8 Best Nightlife in Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley, Germany

This restaurant and bar is popular with university students, and has live music most Thursdays. Specialty drinks include cocktails made with local apple cider. There also are a few small, efficiently decorated, budget-priced rooms upstairs.

This club plays rock music until 2 am on weekdays and 3 am on weekends, and the young crowd that packs the place is always having a good time. A tree in the middle of this club is decorated according to season. This is also an art gallery; paintings by local artists decorate the walls and are for sale.

The old railway freight terminal has been reborn as an art gallery and music club for concerts and dance parties. There's a beach atmosphere in summer on the outdoor patio. Concerts generally begin at 8 pm, dance parties at 11 pm or later.

This 19th-century train station has been transformed into a vibrant complex of music, theater, cabaret and cinema. Thanks in part to its central location, there's always something happening, although hours and ticket prices vary. Ticket prices start at €14.20.

This trendy bar has moved into the former space of Die Kelter jazz club. There's no more live music, but there are inventive drinks and bar bites, and it's also open as a coffee shop at lunchtime.

In the same location since 1703, it was a favorite of the Burschenschaften, or dueling fraternities, for two centuries. These days it's popular with Heidelberg's university students, locals and visitors for its traditional ambience and well-priced food and beer that starts flowing at 7:30 am daily. The wood-panel walls are filled with historic photos and maps. There also are budget-price rooms upstairs.

It's worth elbowing your way into this bar for the brewed-on-the-premises beer. Try the Dunkles Hefeweizen, or dark wheat beer, which is not produced as widely as the lighter version. As with most German brewpubs, there's a full menu, too, including a long list of Wurst dishes.

When this traditional restaurant and bar opened at the end of the 17th century, it had its own brewery on the premises; now the brewery is a block away and called Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg. The Seppl crowd is a mix of Heidelberg students, local residents, and visitors, all attracted by the old-world charm and ample servings of traditional German specialties. Every inch of wall space is covered with historic photos, menus, and other memorabilia.  This traditional and historic restaurant and nightlife location is now open only for groups by reservation.