels either. It seems the government doesn't want to attract low-end tourists and backpackers. If you want to sample the nightlife without booking a hotel, it is possible to arrive in the afternoon and to go back early in the morning. The ferries operate 24-hour from and to Hong Kong.

Best Nightclubs in Macau
Nightclubs in Macau are almost all Chinese-oriented. This means that they tend to favor large groups who book a table and order bottle service. If there is a dance floor, it will often be small. If you are planning to dance and to buy individual drinks, you may feel like a second-class customer in those places.

Para

Para, in City of Dreams, is certainly the best nightclub in Macau. This doesn't say much considering the lack of competition.

It is a medium-sized, modern venue with a stage for live performances (DJs, bands, dancers) and several VIP seating areas. Unfortunately, there isn't a real dance floor. Entrance is free before 12.30am. After that, it will cost you on average 300 MOP with 1 or 2 drinks. It isn't crowded every night, especially during the week. They invite foreign DJs and performers regularly, in which case you can expect a better party experience. Music depends on the DJ (EDM, hip-hop mostly). Ladies night on Wednesday: Free entrance for girls and complimentary drinks.

DD3 Disco & KTV

This is a small Chinese-oriented club. The main lounge is quite small, almost like a bar, with just a few tables and a live stage. They have some sexy hostesses and dancers, from Thailand or China. It is "busy" only on weekends and late (entrance fee around 200-300 MOP with two drinks). Before entering, make sure there are some people inside. Music is generally house/EDM.

It also has a KTV, adult-oriented, with lady companions.

Best Bars in Macau

The bar scene in Macau is pretty poor. There are some expensive, yet boring venues in most of the luxury hotels (for instance, McSorley's Ale House in The Venetian which was deserted when I visited it). They often have live music (cover bands or piano), but nothing truly happening.

Vida Rica Bar (in the Mandarin Oriental), while not being much busier, has the advantage of offering a nice view and sleek design. Their bartenders also serve amazing, though pricey, cocktails.

In the Galaxy Hotel, the Macallan is a whisky lounge with over 400 premium bottles. It is classy and comfortable, great for a quiet drink.

The St Regis Bar has a superb design, and they frequently invite well-known mixologists. They have live jazz in the evenings.

Outside 5-star hotels, you don't have that many options. Near the docks, on the street opposite Kun Iam Statue, there are several simple bars. Some serve decent food at reasonable prices. They have regulars every night, usually older locals.

Another possibility is to go to Taipa island.

The Broadway food street in the Galaxy complex is a busy place to eat and it has an American, country-styled bar, The Roadhouse. They have live bands playing classic rock and blue, and they also show various sporting events (Premier League, Formula 1, etc).

In Taipa's old village, the Old Taipa Tavern is one of the best bars in Macau if you are an expat. They are open every day, serve food, have 27 types of craft beer, and have sports on TV. Dart competition every monday.

Walking distance, the Prem1er Bar has a large selection of liquors and wine. You can check their Facebook page for their events (live music, sports, happy hours).

One of the richest cities in the world, Hong Kong hosts a crowded 7 million people. Among them, you will find a diverse party-loving crowd of executives, expats (and their grown-up kids), students, and a fair number of tourists.

This makes for an extremely dynamic, sophisticated and intense nightlife that I consider to be one of the best in Asia.

Even though the political tensions with China, followed by the COVID pandemic, were catastrophic for the entertainment industry, things are slowly going back to normal. Tons of new bars and clubs have opened, many walking distance to each other, and they are busy every night of the week.

I wrote this detailed review of Hong Kong nightlife to make sure you'll have a great time partying in the city. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them at the end of the article and I'll do my best to answer you!

(Note: Don't forget to bring your ID when going to clubs in Hong Kong. The bouncers may not let you inside if you don't show them proper identification.)

Hong Kong Nightlife Areas, Clubs, Bars + Hotels

You can click on the map above to see the full list of the best bars and nightclubs in the city.

There are three main party districts on Hong Kong island, each with their distinct atmosphere:

- Lan Kwai Fong

- Wan Chai

- SoHo.

On Kowloon's peninsula (the part of the city attached to the mainland), there are fewer nightclubs, but you can find some expensive hotel bars in the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) district. It also has some affordable, unsophisticated pubs that cater mainly to 30+ executives.

Here's what you need to know about each of these areas:

→ Lan Kwai Fong

Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) is located in the heart of the busy Central Business District. This is where you'll find most of the large nightclubs.

It is a tiny area with 3 streets that are full of bars: Lan Kwai Fong Street, Wyndham Street, and D'Aguilar Street. If you are new to Hong Kong and you don't know where to start your night out, just go there first and you'll easily meet people from all over the world.

LKF tends to draw a younger crowd of local and international students, office workers, and interns who depart straight from their megalomaniac bank towers after a hard day of work. It is also where you'll find the most tourists and backpackers.

The nightlife really starts at around 10pm: The bars pump up their music, turning the entire streets into dance floors where people smoke, drink and mingle in the middle of the road. While you can party horizontally, going from one bar to another all night long, don’t forget to look up. There are a lot of venues on the upper floors of the buildings. Sometimes an elevator ride can lead you to a completely different and unexpected space.

Popular bars and clubs in LKF:

Dragon-I

Upper-class nightclub, fine to party with a group if you enjoy being surrounded by beautiful people. Entrance fee can be quite expensive for guys (up to HKD400 depending on the event). Bottle service starts at HKD5,000 of minimum spending. Sexy dancers will entertain the guests several times during the night.

Dragon-I has hosted many celebrities in the past, both as DJs and clients (including Bruno Mars or DJ Snake). It prides itself on being exclusive so you need to book ahead and dress up if you want to enter.

Boomerang

One of the biggest nightclubs in HK. Made it to DJ Mag's Top 100. Famous EDM DJs monthly. Great sound and lighting system. Entrance fee around HK$200-300 with one drink.

Faye

Previously Cé La Vi, this rooftop bar with a club underneath is the hottest spot on LKF. Cosmopolitan crowd. House/techno music. Expensive entrance (HK$350-400 with 2 drinks)

Space and Zeus

Mainstream clubs (EDM, Hip Hop), mostly Asian crowd.

Where to stay near Lan Kwai Fong nightlife:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Landmark Mandarin Hotel (rated 9.3/10, US$550 per night) - One of the top 5 hotels in Hong Kong.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ovolo Central (rated 8.6/10, US$280 per night) - Just 1-minute walking distance from the clubs.
⭐⭐⭐ Butterfly on LKF (rated 8.5/10, US$90 per night) - Best value hotel near LKF nightlife.

→ SoHo

Just a few minutes away from LKF, SoHo is the best party district for young expatriates and hip locals.

In the daytime, the area is filled with small, niche art galleries and concept stores. During the night, it is known to have the best cocktails bars and boutique nightclubs in Hong-Kong. There are an innumerable amount of unique places, so it is worth having a walk around to explore their diversity.

Popular bars and clubs in Soho:

For the bars, you can check any of these: Leone (Italian cocktails), Old Man's (named one of the 50 best bars in Asia), Pontiac Bar (LGBT-friendly, named one of the best bars in the World), Globe (British Gastropub), Draft Land (minimal design, tea cocktails on tap), COA (recently awarded Best Bar in Asia, long queues to get in), Shady Acres (cool dive bar), and plenty more that you can find by just walking around at night.

There are also several interesting nightclubs where DJs play something different, less mainstream than the EDM/Hip-Hop you can hear in LFK.

Among them, The Quality Goods Club (expensive supper club in a basement with tasty food and eclectic DJs), Padre (packed on weekends, underground vibe, techno/house/old school music), and Oma (also a techno club, with Funktion-One sound system).

Outside Soho, two other similar nightclubs are worth mentioning: The LGBT-friendly Mihn Club (written 宀 Club, it's very dark, smoky, underground, no seats or table) and Social Room.

Finally, the stunning Iron Fairies bar is definitely a must-try. Designed by Ashley Sutton, the creator of several beautiful bars all around Asia (including Dragonfly in Hong Kong), it features a daily live band (soul, jazzy tunes, R'n'B). HK$200 entrance with a drink.

→ Wan Chai

Often seen as the red light district of Hong Kong, this is a popular party area among older expats and foreigners. Apart from the naughty venues (mainly a few hostess bars and massage parlors on Lockhart Road), you'll find a bunch of great expat pubs such as Queen Victoria, Churchill's, Trafalgar, Carnegie, and Delaney's.

The red light area in Wan Chai is actually quite small. Once you leave Lockhart street, you won't notice anything special compared to other parts of the city. It is actually a wealthy part of town, with offices, luxury apartments, schools, etc. The area near Sun Street, Star Street, Moon Street and Ship Street is quite pleasant if you are looking for trendy cafés, restaurants and bars to hangout.

Finally, on Sundays, Wan Chai is also where many Indonesian and Filipina workers party on their day off. Their favorite bars, like Escape, Amazonia, or Joe Banana will be packed.

Recommended hotel near Wan Chai nightlife:
⭐⭐⭐⭐Burlington Hotel (rated 8.1/10, US$80 per night) - Good value for money, guest-friendly, located on Hennesy road (1 street away from the red light district on Lockhart street).

Must-Try Nightlife Experiences in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Jockey Club

For both a great festive environment and an unmissable local cultural attraction, the Hong Kong Jockey Club comes to life every Wednesday evening. Starting early at 7pm, there is a $10HKD fee to enter the ring and watch horse races until 10pm.

