Frankfurt Nightlife • A Complete Guide

Welcome to Frankfurt’s premier nightlife guide.

On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Frankfurt. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.

Enjoy!

A little introduction to Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a metropolis and the largest city of the German federal state of Hesse, and its 746,878 (2017) inhabitants make it the fifth-largest city of Germany after Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne. On the River Main (a tributary of the Rhine), it forms a continuous conurbation with the neighboring city of Offenbach am Main, and its urban area has a population of 2.3 million. The city is at the center of the larger Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, which has a population of 5.5 million and is Germany’s second-largest metropolitan region after the Rhine-Ruhr Region. Since the enlargement of the European Union in 2013, the geographic center of the EU is about 40 km (25 mi) to the east of Frankfurt’s central business district. Like France and Franconia, the city is named after the Franks. Frankfurt is the largest city in the Rhine Franconian dialect area (West Central German).

Frankfurt at Night

Frankfurt is an alpha world city and a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism, and transportation. It is the site of many global and European corporate headquarters. Frankfurt Airport is among the world’s busiest. Frankfurt is the major financial center of the European continent, with the headquarters of the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, KfW, Commerzbank, several clouds and fintech startups and other institutes. Automotive, technology and research, services, consulting, media and creative industries complement the economic base. Frankfurt’s DE-CIX is the world’s largest internet exchange point. Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s largest trade fairs. Major fairs include the Frankfurt Motor Show, the world’s largest motor show, the Music Fair, and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest book fair.

Frankfurt is home to influential educational institutions, including the Goethe University, the UAS, the FUMPA, and graduate schools like the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Its renowned cultural venues include the concert hall Alte Oper, Europe’s largest English theatre and many museums (e.g. the Museumsufer ensemble with Städel and Liebieghaus, Senckenberg Natural Museum, Goethe House, and the Schirn art venue at the old town). Frankfurt’s skyline is shaped by some of Europe’s tallest skyscrapers. The city is also characterized by various green areas and parks, including the central Wallanlagen, the City Forest and two major botanical gardens, the Palmengarten, and the University’s Botanical Garden. Very important is also the Frankfurt Zoo. In electronic music, Frankfurt has been a pioneering city since the 1980s, with renowned DJs including Sven Väth, Marc Trauner, Scot Project, Kai Tracid, and the clubs Dorian Gray, U60311, Omen, and Cocoon. In sports, the city is known as the home of the top tier football club Eintracht Frankfurt, the Löwen Frankfurt ice hockey team, the basketball club Frankfurt Skyliners, the Frankfurt Marathon and the venue of Ironman Germany.

The Nightlife in Frankfurt

The Nightlife in Frankfurt

Although it is known to be the financial center of Germany, Frankfurt surprisingly well for a major nightlife: in this city, indeed, were born several famous clubs and some of the best DJs world famous Germans. If during the day the German city is interesting for its important attractions, including the Museum of modern art, the Main Tower or the Romerberg Square, even after sunset Frankfurt is able to entertain even tempers more revelers with a wide choice of trendy bars and restaurants very well attended. The nightlife of Frankfurt could hardly be described in words only. Thanks to a prominent student population and a wide range of night entertainment spread throughout the city, the backpackers looking for a great night out rarely leave Frankfurt unsatisfied.

Frankfurt also has a city center bursting with sights like the church that held Germany’s first democratic parliament, and the childhood home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Under the gaze of those skyscrapers are fun-loving neighborhoods like Sachsenhausen, where taverns serve traditional Apfelwein and there’s always something going on at night.

Main Tower

Main Tower

In Frankfurt’s ever-growing forest of skyscrapers, there is still only one tower with a public viewing platform. The 200-meter Main Tower opened in the year 2000 and is the fourth-tallest building in the city, which also makes it the fourth-tallest in Germany. And being on the east side of the Bankenviertel there is a clear view from the top over the Altstadt and the Main. On Fridays and Saturdays, the observation deck is open a little late, so you come up in late-evening to see Frankfurt in lights. The tower was designed by Schweiger und Meyer, and in the foyer are two pieces of modern art:

Senckenberg Natural History Museum

Senckenberg Natural History Museum

If you have a child currently going through his or her dinosaur phase, Germany’s second largest natural history museum needs to be on the agenda during your stay in Frankfurt City. There are anatomically up-to-date, life-sized models of dinosaurs welcoming you at the entrance, and inside are fossils of a triceratops, iguanodon, t-rex, Diplodocus, and a Psittacosaurus.

