Nightlife · Frankfurt · Germany
Frankfurt nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Frankfurt, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eva K. on Commons / Eva K. on German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Frankfurt's nightlife spans apple-wine taverns, cocktail bars in the Bahnhofsviertel, rooftop bars with skyline views and a well-known electronic music scene. Weekends are busiest, and many places stay open late. The main areas are Bahnhofsviertel, Alt-Sachsenhausen, Nordend and Bornheim and Ostend and Hanauer Landstraße.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Sachsenhausen
- Local drink
- Apple wine
Where to go out
Bahnhofsviertel
Cocktail and dive bars and late-night eateries along Münchener Straße and Elbestraße.
Alt-Sachsenhausen
Cobbled lanes of pubs and taverns around the Große and Kleine Rittergasse, rowdy on weekends.
Nordend and Bornheim
Neighbourhood bars and taverns on the Berger Straße and around the Friedberger Platz.
Ostend and Hanauer Landstraße
Clubs and bars in former industrial buildings east of the centre.
Nightlife tips
- U-Bahn and S-Bahn services run later on Friday and Saturday nights, and night buses cover the rest.
- Stay alert in the Bahnhofsviertel late at night, especially on Taunusstraße and Niddastraße.
- Rooftop bars often require smart-casual dress; check before you go.
Evening sights
Experience · Sachsenhausen
Apple-wine taverns
Order a Bembel to share and ask for Handkäs or Grüne Soße; sit where there is space at a shared table.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours (evening)
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
Architecture · Innenstadt
Alte Oper
Walk the Freßgass (Große Bockenheimer Straße) from the Alte Oper for delis, cafés and wine bars.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- After dark
- History
What to drink
- Apple wine — A dry, tart cider of around 5–6% alcohol poured from a stoneware Bembel into a ribbed glass. Mixed with sparkling water it becomes a 'Sauergespritzter', and in autumn new, half-fermented Süßer is served.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 14°C (57°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:51 | -1°C (30°F) | 10 |
| April | About 20:19 | 4°C (39°F) | 8 |
| July | About 21:30 | 14°C (57°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:34 | 7°C (45°F) | 9 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Walking covers the old town, the shopping streets and the Museumsufer; footbridges cross the Main every few hundred metres.
- Metro — Buy tickets in the RMV app or at machines before boarding; there are no ticket barriers, but checks are frequent.
- Tram — Trams serve Sachsenhausen, the Hauptbahnhof and outlying districts, and are a pleasant way to see the city.
Late-night bites
- Cheese with music — Every apple-wine tavern; eat it with a knife and fork, the traditional way.
- Frankfurt sausages — Butchers, market stalls in the Kleinmarkthalle and traditional restaurants.
Staying safe at night
Frankfurt is generally safe for visitors, but pickpockets operate at the Hauptbahnhof, on the Zeil and on crowded trains. The Bahnhofsviertel has a visible drug scene around Taunusstraße and Niddastraße; it is busy rather than dangerous, but stay aware, especially at night.
- Emergency number
- 112 (fire and ambulance), 110 police
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture, couples and nightlife
Sachsenhausen
South of the Main, Sachsenhausen combines the Museumsufer with Alt-Sachsenhausen's cobbled apple-wine quarter and the Schweizer Straße, a long street of cafés, delis and traditional taverns. It is a 10-minute walk across the river to the Römerberg and quieter than the centre at night away from the bar lanes.
- Good
- Museums and riverbank on the doorstep; Traditional apple-wine taverns; Good-value hotels
- Watch out
- Alt-Sachsenhausen bar lanes are rowdy on weekend nights; Fewer big hotels
- Nearby
- Museumsufer, Städel, Eiserner Steg, Schweizer Straße
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Frankfurt?
Bahnhofsviertel, Alt-Sachsenhausen and Nordend and Bornheim. Cocktail and dive bars and late-night eateries along Münchener Straße and Elbestraße.
+Which area of Frankfurt is best for nightlife?
Sachsenhausen: Museum mile on the riverbank, cobbled tavern lanes and the Schweizer Straße.