Frankfurt Nightlife

Curious visitors will need to sweet talk their way into this speakeasy, hidden in plain sight inside a classic building on the banks of the Main. Once granted entry, drinkers be served by nattily-dressed staff, all of whom can mix a mean cocktail. Whether its a Manhattan or and an Old Fashioned, cocktail lovers can get a decent drop here. With plenty of dark corners and cosy chairs, Die Rote has a similar vibe to some of East Berlin’s best boozy haunts.

This ever-changing bar, redecorated in a different, swanky style numerous times a year, is one of the best places in Frankfurt to grab a cocktail. Whether it’s decked out in brocade or painted gold, the rock solid drinks menu stays the same, so customers can tease down a life-changing Cosmopolitan in rarefied surroundings. A little on the pricey side, drinkers should up their credit limit and double check their bank balance before entering.

Found inside the luxury Roomers Hotel, this is the kind of drinking den that every hotel should aspire to. Think leather-lined booths, studded walls and a cocktail menu that may stretch budgets but will leave its customers feeling very merry indeed. The long bar and dimmed lighting give the place a mysterious, New York feel, while the patio is perfect for a summer aperitif.

For clubbers that like to smoke a cigar while listening to the piano player, Jimmy's Bar is the spot to hit. The award winning cocktailbar bar is located in the Grandhotel Hessischer Hof and also serves its cocktails in the summer months on the rooftop terrace on the 7th floor. The bar is well stocked and the views are great. Reservation is essential.

The closest Frankfurt has to a super club, Silbergold is the place to be for those that like their music loud and their crowds big. Expect to queue to get in, but once past the door staff, clubbers groove all night. DJs play a variety of dance classics with different guests on the decks each weekend.

Situated on Frankfurt’s Westend, a sports bar with the atmosphere of an English pub and a large beergarden, The Fox and Hound invites on Mondays to steak and whiskey nights and on Fridays it's Juke Box night with happy hours cocktails and longdrinks. Locals gather here to watch their favourite teams on screen. 

Without question, the best place to catch bands and live music in Frankfurt is Batschkapp. It has been a key presence in the city for over 40 years and continues to attract some of Germany and Europe’s most critically acclaimed acts. The likes of Mogwai and Deer Tick have performed in the past and the venue hosts regular club nights if there aren’t any shows on.

Live music is the main focus at Elfer Music Club. This is a proper rock venue that caters for fans of metal and indie in particular, but also branches out with the odd dubstep night now and then. It’s a good alternative to the dance and techno joints on Hanauer Landstrasse, with plenty of local bands given some stage time.

Leading German and international acts regularly feature at this prominent Frankfurt jazz venue, located in a cool basement in the heart of the city centre. Opened in 1952, Jazzkeller has hosted such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker. Jam Sessions on Wednesdays, dance nights on Fridays. Open for special concerts and events. It is relatively small, but boasts a lot of atmosphere.

Frankfurt's principal classical music venue, Alter Oper (the Old Opera), features performances by the Frankfurt Museum Orchestra, the city's opera company, and a variety of visiting performers. The elegant building was reconstructed in its original style during the 1980s.

The largest English–speaking theatre on continental Europe, this Frankfurt institution opened its doors in 1979. It brings Broadway and West End productions to the city, including the likes of Saturday Night Fever and Venus In Furs, which is perfect for culture vultures with limited German language skills. It also has a cinema showing German, US and British movies. There is a poetry slam once a month in German and occasionally in English.