10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Leipzig
Where to Go in Leipzig at Night?
This guide to the best things to do after dinner in Leipzig helps you experience the incredible nightlife of the German city. There are numerous streets and districts to head to after sunset, including Marktplatz, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße and Barfussgässchen. These hot spots are where you’ll find many of the city’s best nightclubs, bars, and taverns.
If you’re looking for a different nightlife experience, Leipzig is also home to many theaters, live entertainment venues, and cultural centres. No matter how you prefer to spend your evenings, Leipzig has various venues, districts, and bars for everyone to enjoy. From art shows to music performances, you’ll find something unique to do at night in Leipzig.
1. Marktplatz Leipzig
Central square with bars and restaurants
Good for: Shoppers, History, Photo, Nightlife
Marktplatz Leipzig is the historic public square in the middle of the Old Town. It’s characterized by beautiful architecture from the Middle Ages. The buildings around the edge of the square host numerous shops, restaurants, and museums. It remains a buzzing location well into the night, with tables spilling out onto the square.
To the northern end of the square, you’ll find some great cocktail bars, live jazz lounges, and wine cellars. These are great for ending your day of exploring Leipzig Old Town. On warmer evenings, it’s a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a drink while watching the world go by.
Location: Markt 1A, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)341 1235929
Marktplatz Leipzig
2. Karl-Liebknecht-Straße
A trendy nightlife hot spot and buzzing street scene
Good for: Food, Nightlife
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße is a trendy street in the Südstadt district of Leipzig. It’s become the focal point of the city’s nightlife and party scene, with numerous hot spots lining the street. There’s something for everyone on the street, with hip gastropubs, swanky cocktail bars, Irish pubs, and casual taverns.
Many of the bars along Karl-Liebknecht-Straße don’t open until around 5 pm. After sunset, you’ll be mingling with lots of people until the early hours of the morning. The street is around 2.5 km south of the city centre, but it’s easily accessible for a night out via Leipzig’s light rail system.
Location: Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße
3. Barfussgässchen
A packed nightlife street off Marktplatz
Good for: Food, Nightlife
Barfussgässchen is a small cobblestone alleyway off Marktplatz in Leipzig. This pedestrian street is packed full of cafes and bars, making it one of the best nightlife hubs in the Old Town district. From morning until past midnight, you’ll find tables and chairs sprawled out in the alleyway for patrons to enjoy a drink or meal.
Barfussgässchen has bars catering to just about any clientele. From the well-known jazz bar, Spizz, to the more laidback Irish pub, Kildare City Pub, you’ll find something to suit your taste and style.
Location: Barfußgäßchen, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Barfussgässchen
4. Varieté-Theater Krystallpalast
A high-end theater with live shows and decadent meals
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife, Luxury
The Varieté-Theater Krystallpalast is a classy theater in the southern part of Leipzig’s city centre. Founded in 1882, it’s one of the oldest and most well-known variety theaters in Germany. It hosts world-class performances and events all year long, including live music, comedy shows, and acrobatics.
The intimate venue has tables for attendees to enjoy a meal and beverages during a show. Its kitchen staff pride themselves on providing a creative and high-end menu. You can find the latest schedule of shows on its website. It’s a good idea to book tickets in advance to secure the best seat.
Location: Magazingasse 4, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)341 140660
Varieté-Theater Krystallpalast
5. Gewandhaus
A popular concert hall home to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Good for: Couples, History, Photo, Nightlife, Luxury
Gewandhaus is a concert hall known for being home to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Located in central Leipzig, the building was constructed with excellent acoustics in mind. As a result, it’s one of the most exceptional places to enjoy live performances in Germany.
The Great Halls has a seating capacity of nearly 2000 people. You can find a full schedule of concerts and events on Gewandhaus’s website. It hosts around 800 performances and events per year, so you’ll always find something going on to enjoy a night out in Leipzig.
Location: Augustuspl. 8, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)341 1270280
Gewandhaus
6. Moritzbastei
A cultural center housed inside ancient town fortifications
Good for: Nightlife
Moritzbastei is a youth-based cultural center in Kurt-Masur-Platz, right next to Thomaskirche in Leipzig. It’s housed inside the city’s ancient fortifications, which were built in the 16th century. The current center was renovated in 1974 by students at the University of Leipzig.
Today, the venue hosts a range of performances and cultural events. Standouts include music concerts, art exhibitions, classical performances, and open-air movie theaters. It also has a restaurant and student bar – both are hot spots for university students to party during the week.
Location: Kurt-Masur-Platz 1, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Open: Monday from 10.30 am to 4 pm, Tuesday–Friday from 10.30 am to midnight, Saturday from 11.30 am to midnight (closed on Sundays)
Phone: +49 (0)341 702590
Moritzbastei
7. Institut fuer Zukunft
A nightclub and youth center hosting a range of events
Good for: Nightlife
Institut fuer Zukunft is an artsy club venue in Zentrum-Südost, a student-populated district in Leipzig. The trendy destination is around 4 km south of the city centre, next to the Kohlrabizirkus event venue.
The industrial-style space is known for its techno club nights and live DJs on weekends. Institut fuer Zukunft also hosts cultural events like lectures and art exhibitions. Plan ahead by checking out its latest events online. It can conveniently be reached by train – alight at the Leipzig MDR station.
Location: An den Tierkliniken 38-40, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Open: Thursday and Saturday–Sunday from 5 pm to 11 pm
Phone: +49 (0)341 60494121
Institut fuer Zukunft
8. Oper Leipzig
A world-class opera inside a 1960s building
Good for: Couples, History, Photo, Nightlife, Luxury
Oper Leipzig is a stunning opera house right next to Augustusplatz, a scenic public space in the Mitte district of Leipzig. The grand, 1960s building showcases classical operas, musicals, and ballet performances throughout the year.
The elegant interior is excellent for couples looking to enjoy a classic night out. Some of the traditional performances you can expect include The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Magic Flute. At night, the building’s exterior is beautifully lit up. A full schedule of events can be found on its website.
Location: Augustuspl. 12, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)341 1261261
Oper Leipzig
9. Gose bars and taverns
Local beer at Leipzig’s watering holes
Good for: Nightlife
Gose bars and taverns can be found throughout the city’s nightlife districts and streets. This warm fermented German beer is a must-try if you’re into unique brews, as it’s made with lactic acid, cilantro (or cilantro), and salt.
The drink is best tasted at a traditional German pub, such as Gasthaus Barthels Hof, Bayerischer Bahnhof, and Gosenschenke. These taverns generally serve classic German dishes along with gose beer, so you can have the full Saxony experience.
10. Nightclubs in Leipzig
For the city’s vibrant clubbing scene
Good for: Nightlife
Nightclubs in Leipzig mostly focus on electronic and techno sounds, reflecting the city’s music scene. Some of the best districts for nightclubs include the trendy Plagwitz in the western part of the city, along Karl-Liebknecht-Straße in Südstadt, and around Old Town.
You can usually find top DJs playing at Distillery, one of the city’s oldest dance clubs. University party crowd favorites include Institut fuer Zukunft and Moritzbastei. Many of these clubs are open until almost sunrise, so you can easily spend an entire night on the dancefloor.
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