The horse track is enormous, endowed by the silhouette of skyscrapers in the background. While betting on horses is certainly part of the attraction, there is also live music between races, craft beers, dancing and celebrating. On the bleachers, you can observe what seems to be the taxi drivers that zoom around Hong Kong during the day, deeply concentrated on their newspapers in order to bet on the right horse to score big.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club on Wednesday night is a unique event, but make sure to come early because, after the final race at around 9.30pm, the festivities are over. Generally, if the gamble has gone well, the partygoers will then shift to Wan Chai Wednesday to celebrate.

Drinking at the International Financial Centre (IFC)

As Hong Kong remains a pricey place to live in, and even pricier to go out in, students and locals have found hacks to still enjoy the natural beauty and ambiance without breaking the bank.

Carrying open cans of alcohol in public spaces is legal in Hong Kong. Many young adults will buy alcohol at a local 7/11 and consume it on the roof of the International Finance Centre – one of the most famous skyscrapers in the Hong Kong skyline. On the roof, there are benches, a garden and arguably the best view of the port. You can sit on the roof, bring a speaker and drink with your friends while enjoying a view of Kowloon’s light show on the other side of the port.

It’s cheap, economical and authentically Hong Kong.

Bogota is Colombia's capital and largest city (8 million people). It is much less touristy than Cartagena or Medellin, probably because of the weather (a bit cold and rainy) and the traffic situation.

In terms of nightlife, though, Bogota is certainly the best place for partying in Colombia (and one of the best in Latin America). You have at least 50 nightclubs, hundreds of bars and countless live music venues where you can dance salsa, champeta, vallenato, kizomba, zouk or tango, etc.

In this Bogota nightlife review, I will give you a list of tips to prepare your night out: Nightlife areas and where to stay nearby, the top bars and nightclubs you can't miss, how to meet people, how to stay safe, etc.

If you still have questions, please just leave a comment at the end of the article.

Bogota Nightlife Areas + Hotels

As you can see on the map above (click here to enlarge), there are three main nightlife areas in Bogota:

- Zona Rosa

- Chapinero

- Parque 93

Let's have a look at each of them in details:

Zona Rosa/Zona T

Bogota nightlife is highly concentrated in a party area called Zona Rosa/Zona T. On a map, Zona Rosa goes pretty much from Avenida 79 to Avenida 85, and from Carrera 11 to Carrera 15. Zona T is a smaller part of Zona Rosa, basically the pedestrian area next to the shopping mall Andino.

The easiest way to party in Bogota is to go to Zona Rosa, walk around, and go to whatever bars and clubs you find most appealing. You could start by drinking a few beers in bars like El Irish, BBC, El Mono Bandido, then head for one of the popular clubs of the area like Mad Radio (house/techno), El Coq (techno), Clandestino (crossover music), or Presea (latin/reggaeton).

If you come to Bogota for partying, I think it's best to sleep in Zona Rosa so you won't need a taxi to go back home. This is a very safe neighborhood where you will be comfortable to walk at any time of the day or night.

The main problem is that the hotels there can be quite expensive. The two best affordable choices are Avani Royal Zona T (US$70 per night) and Hotel Saint Simon (US$57 per night).

You also have two 5-star hotels, Sofitel and the Four Seasons, but they cost over 200US$ per night.

Chapinero
Another recommended location with plenty of bars and clubs is Chapinero. This is a middle-upper class neighborhood, popular with students, with a lot of affordable restaurants. It is slightly less safe than Zona Rosa, but more authentic. It is also within 15-20 minutes from the historic city center.

On a map, it goes from Calle 44 to Calle 74 and from Carrera 4 to Avenida Caracas. As you can see, it is considerably larger than Zona Rosa:

Many of the best nightclubs in Chapinero are located along Carrera 13, and near the Basílica Nuestra Señora de Lourdes. I think staying anywhere nearby would be an ideal choice to enjoy the neighborhood's vibe and the nightlie.

However, be aware that unlike in Zona Rosa, it is not really safe to walk around in Chapinero at night. Furthermore, the venues are more spread out so you will certainly need to use Uber to go from one place to another.

A great budget hotel in Chapinero is Hotel Vilar, which costs around US$30 per night and is located in the heart of the district, near a bus stop. Nearby, the Mercure Hotel offers excellent value for money (rated 8.6, US$45 per night). More expensive, Embassy Suites by Hilton (US$90 / night) is next to Zona G (Zona Gourmet), an area full of trendy restaurants, cafés and bars.

Parque 93

The nightlife in the area surrounding Parque 93 is more laidback and less touristy. This is one of the nicest residential neighborhoods to live in Bogota, so you can feel it has an exclusive vibe.

There isn't any big nightclub there, but many bars like Black Bear, El Mono Bandido, BBC Cerveria, Apache, or District. It is pretty safe, even at night, and it's just 5 minutes by taxi from Zona Rosa.

Bogota Travel Tips

Weather
Bogota's weather is quite stable all year round. The average temperature is 20°C (68°F) during the day and 9°C (48°F) at night. It rains a little bit almost every day, particularly during the wet seasons (March to May and September to December). This means that you'll usually need to bring a jacket with you when going out.

Mobile Phone
It is really useful to have the internet with you at all times while in Colombia. Personally, I bought a Claro sim card with 2.2GB of data directly at the airport in Bogota for just above 40,000 Colombian Pesos (COP) - US$13. If you don't buy it at the airport, you can find shops easily on the streets or in malls. Recommended providers apart from Claro are Movistar and Tigo.

Going Around
There is no metro/subway in Bogota, but they have buses with dedicated lanes. Called Transmilenio, I was using them quite often during the day as they go quickly to most of the major sights in the city. It is comfortable, except during rush hours (5PM to 8PM) when you will be squeezed in with hundreds of other commuters. You can buy a Frequent User Card and top it up with credit. Each ride will then cost you around 3000 COP (US$0.70).

After 11PM, there are no buses available so you'll have to take taxis or Uber. The cost is reasonable, about US$5 for a 20-minute ride in the evening. Avoid walking at night when going out of clubs, except in the Zona T/Zona Rosa.

Safety
If this is your first trip to Bogota, you may feel apprehensive because of its past reputation as a drug and murder capital. This is no longer the case, but you still need to be careful.

To make things simple, safe neighborhoods are in the North. In Zona Rosa, Chico, Virrey or Parque 93, you have little to worry about, even late at night and even when you are alone in the streets.

Then the situation gradually deteriorates as you go to the South of the city.

In Chapinero or La Candelaria (tourist area), it gets more tricky. During the day, it is safe as long as you stay in busy streets. At night, do not walk home by yourself going back from nightclubs, even for short distances.

Further South is supposed to be even more dangerous and you should avoid going there alone for no reasons.

Wherever you are, avoid tempting wannabe thieves and pickpockets. Do not show your cameras, cell phones, wallets, jewelry or valuables.

Bogota Nightlife Tips

This is what you should know before heading out to party in Bogota:

Events
I follow these Instagram accounts to know about parties in Bogota:

- BCapitalTechno and Techn0event for electronic music

- Qué Hay Pa Hacer (generalist)

Price of Clubbing
Many high-end bars and clubs in Zona Rosa will charge an entrance fee on weekends. It is usually very reasonable, between COP20,000 and COP50,000 depending on the event.

Typically, cheap bars will charge COP5,000 for a 33cl can of beer, COP10,000 for hard drinks or cocktails. In upper-class venues, you can expect to pay COP10,000/15,000 for a beer, COP25,000/30,000 for a nice cocktail, COP300,000 for a bottle of premium alcohol (Black Label, Jack Daniel's, Grey Goose, etc).

If you are on a budget, you can share with your friends a bottle of locally-made Aguardiente. It is usually cheap (COP50,000 to COP80,000 for a bottle).

When to Party
Wednesday and Friday are the biggest nights out. Surprisingly, Saturdays can be quiet as many Colombians will stay with their families on Sunday. Some clubs are open until 5AM, but generally, the peak clubbing time is 2AM.

Music
The DJs of most nightclubs will play "crossover", a mix of popular Latin and EDM tracks that can include reggaeton, pop, salsa, merengue, champeta, bachata, etc. It's always music that makes people want to dance.

Bogota, compared to Medellin, has a very strong techno scene as well, with at least 10 venues specializing in it.

Dress Code
In Zona T, avoid wearing sandals and jeans. They are rarely accepted. Plus they make you look like a tourist. Remember that the weather is cold at night so it's weird not to be wearing pants.

Meeting people

If you are new to Bogota and you want to make some new international friends, go to Gringo Tuesday, a fun weekly language exchange that brings together travelers, digital nomads, backpackers, and locals.

Speaking Spanish will help you tremendously to make friends in Colombia as English is not widely spoken. The country is a great place to learn the language because it is spoken with a neutral, easy-to-understand accent. Personally, I learned to say the basics stuff quite rapidly (2 months) using the free version of Mondly App, then practicing during Uber rides, dates, daily activities. It helps that Colombians are friendly and easy to talk to.

Dating in Bogota

ColombianCupid is an interesting option to meet Colombians if you are not in Bogota yet and you want to make some contacts prior to your trip. This dating site has thousands of members, many of whom do not mind long-distance relationships.

Some of my friends use the luxury dating site Seeking.com instead. It is extremely effective as you have over 8,000 users in Bogota only. Many are beautiful, but they have some financial expectations.

Bogota Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs

Kaputt

Large venue with different kind of music, from latin rhythms to techno (last floor). Surprisingly, a lot of people openly using drugs (Ecstasy, marijuana). Entrance is COP20,000 before 10PM and COP30,000 after that. Fun, alternative crowd. LGBT-friendly.

