Entertainment in Saxony
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Staatstheater Braunschweig
Staatstheater Braunschweig is the historic venue for classical music, theatre, dance and opera. Tickets range from €7 to €38 depending on venue, performance and seat. The tourist office also sells tickets, or turn up an hour before the event for rush tickets.
reviewed
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B
Bautzner Tor
Probably the last GDR-era dive in Dresden to survive ungentrified, this dimly lit but strangely atmospheric museum piece is a nostalgic blast from the past. Food is definitely wallet-friendly and the excellent beer (cheapest in town) is brewed locally by a guy called Lenin.
reviewed
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C
Stilbruch
On a theme of surrealism, this bright place serves drinks and light dishes (snacks and pasta €3 to €10), has a large collection of board games, and the world’s only ‘Gollard’ table (a cross between golf putting and billiards) out back.
reviewed
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D
Gosenschenke 'Ohne Bedenken'
This historic Leipzig institution, backed by the city's prettiest beer garden, is the place to sample Gose, a local top-fermented beer often served with a shot of liqueur. The menu has a distinctly carnivorous bent. Take tram 12 to Fritz-Seger-Strasse.
reviewed
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E
Staatstheater 'Kleines Haus'
Staatstheater 'Kleines Haus' is the second of four performance spaces. Tickets range from €7 to €38 depending on venue, performance and seat. The tourist office also sells tickets, or turn up an hour before the event for rush tickets.
reviewed
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F
Sixtina
At some point in the last few years the word 'absinthe' has ceased to mean 'bad idea', and the result is places like Sixtina, wholly dedicated to the deadly green fairy. Smoky, but if you're drinking this stuff, you probably don't care.
reviewed
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Strasse E
Dresden's most high-octane party zone is in an industrial area between Neustadt and the airport. Half a dozen venues cover the entire sound spectrum, from disco to dark wave, electro to pop. Take tram 7 to Industriegelände.
reviewed
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G
Thomanerchor
This famous boys' choir performs Bach motets and cantatas at 6pm on Friday and 3pm on Saturday, and also sings during Sunday services at 9.30am and 6pm at the Thomaskirche. Special concerts take place throughout the year.
reviewed
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Jolly Joker
This popular evergreen with a capacity of 4000 features four separate dance spaces, 10 bars including a huge cocktail bar, and several food outlets. Expect top-100 dance-chart hits. The same complex also houses a cinema.
reviewed
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H
Oper Leipzig
Leipzig's Opernhaus (opera house) has a 300-year tradition, though the building only went up in the 1950s. The program is an eclectic mix of classics and contemporary works; the Gewandhausorchester provides the music.
reviewed
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I
Gewandhausorchester
This is one of Europe's finest and oldest orchestras, with a tradition harking back to 1743 - Mendelssohn was one of its conductors. It performs primarily at the Neues Gewandhaus as well as in the Thomaskirche.
reviewed
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Merz
Spacious and relaxed, Merz is a long-standing favourite especially among the student crowd, with table football, a beer garden, and a few snacks to nibble with inexpensive drinks. The lounge area opens at 10pm.
reviewed
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K
Milchbar
The colourful lighting makes everyone look good in this youthful bar where live DJs spin house music nightly after 21:00. They've got cocktails and great milk shakes in case you feel like laying off the booze.
reviewed
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L
White Chocolate
The white-chocolate interior (complete with Aero bubbles rising to the ceiling interior) at this laid-back bar looks so good, party-goers occasionally try to bite chunks off. Or perhaps it's just the booze…
reviewed
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M
Knochenhauer
The bistro/bar of choice among Braunschweig's hip, casual set, Knochenhauer buzzes on a summer eve with friends getting together for drinks or light snacks. There are also DJs on Friday and Saturday night.
reviewed
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N
Combo
Laid-back to the point of toppling, this '70s-retro cafe has enormous windows that fold back when the heat is on, 1960s airport furniture and cool dudes serving the party people. DJs take over after dark.
reviewed
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O
Prager Frühling
Prager Frühling 'Prague Spring' might sound a bit militant, but this is actually an excellent arthouse cinema, which sometimes shows offbeat foreign films in the original. It's above Ilses Erika.
reviewed
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Spizz
Classic brass instruments dangle above the stage at this city slicker, where you might catch some cool jazz. It has three levels, a good range of wine and beer and slow service (due to sheer numbers).
reviewed
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Q
Moritz-Bastei
This classic student club occupies a warren of historic cellars below the old city fortifications. It has live bands or DJs most nights, and the neat Cafe Barbakane, and runs films outside in summer.
reviewed
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R
Werk II
This large cultural centre in an old factory is great for catching up-and-coming bands, alternative film and theatre or even circus acts. It's also in Connewitz; take tram 9 to Connewitzer Kreuz.
reviewed
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S
Down Town
This iconic old factory gives you early Saturday Night Fever with its 1970s and '80s nights on Friday. On Monday latex-lovers invade for the legendary Nasty Love Club (closed in summer).
reviewed
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T
Dresdner Philharmonie
The city's renowned orchestra performs mostly at the Kulturpalast on Altmarkt. Also check the listings magazines for concerts at the Hofkirche, Dreikönigs- kirche, Kreuzkirche and Frauenkirche.
reviewed
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U
Flower Power
It's party time any time at this wackily decorated haunt (check out the old pinball machines). The action doesn't reach a crescendo until 4am and the music tends to be older than the crowd.
reviewed
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V
Conne Island
This former squatter's haunt has morphed into the city's top venue for punk, indie, ska, rock and hip-hop concerts. It's in the southern suburb of Connewitz; take tram 9 to Koburger Brücke.
reviewed
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W
Ilses Erika
The living-room look makes this small but legendary club feel warm and welcoming. Musicwise, expect indie, retro electronic and whatever the mostly student-age crowd has on their iPod.
reviewed