There’s much more to see apart from dinosaurs, like an enormous catalog of animal specimens that includes a quagga, a species of zebra extinct since the 1880s. You can also view a cast of Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old skeleton of an Australopithecus afarensis a close ancestor to modern humans.

Apfelwein (Ebbelwoi)

Apfelwein (Ebbelwoi)

The only true pairing for a serving of green sauce is a glass of tart Apfelwein, which despite the name, is best compared to cider. Apfelwein has been the drink of choice at Frankfurt’s taverns (Kneipen) for more than 250 years. And like best traditional drinks, Apfelwein has its own paraphernalia: It will be brought to you in a Bembel, a stoneware pitcher painted with filigree patterns, and is poured into a glass with a ribbed pattern, known as a Gerippte. You will also be handed a Deckelchen, a small wooden disc to keep flying insects out of your glass, and as for the flavor, well it’s both refreshing and sour and cuts through the creaminess of the green sauce. If you really catch the Apfelwein bug there’s a tourist train serving the best taverns in summer.

Friday late Night-Plank Cafe-Bar-Studio

Friday late Night-Plank Cafe-Bar-Studio

Named after legendary sound engineer Conny Plank, Plank Cafe-Bar-Studio is just an eight-minute walk from Frankfurt Central Station and is a popular place to spend the hours before your train leaves. Drinks are offered from 6 pm (it’s a cafe by day) and in warmer months, you can join the people milling around outside. See the chalkboard for specialty cocktails such as the Russian spring punch—a blend of Koskenkorva vodka, Crème de Cassis de Dijon, Crémant de Loire, lemon juice, simple syrup, and black currant – or Vesper X-tra Strong, which adds a splash of Lillet Blanc to a mix of Elephant gin and Koskenkorva vodka and finishes it off with a lemon twist.

Best Bars in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has many things, but not boring. For many, a perfect evening’s entertainment starts at a traditional apple wine pub. Others prefer to kick things off with an al-fresco barbeque. Later, when night has fallen, locals, as well as out-of-towners, like to continue their nocturnal activities with a cruise on the River Main or, alternatively, a visit of one of Frankfurt’s countless bars and clubs. Those who prefer a little less action and activity will be happy to hear that they too have plenty of options to choose from:

Hunky Dory Bar

Hunky Dory Bar

Too lazy to leave the comfort of your seat? No worries; at Honky Dory bar, just dial up your drink. In this cocktail bar crammed with flea market finds from the 1930s and 1940s, seven wooden booths have black vintage rotary phones on speed dial to the bartender, who will deliver signature cocktails such as the BreakPoint (hibiscus vodka, apricot brandy, agave syrup, lime and pickled chili) or Penicillin (Dewar’s 12 scotch, honey, lemon, ginger and Laphroaig 10 scotch whiskey served in a syringe) directly to your table. You can also sit at the bar, which seats up to 22 people, or on the rooftop for views of Frankfurt skyline. For a small bite, tapas-style dishes range from salmon and tuna tartare to Flammkuchen (pizza with crème Fraiche, chopped onions and smoky bacon). While the name Hunky Dory is an homage to David Bowie – it is the title of the English musician’s fourth album – you won’t find any rock and roll memorabilia among the model sailboats, medicine bottles, badminton rackets and other tchotchkes inside.

Bockenheimer Weinkontor

Bockenheimer Weinkontor

Located in the Bockenheim district, Bockenheimer Weinkontor was once a blacksmith’s workshop – you will need to cross under an arched cast-iron gate and descend down a stairway to reach it. This hidden gem of a wine bar draws wine enthusiasts during both summer and winter with a cobblestone courtyard either blooming with green foliage or glowing from the log-fire fireplace. Space for around 150 people consists of booth seating and bar stools topped with colorful pillows; simple wooden planks form the bar, at which a section of 50 German and European wines from mostly family-run wineries start at just 4 euros a glass. Flammkuchen (German pizza) and small plates of cheese, salami, and vegetables with humus stave off hunger.