Mad Radio

An alternative space in Zona Rosa. 3 different rooms, each with their own music (electronic, house, retro, 80s, hip-hop, latin): the patio, the terrace, and the music hall. They also have branches in Miami, Barcelona and Medellin. Price: COP 30,000.

Similar venue: Paradisco

Video Club

Fantastic club with electronic music (techno, tech-house, deep house, acid jazz, etc) in the main room (600 pax), and Latin beats in the smaller one. It is housed in a renovated warehouse which gives the perfect underground vibe. They regularly have famous international DJs (Ben UFO, Legowelt, etc). Open until 5AM. Entrance fee from COP25,000 up to COP50,000.

Theatron

A gigantic nightclub, presumably the largest in Latin America with 13 different rooms and a total capacity of 5000 people. It is officially a gay club and, as such, you will see male gogo dancers/transexual singers. Yet, there are also a lot of straight visitors in the crowd, including tourists. You can listen to almost every style of music: Salsa, house, EDM, techno, reggaeton, pop-rock, etc. Cover charge a bit expensive (COP60,000) but it gets you free drinks (open-bar) until 2AM. It's best to visit when completely packed (Friday, Saturday, special days like Halloween or Carnival).

Club Octava

Large club with a futuristic design built on 3 floors (techno, electro, house, EDM, Reggaeton). Nice terrace on the rooftop. Entrance fee around COP30,000. Beer at COP20,000. Mid-to-upper class crowd.

Andres Carne de Res

An iconic restaurant, bar and club that you should try at least once. Several floors with a beautiful, unique décor. There are two locations: One in Chia, about 45 kilometers from the city center, and one near Zona Rosa (Andres DC). The Chia branch is better, but you'll still have a lot of fun in the second one. You can go there for dinner around 8PM, order plenty of drinks, then join the party. Crossover music. There is a cover charge on weekends of around COP15,000-COP20,000.

El Coq

Small, upscale bar featuring electronic music/deep house/indie rock. It is owned by a group of Colombian celebrities, including the actor Andres Juan. Beautiful yet pretentious crowd.

Clandestino

A new club with an upmarket crowd. Strict door policy: If possible come with at least one girl. Music is mostly electronic on the rooftop. They have a second room with crossover music.

Egua

One of my favorite spots in Zona Rosa at the moment. They host the weekly party "I love Miercoles" that often features great electronic/techno DJs. They have several spaces, including a restaurant that serves Asian food. Music is quite eclectic. COP 30,000 to enter.

Latino Power

This club located in Chapinero is a great location to listen to live Colombian artists. Various genres are played: Indie Rock, Funk, Ska, Champeta, etc. Alternative crowd. LGBT friendly. Entrance fee varies according to the event (usually COP20,000 to COP30,000).

Presea Rooftop

Rooftop bar in Zona Rosa reputed for its reggaeton and perreo nights. Can be loud and tiring.

4.40 Music Hall

A laid-back medium-sized club where you can eat, sing and dance. Live bands and DJs play a bit of everything as long as it is festive (salsa, rock, top 40, merengue, bachata, etc). The crowd is older than average (over 35 years old). Popular with large groups celebrating special events. Owned by the successful Evedesa group which is also behind Bungalow Rooftop.

Disco Jaguar

Retro club with 2 rooms. Music changes depending on the DJ: Reggaeton, soul, disco, funk. Crowd is over 30 and mostly made of Colombian groups. Cover charge is around 20,000 COP.

Toni-K

Do you find Chapinero or Zona Rosa too touristy/boring? There are some cool clubs in Bogota that are completely unknown to foreigners. Toni-K is one of them. It is cheaper than average, fun, authentic, and quite friendly as long as you can speak some Spanish.

Bungalow Rooftop

A trendy rooftop bar, popular with the local elite. Located just above 4.40 Music Hall, tiny entrance. The same group also owns the Furia (also upper class, crossover music).

Colombian Music Clubs and Bars

The clubs I listed above all have crossover, electro or reggaeton music. To experience a more local side of Bogota nightlife, you can try one of these bars and clubs:

Matildelina Bar

Famous bar to listen to and dance to vallenato music. This slow-paced genre comes from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and it is characterized by the use of accordion. Large stage with a band all night long.

La Negra

This club specializes in music from the Pacific and Atlantic coast, such as Marimba, Zouk, Champeta and Electrocumbia. They also serve traditional drinks like Arrechon or Viche. Popular with the NGO/Embassy expat crowd.

Casa Quiebra Canto

Famous bar to dance salsa. A bit touristy. For a more local place, go to El Goce Pagano.

I would not recommend going to KL specifically for partying, but if you happen to be in town, there are enough good venues to have fun.

Keep reading for a summary of everything you need to know to enjoy the city's nightlife.

Comments, criticism and questions are welcome, just write them below at the end of the article.

Nightlife Areas, Clubs, Bars + Hotels

You can click on the map above to see the full list of the best bars and nightclubs in the city.

There are various party districts in Kuala Lumpur, each with their distinct atmosphere:

- Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang: Middle-class, backpackers, young tourists, mainstream

- KLCC: High-end, 30+ tourists, business people, rooftops

- Jalan Petaling: Trendy, alternative, small clubs, speakeasies, cocktails

- TREC: Upper-class, mixed crowd

- Bangsar, Damansara, Sri Hartama: Rich locals, expat, neighborhood vibe

Here's what you need to know about each of these areas:

Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang

This is a small and lively street in downtown KL with numerous restaurants, cafés, bars, and nightclubs.

It is rather messy, with traffic jams, street sellers and a constant flow of people on the sidewalk. The crowd is mixed, and it includes many foreigners, particularly backpackers/tourists. There are also some Middle-easterners due to the proximity of Arab Street (Bukit Bintang). It is not a very stylish area and you'll be fine wearing shorts and sandals in all venues.

Generally speaking, the bars and clubs on Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang are not too expensive, not too sophisticated, and the DJs play mainstream music. Many venues have a Latin/Spanish theme, such as Havana (Latin music) and Pisco bar (Peruvian restaurant with latin nights on Mondays). Both are among the best bars in the area.

The best way to explore the neighborhood is by foot and visit whatever place seems more appealing to you.

Where to stay near Jalan Bukit Bintang:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ramada Suites by Wyndham (rated 8.4/10, US$70 per night)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stay Collection Bukit Bintang (rated 8.6/10, US$40 per night)

KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center)
This is the most prestigious address in KL, home to the world-famous Petronas tower. It is the main business district in the city, and also a shopping/tourism hub.

For the party-goer, the main reason to go there is to try some upscale bars, clubs and rooftops, many of which are located inside 5-star hotels. Here are a few recommended ones:

Kyo

Located in the Mandarin Hotel, it is the best club if you are rich and under 25. R'n'B/Hip-Hop/Electronic music. Often packed and you may need to queue to get in if you don't book a sofa. The entrance fee is around MYR60.

Pitt Club

Beautiful, modern club, with EDM/techno/hardstyle DJs. It was #66 on DJ Mag's Top 100 clubs in the world. Open from Wednesday to Sunday. Ladies night on Wednesday. MYR65 entrance with one drink.

Gēmu Club

Similar to Pitt, but less impressive, with fast-paced EDM, and a mainly Malaysian-Chinese crowd.

Sky Bar

Inside the 4-star Shangri La Traders Hotel. Best view on the Petronas towers, but not a pleasant vibe. It feels like an airport lounge. Also have an indoor swimming pool. Expensive.

The Heli Lounge Bar

Impressive rooftop that features a 360° view from a helipad and hosts regular live bands. Check their instagram for parties.

Vertigo

My favorite. Highest rooftop in KL at the moment, on the 59th floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. Chic and expensive.

Marini on 57

Upscale lounge/restaurant very close to the towers. Pricey but perfect for a date. Dress code is implemented (no shorts, no sandals).

Where to stay near KLCC:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Banyan Tree (rated 9.3/10, US$220 per night)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Novotel KLCC (rated 8.4/10, US$80 per night)
⭐⭐⭐ de King Boutique Hotel (rated 8.3/10, US$45 per night)

Petaling Street Area

This is a more recent nightlife area that consists of just a few streets in the heart of KL's Chinatown, including the charming Lorong Panggung. It is where 25+ hip locals, some young expats, digital nomads, and some backpackers hang out.

Most venues are located inside insta-friendly, colonial, two-story shophouses that have been more or less restored. They have unique concepts (though usually imported global trends), and will predominantly feature alternative music DJs/bands. Almost all are small places, mainly cocktails bars and speakeasies. A few only have loud music and a dance floor.

It is also a great neighborhood for eating out, so I recommend you to dine there first, then walk around and try a few bars/clubs.

For instance, you can check Concubine (hip-hop/latin music, fun for dancing), XO (hip-hop, urban music, in a rugged setting), or PS150 (cocktail bar with a retro-Chinese vibe):

Where to stay near Jalan Petaling:
⭐⭐ Yu Hotel Chinatown (rated 9/10, US$30 per night)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four Points by Sheraton Chinatown (rated 9/10, US$80 per night)

TREC

Many popular nightlife spots in KL are located in a complex called TREC which is located about 5-10 minutes by car from the city center. It used to be very trendy before COVID, when Zouk Club was there, but nowadays it is going downhill (in my opinion).

There are still a few interesting bars and clubs to visit, though. It is also very convenient as you can bar-hop from one place to another very easily. On weekends, most of them will be crowded and fun.

