Bucharest - Nightlife

Drink local lager in large mugs on Summer Street, then dance the night away in Bucharest's pulsating clubs.

The old quarter livens up after dusk, when the city's party-minded populate the bars and clubs that have made this area the centre of Bucharest's nightlife. Check out the small pathway dubbed Summer Street – it's brimming with music and people.

Calea Victoriei Boulevard is the beating heart of Bucharest's jazz scene. Mingle with bohemian types in dim bars and small cafés, where smooth tunes and fine Romanian wine await.

An unpretentious crowd turns the area around Bucharest's university into a party zone on weekends. Drink inexpensive beer in sweaty live venues or lose yourself in mysterious cellar bars. In the summer, catch a live concert on Piata Universitatii Square.

Drawing a refreshingly eclectic crowd, Gabroveni Street, on the fringe of Lipscani, is home to some of Bucharest's most popular and thriving clubs. Take your pick from retro rock to house tunes.

Track down Bucharest's best hidden club on the rooftop terrace of the National Theatre. For up-to-date tips, get a copy of Sapte Seri, the city's all-comprising weekly listings magazine. Bucharest knows no curfew, so expect clubs to stay open until the early morning.

Hum the freedom hymn, Wake Up, Romanian, on Piata Revolutiei Square; tap your feet to the fiddles of Wallachian folk in Lipscani; on your way to the opera, listen to the enchanting symphonies of George Enescu, Romania's most famous musical son.