Bucharest, the Romanian capital, offers a lot, a lot more than most tourists expect. In fact, many people totally skip it on their Balkan road trips or their trip around Romania and they shouldn’t. Bucharest offers a lot for history and culure lovers, for foodies…. and for partiers.
I had a fantastic time in the city during the #ExperienceBucharest trip, and oh boy, did we party! A whole lot! One of the reasons to visit Bucharest is definitely its lively and super fun nightlife.
I didn’t try all of these places myself (yet!), but I reached out to some locals and asked what their favorite place was. Check out this guide to the best places to experience the infamous Bucharest Nightlife.
Table of Contents
Where to Start the Night in Bucharest
Pura Vida Sky Bar
The amazing views over the bronze roofs are worth the 4 floors of stairs… and it’s good exercise! Pura Vida Sky Bar is the only rooftop bar in Bucharest, and there’s no better place to be when the weather is nice. Located on teh rooftop of Pura Vida hostel, it0s a great place to meet otehr travlers from all over the place.
I’ve listed this rooftop as a place to start the night, but honestly you could also spend your whole night here with friends. It’s that much fun.
Pura Vida Sky Bar (7 Smârdan Street) is open 7 days a week.
Shoteria
Start the night with some amazing food (check out this great guide for where to eat in Bucharest), but then what is bteer than a couple of shots before you go dancing? Nothing, right? At Shoteria, expect a very small location, but size doesn’t matter, does it? There are no tables as this is really a place for a quickie. You come in, have a few shots, and keep going to your next destination. It’s cheap, crowded, and fun: what else do you want from a shot place?
Shoteria (Strada Șelari 17) is open Thursday-Saturday from 9pm to 5am.
Dance on the streets
Ok, this one is a bit different but equally awesome… if not more. Pura Vida Tan Tan organizes a night of dancing in the streets of Bucharest every Saturday in the main square of the Old Town, and to me this is one of the best things to do in Bucharest during the summer.
Join for a night of Reggaeton, Salsa, Hip Hop…There is a dance crew that shows the steps to the crowd, but you can also do your own thing. Such a happy and fun initiative! Really hoping they’ll replicate it every summer.
The Best Bars in Bucharest
Fix Me a Drink
A bar with a difference, Fix Me A Drink labels itself as a “botanical bar”. Here, you can drink surrounded by a whole host of potted plants, making for a unique drinking experience in a spacious, airy venue that still feels warm and welcoming.
Their minimalist feel masks the complexity of the cocktails on offer, and there are plenty of hidden treasures to try as you work your way through their menu!
Fix Me A Drink (Strada Ion Brezoianu 23-25, Universul, building B, floor 1, FIX, botanical bar) is open Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm-12am, Thursday and Friday 5pm-2am, Saturday 7pm-12am and Sunday 3pm-12am.
The Urbanist
A favorite haunt of Bucharest’s hipster population, you might think you’ve walked into the wrong place when you enter The Urbanist. A bar selling trainers and jeans as well as drinks?! Well, it’s true- this relaxed, intimate venue is a great place to kick off a night out before moving on to one of the bigger clubs.
They sell a great selection of cocktails here, and in the day they also sell coffees and pastries if you want to take a break from exploring the Old Town.
The Urbanist is open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 10.30pm.
Interbelic
For many years, Interbelic was one of Bucharest’s best-kept secrets. They have since moved to a larger venue, but that friendly, laid-back, family feel still remains in this trendy cocktail bar. Traditional Romanian décor and a menu full of local cuisine make this place a must if you want an authentic experience of Bucharest during your time here.
It gets pretty busy at the weekends, but during the week it’s a great place to enjoy cocktails and a chat with friends.
Interbelic (Calea Victoriei 17) is open 7 days a week from 5pm to 2am, and until 6am on Friday and Saturday.
READ ALSO: 11 Reasons to Visit Bucharest ASAP
Bucharest By Night on a Budget
Kulturhaus Bukarest
Looking for cheap drinks in Bucharest? Well, Kulturhaus Bukarest has some of the lowest prices in town- but that’s not the only reason to stick around. With three floors, there’s plenty of space to dance without feeling like you’re crushed in by other partygoers, and it means there’s always a great selection of music to bop along to… and it’s easy to get lost, trust me! 😀
It’s nothing too fancy, but if you are just looking for a great time, then Kulturhaus Bukarest is well worth a visit. One of my favorite places in town!
Kulturhaus Bukarest (Strada Sfânta Vineri 4) is open Thursday-Saturday from 11pm to 6am.
