Vienna Nightlife

The Spittelberg area (Seventh District) is dotted with bars, including the perennially popular Amerlingbeisl, with its leafy garden. This relaxed pub is a must-go in Vienna, especially around Christmas, when Spittelberg comes alive with its famous Christmas market. The cobbled courtyard is a charming little place for a nightcap in one of Vienna's nicest streets.

Coffee houses (Kaffeehäuser) are an essential part of Viennese life. For the price of a coffee, many Viennese have sat for hours with the papers, some work, a book, or just watching the world go by - it’s a tradition that continues today. Café Central, located in the beautiful historic Palais Ferstel in the First District, is an old favourite of Sigmund Freud and Peter Altenberg, featuring gothic-style ceilings and smart waiting staff.

Coffee houses are big in Vienna and attract a young, trendy crowd. Café Stein is the king of the new style, with minimalist décor, Internet facilities, veggie fare and all-day breakfasts. It's got a lovely position overlooking Sigmund Freud Park – grab a seat by the window and wonder at how the father of psychology used to sit in Viennese coffee houses pondering the human mind. Not a bad place to do it, is it?

Lutz Bar is an elegant venue with an excellent drink selection. A building from the turn of the last century, it directly overlooks the MuseumsQuartier and the Museum of Fine Arts. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows are perfect for people-watching while relaxing with a glass of wine. There's a now a bijou club in the basement of this historic building too, which is open very late and perfect for a cocktail (or four).

For something, a bit different try Elektro Gönner, an arty venue with DJs and weekly specials including film clubs and interactive installations. Techno and electro are big in Vienna, and this is one of the key places in the city to get your electronic groove on. Transformed from an electrical shop by a cabal of young Viennese architects, the venue boasts a suitably pared down and bare bricked atmosphere. There is also a lovely selection of cocktails, wines and beers.

If you don't believe that Vienna is rapidly becoming the new Berlin, heading to Fluc will go some way to changing your mind. This ultra-hip, ultra-scuzzy bar is a tale of two venues: a ground floor café-bar in a former pavilion on the Prater Roundabout, plus an incredibly cool live music venue in the actual former pedestrian underpass beneath the roundabout's four traffic lanes. Located on Praterstern, the concrete walls keep the party going long into the night.

In just a few short years, Pratersauna has evolved into Vienna's most significant club - and it's not hard to see why. A former sauna, this stylish and vibey venue is reached by an invigorating nocturnal walk through the woods of the Prater Park. The swimming pool remains, and revellers can jump in if they want; it's even famed for its pool parties in the summer. The main room is like an art gallery – minimal, chic and white-walled. The world's hippest DJs stop off here, and it's one of the main venues for the city's annual Waves Festival in October.

They say Flex has one of the best sound systems of any music venue in Europe, and who are we to argue? It certainly delivers a breath-taking sound when you see live bands here – and indeed a huge range of acts have hit its stage since it opened in 1990. Its location is also perfect for a cute stroll along the Donau Canal, where you can spot boats floating upstream as you make your way to and from the venue.

Harking back from 1972, Jazzland is Vienna's oldest jazz cellar. The place is tiny and cosy, with unpretentious décor and friendly staff, but the best part is the music. Bands play traditional Jazz, blues, boogie, swing, folk and sometimes modern Jazz. The most delightful thing about Jazzland is probably the venue itself – a barrel-vaulted brick cellar that oozes atmosphere. The food and drinks are also renowned here, with traditional Viennese cuisine on offer.

Porgy & Bess is Vienna's best jazz club. A converted porn cinema, it is located near the Stubentor U-Bahn stop. Its ambitious program of first-class concerts from Austrian and international musicians is second to none, and many will be surprised at its multifaceted and unusual musical interactions. The venue was opened in 1993, but it pays tribute to a rich jazz heritage that has mellowed and flourished in Vienna for decades. Regulars love its smoky aesthetic, which fits the club perfectly.

The Musikverein is Vienna's centre for classical music. The Vienna Boys' Choir is a Viennese institution, having been formed as the Boys' Choir of the Royal Court in 1498. Together with members of the chorus and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, they form the Hofmusikkapelle, which performs at Mass in the Chapel of the Imperial Palace throughout the year. The Vienna Boys' Choir also performs in the Brahms-Saal (Brahms Hall), the venue for chamber music in the Musikverein, and at the Volksoper (People's Opera), a smaller venue that stages opera, operettas, ballets and musicals. The renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra also perform here.

Wiener Konzerthaus is where the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra mainly performs. The Konzerthaus is also home to the Wiener Singakademie choir and hosts touring international orchestras. This is a fine old concert house - possibly the greatest of the Imperial-era halls in all of Vienna and should not be missed on a trip to the city. The chance to hear a concert here just makes it even better as the music seems to bring the stones themselves back to life.

Brut is a cool theatre and events space in the wonderful Karlsplatz, with its ornate old art nouveau S-Bahn station. Brut hosts plays, experimental theatre, talks and events, and even live music concerts. If you are not seeing a show, stop by its hip little bar and have a drink in cultured company. The space itself is modern, minimal, and a joy to look at.

Theatre has a long and proud tradition in Vienna, where the patronage of the Imperial Court was an important factor in its development. There are multiple theatres in the city, but the Burgtheater (Palace Theatre) stands at the forefront and is an intense source of pride to the Viennese. This impressive edifice is the second oldest European theatre and the largest in the German-speaking world. Moved to the Ringstrasse in the 19th century, Burgtheater stages classical and contemporary works of the very highest standards of production. You will also find impressive examples of Klimt's early work painted above the theatre's grand staircase. Other important theatres in Vienna include the Volkstheater, the Theater in der Josefstadt and the Schauspielhaus.