All cities in the world change at night. There is a different atmosphere, different attractions. Few transform like the ones chosen this year by Time Out as the best cities for nightlife. A ranking for which the magazine, in collaboration with the tour operator Intrepid Travel, surveyed over 24,000 people worldwide. And of course, everything came up: nightclubs, cocktail bars, craft beer pubs, speakeasies, and rooftop bars with panoramic views. How were they chosen? First, overall quality. Also affordability, safety, inclusivity, and community atmosphere.
Taking all this into account, the undisputed winner of the ranking this year is Bangkok. It seems that there is nothing that cannot be found in the capital of Thailand, from street bars to terraces with incredible views. Although for experts, what truly makes it unique is that natural dynamic where "parties naturally spill out onto the streets." There is no better neighborhood to experience this than Chinatown and its surroundings, as we have seen.
Berlin ranks second globally and is the top city in terms of nightlife on the continent. Famous for its legendary electronic music venues and the richness of its subculture, 78% of Berliners are satisfied or more than satisfied with their nightlife. But beware, the Time Out panel of experts awarded it a perfect score of 100%. New York, known for the diversity of its nightlife, and Melbourne, with its abundance of casual and welcoming bars, rank third and fourth. São Paulo, on the other hand, closes the top 5.
The vibrant dance scene of Medellín and its reggaeton culture could not be missing from this list. The Colombian city takes the sixth spot. Johannesburg, the British Brighton, Beijing, and Amsterdam, in that order, have also been included in the Olympus of the most vibrant metropolises on the planet.
Some readers may be thinking: What about the Spanish city? The Spanish pavilion is represented in the ranking by Madrid, which ranks 14th - or sixth among European cities, behind those already mentioned, as well as Porto (11th) and Athens (13th). Some may find it insufficient given the nightlife we are accustomed to. The wise will know... "The first thing you should know is that in Madrid, the night rarely starts before 11:00 PM, and the last dance usually extends until the last minute," say those from our capital. According to the data collected in the ranking, "79% of Madrileños highly value their nightlife, especially in terms of nightclubs (62%) and casual bars and pubs (68%). The magazine highlights Madrid's peculiarities such as mystical bars, where tarot readings and palmistry are done with cocktails, and high-fidelity bars.
THE BEST NIGHTLIFE ON THE PLANET
Time Out
- Bangkok
- Berlín
- Nueva York
- Melbourne
- São Paulo
- Medellín
- Johannesburgo
- Brighton
- Pekín
- Ámsterdam
- Oporto
- Hong Kong
- Atenas
- Madrid
- Hanoi