Expirat Club
Originally founded as an alternative music venue, Expirat has since grown to become one of the best-loved underground clubs in Bucharest. They are especially known for mashing up multiple genres of music, so you never know quite what you’re going to discover on a night out here.
They recently moved to a new location, where their killer lightshows and both indoor and outdoor shows make it the cream of the crop when it comes to the Bucharest underground scene.
Expirat Club (Strada Doctor Constantin Istrati 1) is open 7 days a week until 5am.
Live Music Spots in Bucharest
Control Club
Not the biggest venue around, but that just means Control Club is a great place to get up close and personal with some of your favorite electronic artists. Control bring in some of the biggest names in music to play their club, and there’s always a great atmosphere here. They also put on some of the city’s biggest gay nights, which are really not to be missed.
But I listed it here because Control Club also does amazing concerts and live music events, so keep an eye on their schedule for a night to be remembered.
Control Club (Strada Constantin Mille 4) is open 7 days a week until 6am on Friday and Saturday, 5am on Tuesday-Thursday, 4am on Sunday and Monday.
Mojo
Bringing some British spirit to the Bucharest nightlife scene, Mojo puts on some great live music, as well as giving you a place to catch all the biggest sporting action. If you’re in the mood for a friendly, sports-bar feel, then Mojo is the place for you.
Down in the basement, meanwhile, is a club that plays host to some great covers bands. There’s even a whole floor dedicated to karaoke, open every night of the week- so stop by and show everyone what you’ve got!
Mojo (Strada Gabroveni 14) is open 7 days a week from 1pm to 3am, until 5am on Friday and Saturday.
The Best Clubs in Bucharest
Player Club
When Bucharest’s hip young things hit the town, there’s one place in particular that they flock to: the Player Club. My lovely local guides me here on my first night in town, and I must say I was impressed.
A dazzling light show ensures that the party is always rocking, but it’s during the summer months that the place really comes alive. That’s because the Player Club has its own private pool, meaning when the temperature rises, it’s time for spectacular pool parties that truly have to be seen to be believed. Let the champagne flow!
Player Club (Montreal Square) is open only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 11pm and 6am.
Fratelli
Fratelli is a little pricier than some of the other clubs in Bucharest, but once you’re inside, you’ll instantly realize why. Fratelli brings to mind the golden era of clubs, when DJs ruled the world, and thousands of clubbers would come together for an unforgettable communal experience.
There are always great events going on here, and the fact that they regularly switch up the scenery means you’ll never have the same experience twice. A must for any serious clubber who finds themselves in Bucharest!
Fratelli (Strada Glodeni) is open only on Friday and Saturday between 11.30pm and 4am.
Eden Club
From the outside, the old Stirbei Palace looks like a museum. However, at the weekends the basement is transformed into the very definition of an underground club. The tunnel-shaped club is certainly an intimate setting for many great nights out, and they play some of the best EDM to be found anywhere in Bucharest. The locals also call it Hipster’s Mecca, and it’s easy to see why.
Add in the fact that it’s one of the city’s few explicitly gay-friendly clubs, and it’s easy to see why the Eden Club is one of the hottest nightspots in town. It’s not unusual for parties to run from midnight well into the following day!
Check out the Eden Club Facebook page to check out the opening times (Palatul Știrbei, Calea Victoriei 107).
House Music Clubs
Kristal Glam Club
Kristal certainly lives up to its name- a huge crystal chandelier hangs over the main dancefloor, and there’s glitz and glamor everywhere you look. They’ve also got a killer audio/visual setup, which screens everywhere you look showing awesome visuals to really get you in the party mood.
Kristal has been a fixture of the Bucharest scene for 15 years, and that’s because they sure know how to party.
Kristal Glam Club (Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta 34) is open only on Friday and Saturday between 11pm and 6am.
Studio Martin
Party the night away in this mini-sized club right in the heart of Bucharest. Cocktails are the order of the day at Studio Martin, and since the capacity here is only a couple of hundred people, it’s a great choice for clubbers who don’t like big crowds. Dance under the futuristic lightshow, and enjoy a wild night at this little-known gem.
Studio Martin (Bulevardul Iancu de Hunedoara 61) is open 7 days a week, 9pm until 11am Monday through Saturday, 9pm until midnight on Sundays.
Convinced that Bucharest is the place to be? Get here asap and experience the Bucharest nightlife!
READ ALSO: 11 Reasons to Visit Bucharest ASAP
