Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [145]
Café 100 ( 273 5010; Alaunstrasse 100) Wine lovers should make a beeline for this candle-lit pub, with its romantic cavernous cellar and 250 wines on the menu. It’s a great place for first dates.
Frank’s ( 6588 8380; Alaunstrasse 80) Famed for its huge cocktail menu, this is a long-running Neustadt stalwart.
Also recommended:
Café Europa ( 804 4810; Königsbrücker Strasse 68; 24hr; ) Smart open-all-hours cafe with newspapers and free internet, but slow service.
Neumanns Tiki ( 810 3837; Görlitzer Strasse 21) Polynesian cocktail bar and ice-cream parlour in the Kunsthofpassage.
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Entertainment
The finest all-round listings guide to Dresden is SAX (www.cybersax.de), sold at news-stands (€1.30). Regular freebies include Blitz, Frizz and the Kneipensurfer and Use-it maps. Pick them up at the tourist office, cafes, pubs and hostels.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Dresdner Philharmonie ( 486 6866; www.dresdnerphilharmonie.de) 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.
Sächsische Staatsoper ( 491 1705; www.semperoper.de) Dresden is synonymous with opera, and performances at the spectacular Semperoper are brilliant. Tickets are hard to obtain, so plan well ahead or queue for returns.
NIGHTCLUBS
Strasse E (www.strasse-e.de; Werner-Hartmann-Strasse 2) 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. Some of the other clubs reviewed in this section are closer to town.
Puschkin ( 205 4587; www.puschkin-club.info; Leipziger Strasse 12) The eclectic mix of gigs on here means it’s worth checking the program, whatever you have on your iPod.
Groove Station ( 8029 594; Katharinenstrasse 11-13) This popular multipurpose lounge is the oldest live-music club in town. There are foosball and snooker tables and a well-stocked bar.
Down Town ( 811 5592; Katharinenstrasse 11-13; Fri, Sat & Mon) 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).
U-Boot (Bautzner Strasse 75; Fri & Sat) Anything from reggae to nu-punk, catering for the skater crowd.
LIVE MUSIC
Alter Schlachthof ( 858 8529; Gothaer Strasse 11) The industrial charm of an old slaughterhouse draws a party-happy crowd for mostly alternative German acts.
Blue Note ( 801 4275; www.jazzdepartment.com; Görlitzer Strasse 2b; to 5am or later) Small, smoky and smooth, this converted smithy has live jazz almost nightly until 11pm, then turns into a night-owl magnet until the wee hours. The talent is mostly regional.
Katy’s Garage ( 656 7701; Alaunstrasse 48) This rockin’ shanty town, a key venue for indie gigs and club nights throughout the week, is centred around a former tyre shop.
Jazzclub Neue Tonne ( 802 6017; www.jazzclubtonne.de; Königstrasse 15) Bigger names hit the stage here, and it’s a bit more polished than Blue Note.
GAY & LESBIAN VENUES
Dresden’s gay scene is concentrated in the Neustadt. For listings, consult GegenPol (www.gegenpol.net, in German).
Boy’s ( 5633 630; www.boys-dresden.de; Alaunstrasse 80; Tue-Sun) A lively bar-club with parties on Friday and Saturday. A top venue for S&M (standing and modelling; not what you were thinking…).
Queens ( 803 1650; Görlitzer Strasse 3) The kitsch decor is the perfect backdrop for this pulsating hot spot, famous for its Schlager (schmaltzy German pop songs) parties.
Sappho ( 404 5136; Hechtstrasse 23) This women’s cafe is an excellent venue on Dresden’s thriving lesbigay map.
Valentino ( 889 4996; Jordanstrasse 2; ) A low-key cafe with great cakes, ice cream and internet access.
CINEMAS
Check www.kinokalender.com for monthly listings. Undubbed English films are shown at the following:
Programmkino Ost (