Nightlife in Hamburg is concentrated in St Pauli with most action on the Reeperbahn, best known for its sex trade but these days also lined with respectable variety show theatres (in German only), music bars and trendy night clubs. Most open, or at least only get busy, weekends from 2200-2300 to 0400 or later. Another central nightlife area is the Schanzenviertel, while good places for bars and pubs are Lange Reihe street and Grossneumarkt square.

Bars: Gröninger Braukeller, Ost-West-Strasse 47, is a no-nonsense beer cellar that brews its own. Or try Meanie Bar, Spielbudenplatz 5, a friendly scruffy laid-back Bohemian Reeperbahn bar where a mixed clientele gather to enjoy cheap drinks and excellent music from all eras. Christiansens Fine Drinks & Cocktails, Spielbudenplatz 7, is a trendy award-winning bar serving the best range of drinks in town, while media types and style victims can be found in Yakshi's Bar in East Hotel, Simon-Von-Utrecht-Strasse 31, a beautiful designer-hotel lounge bar.

Clubs: Halo, Grosse Freiheit 6, still attracts the cream of Hamburg's clubbers. The Golden Pudel Club, Fischmarkt 27, is a well established harbour-side club. Cult, Grosse Freiheit 2, is an attractive club where the Saturday night disco tradition is alive and kicking, featuring music from the last three decades.

Live Music: Grosse Freiheit 36, Grosse Freiheit 36, is the city centre's top live venue for bands. Molotow, Spielbudenplatz 5, is an easy-going informal joint with indie and fast-guitar rock bands. Cotton Club, on Alter Steinweg, is the city's top central jazz venue (closed Sunday).