Frankfurt Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Frankfurt

  Sunset in Frankfurt

Frankfurt nightlife could hardly be described as dull. Thanks to a prominent student population and a varied scene spread right across the city, backpackers looking for a big night out will rarely leave Frankfurt unsatisfied.

While the center of town undeniably has its fair share of trendy wine bars catering for the wealthy businessmen, the large student community and artsy feel to many districts means that there are plenty of cheap bars and pubs with a more youthful, alternative vibe.

Frankfurt is home to over 40,000 students. And you can certainly feel their presence in the area of Bockenheim that surrounds the university. Here, the streets are packed with bars and cafés that teem with students most nights of the week.

Closer to the center, the Salzhaus caters for an upmarket, cocktail-loving crowd, while the Kaiserstrasse and the area surrounding the station (the Hauptbahnhof), especially, has a more seedy edge in keeping with its long-standing status as the Red Light District.

In Sachsenhausen (south of the river), there are various places around Affentorplatz where you can try the local ‘ebbelwoi’ (cider-like drink). A good supply of ‘kneipen’ (traditionally boozy bars) can also be found between Dreieichstrasse and Bruckenstrasse.

Although Frankfurt’s clubbing is not necessarily cheap, Bleichstrasse and Zeil have several renowned clubs. In live music terms, however, Frankfurt is very well off: Kleine Bockenheimer Strasse is known as 'Jazzgasse' for its concentration of jazz clubs.

There are plenty of bars on the Bergerstrasse in Bornheim (to the north of the city). Here, too, a couple of pleasant beer gardens can be found. And as is the case with Frankfurt’s nightlife as a whole, the feel is cool but in a decidedly laidback and relaxed way.

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