Entertainment

Pubs, Bars & Cafes

If you would like to try Altbier, Düsseldorf has a lot of places to offer, particularly in the Altstadt! Beer fans who would like to sample local brews in a classic German pub setting should head for Zum Uerige, Im Goldenen Kessel and Im Füchschen. Other traditional pubs are Weinhaus Tante Anna, Zum Csikosz and the oldest of all, En De Canon.

You can find a modern, cool atmosphere in Op de Eck at Grabbeplatz or in many of the cafes along the Rhine. If you want to check your e-mail, hit the G@rden internet cafe, with great lattes.

If you crave a cozy cafe au lait during the day or a sociable evening out, there are many pleasant bars on Ratinger Straße, including Zum Goldenen Einhorn, Ohme Jupp, Zur Uel or Schlonz. On a warm summer night this street becomes a giant outdoor pub.

If you prefer sitting and enjoying the view, Burgplatz and the Rhine promenade are the best places—Goldener Ring has a nice beer garden and all of the cafes along the Rhine have great views of the river. But real river-lovers should aim for Rheintreue or Koller's Kahn, both are on boats on the Rhine, found just past the Oberkasseler Bridge.

If, after a long, exhausting day you fancy warm, literary surroundings, have a rest at Schnabelewobski, the house where Heinrich Heine, the famous Loreley-poet, was born. Or drown your ears in rock music at the Weißer Bär right nearby.

Museums

Since Düsseldorf is one of the places to be when it comes to contemporary art, it is self-evident, that museums are also a major highlight of the city. In terms of contemporary art, the Museum Kunst Palast. The Goethe-Museum houses the biggest private Goethe collection, the Filmmuseum gives insight to the history of film, whereas the Stadtmuseum is the oldest museum in town.

Theater, Comedy, Music & Dance

Culturally, Düsseldorf has plenty to offer: There's theater at the Schauspielhaus, opera and ballet at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, classical music at the Tonhalle, variety at the JUTA, political cabaret at the Kommödchen, boulevard theater at the Komödie, modern dance at the Tanzhaus NRW and ambitious puppet-theatre at the Düsseldorfer Marionettentheater. The Apollo Variete beneath the Rheinknie-bridge is run by Roncalli, the famous circus.

Cinema

A bit of Cinema Paradiso atmosphere can be found at Cinema, Bambi, Metropol, Lichtburg, Black Box or Souterrain, also called Muggel. Not only do most of these cinemas have an old-fashioned decor, they show classic films, too. The big UFA Cineplexes at the main station and the harbor offer mainstream Hollywood films dubbed in German. If you want to see a film in the original language, look out for ones listed as OmU (original with German subtitles).

Live Music

Live jazz can be found at Dr. Jazz and at the Jazzschmiede. Buck Mulligans offers folk. Do you love "old blue eyes?" Then catch the German Sinatra, live on stage at Frontpage. At Em Pöötzke the jazz band will play that tune for a Heiermann - Düsseldorf slang for a five Mark coin.

The Philipshalle hosts concerts by big names like Bryan Ferry or Lou Reed. The Zakk is a club venue for smaller concerts, often by local bands.

To find your way around you can get a map at the tourist info across from the main station (Hauptbahnhof), tickets can also be purchased at Heinersdorff, or just find a trendy-looking cafe or bar and pick up one of the free city-guides Biograph or Coolibri to find out what's on.

Clubs

If you want to go dancing there is the chic Mauer, Poco Loco (young crowd, often Spanish nights), Unique-Club (modern & alternative), Baby Love (more a bar than a club—so a bit cramped), Anacaonda Electric Lounge (techno & electro), Ratinger Hof (mostly rave) and Kulisse (forty-somethings and German Schlager, or pop).

Dusseldorf's trendy professionals go to the brilliantly designed Banker's Boulevard (but don't forget your credit card). Checker's is where Claudia Schiffer was 'discovered' and Sam's, is another club close to Königsallee. The mk-2 club is a must for media types and design fans.

Tor 3 and the Stahlwerk are in an industrial area outside the center of town, and the ZAKK offers various theme discos, also for the over-thirties.