Dresden Nightlife

This was one of the nicest and coziest pubs I found in the Old Town of Dresden. It's all wood and a bit upscale but it's worth a splurge. There is a terrace on the roof if the weather is good and some tables out front too. The food sounded pretty expensive but I will admit I was drawn in by the advertising of a "zwickle bier" from Radeberger. This brewery is world renowned for its Pils and I had not heard of a zwickle from them until this day. It's an unfilterd version of the pils that retains a nice yeasty character. Very refreshing on a hot summer's day and worth paying a bit extra for as it's the only place outsde of Radeberg to serve it.

Dress Code: The waiters wear black ties and stiff white shirts, but I got away with shorts on the terrace. ;)

The last time I visited Dresden we didn't go out that much. Now-a-days many young people have left towards the West of Germany and Dresden fell in inhabitants from a million to 650.000 in the decade after the 'Wende' (fall of the Iron Curtain). In Dresden there are - of course - some discotheques, bars, café's and restaurants, but nightlife is not as booming as Berlin or what we could be used to in more western towns. Still, cosy evenings among friends are great as well.

Down Town - it´s the name of a comfortable disco!
I love the atmosphere and music inside. I would describe it as studentsflair and that´s what I like!

Dress Code: You don´t have to wear too noble clothes because the most guests are students.

Well, that's not everybody's idea of nightlife, but it's a great thing. If you can, go to see an opera show at one of the most famous theatres of Europe - the SemperOper of Dresden.

Dress Code: You are supposed to wear evening/formal dress to evening performances.

An evening in Dresden must not always mean only opera, concerts or theatre. Whoever would rather go on a pub crawl will find what they are looking for in the Neustadt district. In Hauptstraße, Rähnitzgasse and Königstraße there is a variety of different restaurants. But they all have one thing in common: the evocative atmosphere of a Baroque palace with quiet inner-courtyards and relaxed beer or wine bars. International and Saxon cooking can also be found around Albertplatz. Closeby is Alaunstraße, which has many pubs and inter national restaurants. The alternative city culture is centred around Katharinenstraße and Alaunstraße. In the summer most pubs have the extra attraction of a beer garden.

You can't move in Europe these days without tripping over the crowds spilling out of the Irish pubs. In Dresden the place to go is the Ha'penny Bridge on the Leipzigerstrasse. Just the place to be the next time that Germany takes on Ireland at football, especially since on current form the Irish would start as favourites. Irland vor, noch ein Tor!

check the evening concerts in both the Semper Opera and the Kulturpalast - there could well be something to enjoy.

Dress Code: Smart casual

Apart from restaurant, Ayers Rock offers the opportunity to have just a drink (or more). Enjoy the terrace in summer.