9 Best Nightlife in Frankfurt, Germany

The spacious club has an intimate feel, as candles are just about the only source of light. The proprietor is Anita Honis, an American singer from Harlem, who likes to get out her acoustic guitar and perform on occasion. Everyone is invited to sing or play on the piano, which is set up for impromptu and scheduled performances, and there's usually music nightly from 8 pm.

Like the rest of the Marriott Hotel, this sports bar is designed to make Americans feel at home. The walls are lined with team jerseys, autographed helmets, and photographs of professional athletes. The 23 TVs can be tuned to the American Forces Network, which carries the full range of American sports. Food leans toward buffalo wings, hamburgers, and brownies.

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.

The full name is Fox and Hound English Pub and Lounge, which says it all. Patrons of this traditional British pub in the middle of Frankfurt are mainly British and come to watch the latest football (soccer to Americans), rugby, and cricket matches. Enjoy the authentic British pub food including fish and chips, 35 whiskies, bitters, and stout. Monday is steak night, with American-style sirloins and rib eyes.

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.

With posters of Chairman Mao on the walls, time seems to have stood still at the Jazzlokal Mampf. It looks straight out of the 1970s, but with live music to match, many don't think that's so bad. Since it opens at 6 pm for dinner and drinks, there's a lively after-work crowd on weekdays. Live jazz performances begin at 8 pm.

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.