Copenhagen’s nightlife is at its most vibrant during the later part of the week, and especially at weekends. As in many cities, the nightspots tend to be concentrated in a few areas. Norrebro and Vesterbro districts have some of the most popular clubs. Elsewhere you can find clubs to suit nearly every musical taste and also good restaurants, cafés and bars which feature music and also stay open late.
Rust
Rust is a long-established Copenhagen nightspot with facilities which include four bars and three separate floors. This makes for a great night out, offering plenty of variety from Wednesday right through to Saturday. Rust’s live stage features the best Danish bands playing a mix of music genres from indie rock and pop, through to hip-hop and electronica formats. The atmosphere is fun and easy going and Denmark’s best DJs, along with occasional appearances from international DJs too, help to keep the music and the crowd going until late – which generally means around 5 a.m.
Karriere
Karriere is a pleasant mix of bar, restaurant and café, founded by sculptural artist, Jeppe Hein, and his sister, Lærke. Their intention is to blend hospitality with art and thus to create a warm social space which, as a result, can be shared by an audience with broad interests. Karriere’s visitors can therefore enjoy a nice meal and maybe enjoy an exhibition, and then move on to exotic cocktails, before finally hitting the dance floor to boogie until midnight (Thursdays) – or 4 a.m., Friday and Saturday.
Vega
The Vega nightclub is a premier Scandinavian music venue featuring a great mix of dance music, great national acts and regular visits from many top international stars such as David Bowie, Fatboy Slim, Moby and many more. The club’s two concert halls guarantee a great variety of music and entertainment on any night you choose. Vega’s concert events draw audiences from far and wide, whilst their blend of underground and mainstream genres keeps Copenhagen’s regular audiences happy right through until the late hours, thanks to a great sound system and great party-attitude DJs.
Gefährlich
Gefährlich in the Norrebro district is a multi-platform facility which consists of a fusion of bar, café, restaurant, club, and art gallery. The great ambiance seems to attract warm friendly people in large numbers. After dark, the musical side of Gefährlich starts to kick in with inspired contributions from the DJs. After the restaurant closes, the venue really gets busy and the basement dance floor seems to just disappear from view. Gefährlich’s audiences crowd in most nights from Tuesday to Saturday, with Tuesday’s focus on Danish electronica proving particularly popular.
Jolene
Jolene first opened in 2007 and became an overnight success. Unfortunately, Jolene’s raucous appeal did not extend to its neighbours, so it was closed down after just four months. Then, in 2008, Jolene relocated to Vesterbro to continue the party. Jolene is a real bar and could not be mistaken for a chic cocktail venue. And the faded furniture and tattered accessories deliver an ultra-relaxed, grunge-meets-industrial atmosphere where DJs labour and spin the nights away. From time to time live rock bands appear and seize the atmosphere, before vanishing again. Jolene’s is the real deal – and you can make all the noise you want.
The Copenhagen night scene really does have something for everyone – as long as you are OK with the quieter moments outside of the peak times. Many Danes prefer to start their evenings by visiting their local bars or socialising at home, so even the most popular clubs are often not really full until midnight onwards. For broader musical tastes and added interest, restaurants offering late-evening music are always a good choice. So, book some flights to Copenhagen, and get a taste of it’s exciting nightlife for yourself.