The venues I recommend there are Iron Fairies (same as HK, a visually-stunning bar with quality live music), Spark (the club replacing Zouk), Trak (Live music, Afrobeats, Hip Hop, RnB), Reggae Bar (self-explanatory), or Arte Bar (Non-commercial dance music and hip-hop).

Outside of the city center

Several upscale neighborhoods have nice bars, especially in Bangsar, Bukit Damansara, or Sri Hartamas where wealthy locals and expats live.

In Bangsar, you have several pubs and bars in Jalan Telawi 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Among them, the best one is the rooftop bar Mantra.

In Damansara, you can head to Damansara Height, a chic, leafy area where bars and restaurants are lined up one after the other. Check Jungle Bird (tropical bar), Skullduggery (cocktails) or Benang (speakeasy).

In Sri Hartamas, Kokomo (good afterwork to meet people) and Vault (packed little cocktail bar) are the busy spots.

Cartagena is Colombia's 5th most populous city, and the most visited after Bogota and Medellin.

Well-known for its UNESCO-listed fortress, it also boasts sunny beaches, delicious food, and a wild nightlife.

Partying in Cartagena has a distinctive tropical holiday vibe. Think vibrant colors, fruity cocktails, lively Latin music, and clubs filled with friendly people from all over the world.

Continue reading for a complete review of the best venues to party in Cartagena, along with plenty of tips to help you make the most of your night out.

What to Expect at Night in Cartagena

Here are a few things to know when partying in Cartagena:

Party Streets

There are two main party streets in Cartagena:

- Carrera 6 in the old center (near its crossing with Calle 34) = The main one and most touristy

- Calle 30 in Getsemani (near the Parque Centenario) = More local, with many salsa bars and cheaper prices

Both streets are only a 10-minute walk apart, so there you can easily visit both of them in one night.

Weather

This is a Caribbean beach city. Don’t bring your suits or even a blazer here. Cartagena is hot, humid and you’ll be walking between venues. Choose light clothes, including shorts, knowing that few places have a strict dress code.

Budget

As you can expect from a touristic city, prices are often inflated, especially if you are used to drinking in Bogota or Medellin. The average price for drinks in bars is 8-11$, and there is often a cover charge to pay to get into clubs (between 5$ and 10$).

When to Party

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday are usually dead. Things get better on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the busiest. Don't visit clubs before 1AM, unless you want to get in for free (usually before midnight).

Crowd

You’re guaranteed to see many foreigners out in the bars and clubs in Cartagena, especially in the neighborhoods of Bocagrande, Getsemani, and the old city. Many Americans, but also latinos from nearby countries as well, such as Brazil or Mexico.

Safety

You shouldn’t have many safety issues when going out at night in Cartagena as long as you stick to the 3 main touristic areas: The Old Town, Getsemani and Bocagrande.

They are generally safe to walk around - even when stumbling drunk late at night.

I would advise you not to visit other neighborhoods at night, especially if you are alone (and planning to get drunk).

Dating

As a tourist, your best chance of meeting a Colombian girl in Cartagena is to prepare your trip in advance. You can start chatting even if you are not in the country yet using these websites:

Colombian Cupid

The most recommended website for finding a Colombian girlfriend from abroad is ColombianCupid. It has hundreds of girls online, most of whom do not mind a long-distance relationship with a foreign man. It also has some prostitutes, so make that clear from the beginning.

Seeking.com
This famous luxury dating website works very well in Colombia. I personally didn't try it, but my friends swear by it. According to them, you won't find prettier girls anywhere else online.

Tinder, Bumble, Hinge

The more traditional dating apps are another option. But based on my experience, they only work if you are young, handsome and/or living in Cartagena.

Cartagena Nightlife Areas + Hotels

You can click on the map above to enlarge.

If you want to be walking distance from 90% of the best clubs and bars in Cartagena, I recommend you to stay near the Torre Del Reloj (Clock Tower) in the historical center. As it turns out, this is also the best location for exploring the city's colonial district.

Since this is a rather expensive neighborhood, you could also choose a hotel in the nearby Getsemani area, for instance near the Trinidad Square or the Parque Centenario. It is a less polished part of town, more authentic, but still very safe and you'll have access to many cool bars and clubs there (Café Havana, Club 7). To go to the bar street in the historic center, you'll need to walk about 10 minutes.

Bocagrande is another safe location. It's a more modern neighborhood where rich Colombians live in apartment buildings. It has a beach, a mall, many restaurants and fast-food chains, but it's not really charming and the nightlife is limited.

These are the best hotels to stay in Cartagena if you want to be able to walk to nightclubs and bars. They have a 24-hour reception, they have high ratings, and they offer excellent value-for-money:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 200$ per night: Hotel Boutique Casona del Colegio (historic center)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ under 100$ per night: Hotel Boutique Las Carretas (historic center)

- ⭐⭐⭐ under 50$ per night: Hotel La Magdalena (Getsemani)

- ⭐⭐ under 20$ per night: Hostal La Española (Getsemani)

Best Bars and Clubs in Cartagena

Alquimico Bar

Trendy bar on 3 levels (bar, restaurant, rooftop) in the heart of Cartagena's party district. It serves some of the best cocktails in town, mostly Rum-based (around 8-10$ each). Fun atmosphere, it is easily the most popular nightlife spot in Cartagena. It was also ranked among the Top 10 bars in the world.

It gets crowded with mostly foreigners from Thursday to Saturday starting at 11PM. Music can be Latin or house/electronic.

If you like this kind of place, you may also want to check out the restaurant-bar El Baron, which is just a few minutes away, walking distance. It is a smaller venue, perfect for a few drinks before starting your night out.

Cafe Havana

Located in the Getsemani neighborhood, it is a famous and touristy salsa club with a typically Latin atmosphere. Bill and Hillary Clinton went there a few years ago on a trip to Cartagena. 10$ cover charge to get in. Crowded inside so book a table ahead if possible. Cuban music (mostly covers) from a live band starts after 11PM. Rather upmarket, so try to dress up a bit. Small dance floor, usually packed.

On the same street as Havana, there are two more authentic salsa bars that you can try: Vueltabajero and Casa Quiebracanto. A bit further away, Donde Fidel, next to the Hard Rock Café, and Crazy Salsa are also recommended.

Taboo

This is a down-to-earth nightclub with two floors in Getsemani targeting middle-class Colombians. It is more affordable than its competitors, and you'll see less tourists (though there are still many). The music is crossover, so you'll hear a bit of everything in one night (reggaeton, EDM, hip-hop). Entrance fee is less than USD3. Beer is USD5.

Nearby, La Farra is a similar venue.

La Movida Gastro Bar

One of the hippest bars/clubs/restaurants in Cartagena, it is normally packed on weekends with a beautiful crowd. Dress up if you want to visit as it is not rare to be refused entry. Good for meeting people. No prostitutes. Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 9PM. Latin house music. Serves Tapas.

La Jugada Clubhouse

A high-end club owned by the same guy behind La Movida. The concept is similar: It is a multi-storied club with a rooftop and a central bar on the first floor. Different music on every level, from reggaeton to EDM.

Chic crowd, mostly Colombian. Do not come wearing sandals or shorts. Prices are expensive (10-12$ for cocktails) and you may have to book a table to get in as a group.

Eivissa

This multi-storied rooftop bar is a large venue, filled with mostly tourists, both locals and foreigners. Nice views on the Torre del Reloj from there. You have to pay an entrance fee of 7$ to get in, and then the drinks are pretty expensive inside. On weekend nights, it can get annoyingly packed. Service was unfriendly. The music is different on both floors (Reggaeton in one, EDM in the other).

Nearby, with the same view as Eivissa, you can find the Gastro Pub Mirador. It is more upmarket, perfect for having a few drinks before partying:

Seven Times

A unique nightlife venue with 7 rooms, including a rooftop. They feature a burlesque show that starts before midnight. A bit touristy and expensive, but fun. The entrance fee is almost USD20 unfortunately.

Barzuto Social Club

This is the best club to hear Champeta music, a style specific to the area around Cartagena. They also play reggae and afro-beat music. Come after 11PM and you'll see a sweaty dance floor with a mixed crowd of Colombians and tourists. The setting is not too sophisticated, but it looks authentic and colorful.

Cafe del Mar

Amazing views and Caribbean views in the Old Town. This is a great spot to have a few drinks to start the night off right. The food is decent, too. Not for partying, but more of a pregame place.

The capital of Peru and the 3rd largest city in Latin America after Sao Paulo and Mexico, Lima has a huge nightlife scene. I was very surprised to discover that there are an endless number of bars and nightclubs, not only in the center, but in all the districts and suburbs of this sprawling megalopolis.

You will find a bit of everything: High-end nightclubs filled with socialites, retro 80s and 90s discos, cheap backpacker watering holes, swanky beach clubs, trendy rooftop bars, packed salsotecas, and even several red-light districts.

To help you make the most out of your nights out, you can read my Lima party tips below. If you still have questions/remarks, please write a comment.

Summary of Lima Nightlife
This is a long article. Here it is summarized:

- Where to stay near Lima nightlife: Parque Kennedy in Miraflores, for instance in Hotel Antigua Miraflores (USD 65 per night, rated 9.2)

- Busiest party streets: Calle Francisco de Paula Camino, Calle Berlin, Calle Manuel Bonilla. All walking distance from Parque Kennedy in Miraflores.

