Groningen

Bramble

A cocktail and wine bar run by a friendly family. Among the best drinks in the city. Their Purple Rain is the most photogenic cocktail in the Northern Netherlands and only costs €8.

Sun Mon 15:00-23:00, Wed-Sat 15:00-01:00, Tue closed

Cafe de Koffer

Another "speciaalbier" pub. Lots of bottled beers, and a few on tap. Most are Belgian or Dutch, but there are also a few American and British beers on the menu - a real rarity around here.

Daily 16:00-03:00

Café Dees

A cozy café with a nice selection of weed in a small alley right next to the bar street Peperstraat. Inside there's a pool table, computers for surfing and big TV screens. Upstairs there's a bar called de Zolder ("the Attic") where you can smoke. There are reggae concerts on Tuesday nights.

Chaplin's

One of the many bars at Gedempte Zuiderdiep. Quite popular bar, also with students.

De Drie Gezusters

Three Sisters

Possibly the largest bar in the Netherlands, as well as in Europe. Many bars connected in a mazelike fashion; has several façades on the Grote Markt that look like separate bars, but don't let that deceive you.

De Kast

Premier gay bar and gay club Galaxy. Most LGBT+ people come to this place.

De Medley

A good pick up coffee shop. Can't smoke inside or stay there, but it's quite cheap. Joints for €3, also many kinds of hash (like Maroc and Afghan) for about €5-6 & weed/wiet: powerplant, sneeuwwitje (snow white), Afgaan (Afghan) €6, 10 or 20.

De Minnaar

Lovely neighborhood cafe and bar. Nice vibe and local feeling. Many locals come here for a drink.

De Pintelier

Traditional Belgian pub serving more than 80 kinds of beer and whiskey.

Open daily from 15:00, closing Sun-Thu at 02:00 and Fri and Sat at 03:00

De Vliegende Hollander

Great stuff on Zuiderdiep, opposite the Pathé cinema. Inside there's a smoking room but no real hangout space.

Der Witz

A 'Brown Café' on the Grote Markt in a very small building. Serving many kinds of beer.

Dorothy's DragQueen Showbar

People come here to see Drag Shows, Drag events, Bingo, have a drink with friends, along other things like BDSM Meets, open stage and live music.

Het Kasteel

A compact international student hangout on Peperstraat. Sells Jäger and other shots for €1 and 13-beer 'zwaards' ('a sword') for €10.

Het Pakhuis

Venue which originates from the 1960s/70s art scene. Now a popular art pop club. Many internationals meet here.

Huis de Beurs

On the southwestern corner of Vismarkt. Has made a come-back and is very trendy now. Live piano music in the evening. The first Dutch socialist party was founded here.

Kokomo Beachclub

One of the biggest clubs in Groningen. On Thursday's it's packed with students (10 beers for €10). Plays great dance music in weekends and serves fine cocktails.

Metamorphose

Nice little alternative shop, with mostly organic stuff. They serve a large variety of fresh tea.

Mr. Mofongo

Next to dining a bar which brings the Groningen drinking scene into the 21st century. Mr. Mofongo introduced the gin wall and gin robot storing its own distilled spirits. On the roof is a greenhouse bar for street food and there is a wine bar. Absolute hotspot.

NEWS Cafe

Elegant urban cafe and restaurant, also a great place for dinner.

Night cafe Warhol

Quite alternative venue with its roots in the 1970s/1980s underground scene. Good vibe though. Best to go after 02:00.

O'Cealleighs

A small Irish pub with good atmosphere; the place people go to play a bit of Irish folk in the evening.

O'Malley's Pub

Irish pub. Great place to watch football. Every Wednesday live jam sessions.

OOST

Intimate techno/house/funk club down town Groningen. Every Friday and Saturday doors will open for a new night of quality music.

Oceans 41

Beach club right in the middle of Groningen - very popular among students.

Paradigm050

King of the rave clubs in Groningen. Paradigm invites many famous international artists to play in the venue. It's known for their loodsraves, Sunday afternoon collectives, Vrijdag Middag Collectief, and Paradigm invites.

Simplon

An internationally renowned venue with an impressive history, especially in punk music. Every week on Thursday the club is dedicated to local (young) talent.

The Pacific

Aussie pub in Groningen and the meeting place for expats. Mostly international staff.

Tram 13

'Normal' bar in which many LGBT+ people meet. Home bar for the gay student fraternity Ganymedes.

Vera underground pop club

Where Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the White Stripes and many others performed. Internationally Vera is probably the best-known stage for alternative music in Groningen, and it is one of the most appreciated music venues in the Netherlands. Check the concert posters which are designed by local artists - free to take at the concert itself.

KopjeK

Techno house collective which dwells across the city and settles for rave nights on special locations. Concepts are Like I Care (LIC) in pyjamas or in the pool, Warehouse, Festival, Tanzen auf den Boot, etc.