5 Best Nightlife in City Center, Frankfurt

The oldest jazz cellar in Germany, Der Frankfurter Jazzkeller was founded by legendary trumpeter Carlo Bohländer. The club, which once hosted such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, now offers hot, modern jazz, but there is always some kind of cover. There are jam sessions on Wednesday and "Latin-funky" dances on Friday. Jazzkeller is located on a small alleyway off Fressgass, which just adds to its charm and legend.

This nightclub in the heart of the Zeil attracts a mostly young crowd with its live music performances by international musicians. It's open Thursday and Sunday from 8 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 pm. Concert tickets from €21.

The type of crowd depends on the night. The large club hosts student nights on Thursday, a "27 Up Club" on Friday (exclusively for guests 27 or older), disco nights on Saturday, as well as "Black Mondays"—a night of soul, hip-hop, and R&B. It's housed in a beautiful white building that looks like a museum. There's lots of neon and pulsing lights, including under the see-through dance floor.

There's not much that doesn't take place at this international variety theater. Guests are entertained by international cabaret performers and the Palast's own variety orchestra. There's an excellent restaurant, Tiger-Gourmet, featuring vegan and vegetarian dishes, and the cozy Palastbar, under the basement arches, looks like an American bar from the 1920s. Despite the pricey dinner show, tickets often sell out, so book as far in advance as possible. It's just one block from the Zeil pedestrian shopping area.

Sinkkasten, a Frankfurt musical institution, was renamed Zoom in 2013. By any name it is a great place for blues, jazz, pop, and rock. Saturday nights are Hit Happens, with hip-hop and techno-electro music. Zoom is open from 9 pm to 1 am every day but Monday, and live shows often begin at 11 pm.