Strasbourg Entertainment

Due to its location on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg offers a rich and vibrant cultural life. No matter what time of year, there’s a wide variety of entertainment on hand, from opera, theatre and vaudeville to jazz, pubs and clubs. The city’s university student population helps keep the nightlife buzzing, with many of the hotspots centred around the cathedral and along the rue des Juifs.

Nightlife

Bars in Strasbourg stay open until at least 23:30 and often until 04:00. There are lots of choices if you want to head out for a night of partying, from the sedate to the rowdy. Most of the nightclubs are situated around the cathedral, along the streets of rue des Frères, rue des Soeurs and rue de la Croix. Le Seven is a popular spot among the stylish late 20s crowd and features all kinds of music at its underground dance floor. The biggest and most visible nightclub is Le Chalet. Located eight kilometres north of the city, it has two large distinct dancing areas, one for techno fans and the other for everyone else. La Cascade, in Le Petite France, is a nice small disco and Le Joker is good for R&B. The two-level Le Café des Anges plays salsa, jazz and groove and if you’re looking for an all night party, then head over to Le Rock City, where you can rock out on weekends until the sunrise.

Strasbourg has some great bars with good atmospheres, drinks and friendly people. Some of the favorites include Les Frères Berthom, Le Zurich, Le Schluch and the relaxing Academie de la Bière, which serves over 70 different kinds of beer. If you’re looking for a traditional pub, there is Murphy’s House, Irish Times and Pub Nelson, which all have that certain British pub atmosphere. Le Schutzenberger is an interesting, futuristic, super-trendy bar with three floors and loads of chic.           

Theatre and music

There is an excellent selection of sophisticated culture on-hand in Strasbourg. During the summer, the centre of outdoor entertainment is at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, where an assortment of performers and dancers put on shows against the backdrop of the church. Opera and ballet fans can go to the Opera du Rhin, while classical music lovers can visit the Palais de la Musique et des Congres, where the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Most of the major theatre productions happen at the National Theatre of Strasbourg, which has a busy schedule all year, while there are a handful of smaller theatres around the city which put on regular performances. Le Mallion and Le Taps offer a variety of shows, from dance to comedy. La Choucrouterie is the place for French cabaret. Le Kafteur and Au Camionneur offer the interesting art of coffee-theatre and Le Point D’Eau and L’lliade are smaller local venues that put on concerts, cabarets and theatre.

Live music also has a good following in the city. La Salamandre is a large venue that hosts around 40 concerts a year by renowned global musicians. Le Gayot and Le Bistro Jazz Club each have a piano player and occasionally hold live shows.

Festivals

Being a cultural hub, Strasbourg has its share of excellent and interesting festivals throughout the year. Summer and Christmas are the most popular times for big events, but often there are smaller local festivals promoting the wonders of Alsace culture.

• Strasbourg Jazz is one of the first music festivals of the year, featuring a number of world-famous jazz and blues musicians. This four-day event happens in early July at the Palais des Congres.
• The International Festival of Music is the most famous event in the city’s musical calendar. This three-week long party in June features world music from many countries.
• Festival Musica highlights important modern classical music with concerts throughout the city. This 16-day festival celebrates experimental and avant-garde music within the classical genre, which often influences future musical movements (Sept-Oct).
• Strasbourg International Film Festival features the film debuts of many independent artists from around the world (March).
• Strasbourg’s Christmas Markets (Christkindelmarik), the famous markets have been held in the city since 1570. The cathedral’s courtyard has one of the biggest markets and the Bredle Market on the Place de la Gare is the other noteworthy spot, with freshly baked Alsatian goods and festive gifts for sale.
• The Route Romane Festival follows the route taken by ancient pilgrims and celebrates the music and architecture of the city’s shared Franco-German heritage (Aug-Sept).