- Popular nightclubs among foreigners: Bizarro, Noise, La Noche

- Popular among high-end locals: Mandala, Lima Bar
- Best bars: Open Tapas Bar, La Cachina
- LGBT nightlife: ValeTodo

What to Expect at Night in Lima

This is what you should know before heading out for partying in Lima:

Price of Clubbing
Naturally, there are big differences between the cheap backpacker bars and the high-end clubs in Boulevard de Asia.

Low-class venues will generally not charge an entrance fee. The 330ml can of beer costs around 8 sol (USD 2.5). A mixed drink will be slightly more expensive, 10-13 sol (USD 3-4), and a cocktail will be 16 sol (USD 5).

Upmarket clubs will often charge you 20-30 sol for entrance on weekends (USD 6-9). In the top nightclubs, it can reach 50 sol (USD 15). Beers will cost 14-20 sol (USD 4-6), mixed drinks 20-30 sol (USD 6-9), and cocktails 23-40 sol (USD 7-12). Talking about cocktails, the one you should try in Peru is Pisco Sour.

Overall, Lima is not dirt-cheap for partying but it is affordable. For a fun night out on a weekend, prepare to spend at least USD 50.

When to Party:
You can go out almost any night of the week in Lima, though it is generally quieter during weekdays. From Sunday to Thursday, it's best to stick to Miraflores as the bars there are busier.

Nightclubs tend to peak around 1AM and they close around 3 AM on weekdays, 5 AM on weekends.

Music:
Most clubs will play a mix of EDM or Latin beats (in particular reggaeton). There is not a strong techno scene in Lima, but you can follow Superclub for regular events.

Door Policy:
You can usually avoid paying the entrance fee if you ask to be on the guest list prior to going to a club. Just send them a message on Facebook and it should be fine. You will probably need to arrive in advance, though, before midnight or 1AM.

You should always bring your ID with you.

Wearing pants and proper shoes is mandatory in almost every club.

Safety
The neighborhoods of Miraflores, San Isidro (rich, modern business area) and Barranco are reasonably safe during the day and night. Crime might happen, but there are no reasons to worry more than you would at home. Just don't flash your jewelry, cell phones or money and you'll be fine.

For the other neighborhoods, for instance, the historic center, they are fine during the day as long as you're cautious. At night, avoid them or use a taxi to go from one place to the other. In any case, trust your instinct: If you feel uncomfortable somewhere, turn around.

Weather

Don't assume (like I did) that Lima is a tropical city with a year-round warm climate. This is only true in the summer months, from mid-December to mid-April. Then, the temperatures reach 28°C on average during the day (82°F) and 18°C at night (64°F). It is also less humid with few clouds and almost no rain.

Winters in Lima can be quite cold, with around 18°C during the day (64°F) and 10°C at night (50°F). It is humid, cloudy and foggy, which makes the city a bit depressing. You will certainly need a jacket during those months.

Lima nightlife is more interesting during the summer months as there are more nightclubs open, especially in the southern coastal areas.

Peruvian Sim Card
If you have an unlocked phone, you can buy a local Sim Card quite easily in the city center (it's more expensive at the airport). The top providers in Peru are Claro and Movistar. A cheaper alternative is Bitel (from what I heard, it works well in the major cities). Bring your passport with you for the registration. The cost is about USD 5 for a Sim Card and USD 8 for 1.5GB of data (valid 2 weeks).

Lima Nightlife Areas + Hotels

If you are a foreigner, there are only a few nightlife areas where you can go safely:

Miraflores:

Miraflores is an upscale neighborhood with tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. It also has a nice pedestrian walk along the coastline. It is rather safe, even at night. For all these reasons, it is the most foreigner-friendly area in Lima.

Most of the night time action happens in the streets near Parque Kennedy, such as Calle Francisco de Paula Camino, Calle Berlin, and Calle Manuel Bonilla. You can just head there and you will see loads of young people partying.

Best clubs and bars in Miraflores:

👉 Bizarro

One of the busiest nightclubs in Miraflores. Large numbers of foreigners from all the hostels around, especially on Wednesdays. Many Peruvian girls, it's a bit of a hook-up place. It has two floors with two kinds of music (EDM/Latin). Overall, a bit low-class but fun if you want to get drunk with travelers. 50 sol entrance fee. Close at 3AM on weekends.

👉 Open Tapas Bar

Classy bar/restaurant, crowded on weekends with 30+ executives and expats. It's a good place to start your night out if you are part of a group.

👉 La Cachina Bar

Popular bar with an international crowd and reasonable prices.

In the same street, you can also try BarBarian (5 locations) and Eka Bar.

👉 Lima Bar

A chic elite bar inside Larcomar Mall. The venue itself is clean, well-designed and expensive. Not that many customers. Opens on Friday and Saturday only until 6AM.

👉 Mandala

Large, upmarket venue near Parque Kennedy. Big dance floor with a high ceiling and a mezzanine, surrounded by VIP tables. Latin music, mostly reggaeton, from DJs or live bands. There's also a more quiet terrace where you can eat. Entrance fee is s/.150, beers about s/. 15. Dress up as they have stricter than average bouncers.

👉 Sukha

About 5 minutes by foot from Calle Berlin, this dark restaurant/lounge/bar is a copy of Buddha Bar. Nice design and atmosphere. Live music or DJ, usually slightly upbeat tunes. Good for bringing a date.

Where to stay near Miraflores nightlife:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Estelar Miraflores (USD 100 per night, rated 8.5).

⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Antigua Miraflores (USD 65 per night, rated 9.2)

⭐⭐ Selina Posada Miraflores 12 dollars per night dorms

Barranco:

Barranco is more authentic, less expensive, with a more relaxed vibe. It is popular with a rather diverse crowd of middle-to-upper class locals and foreigners, students, artists, digital nomads, and some tourists.

Best clubs and bars in Barranco:

👉 La Noche

3 bars in this classic venue of Lima nightlife. Live indie/rock/pop/latin/jazz bands every night (except Sunday). Student/intellectual/bohemian crowd. Check their Facebook for events. The entrance fee varies from 0 to 60 sol.

👉 Sargento Pimienta

A bar that's more like a mini-concert venue. Different live bands and music styles every night of the week. It is worth going to their salsa parties every Tuesday. Hipster and student crowd. Affordable prices. Closes at 4AM.

👉 Kaos

Very crowded club with reggaeton. Upmarket crowd. You will normally need to be on the guest list to enter. You can contact them on Facebook in advance for that. No tourists.

👉 Noise Discoteca

This is a weekly party, every Friday, that usually gets pretty packed. The club is huge, probably the largest in Barranco. DJs and live bands play Latin hip-hop and reggaeton. Expect to queue before entering.

In the same location, there is another party every Saturday called Armoni.

👉 Barranco Bar

Live latin music (salsa) on Wednesdays and Sunday, starting at 9pm.

👉 Ayahuasca Bar

Very famous bar housed in an old mansion. There are many rooms and terraces, each with a different décor. Rather classy. Not really a party place but a must-see for tourists. You can drink a Pisco Sour there early in the night and then move to other venues in Barranco.

Where to stay near Barranco nightlife:

To be close to the best nightclubs and bars, you should stay near the Parque Municipal or the pedestrian street Sanchez Carrión.

There aren't many affordable hotels there apart from Lima Wari (USD 30 per night). However, you'll find plenty of nice apartments on Airbnb.

Centro Historico

This is the area near Plaza San Martin. It is considered a sketchy and unsafe neighborhood, especially at night. I wouldn't go there specifically for partying, but if your hotel is in that area, you could go to the rock bar Vichama.

There is also one of the largest nightclubs in Lima, La Casona de Camana (4 rooms with reggaeton, techno, 90s music and rock, 20 sol entrance fee, closes at 6AM):

South of Lima

The southern coast, in particular the areas of Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, and Asia, has some trendy bars and beach clubs, popular with rich Peruvians. They are usually open only during the summer months, from early January to the end of March.

Among them:

👉 Floripa (Punta Hermosa)

Very large with a beautiful bar in the middle. Trendy.

👉 Joia (Asia)

This club is a bit cheaper. You can manage to get in for 50 sol (or even free if you are on the list). Young crowd. They have live music and/or the usual EDM/Reggaeton. If you go with a group of 10, you have sofa packages starting at 2500 sol with 4 bottles included.

If you are over 40, you can try the nearby Amadeus Club instead (luxury club, strict dress code).

Lince

This is an upper-middle class neighborhood with some excellent local nightclubs such as Xbio (Cumbia) or Kimbara VIP (salsa).

👉 Kimbara VIP

Malang is one of the nicest cities I've been to in Java. It is a mid-sized mountain town just 2 hours from Surabaya, relatively clean (for Indonesia standards) and with pleasant weather (though it can be rainy).

As you would expect, Malang nightlife is very laid-back. Most bars are beer houses or live music cafés that are popular with students. These venues are not so sophisticated and their prices are very affordable. There are some reputed universities in the city (Universitas Negeri Malang in particular), so the crowd is rather educated and you can easily make friends if you are not shy to socialize.

Clubs are a hit and miss. The best ones are modern, with an upmarket crowd and decent entertainment (DJs, bands, dancers). On the other end of the spectrum, you also have a more underground nightlife of seedy karaokes and "executive clubs".

Best Nightclubs, Bars and Cafés in Malang

Rust Bar

A chill pub with live acoustic music, perfect to drink your first beer of the night. It is usually busy with a mixed crowd of students and young professionals who come in groups.

The Nine Club

A modern club, opened in 2018, that consists of a medium-sized main room with high tables and an elevated stage. Most customers are male in their late 20s and 30s. They often have busy events so check their Instagram page for more information.

