The Ultimate Night Out in Düsseldorf

If you like your nightlife with a side of fashion and amazing architecture, come to Düsseldorf! This is a city that likes to mix it up when it comes to going out, with a fantastic array of places to party. From centuries-old breweries pouring the famous altbier to chic contemporary bars where top mixologists serve up exquisite cocktails, Dusseldorf offers something for everyone. Want to dance the night away in an old film studio? Tour breweries that have been making beer for generations? Watch the sun set over the harbour from a glamorous waterfront bar? Check, check and check. This glittering city on the Rhine has all this and more.

In our ultimate guide to Düsseldorf nightlife, you’ll discover which neighbourhoods are the best for partying, along with our pick of the city’s top bars, clubs and music venues. We’ve also provided some practical tips on how to make the most of your trip, from dress codes to getting around – so all you have to think about is having a fantastic time!

We’ve chosen the three best neighbourhoods for nightlife in central Düsseldorf, from traditional Altstadt to glitzy Stadtmitte and waterfront MedienHafen. You’ll also find a list of our handpicked faves for each area, whether you’re looking for the best place to try altbier or want to catch a gig at an underground venue.

Düsseldorf’s Altstadt (Old Town) manages to pack in more than 260 bars, restaurants and pubs in half a square kilometre, earning it the nickname of the ‘longest bar in the world’. Many of these venues are located along the Bolkerstrasse, the main bar street in the Altstadt. This neighbourhood is the ancient heart of the city, a beguiling maze of cobbled streets and charming squares, which is home to famous landmarks like the St Lambertus basilica and the venerable Rathaus (city hall). Beer has been brewed in Düsseldorf since Roman times and the tradition lives on in the city’s famous brauereien (breweries). In the Altstadt, four breweries – Uerige, Füchschen, Zum Schlüssel and Kürzer – produce their own altbier, a dark, full-flavoured local beer which is typically served in a slender glass. But it’s not all dark wood and old-timers in the Altstadt: you can also chill out in a slinky cocktail bar like Beuys, hit a club like SilQ, catch some jazz at Em-Pöötzke or a live band at The Tube.

Uerige

Berger Str. 1

One of the famous ‘Big Four’ breweries in Düsseldorf’s old town, Uerige is a great place to try the city’s famous altbier, whether inside or out on the lovely tree-shaded terrace.

Beuys

Neubrückstrasse 2

Long beloved by the fashion crowd, Beuys oozes effortless style with its low-key speakeasy vibe and long menu of perfectly mixed, imaginative cocktails.

SilQ

Mertensgasse 2

Featuring a club upstairs and a bar downstairs, SilQ is an iconic spot for fans of all kinds of electronic dance music, with international DJs and an upbeat, energetic crowd.

Em Pöötzke

Mertensgasse 6

Minuscule but with undeniable charm, Em Pöötzke is a classic, long-established jazz bar that crams in a happy, mainly local audience for performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The Tube

Rattinger Strasse 10

A temple to alternative culture on the Düsseldorf nightlife scene, The Tube is the place to come for alternative rock, punk, reggae, indie bands and more.

Bordering the Altstadt, but a world away in terms of look and feel, Düsseldorf’s Stadtmitte neighbourhood is the city’s bustling modern hub. This is where you’ll find the famous Königsallee (locals shorten it to ‘Kö’), a kilometre-long boulevard packed with gorgeous designer boutiques. This fashionable shopping street runs along the length of a beautifully landscaped canal and you’ll find plenty of glamorous cafés and bars on both banks. It intersects with Schadowstrasse, the most popular shopping street in all Germany. When it comes to nightlife in Stadtmitte, you can take your pick of a huge variety of places to party: tiny Bar Alexander or the Ellington, near the train station, are both excellent options for cocktails. Or you could hit the dance floor at Nacht Residenz, one of the city’s hottest clubs. Many of Düsseldorf’s LGBTQ+ bars and clubs are concentrated in Stadtmitte, including Queenz, a popular gay bar and club, and K1, a tiny, hot pink bar with popular karaoke nights.

