Cologne's Best Places To Dance The Night Away

If you're looking for a place to go dancing in Cologne, you're in luck! The city offers a variety of clubs and venues that cater to different musical tastes and preferences. From rock and pop to jazz, electro, and indie, there's something for everyone. Here are some popular spots to consider: Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, Yuca, Gloria, Stadtgarten, Luxor, and Gebäude 9. Each of these venues has its own unique atmosphere, ranging from grand foyers and plush walls to industrial charm. Additionally, Cologne is home to several other clubs that are worth checking out, such as Bootshaus, Odonien, and Reineke Fuchs, ensuring that you and your friend will have plenty of options to dance the night away!

Clubs with indie music

Cologne's indie scene is known for its experimental and eclectic nature, with artists drawing inspiration from a variety of sources. The city's indie venues range from intimate rock joints to clubs that host a variety of music genres. Here are some clubs in Cologne that feature indie music:

Gebäude 9

Gebäude 9, located on the right bank of the Rhine, is one of Cologne's most exciting places to party. The club has an industrial charm and a penchant for experimental music. It hosts both national and international indie rock bands, followed by DJs spinning tunes for the dancing crowd.

Blue Shell

Blue Shell is possibly Cologne's most legendary club and has been a meeting place for the city's creative community for over 40 years. The club has a capacity of 250 and hosts intimate gigs by a variety of punk, indie, and rock artists several times a week.

Tsunami Club

Tsunami Club is a small club on a side street near Severinskirche church. It is a haven for lovers of raw and unconventional music, hosting non-mainstream rock, punk, and indie bands on weekends. The club has a modest dance floor, and during the week, you can groove to 80s and 90s sounds.

Stereo Wonderland

Stereo Wonderland is a club that offers a mix of a bar and a club atmosphere. During the week, it functions as a bar with occasional live music, and on weekends, it transforms into a regular club. It has a tiny stage for artists to perform and a comfortable space for patrons to enjoy the music.

Prime Club

Prime Club is a well-known indie venue and the prime place to see your new favourite band live. It features live acts at least once a week, showcasing a variety of indie talent.

Clubs with African music

If you're looking for a taste of African music in Cologne, there are several clubs that should be on your radar.

First up is Veedel Club, a longstanding fixture of Cologne's club scene, dating back to the 1980s when it was known as "Rose Club". With its graffiti-covered facade, the club has a distinct vibe that's reminiscent of a cosy living room. While it's known for its mix of 90s and noughties tunes, as well as hip-hop, R'n'B and reggaeton, Veedel Club also hosts African parties with corresponding music. These events offer a chance to dance to African beats and enjoy African concerts, creating a unique atmosphere that blends raw, unconventional sounds with a homey setting.

For those seeking a broader range of musical styles, Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld (CBE) is a former train station turned nightclub. While CBE showcases various genres, its focus is on alternative black music, including jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, house, salsa, Latin jazz, reggae, and blues. The club hosts hundreds of events throughout the year, from parties and concerts to poetry slams and record fairs, ensuring a diverse and innovative cultural experience.

If you're in the Ehrenfeld district, another option is Sonic Ballroom, a stalwart of the Cologne punk rock scene. This club offers a radically rock 'n' roll experience, with reverberating rock music and a worn, intimate charm. While it may be located in a low-key part of the neighbourhood, Sonic Ballroom's gigantic silhouette of the Ramones and pulsating punk parties will make your visit well worth it.

Lastly, Yuca, which stands for "Your Urban Club of Arts", is located next to CBE. With a focus on black music, jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, house, salsa, Latin jazz, reggae, and blues, Yuca provides an opportunity to see live bands outside the mainstream.

So, whether you're looking for a cosy club with African beats or a broader range of alternative black music, Cologne has something to offer for a memorable night out.

Clubs with electro music

Cologne's nightlife scene offers unique clubbing experiences with its electronic clubs. Here are some of the best clubs with electro music in the city:

Gewölbe

Located in the vaults of Köln West train station, Gewölbe is a no-fuss club with an industrial vibe. The club is dedicated to electronic music and puts on some of the most successful parties in Cologne. It was even included in the list of Germany's best nightclubs. Partygoers praise the club for its relaxed door policy, affordable prices, and excellent sound system, which blasts electro, minimal, and techno music until the early hours of the morning.