Zeus Lounge

Popular club/bar with a young crowd. EDM DJs, live music. Low prices.

Levels Brewhouse

Levels Brewhouse was the first beer bar to open in Malang and it is still one of the busiest today. It is cozy, with air con and comfortable sofas, pretty much like a Starbucks actually. They have a selection of foreign beers, including Hoegaarden, Erdinger and Leffe. Live bands and DJs a few nights per week. Sports on TV.

Downtown

A trendy student hangout with an underground urban design. Live music, DJs, and karaoke nights. Prices are decent (30k for a small Bintang).

Bahari Irish Pub

While not a true Irish pub, it is still a pleasant bar with live jazz and a decent choice of beers.

Hugo's

Hugo's is a small and student-oriented bar/restaurant. Located in the basement of the shopping center Cyber Mall (ex-Plaza Dieng, next to City Point), it is a modern venue with good music and friendly staff. The dance floor is tiny, which does not really matter as most clubbers stay around tables.

Music is the usual EDM, Hip-Hop, House, Top 40. Open until 3am except for Sunday.

Best Hotels Near Malang Nightlife

Malang nightlife is rather spread out unfortunately. There isn't a party street or area, but a strategic location would be to stay near the Alun-Alun.

Here are a few hotels nearby:

Hotel Tugu Malang

I was staying in the Hotel Tugu and I believe it was a great choice. It is very central so you can walk to almost any attractions in the city, and also to the train station. The hotel restaurant is one of the best in the city and if you want to try local dishes, you have several street food stalls 5 minutes away.

It is more expensive than average but still reasonable for Western standards. Prices are higher on weekends.

Whiz Prime Basuki Rahmat
This is a budget hotel with a central location, clean facilities and an affordable price. Best of its kind in the city if all you are looking for is a comfortable place to stay with all the basic amenities.

Hotel Aria Gajayana
This hotel is not as centrally located as the two above, but it is still very convenient. The value for money is excellent as you'll pay less than 40$ for 4-star facilities.

I've spent most of the past two years trying the nightlife of various Asian cities, from Indonesia to Kazakhstan. I've written individual reports for most of them (see the tag Asia Nightlife), but I thought it could be useful to make a brief summary recapitulating everything I've learned.

Based on my travels, these are my 20 favorite cities for partying in Asia (I ranked them by order of preference):

Metro Manila

I spent three weeks in Metro Manila (Makati, Malate, Quezon City). It has become one of my favorite metropolises for nightlife due to several factors: Prices are affordable, nightclubs and bars abound, Filipinos are friendly and tourists are still rare.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Safety issues in low-class neighborhoods, traffic jams, slow internet, conservative society (Catholic), disappointing food

✅Easy to navigate nightlife, cheap prices, English is spoken everywhere, large diversity of entertainment venues, 24-hour casinos, fun dating.

Number of nightclubs: 25

Curfew: 5 AM

Prices: Cheap

Dating scene: 👍👍👍 (FilipinaCupid)

Where to party: Poblacion and Burgos Street in Makati, BGC (Bonifacio Global City), The Fort, Quezon City

Where to stay: Makati

For a complete review, you can read Manila Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars.

Saigon

I lived in Saigon for 8 months and I loved it. As the economic capital of Vietnam, it is one of the most happening and fastest-paced cities in Southeast Asia. It is also quite touristy and popular with young Westerners. Its nightlife could be perfect if only Vietnamese clubs were more welcoming toward foreigners.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Traffic jams, very hot during the intermediate season, some difficulties to communicate with Vietnamese, dangerous to walk around.

✅ Cheap. Diverse nightlife. Cosmopolitan city.

Number of nightclubs: 30+

Curfew: 4 AM

Prices: Low

Dating: 👍👍 (VietnamCupid) - Read my article 12 Best Dating Apps in Vietnam

Where to Party: District 1

Where to stay: Near Ben Thanh Market

For a complete review, you can read Saigon Nightlife.

Jakarta

Jakarta nightlife is not as crazy as it used to be 10 years ago (24-hour clubs where everything was permitted), but it is still really fun, especially if you know your way around.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Massive traffic jams, difficulties to walk around, 200% tax on alcohol, growing conservatism.

✅ Safe to visit, friendly people, modern clubs, hipster bars, off-the-beaten-track destination.

Number of nightclubs: 15

Curfew: 4-5 AM

Prices: High (10$ for a cocktail, 4$ for a beer, up to 25$ for an entrance in the best clubs)

Dating: 👍👍👍 (IndonesiaCupid) or Seeking.com (luxury dating)

Where to Party? SCBD, Mega Kuningan, Kemang

Where to stay? See my guide Where to Stay in Jakarta

For a complete review, you can read Jakarta Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars.

Bangkok

Bangkok nightlife is eclectic. Whatever you are looking for, you'll find it there, from world-acclaimed cocktail bars to techno clubs.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Touristy, early curfew, lot of prostitution, some scams.

✅ Busy every night, foreigner-friendly, crazy, affordable prices, good food, easy to get around (even by public transportation), weed legal

Number of nightclubs: At least 30

Curfew: 1-2 AM

Prices: Average (5$ for a cocktail, 2$ for a beer, 15$ for an entrance in the best clubs)

Dating: 👍 (ThaiCupid)

Where to Party: RCA (nightclubs), Khaosan Road (backpacker), Thonglor (high-end), Sukhumvit (red light)

Where to stay: Near Asok BTS

For a complete review, you can read Bangkok Nightlife Guide.

Shanghai

As one of the fastest developing cities in the world, Shanghai is an amazing destination for extravagant parties. It is not a solo destination, though, as most nightclubs are geared towards bottle service. Perfect for a stag or a weekend with a group of friends.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Too many bottle clubs, rather expensive, daily annoyances from government restrictions.

✅ Huge diversity of clubs, easy to get around, small underground scene, interesting crowd of expats and locals

Tip: Subscribe to a VPN service BEFORE arriving in China if you want to keep using Google, Facebook, etc. The most recommended for China is PureVPN.

Number of nightclubs: 40

Curfew: 4 AM

Prices: Average (15-20$ for club entrance)

Dating: 👍👍

Where to Party: Hengshan road, Xintiandi

Where to stay: Near Shanghai Library Station

Taipei

Few people would think about Taipei for a party weekend, and yet they are wrong. The Taiwan capital is home to a wild nightlife, with plenty of sophisticated nightclubs and bars. The locals are welcoming towards foreigners, the prices are reasonable, and you can go almost everywhere by foot.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Nightclubs are only happening on weekends and, to a lesser extent, on Wednesdays.

✅ Taiwanese are foreigner-friendly, prices are moderate (free flow nightclubs available), few tourists around, easy to get around.

Number of nightclubs: 10

Curfew: 4-5 AM

Prices: Moderate (free flow nightclubs available)

Meeting Girls: Moderate (Tinder)

Where to Party: ATT4FUN

Where to stay: Near Taipei 101 MRT

For a complete review, you can read Taiwan Nightlife Guide

Singapore

If it didn't cost 10 euros to buy a beer there, Singapore could be much higher in this ranking. There are dozens of stylish bars and clubs, with an excellent crowd and often famous DJs.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Too expensive, many bottle clubs

✅ Diversity (Indian clubs, Arab clubs, Chinese clubs, Western clubs, Thai clubs, etc), quality DJs, stylish venues, easy to get around, fun Ladies' nights (usually on Wednesdays)

Number of nightclubs: 25

Curfew: 3-4 AM

Prices: High

Dating: 👍👍

Where to Party: Chinatown, Clarke Quay

Where to stay: Near Orchard MRT

For a complete review, you can read Singapore Nightlife Guide

Hong Kong

A world-class city with a plethora of bars and lounges. Some good clubs as well, very modern yet with a strong Chinese influence.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Expensive, limited nightlife on weekdays, small venues

✅ Cosmopolitan crowd, easy to get around, high-quality bar scene

Number of nightclubs: 20

Curfew: 4-5 AM

Prices: Moderate to high

Meeting Girls: 👍

Where to Party: Lan Kwai Fong, Soho, Wanchai

Where to stay: Near MRT Central

Bali: Kuta to Canggu Area

Bali nightlife is mostly located in the south of the island. Kuta is touristy, cheap and tacky, while Seminyak is more sophisticated and popular with long-term residents. Canggu is now the most trendy area, especially among young people and digital nomads. You can have a lot of fun, especially if you decide to rent a big villa for a crazy weekend with friends. After that, it can get a bit boring as you always see and meet the same people over and over.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Bali is surprisingly small and it can sometimes feel like a village.

✅ The diversity of clubs and bars (EDM, techno, Rn'B, etc), the holiday vibe, partying outside.

Number of nightclubs: 15

Curfew: 5 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👍👍👍

Where to party: Jalan Berawa and Batu Bolong (Canggu), Jalan Kayu Aya and Petitenget (Seminyak) or near the 2002 bombing memorial (Kuta)

Where to stay: Near any of the streets above.