Bar Alexander

Düsselstrasse 71

It may be tiny, but low-lit, wood-panelled Bar Alexander is surely one of the most inviting nightspots in town. Friendly staff and excellent cocktails ensure it’s always packed, so get here early if you want a seat.

Ellington

Scheurenstrasse 5

Small but perfectly formed, elegant Ellington delivers some of the best cocktails in the city, each a miniature work of art.

Nachtresidenz

Bahnstrasse 13

One of the city’s most popular clubs, Nachtresidenz lives up to its motto: ‘the only place to be’. Just make sure you dress to impress, or you won’t get past the sharp-eyed bouncers.

Queenz

Charlottenstrasse 62

Queenz is a stylish LGBTQ+ bar and club with a resident DJ who really knows how to get the crowd going on the dance floor. Look out for their regular theme nights.

K1 Club & Bar

Bismarckstrasse 93

K1 is a combined bar and club with striking, hot pink décor, which is a staple on Düsseldorf’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. The karaoke nights are always fun.

Over the last three decades, Düsseldorf’s harbour has been transformed from a gritty, industrial port into a swanky, waterfront business and commercial district full of bars, restaurants and nightspots. It became known as the ‘Media Harbour’ (MedienHafen) because top media companies were some of the first to move here, followed by tech startups, ad agencies, fashion houses and design studios, which all give the area plenty of creative buzz. The centrepiece is Frank Gehry’s gorgeous Neue Zollhof building, actually a trio of swaying towers that look like they are dancing. Also here is the famous Rheinturm, a 240-metre-high communications tower, which is the tallest building in Düsseldorf and offers stunning, panoramic views across the city. You’ll be spoilt for choice for nightlife in MedienHafen, which is home to more than 60 restaurants, cafés and bars. You could soak up the panoramic views over drinks at Qomo, fabulously located at the top of the Rheinturm, enjoy fancy cocktails on the waterfront at Au Quai, or hang with the locals on the Platz der Medien, where short films are projected on the art cinema’s façade. Then, finish the night up with a live gig or club session at Rudas Studios, a converted film and sound studio.

Qomo

Stromstrasse 20

Unforgettably set in Düsseldorf’s Rheinturm, Qomo is a fusion restaurant and bar that serves up great sushi and excellent cocktails to go with its panoramic views over the entire city.

Au Quai

Kaistrasse 18

Intimate, elegant and oh-so-chic, Au Quai is a waterfront cocktail bar that is ideal for a romantic rendezvous or a catch up with friends. Come at dusk to watch the sun set over the harbour.

HafenKunstKino

Platz der Medien

For a unique Düsseldorf experience, catch the open-air cinema on the Platz der Medien, which takes place every night of the year. You’ll find the programme (usually short films and animations) on the HafenKunstKino website.

Rudas Studios Club

Zollhof 11

Rudas Studios Club is a converted film studio, which hosts live gigs and regular club nights on Friday and Saturday nights. Make sure you dress the part to get past the bouncers.

Düsseldorf has plenty of great places to stay in the city centre which are convenient for nightlife, shopping and restaurants. Given that this is a city that’s synonymous with fashion, it will come as no surprise that you won’t get through the door of many of its swankier bars and clubs if you don’t meet the strict dress code, so pack with that in mind. It’s also worth remembering that many places still don’t accept credit cards under a certain sum, so it’s always worth having some cash on hand. As a major German financial and business hub, Düsseldorf is not a cheap city: a small beer costs around €4 and you can expect to pay upwards of €15 to get into a club (considerably more for some of the most popular places). You’ll find it easy to get around Düsseldorf if you’re hopping between party neighbourhoods, thanks to the efficient public transport system. The metro runs until midnight and there is a night bus service from 1am to 4am.