Tom Hagen Bar

Tom Hagen Bar

A bit out of the way in the Eschersheim district, the Tom Hagen Bar makes the case that you can only drink so many Moscow Mules. You will only find highly innovative cocktails here, which change on a monthly basis and are often theatrically served. Take the gin, fresh lemon, and orange juice, and thyme-honey syrup Thyme Bee’s Knees: It is served under a glass dome filled with aromatic herbal smoke which disperses once the dome is removed. Every Tuesday and Sunday is movie night; popcorn is served and a big screen shows cult favorites you’ve likely already seen – meaning you can still focus on your conversation and the cocktails. Football fans will also be able to catch some of the big matches projected here. The casual interior seats around 35 people on vintage upholstered furnishings. With a pre-reservation and a minimum charge for two people, the bar offers round-trip transport, but there are some criteria: this taxi does not pick up the visibly drunk.

Chinaski

Chinaski

An extensive drink menu has classics and signature cocktails – When a Man Loves a Woman (champagne, quince gin, lemon, almond and plum bitters) goes down silky smooth. Background beats to get you on the dance floor range from RnB and hip hop to house music. The 30-foot long mural by famed graffiti duo Herakut also attracts regular visitors. On Wednesday nights, a live band plays covers and dance classics, and free sushi comes with every drink ordered. Reservations are possible for four or more, with minimum consumption of 30 euros per person on Thursdays; Fridays and Saturdays reservations can be made for up to six people for a flat rate of 300 euros. While entrance with no reservation is free, you may have to wait in line and there is a strict door policy – dress sharp.

Best Bar Restaurants in Frankfurt

Frankfurt sits in traditional-minded Hesse, restaurants tend to serve heavy meats and the region’s famous green sauce with boiled potatoes and eggs – and apfelwein (apple wine), of course! That’s the sour, fermented liquid that doesn’t taste quite like beer or apple cider, though it looks similar, and can be found in pretty much every restaurant and bar. So after a day of checking out all the great attractions being offered, there is nothing better than sitting down to eat in one of Frankfurt’s best restaurants. Just keep in mind that the majority of Frankfurt’s restaurants are closed on Mondays, so double check hours before making the trip. In order to fulfill your desire, we have got you covered here with a comprehensive list of Frankfurt’s best bar restaurants good enough to eat on the go:

Emma Metzler

Emma Metzler

Emma Metzler’s beautiful decor and design make it look like an extension of exhibition space – fitting for a restaurant in the city’s museum embankment (Museumsufer) and on the grounds of the sleek Museum für Angewandte Kunst. The spacious bistro’s sleek lines are softened by colorful artwork on the white walls, lobster-red furniture pieces, a wall of glass blocks and thick, navy blue curtains. If the weather is nice, eat outside and take a walk over the Eiserner Steg bridge after your meal, especially at night when you can see Frankfurt’s skyline alit before you. If you visit on the last Saturday of the month, your museum entrance is free.

Seven Swans

Seven Swans

Only two vegetarian restaurants in Germany have a coveted 2018 Michelin Star, and Seven Swans is one of them. Don’t rush down the Mainkai or you will miss the narrow building – Frankfurt’s narrowest, in fact-that houses it. Considered among the best restaurants in the world, Seven Swans offers a seasonal menu (choose from five or six fixed courses) using regional ingredients like fennel, leeks, pumpkin, apple, and asparagus; take a look at the restaurant’s well-curated Instagram page to see the extraordinary attention to detail on every plate. Reservations here are a must, and the intimate candlelight dining, complete with a view of the Main River, is optimal for two people.

Café Mangold

Café Mangold

Don’t miss this charming café, located on the quiet, eastern end of the busy Zeil shopping promenade close to the city’s zoo. Once you enter beneath the green striped awning you will find an eclectic dining space with reclaimed furniture and mirrors, separated into distinctly-decorated rooms. In the main dining space, lamps glow just brightly enough to illuminate the stunning, gold floral wallpaper. Mangold’s daily menu includes fresh salads (like one topped with grilled halloumi cheese, pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and pomelo), soups and pasta, like penne with marinated chicken or the standout, homemade gnocchi. For dessert, try the brownie-in-a-glass with coffee, and if you are dining in the summer, try snagging a table on the terrace beneath twinkly string lights.