For a complete review, you can check: Where to Party in Bali: A Complete Nightlife Guide

Hanoi

Hanoi is not very different from Saigon, to be honest. It is also very touristy and its nightlife is not as conservative as you would think.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Unbearable heat and humidity most of the year (from April to November), loud music in nightclubs, some tourist scams, conservative people

✅ Interesting city to visit, many young foreigners, very cheap (50 cents for a beer)

Number of nightclubs: 20

Curfew: 3 AM

Prices: Low

Dating: 👍👍 (VietnamCupid)

Where to Party: Old Quarter, West Lake

Where to stay: Near the Saint Joseph Cathedral

For a complete review, you can read Hanoi Nightlife Guide

Almaty

Almaty was a great surprise for me. I was initially just passing by while traveling in Central Asia but I ended up staying two weeks. The city is safe, pleasant (at least during spring) and cheap. It has an awesome and fun nightlife too, easily the best in the region.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Only happening on weekends, freezing temperatures in winter

✅ Cheap everything, interesting underground scene

Number of nightclubs: 15

Curfew: 5 AM

Prices: Cheap

Dating: 👍👍

Where to Party: Around the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and Gogol Street

Where to stay: Near Panfilovtsev Park

For a complete review, you can check: Almaty Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs

Phnom Penh

Due to a mix of poverty and corruption, Phnom Penh's nightlife is still one of the craziest in Southeast Asia (though it has been tamed in recent years). It is a popular stop for sex tourists, especially the older and poorer ones. There is also a nascent upmarket and expat scene that is interesting enough for a weekend of clubbing.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Too much prostitution. The city is still underdeveloped, messy and dirty.

✅ Affordable prices. Laid-back vibe. Interesting city to visit as a tourist (temples, markets, museums).

Number of nightclubs: 20

Curfew: 5-6 AM

Prices: Cheap

Dating: 👍

Where to party: Street 51 (Pasteur) or streets 104, 130, 136.

Where to stay: Near Lux Riverside or Sun & Moon Urban Hotel.

For a complete review, you can check Phnom Penh Nightlife.

Phuket

I wouldn't spend a week in Phuket, but for a short weekend, it is fun enough. Most of the nightlife is located in the coastal town of Patong, along Bangla street. You have a bit of everything, including some trendy nightclubs and dirty ping pong shows.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Lots of tourists (and not the best kind), prostitution, overcrowded beach, scams

✅ Everything walking distance, party every night, mixed crowd, reasonable prices

Number of nightclubs: 10

Curfew: 5-6 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👍. Try ThaiCupid.

Where to party: Bangla Road

Where to stay: Near Bangla Road

For a complete review, you can check: Patong Nightlife (Phuket)

Cebu

Cebu is one of the richest and most populous cities in the Philippines. It is also the capital of a beautiful region, popular yet not overcrowded with tourists. Its nightlife is particularly recommended if you are hoping to find a pretty Asian girlfriend. Many Filipinas live there by themselves because they work in one of the numerous call centers or BPOs.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Becoming more touristy (especially among Koreans), rather small and provincial.

✅ Laid-back, cheap, plenty of tourist excursions nearby.

Number of nightclubs: 10

Curfew: 4 AM

Prices: Low

Dating: 👍👍 (FilipinaCupid)

Where to Party: Mango Square, Mango Avenue

Where to stay: Near Mango Square

For a complete review, you can check: Best Nightclubs in Cebu

Pattaya

Pattaya does not have many equivalents in the world. The city has over a thousand bars and probably 10 times as many prostitutes. It is just a huge, 24/7, bordello for sex tourists from all over the world. If you are a regular tourist, you may be amused by it for a few nights, but after that, you'll be begging for a ticket back home.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Seedy atmosphere, very commercial, dirty beach.

✅ Can be a fun destination for a weekend

Number of nightclubs: 20

Curfew: 5-6 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👎 (nearly impossible to meet a non-prostitute)

Where to party: Walking street, Soi LK Metro

Where to stay: Near Central Festival Beach Mall

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur nightlife is similar to that of Singapore in the sense that you have a huge diversity of venues. It is also cheaper. Unfortunately, I never had a really fun night out there, so I'm not a huge fan.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Conservative mentality, limited number of clubs

✅ Affordable, easy to get around, several party streets with different vibes

Number of nightclubs: 20

Curfew: 4 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👍

Where to Party: Petaling street, TREC, Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang

Where to stay: Near Sungei Wang Plaza

For a complete review, you can check: KL Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs

Koh Samui - Koh Phangan

I lived in Koh Phangan for about 6 months a few years ago. This gave me plenty of opportunities to try the famous Full Moon Party (and its sisters: Half Moon Party, Dark Moon Party, Jungle Party). It was not as wild as I was expecting and I quickly got tired of the backpacker crowd, but I still think it's worth trying.

For more sophisticated nights out, I also stopped a few times on the nearby island of Koh Samui. There are more proper nightclubs there (atmosphere similar to Phuket).

In a nutshell:

⛔ Fake alcohol, cost of living higher than on the mainland, a lot of very young male tourists, expensive hotels during full moon parties (book in advance).

✅ Great beaches, massive parties, easy to meet fellow travelers (in the 20-25 range)

Number of nightclubs: 5

Curfew: 5-6 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👍

Where to party: Haad Rin Beach (Koh Phangan), Chaweng (Koh Samui)

Where to stay: Haad Rin (Koh Phangan), Chaweng Walking Street (Koh Samui)

Vang Vieng

Even though Vang Vieng is only a tiny town in the middle of Laos, it used to have some of the craziest parties in Southeast Asia. A major reason for that was the availability of drugs. Things have changed in the past 5 years, unfortunately, after several tourists died. There is still a fun nightlife, split in a few open-air bars that attract young backpackers (Europeans and Koreans).

In a nutshell:

⛔ Small, low-class, repetitive, prices above than average.

✅ The best place to party in Laos, easy to get around, friendly vibe (very young)

Number of nightclubs: 3

Curfew: 3-7 AM

Prices: Low to moderate (as elsewhere in Laos)

Dating: 👍

Where to party: Start in Sakura Bar

Where to stay: Near the Post Office

For a complete review, you can check: Vang Vieng Nightlife

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has a nightlife that caters to three types of visitors: Backpackers, Digital nomads, and local students.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Provincial, very early curfew, not many venues (mostly Thai live music).

✅ Cheap, interesting tourist sights in the city.

Number of nightclubs: 5

Curfew: 1 AM

Prices: Cheap

Dating: 👍👍

Where to party: Nimman (Thai area), Old City (tourist area), Loi Kroh (older foreigners)

Where to stay: Near Tha Phae Gate.

For a complete review, you can check: Chiang Mai Nightlife

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is the only Thai-style, backpacker party island in Indonesia. It's great if you want to meet people, drink cheap beers and try magic mushrooms. During the day, there isn't much to do apart from suntanning and diving.

In a nutshell:

⛔ Overcrowded. Accommodation is more expensive than in Bali.

✅ Beautiful beaches, all the bars are located on one strip by the pier.

Number of nightclubs: 4

Curfew: 5 AM

Prices: Average

Dating: 👍

Where to party: Between the Pier and Villa Ombak Hotel.

Where to stay: Backpackers: Stay in party hostels like Gili Castle or Broken Compass. If you have money, try Scallywags Resort instead.

For a complete review, you can check: Gili Trawangan Nightlife - Lombok

Surabaya nightlife has greatly improved, even though the options for nightclubs and bars are limited and somewhat provincial.

3 million people live there, making it the second largest city in Indonesia. Compared to Jakarta, it still feels laid-back and unsophisticated. The streets are rather clean, you can walk on the sidewalks and the traffic is not horrible. There are several modern malls, but none of them as chic as Plaza Indonesia or even Grand Indonesia.

You have 4 types of nightlife venues in Surabaya:

- Cheap, student-oriented bars/clubs like Camden or Shelter

- High-end, modern clubs like Vertique, W, Black Owl, or Tiger (all of which targeting groups who book tables)

- Live music pubs, some of which attract foreigners (Our Bar, Colors Pub)

- Clubs with lady companions, drugs, KTVs, and "funkot" music (Ibiza, Paradise)

Continue reading for more information about each of these.

Note:

To stay up-to-date on Surabaya nightlife, you can follow the Tiktok account Anak Malam Surabaya.

Hotels Near Surabaya Nightlife

You can click on the map to enlarge it.

Surabaya is a huge, spread out city without a clear city center. As you can see on the map above, the most interesting nightlife venues are all near Tunjungan Plaza (Jalan Basuki Rahmat) or near Jalan Sumatra.

All the following hotels are strategically located so you can walk to several bars and nightclubs:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Sheraton is located within the new Tunjungan Plaza Mall extension, very near the famous Coyote Top 10 Club. USD 110 per night.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Four Points by Sheraton

This is another hotel within the mall Tunjungan Plaza. USD 90 per night.

⭐⭐⭐
Midtown Hotel (USD 30 per night) and Swiss Belinn Tunjungan (USD 40 per night) are both walking distance from Tunjungan Plaza.

⭐⭐
If your budget is under 25$ per night, you can try Favehotel Mex.

Best Nightclubs and Bars in Surabaya

Vertique Club

A rather large club with a mezzanine, impressive lighting, with EDM DJs. It's best to order a bottle (Rp 1M for a cheap one, Rp 3M for a premium one like Chivas). Check their Instagram for guest DJs (about once every two weeks).

Camden

Part of the same group that owns Camden in Cikini. Same concept here: Affordable prices, cool vibe, live music. One of the most happening hangout spots in Surabaya, especially among younger people.

If you like it, you can also check Shamrock.

Tiger BasRa and W Super Club

These two venues, both belonging to HW group, are located just a few minutes from Vertique, on Jalan Basuki Rahmat. Tiger is also an EDM club, attracting rich Surabayans (including many Indonesian Chinese), while W Club focuses on live music.

Black Owl

This stylish lounge/club attracts wealthy Surabayans who come in groups, share a dinner/drinks, and enjoy a DJ or live music performance. It is mainly a restaurant, but it turns into a club when they have special events.

