Bars: You can't really go wrong with Lorenzini, Hotelgasse 10, since the place has three different bars, a music bar, a cocktail bar and a New York-style wine bar. Chances are that you will enjoy yourself in all of them. For a place with a slightly older audience, Arcady Bar, Bahnhofsplatz 11, is a relaxed, welcoming bar where people come to socialise and enjoy a drink or two to the accompaniment of live piano music. A trendy and stylish bar in the Old Town, Eclipse Bar, Gurtengasse 6, attracts a younger and rather chic clientele, and tends to get livelier the later it get. The spacious Kornhauskeller (website: www.kornhauskeller.ch), with its large gallery, is among Bern's most sophisticated bars and something of an attraction in its own right. Well worth visiting. Leichtsinn, Kornhausplatz 10, is a trendy venue with a sushi bar and outdoor seating on the ground floor and a lounge on the upper floor. In summer, the sophisticated outdoor area nicely rounds off the seating options.

Clubs: Wasserwerk Club, Wasserwerkgasse 5 (website: www.wasserwerkclub.ch), is a Bern classic that has hosted acts like The Prodigy, Faithless and Moby, and still attracts serious clubbers and international DJs. Bierhübeli, Neubrückstrasse 43 (website: www.bierhuebeli.ch), is both a club and a concert hall, and guests can enjoy concerts as well as DJ-spun music here. Many international artists have performed at the Bierhübeli over the years. AnderLand, Mühlenplatz 11 (website: www.gay-bern.ch/hab), is Bern's club for gays and lesbians.

Live Music: In Marians Jazzroom, Hotel Innere Enge, Engestrasse 54 (tel: (031) 309 6111; website: www.mariansjazzroom.ch), Bern has arguably one of Europe's finest jazz clubs. The venue constantly attracts leading international performers of blues and jazz as well as a steady stream of fans who enjoy the music. The repertoire ranges from jazz and blues to gospel, R&B and soul. Another great place for live jazz music is The Mahogany Hall, Klösterlistutz 18 (tel: (031) 328 5200; website: www.mahogany.ch), which has a lovely club atmosphere. For bigger concerts in Bern the indoor Bern Arena, Mingerstrasse 6 (tel: (031) 340 1111), is sometimes used. The really big international rock and pop stars perform at the Stade de Suisse football stadium, Papiermühlestrasse 71 (tel: (031) 344 8888; website: www.stadedesuisse.ch).