Goose Gourmet

Goose Gourmet

GOOSE’s sweet charm is not just the Citroën food truck it’s housed in, but the owners themselves. The über friendly business partners, Gökhan Kaba and Patrik Bruch, take their truck to locations across Frankfurt, serving up waffle creations for lunch and dessert. Among the available toppings are caramelized goat cheese, beet mousse, grapes confit, vegetable chips, sliced mussels, roasted pine nuts, and sweet potatoes. For sweet tooths, Kaba recommends the peanut butter cheesecake with salted caramel or double chocolate brownie.

Best Nightclubs in Frankfurt

A bustling commercial city, Frankfurt is essentially a cosmopolitan paradise. Nightclubs in Frankfurt offer a wide range of fun things to do, with dancing and drinking being on the top of the list. When in Frankfurt, tourists can hop from one club to another in the hunt for the best nightclubs, but what is even better is that we have listed the best of the lot for you. Apart from regular bars and lounges, Frankfurt is also known for its eclectic nightlife. Most of these places offer fun-filled nights, with some of the best sound systems and lighting.

Velvet Club

Velvet Club

A typical party place here in Frankfurt, Velvet Club should be on your list of disco-hopping if you like dancing the night away. You can expect it to be a little crowded, mainly because of its popularity. The nightclub has two dance areas, where you have your typical pop, RnB, or house music playing. You mostly have a crowd of young people, and it’s definitely great fun. Be warned beforehand, the drinks could be a little expensive than what you may be used to in and around Frankfurt. Here again, it is important to dress accordingly, so find out the kind of party you are heading to and dress well!

Robert Johnson (Nordring 131, Frankfurt am Main)

Robert Johnson (Nordring 131, Frankfurt am Main)

Situated on the banks of the river main, Robert Johnson is one of the best techno music clubs in the world and a true Legend of nightlife in Frankfurt. It is precisely here that developed the genre house-techno of Frankfurt and the club is still loved and known by all fans and the world’s best DJs. This club is focused on music quality rather than on the aesthetics of the room. The Interior is, in fact, small (the capacity is about 300 people), minimalist is resigned-looking. Even the lighting is kept to a minimum, and to illuminate the Interior there are only colored neon on the ceiling, while the dance floor is set in a large bare room with a bar and a DJ. Above the DJ there is a row of old TVs that broadcast some surreal video.

Batschkapp

Batschkapp

Opened in 1976, the Batschkapp It is the perfect place for those who love rock and alternative music. This legendary live music club is a reference to the nightlife in Frankfurt for over 40 years and continues to host some of the most acclaimed concerts in Germany and Europe. The nightclub is relatively small but the acoustics are great and you are really close to the stage: Undoubtedly, the best place to hear live music concerts and dance in Frankfurt. Many important artists have played here: Eric Burdon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ginger Baker, Robert Cray, The Pogues, and many others. Every Friday and Saturday night, various DJs turn the place into a disco.

O25 Club

O25 Club

TheO25 is located in an old fire shelter, used as a disco. Space is dark and smoky, with two main rooms with different music styles every night. The place through for a young crowd, including many students, and the music selection ranges from years ‘ 80 to pop, up to reggae and techno Goa.

Jazzkeller

Jazzkeller

Open from 1952 and known all over the world, the Jazzkeller is undoubtedly the most famous jazz club in Frankfurt. Located in a cellar in the heart of downtown, the club has hosted some of the greatest jazz artists of all time, like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, and Chet Baker. Apart from the various concerts and live events, the club organizes Jam Sessions Wednesdays, While they dance on Friday night.

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Conclusion

To sum up the things here, we went through a brief introduction of the city of Frankfurt along with a brief introduction of its norms and culture. We also went through different activities and place to enjoy the nightlife of Frankfurt. Such activities provide a great source of fun and entertainment for tourists around the world and locals as well.

We then went through a comprehensive list of bars available in Frankfurt. No doubt, Frankfurt has some of the swankiest and great bars to cater to your boozing needs. To fulfill your food craving we also looked at a list of bar-restaurants which provide delicious and exotic food along with a touch of booze. This delightful and amazing combination of food and booze really pushes the limits of Nightlife entertainment and adds a great value tour. And finally, we explored a detailed list of nightclubs that provide premium nigh-time entertainment. Make sure to give a try the above recommendations which will really add value to your visit in Frankfurt, so that you won’t regret choosing bad options at all.

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