Shelter

Cheapest nightclub in Surabaya, popular with students. Live music and DJ (mainstream hits).

Top 10 Coyote Bar and Karaoke

Part of the Top 10 Group, this small club is one of the most happening in Surabaya. Easy to access in Plaza Tunjungan, it features DJs and sexy dancers all night long (including girls from Thailand). Most of the crowd is Indochinese, Singaporean and Malaysian.

It is the most expensive venue in Surabaya with a first drink charge of Rp200,000 on most nights.

Gozadera

EDM club that also has live bands. Great setup and sound, but not so busy. You can check if they have special events before going.

Colors Pub

This bar features live rock bands every night. It is not as crowded as it used to be. Decent pub food available.

5 minutes from there, you can also visit Our Bar, a simple pub with live music and a friendly vibe.

Desperados
Desperados is the sports bar of the Shangri-La. It always has some foreigners there, usually above 50. Some girls go there to find a boyfriend (and others to find money). Live music every evening.

Ibiza

Next to Delta Spa, this is a more local nightclub with very loud "funkot", a music style that used to be very popular in North Jakarta in the 90s and 2000s (hence the name, Funky House Kota). It consists of mixes of EDM or pop songs with a very fast beat. I suspect you have to take drugs to enjoy it.

The crowd there is lower-class, more shady.

Paradise and Meduza are similar venues.

Kowloon

Maybe the largest nightclub in Surabaya, this is a very local place with deafening music and probably some drugs on sale. It has an upmarket karaoke with lady companions.

Many tourists hate Jakarta because they visit it the wrong way. They check the things to do in a guidebook or on the internet and then try to do as many as possible in a short time.

Since they are not familiar with the city, they get stuck for hours in traffic, walk in the heat from one sight to the other, and spend more time bargaining than actually talking with Indonesians.

I am not saying that Jakarta is perfect, but if you know what to do, you can definitely have a good time.

Below is my list of the most recommended things to do or experience in Jakarta, starting from the best. An alternative title for the article could probably have been "How Not To Hate Jakarta". Your suggestions are welcome, please just write a comment at the end.

Try Indonesian food

Every time I come back to Jakarta from Europe, the first thing I do after landing is to eat some Indonesian food. It is a very underrated cuisine and Jakarta is the best city in the world to experience it.

Don't make the mistake of only trying Nasi Goreng as you'll miss hundreds of delicious specialties. My personal favorites are Gudeg (cooked jackfruit), Ayam Gulai (chicken with Indonesian curry), Beef Rendang (slow-cooked beef with spices), Bebek Mercon (duck with extra spicy sauce), Grilled Fish with Dabu-Dabu (Manado spicy sauce), Lawar (minced vegetables and meat), Konro (ribs soup), etc. I also love most Indonesian soups (Rawon, Soto Betawi in particular).

It is quite easy to find Indonesian food in the city. If you want the best hygiene, it's preferable to go to a chain restaurant within a mall, for instance to Sate Senayan, Warung Tekko, TeSate, or Ramboelan. Expect to pay IDR100,000-150,000 for a meal served with tea.

If you feel more adventurous, eating on the street is a fun and very affordable experience. There are stalls all over the city, even in the center, but some of the most famous areas are on Jalan Sabang (near Thamrin) or Jalan Mangga Besar (North Jakarta). A dish without meat usually costs around Rp15,000, a dish with chicken or fish about Rp25,000, and a dish with beef or lamb between Rp30,000 and Rp50,000.

Get lost in the "gangs"

As surprising as it may seem, my favorite daytime activity in Jakarta is simply to walk around in normal Indonesian neighborhoods. It is a free and simple thing to do, yet very rewarding.

Whenever I have guests coming to Jakarta, I always take them for a walk and they love it. It allows them to discover the softer, slower-paced side of the city, where regular folks live.

This is something you can do almost anywhere as long as you understand how Jakarta is organized. Most of the malls, offices, luxury residences, and hotels are located along huge streets like Rasuna Said, Sudirman, or Gatot Subroto. As soon as you venture behind those skyscrapers, you have smaller and smaller streets (also called "gangs"), where only motorbikes can enter. The atmosphere changes completely: It becomes almost rural with no traffic, low-rise houses, chicken running wild, and women going to the mosque with their daster (a sort of daytime pajamas).

This drawing may (or may not) help you understand:

Three nice areas for walking around are Glodok (Jalan Kemenangan, near the Chinese temple Vihara Dharma Bhakti), Tanah Abang (you can go to Jalan Kebon Kacang I, II, III, etc) or Pasar Baru (Jalan Kelinci).

Visit a traditional market

If you want to experience a real culture shock in Jakarta, then head for one of the numerous traditional markets that are spread all around the city (just type "pasar jaya" on Google Maps to find the nearest one).

This is where most Indonesians go to buy groceries, and you can find pretty much anything there, from fresh fruits to kitchenware. Most of them are managed by the government-owned company Pasar Jaya, yet they are all different from one another. Some can be a bit dirty and crowded, while others are modern and more expensive. My favorite one in the city is Fresh Market PIK, which is, unfortunately, a bit far from the center.

You can read 25 Best Traditional Markets in Jakarta for more information.

Have some drinks and party

Yes, it might sound weird that one of the best things to do in the capital of the largest Muslim country on earth is drinking. And yet, Jakarta nightlife is one of the few domains where the city can compete with Bangkok or Singapore.

Clubs/bars in Jakarta are not always sophisticated, but they are fun. People tend to be relaxed and friendly, so it usually doesn't take long to make new friends during a night out.

I've written extensively about this topic. Check my Jakarta nightlife guide for more information.

Get a massage

Indonesia is one of the best countries in the world to get an excellent massage.

In Jakarta, for just US10$ you can have a professional masseuse at your door who will massage you for an hour. The easiest way to find a therapist is to download the app Go-Jek and to use the feature "Go-Massage". Alternatively, almost every hotel in Jakarta with more than 3 stars has an in-house spa or 24/7 massage services.

You can also check independent spas. The prices are between 15$ and 30$ for a 90-minute treatment in a decent venue.

Expat women would also tell you that Jakarta is a great place to have an inexpensive cream bath, a nail polish, or a scrub. Beauty salons are not expensive and they can be found everywhere.

Do nothing
"Nongkrong" ("hanging out" in English) is the trademark hobby of Indonesians. Basically, it means doing nothing with other people.

You can hang out pretty much anywhere: In a coffee shop, on top of a rooftop bar, in a restaurant, in front of a 7-eleven, in the street, at a friend's place, at the mosque, etc. All you need is at least another person. You may also add a beer, a kretek, a coffee and some snacks. A chair is not required as you can see on this photo:

You may feel it is a waste of your time but it's not. It is a time for relaxing, eating, drinking, socializing, and adapting to a new environment. In such a hectic city, slowing down is essential to avoid going mad.

Visit the "must-do" tourist spots

Some tourist spots in Jakarta are interesting, but I don't think they should be on your top list of priorities compared to the other things to do mentioned above.

My most recommended attractions are the Istiqlal Mosque, the National Museum, Taman Fatahillah (a square in the Old Town with several museums and coffee shops), and Sunda Kelapa (the old harbor). All of these can be done within a day if you start early and if you choose a hotel in a central area (Where to Stay in Jakarta).

Other sights that you can skip:
Monas is not that special and the surrounding park is not well maintained.
Taman Mini is too far from the city center so it will take you the whole day to visit it.
Waterbom and DuFan are two themed parks that are only interesting if you have kids.

Learn Indonesian

Indonesian is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It is easy to learn because there are no verb tenses or declensions (noun modifications). You can make sentences just by putting up words together. The pronunciation is also simple: Every letter has a sound.

A traveler I know managed to reach a conversational level within two weeks only. All he did was memorize 200 words, then seize any opportunity to start a conversation with Indonesian people. He was dating a girl also, that helps.

If you stay in Jakarta for more than a few weeks, or if you live in Southeast Asia, I recommend you to learn at least a few words. It will make your Indonesian experience richer and more enjoyable.

Read: How I Learned to Speak Indonesian in 30 Days

Go to the mall

Visiting malls is the favorite pastime of most Jakartans. Those huge, air-conditioned temples of consumption are ubiquitous in the city. Wherever you live, you probably have one within a short taxi ride from your home.

Shopping in luxury malls like Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan or Pacific Place is not really interesting in terms of prices. Most items sold are more expensive than elsewhere. Those malls are still worth a visit if you want to see the glitzy side of Jakarta. It is also where you will find the most popular cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, and cinemas.

Shopping in middle-class malls can be more interesting and you may find a few bargains, especially on clothes and electronics (if they were made in Indonesia). Some of the best middle-class malls are ITC Mangga Dua, Mall of Indonesia, Mall Kelapa Kading, Mall Ambassador and Mall Taman Anggrek.

Date a local

Let's be honest here. Would Jakarta be as interesting for foreigners as it is today without its thriving dating scene? Certainly not.

Having an Indonesian boyfriend or girlfriend is a fascinating introduction to Indonesian culture and the best way to learn the language.

As a traveler, an easy way to get a date is to use online dating apps. Read Online Dating Apps and Sites in Asia to know which ones work best.

Get out of the city
If you don't get out of Jakarta once in a while, you will start to hate it. There are flights from Jakarta to most airports in Indonesia, making it the best base to visit the country. 100$ will take you thousands of kilometers away to white sand beaches, world-class reef corals, and indigenous tribes.

Get some travel ideas here: 11 Indonesian Islands You've Never Heard Of and Cheap Travel Guide to Bali.

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