Leiden Nightlife

This is another traditional bar/restaurant, although not one of my favorites.

During the day and evening, food is served and you can have a regular meal, in the evening it is open as bar.

What I don't like is the service, I know you are not supposed to expect good service in a nightclub, but still... Once we were the only people in the bar and there were about 5-6 waitresses walking around and not one of them came to our table, when I asked if we could order, I was told that you have to order at the bar. Well, they could have told me this half an hour before.

In any case, it is international night on Wednesday and is a popular spot in Leiden.

In the summer, you can sit outside on the street or on a floating platform on the canal, which is nice.

Dress Code: Casual

This is a nice place just a few meters from the train station.

It has a quite classic look and feel to it, and there is a lot of space, which I like. On top of this, there is table service. It is good if you want to talk as music seems not to be as loud as in other places.

I don't remember ever having listened to live music here.

It's a good spot to spend an evening, or just while you are waiting for the train.

It also serves lunch and dinner.

In my opinion this is the most enjoyable spot in Leiden.

Jazzcafe the Duke offers live music every day of the year (except 1st January, I think) and although it is crowded and smokey, it definetly has a unique atmosphere with old musical instruments hanging from the ceiling and the walls covered in old pictures and posters.
It is also a place where the staff is quite friendly and there are no intimidating bouncers at the door. The crowd is also usually quite good, with a lot of foreigners (well, this is the case everywhere in Leiden) and generally speaking somewhat older people (over 30).

But the best part is obviously the music, you will be surprised to see how good some of the bands are and if you are lucky enough to catch the Soulcatchers & Mr Green (they play quite often and are very popular) you will be in for a fun evening.

It's not to be missed.

Dress Code: Casual

This is a great spot on Wednesday nights. It is international student night so many of the international students from all the universities in Leiden go to this bar. There is no dancing but it is still a lot of fun just to talk with everyone from all around the world.

Dress Code: No dress requirements

Located on one of the nicest streets/canals in Leiden (the Rapenburg) this is a quite popular place.

You will often see groups of students, many coming from graduations or presentations as one of the University buildings is right in front.

In the summer you can sit on the street right next to the canal and it is a very beautiful sight.

Dress Code: Casual

This is a relatively well-known nightspot in Leiden although it is not open every day. The website mentions Thursday-Saturday from 21.00 until very late.
Thursday is to be the "International night" here, so you can expect a lot of people, it has even happened a few times that I had to wait a while outside as there were too many people inside. However, it is no disco-style waiting line where people get in ahead of you, you just have to wait for someone to leave, then you can enter.
It is very long and narrow, so you have 3 sections: the entrance, the very crowded dancefloor and at the end the bar.

It is a bit too smokey and crowded for my taste, but is still very lively and usually the crowd is nice.

Dress Code: Casual

Club In Casa is the only place in the city that looks like a club.. From the outside and also on the inside.

Thursday is student night with cheesy pop and 70s/80s music. Saturday is more Techno orientated ussually.

The audience is not the best though. Very young (under 20) and on Saturdays sometimes a bit tacky.

The door closes VERY early - you have to be in before a certain time (I think 12.30)

Dress Code: Casual or as dressed up as you like.

This place is a small scale club with a nice interior and bar. It is all about cheesy music here.

Club Nexus is known to be the place where all the fratboys (and girls) come. This means lots of ralph lauren polo shirts.

Personally it is not my scene.

Dress Code: Casual but posh.