46 Best Nightlife in Austria

One of the largest beer cellars in Europe and the only one of its kind in Austria, the celebrated Augustinerbräu is at the north end of the Mönchsberg, a short walk from the Old City. Pick up a stone jug of strong, frothy, 10-week aged Märzen beer, made using the same recipe since 1621 and served directly from wooden kegs. With communal, dark-wood tables and beautifully restored chandeliers, the halls overflow with cheerful locals, and outside, where massive chestnut trees shade the sprawling garden, you'll find a complete cross section of Salzburg society. If you're feeling hungry, shops in the huge monastery complex sell a vast array of salads, breads, and pastries, as well as sausages and spit-roasted chicken. Advent and Lent offer special beers, because the Catholic church decreed that "drinking does not interrupt fasting." You can tour the brewery by appointment on weekday afternoons (€16.90 per person); call or register online.

"U" stands for underground, and fittingly, Club U is located below one of the two Jugendstil pavilions that Otto Wagner built when designing Vienna's subway. One of the best dance halls for alternative music in the city, it has outdoor seating, live music, a great atmosphere, and excellent DJs.

For dancing, this basement club on Landhaus Square is a leading hotspot and a magnet for students Wednesday through Saturday. DJs are highly rated, usually playing house music, hip-hop, and R&B.

The bar in the Burg hotel in Oberlech features live music most nights.

In a cavernous subway station, Café Carina is dazzling in its dinginess. It's offbeat, artistic, and action packed—you get the sense that anything can happen here, from an air-guitar competition to an evening of 1980s hits. On weekends expect it to be packed.

In the MuseumsQuartier, this café-bar is hidden inside the large, white cube that is the Leopold Museum. Tables are scattered outside on the plaza at night, and in summer the restaurant vibe morphs into a bar and trendy hangout in the evenings.

The jazzy casino next to the Marriott Hotel offers blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker, and plenty of slot machines, as well as a bar. You must present your passport to enter the casino. Special meal-plus-gambling-chips packages are available in conjunction with the hotel.

Located in the Hotel Schillerpark, the casino has roulette, blackjack, poker, and slot machines (and a formal dress code). The less formal Jackpot Casino does not require a jacket and tie. Note that a passport is required for entry. The Jackpot Café, located on the ground floor, is open until late.

In the middle of the Freihaus Quarter, the Schikaneder serves as both an independent, experimental movie theater and a very popular bar filled with the city's artists. It screens a few films daily (in original languages with German subtitles), hosts art exhibits, and offers first-class DJ lineups regularly.

This restaurant-café and dance pub is in the center of town. It has legendary status among skiers and boarders, serves hot mulled wine in the winter along with heaters and blankets, and has a great summertime scene on the terrace. There's also regular live music.

In this very popular bar, the partying lasts from 3 pm to 3 am, thanks to the great dance floor.

Considered the top venue for indie music in the city, Flex has a sound system unparralelled in Vienna. Top indie bands from across Europe showcase here, and the DJ lineup is considered by insiders to be the best in town.

One of the leaders and originals of nightlife in Vienna's 2nd District, the Fluc attracts world-famous DJs, who praise the small venue as one of the best in Europe. It is on the site of a converted passageway, so its thick, soundproof walls mean DJs can max out the volume.

This cozy little bar on the narrow Steingasse serves well-crafted drinks, an extensive selection of Austrian wines, antipasti, cold smoked locally caught fish, and small portions of savory Austrian favorites like Faschierte Laibchen (finely minced meatballs) with bread and pickles; and Krautfleckerl (square pasta with caramelized onions, shredded white cabbage, sweet wine and cumin). Eclectic music runs the gamut from Tarantino soundtracks to Italian music to jazz. In summer, the garden's open until midnight.

Located in the center of town, this place is full of character and has many dedicated fans. It's good for late-evening cocktails and attracts a somewhat more mature and relaxed clientele who prefer conversation to partying.

Many like to stop here for a cold beer, but you should ponder the historic vibes, too. In this old inn Richard Mayr—a star of Vienna's State Opera House—was born. He later became one of the organizers of the music festival. After studying the parlor of Mayr's parents—a dark, wood-carved, neo-Gothic interior from the end of the 19th century—head for a table and order yourself a drink or a bite to eat.

The bar at the Goldener Berg is usually a hot après-ski spot, often with live music.

In a cellar under St. Ruprecht's church, this is the granddaddy of Vienna's jazz clubs and is the oldest jazz venue in Austria. Thanks to the pioneering work of the club's founder, Axel Melhardt, Austrian jazz musicians have grooved with the best American stars. The club also serves excellent, inexpensive, and authentic cuisine.

This upstairs bar is wildly popular and has built up a jazz-loving clientele. In the winter it's something of an après-ski hangout. You can expect lots of events here, from guest DJs to jam sessions and party nights.

Near the Naschmarkt, Johnny's is the classic, every-city-has-one good old Irish bar. Good beer, inexpensive meals, quiz nights, and live music make this pub a popular hangout. Note that it's cash only, and often filled with smokers.

This hopping establishment has its own home-brewed beer on tap, light snacks, and hearty regional dishes, and is open every day (except Sundays) from 11 am until 1 am..

Few casinos can be located in such a charming and historic building as this, in the center of town. It offers baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and one-armed bandits. There's a restaurant and bar, and it's open late (usually until 3 am). A valid passport or driver's license is needed to enter.