Salzburg Nightlife

This small pub north of the river may seem a little dingy at first, with graffiti on the walls and ceiling and old furniture, but it's one of the coolest drinking holes in Salzburg. On a nightly basis, the hip crowd gather round the bar's central tree-trunk fixture to try a wide selection of Belgian beers.

With its huge shaded garden and beer brewed by clerics, Augustiner Bräustübl Mülln is popular with locals and tourists alike. The monastery of Mülln has been brewing here since 1621, and the pub here is a well-preserved corner of Salzburg's proud drinking culture.

Almost everywhere else in the world, 1492 is remembered as the year that Columbus discovered America, but in Salzburg it's known for being the birthday of the city's most iconic brewery. Stiegl is found in every pub and bar in Salzburg, and there's nowhere better to drink a frothy pint of it than at the source.

Early in the night, Havana seems like a swanky lounge bar, with modern furniture, high ceiling and sleek lines. As the hours tick by and the dance music gets turned up, Havana turns into an upmarket location for late-night hedonism. Cocktails aplenty are served from behind the eye-catching central bar.

In Salzburg's trendy nightlife hub, near the Museum of Modern Art, Republic Cafe is one of the most popular bars. Low-lighting, retro furniture and a very large drinks menu make it a great place to chat and relax for a few hours, while later in the night things become noisier. Expect R & B, jazz, 80s music, rock and more.

One of Salzburg's trendiest nightspots is the cellar bar Vis-á-Vis. With a range of delicious cocktails beneath old vaults, it's both a modern bar for youngsters and a club on the popular Rudolfskai strip on the river. Expect a dancefloor filled with hip young things on the weekend, with DJs playing hip hop, house and more.

Jazz aficionados can catch live acts at Jazz It Musik Club. With a history dating back to 1980s, the local music bar has hosted many of the jazz greats in Salzburg, and moved to its current venue near the train station in 2002. Domestic and international musicians perform regularly, while there are jam sessions on Tuesdays.

Salzburg's main venue for rock and pop is Rockhouse. With its cool tunnel-like setting, it regards itself as one of the most innovative bars in Salzburg with palm trees and sun loungers in the beer garden during summer. DJ sessions, gigs and small-scale clubbing take over at the weekend.

It may not seem like the most cultured of moves to visit Salzburg's Irish pub, but Shamrock's is a bit of a local institution. Thanks to its Irish owner, it's more traditional than most Celtic-themed pubs found across the world, with a mix of local and Irish brews on tap and a great atmosphere thanks to regular live music by bands.