Bootshaus

Bootshaus is a well-known venue for its stellar bookings of top international acts and good crowd sound, attracting techno fans from all over Europe. The club made it into the Top 20 of the World's Best Nightclubs by British DJ Mag magazine in 2016. You can expect a range of house, minimal techno, and trance music here. Do note that the bouncers are known to be a bit more selective than at other venues, so dress to impress!

Odonien

Odonien is not only a nightclub but also a cultural hub for art, concerts, plays, festivals, and flea markets. The outdoor venue can be described as an artsy version of a junkyard, with old cars and rusty metal sculptures scattered around, creating a fascinating and unique atmosphere. Odonien provides several indoor dance floors and hosts some of the best techno events in Cologne during the summer nights.

Elektroküche

Located in the Deutz neighbourhood on the right bank of the Rhine River, Elektroküche is nestled in the basement of an old factory used by the Essigfabrik events space. The vibe here is a mix of underground and industrial flair. The organisers host parties with names like 'Trust in Techno', '100% Pure Techno!', and 'Dunkles Treiben', dedicated to fast electronic beats. Local DJs take turns with renowned stars, and even the German techno icon WestBam has DJed here.

Helios 37

Helios 37 is the latest addition to the Ehrenfeld neighbourhood's nightlife scene. It is connected to the next-door Stapel Bar, allowing revellers to chill out with a cocktail in the lounge or outdoor garden between dance sessions. The club occupies a former warehouse with high ceilings, minimalistic decor, and a light system and 360-degree projector illuminating the dance floor. On the agenda are techno, house, chill-out nights, and live concerts.

Bars with dance floors

If you're looking for a bar with a dance floor in Cologne, you're in luck! The city has a lot to offer when it comes to nightlife and dancing. Here are some bars with dance floors that you can check out:

Monkeys Cocktail Culture

Monkeys Cocktail Culture is a super cool bar in the centre of Cologne. They play Kölsch music, and their signature drink is the Mexikaner schnaps. The staff are super friendly and welcoming, and they offer a variety of high-quality mixed drinks and cocktails, as well as the domestic Kölsch beer.

Sonic Ballroom

Sonic Ballroom is a bar that one reviewer describes as having "no frills", but also a "good beer garden, great music, and even a good variety". It's a great place to discover new music, with one reviewer saying that the bar "normally delivers" on this front.

Petite Prince Club

Petite Prince Club is the place to be on Wednesdays for Salsa and Bachata. They also host these dances on selected weekends, usually every second Saturday. It's a small and intimate venue, described as "nice and petit".

Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld and Yuca

These two exciting clubs are located in the heart of the subcultural district of Ehrenfeld, beneath the railway arches. Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld hosts a variety of events, including concerts, parties, flea markets, poetry slams, exhibitions and record fairs. Its smaller neighbour, Yuca, focuses on live bands outside the mainstream, with an emphasis on black music, jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, house, salsa, Latin jazz, reggae and blues.

Blue Shell

Blue Shell is described as "kind of awesome" by one reviewer. Unfortunately, there are no further details about this venue, but it's definitely worth checking out!

Bootshaus

Bootshaus is described as a "legendary club" in Cologne, and it was even voted Germany's best club. It's open from 10 am to 5 pm, so it's a great option for some daytime dancing!

Dance clubs open during the week

Cologne has a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of dance clubs to choose from, even during the week! Here are some spots to check out:

Monday

Artheater hosts events on Wednesdays, so they may also be open on Mondays.

Tuesday

Veedel Club is a popular spot for dancing and hosts events like Block Party.

Wednesday

Artheater and Odonien are great options for a night out. Artheater hosts a variety of events, and Odonien is known for its techno, d'n'b, and dubstep nights.

Thursday

Reineke Fuchs is a club with free entrance until 1 am and cheap drinks. They play techno music. Another option is Hillenbrands, which has an event every Thursday with unlimited beer for 5€ from 9-11 pm.

While not specifically a dance club, the Petite Prince Club offers salsa and bachata dancing on Wednesdays and some Saturdays.

Additionally, some clubs open on Fridays and Saturdays may be open on Thursdays as well, so it's worth checking their websites or giving them a call. These include Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, Yuca, and Bootshaus.

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