Nightclub entertainment in Asia
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A
Sam & Dave
Like its sister bars around Japan, Sam & Dave's vacillates between being somewhere fun to shake your ass, and just another boozy big-beat meat-market nightclub. Hope for a good crowd and you could be lucky, whatever you fancy. It's best Fridays and Saturdays.
reviewed
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B
Warm-Up
The hippest joint in own, and a perennial favourite for the young and beautiful, Warm-Up is one of Chiang Mai's best dance houses. Hip-hop is spun by DJs in the main room, the electronic beat of house reverberates in the lounge and bands playing rock/indie music can be found in the garden. Young hipsters arrive in their coolest duds: tight jeans, spiked wolf hair-dos, sparkly shirt dresses and pointy heels. But ever youthful fa·ràng join the crowd as well.
reviewed
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C
Metro
This is one of the most popular and vibrant clubs in town. It holds a variety of themed events and occasional live bands or international DJ events. It's inside exit 2 of the Keihan Marutamachi Station.
reviewed
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D
Womb
A perennial favourite, 'Oomu' (as pronounced in Japanese) has DJs spinning house, techno and drum 'n' bass, and the four floors get packed on weekends. Picture ID required at the door.
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E
Air
DJs spin mostly house here, and the crowd tends to be happy and friendly – though not huge on dancing. Keep an eye out for Frames (フレイムス) – the entrance to the basement is inside. Bring your ID.
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F
New Lex-Edo
The Lex was one of Roppongi's first discos and recently had a facelift. It's still the place where visiting celebrities – who get in for free – end up, but even noncelebs get three free drinks.
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G
Ruby Room
This dark, sparkly cocktail lounge is on a hill behind the Shibuya 109 building. The Ruby Room hosts both DJs and live music, and is a fun place for older kids hanging in Shibuya. If you dine at Sonoma (ソノマ), the restaurant downstairs, you get in for free.
reviewed
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H
Zone One
Count the number of hotels and restaurants in town and it soon adds up to a whole lot of young people with increasing cash to splash. Zone One is the club where most of them head for a night on the town. A few Westerners drift in, but this is essentially about young Khmers letting their hair down.
reviewed
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U-Bar
While other clubs have come and gone over the years, U-Bar has long remained at the top of the heap for the college crowd, partly because the best bands from Bangkok often play here when they visit Ubon. If you go, try a Blue Kamikaze, served out of a sinister-looking slushy machine behind the bar.
reviewed
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I
Muse
With a friendly, international crowd, multilevel Muse has something for everyone – packed dance floor, several bar areas, cosy alcoves big enough for two – but also pool tables, darts and karaoke. Women usually don't pay a cover, which includes a drink or two. It's near the Hobson's on the corner of Nishi-azabu Crossing; there's a neon 'Bar' sign marking the entrance.
reviewed
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J
BuL-Let's
This mellow basement space plays worldwide trance and ambient sounds for barefoot patrons. Beds and sofas furnish this carpeted club, but don't get the wrong idea – it's not all tranquillity and deadbeats.
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K
Harlem
Bust a few hip-hop moves with Tokyo B-boys and B-girls. Be aware that Harlem maintains a (questionable) policy of not admitting groups of foreign males, so guys, come with a girlfriend.
reviewed
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L
Monkey Club
Merging dinner with dancing and live music in the beautifully-lit tropical garden and featuring local, crooning live bands, Monkey Club attracts a tribe of affluent Thai students and a few expats who might migrate from the garden seats to the glassed-in, all-white bar and club. It's a very happening place for the younger set.
reviewed
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M
Electric Lady Land
An intimate concert venue purveying the underground music scene in a cool, postindustrial setting. Nationally known bands perform in the 1st-floor hall, while the 3rd floor sees more up-and-coming acts.
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N
Discovery
This is the place to carve up the dance floor and show the locals your latest moves. And fortunately, you don't have to be hip to have fun at this disco. It is big, loud and totally cheesy – the perfect recipe for joining the massive blob of gyrating bodies. Discovery is across the street from Kad Suan Kaew.
reviewed
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O
Grand Café
This hip underground club hosts a variety of electronica-DJ events. There's a comfy seating area and several dance floors. Look for the blue sign at street level.
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P
U-Bar
Almost exclusively the domain of Khon Kaen University students, U-Bar is smaller than Rad, but just as loud and crowded.
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Q
Karma
A long-standing club in Kita that is popular with Japanese and foreigners alike. On weekends it usually hosts techno events with cover charges averaging ¥2500.
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R
Club JB's
Club kids (aged 20 and over) come for an excellent sound system and famous DJs.
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S
World
World is Kyoto's biggest club and it naturally hosts some of the biggest events. It has two floors, a dance floor and lockers where you can leave your stuff while you dance the night away. Events include everything from deep soul to reggae to techno to salsa. Drinks from ¥500.
reviewed
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T
Rad
The exuberant anchor of Khon Kaen's downtown nightlife, this is a multifaceted place with live music, DJs, karaoke, 'coyote' dancers and an alfresco restaurant.
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U
Onzieme (11)
Those eager for a taste of Osaka nightlife at its craziest should head to the city's largest and most lively club. An assortment of local and internationally acclaimed house, hip-hop and techno DJs showcase their talents nightly, with the posh interior reminiscent of some of the more famous London establishments. Don't miss the monthly Hollywood parties with DJ Bento and friends.
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V
Love Jamaican
This fully legit reggae and hip-hop club is a hive of after-hours mayhem thanks to a classy sound system, generous drink deals and a manicured young crowd.
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W
Lima Lima
International DJ scene and a mix of Russian and Western tourists, locals and expats.
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e-Bar
A newer and more spacious club that attracts an older (but equally enthusiastic) crowd than U-Bar.
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