PCN's Favorite Destinations: Six Cities Where Nightlife Is Number One
- Story by Kristina Kulyabina
Planning your next party destination? PCN is here to provide you with insider tips for the best cities in the world to rage your face off.
- Las Vegas
It isn’t a feature about top party cities if Vegas isn’t included, right? You’ve probably already heard of the excellent bottle service and scandalous pool parties Vegas has to offer. So PCN decided to give you more of an inside scoop on how to party at Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub specifically, by interviewing model cocktail server Mariola Letowska.
“What I love about Marquee (both as a guest and employee) is that we throw some of the best parties in Las Vegas. Marquee is such a multi-faceted venue that we can cater to many different people and create different music experiences within the club,” says Letwoska.
The layout of the club has a main room for the high energy DJs spinning EDM with lighting, visuals, dancers, etc, the Boom Box room is a smaller club downstairs which typically features hip hop DJs, and the Library is a more laid back area that overlooks the main room dance floor from the balcony. “I always thought it creates a more VIP and intimate experience if you are looking to listen to the music with more privacy,” says Letowska.
If you want something even more personal, like a birthday or bachelorette/bachelor party, Marquee puts on quite the show. The Marquee dolls bring out bottles to guests with props and costumes like football players, French maids, Disney princesses, and sexy pirates inside a massive pirate ship. Sometimes they’ll even include a special sign with your name on it.
The top quality presentations in Vegas range from dance club performers to, of course, the famous artists themselves. “I would rate the music scene in Vegas a 10 out of 10. My love for music is what brought me to this city three years ago from Boston, says Letowska. “We have international DJ headliners at the day clubs and nightclubs almost every night such as Calvin Harris, Tiesto, The Chainsmokers etc. Our hip hop residents in Vegas include big names like Drake, G-Eazy, Cardi B, Travis Scott and the list goes on and on.”
Overall, Saturday night is the busiest in Vegas, when the party starts around midnight and slows down around 4 am. Once that closing time rolls through, most of the after parties are held at the strip clubs, open 24 hours. Letowska suggests going to Sapphire (the largest strip club in the world), Spearmint Rhino, and Crazy Horse III.
Instagram: @mariolalv_
- Berlin
Ah the grungy, alternative capital of Germany, where drinking on the streets is more than tolerated and where some nightclubs keep doors open from Friday night until Monday for non stop partying. Berlin’s nightlife can get a little weird, funky, and dark, especially at the infamous Berghain nightclub. Berghain, located inside an old power plant, is known for its blasting techno sounds, x-rated sights, and one tough ass bouncer who decides your entry based off your overall appearance and perhaps your connections. Although you might have to wait in line for three hours to get in, the incredible sound system and endless plethora of ‘fun’ will be worth it in the end to keep you raving all night.
Once you’ve decided you finally need a little cool down, but, still want to continue the good vibes throughout the day, check out the riverside club Yaam. It’s an outdoor space filled with Caribbean and African food trucks, colorful murals, reggae music, and of course the delicious smell of burning grass. Grab a craft beer from the bar and sit back in one of the beach chairs by the river, soaking in the laid back scene. Towards the evening, things pick up a bit with occasional hip-hop events and and concerts bringing Afro Caribbean beats to groove to and jam out the rest of your energy.
3. Madrid
Believe us when we say the Spanish know how to party. Madrid is a city where it’s normal to start dinner at 10 pm and go to sleep 12 hours late after a night out in the center. People botellón in the plazas with liters of beer as a pregame or chill in the hip neighborhoods of La Latina or Lavapies, where Chinaski Bar is worth a visit.
The biggest and best known dance club is Teatro Kapital, located in a former theater and made up of seven floors, each featuring a different music style. Beats range from Latin music and house to hip hop and r&b. Another major nightclub or discoteca is called Joy Eslava, located in the heart of the city with big name concerts and different music events every night of the week. Madrid also has a really cool bar scene, particularly at Los Bajos de Argüelles, a weird shopping center with a rock n’ roll bar crowd. The area is lined with several pubs and bars where you can listen to heavy metal and alternative rock music with the punk kids. If hip hop and trap is more your taste, then Serrano 41 is the perfect mix of a club with an elegant bar upstairs and crazy dance floor downstairs, which hosts funk nights with hip hop performances on Sundays. Also be sure to check out the basement of Bogui for live jazz performances by local artists and hip hop sessions on Saturdays, as well as Chacha The Club parties at Sala Cocó on Fridays for a little trap and reggaeton flavor.
4. Bangkok
Rule number one: get away from Khao San road! Ok it’s a fun backpacker’s haven to get drunk with a bunch of Aussies and try your first fried scorpion on a stick. But there’s more to Bangkok than just “ping pong” shows. For example, Sukhumvit Road, the longest road in the city, features an array of restaurants, malls, markets, clubs, always lively and overflowing with people. Start your night off with a cocktail at the Octave Roof Bar and Lounge for a 360 degree view of the capital city. Feeling even more classy? Then head to Levels , an exclusive venue split into four sections including an open air terrace and a main lounge area with an LED chandelier and monochrome sofas. International DJs occasionally drop in to play house sets, providing some of the best audio-visual clubbing experiences.
For those of you who are feeling a bit more frisky, Soi Cowboy is the place to go to for go-go bars, where you can see girls bathing in bubble baths among other red light district entertainment. Besides Sukhumvit, other parts of the city worth checking out include Chatuchak, a huge market occupied by both locals and tourists, and the trendy neighborhood of Ekkamai to catch more live music. And for the classiest of all, Sky Bar at Lebua awaits you with its fame from the Hangover ll and as one of the highest rooftop bars in the world. Dress to impress and indulge in a cucumber and rosemary g&t or a hangovertini (yes there’s a drink named after the movie) while standing 820 ft above the city. Best times to visit are in the evenings when the sun sets over the Chao Phraya River and at twilight to witness Bangkok’s city lights take over the streets.
5. Tel Aviv
Another capital, another city that will blow you away with it’s party scene. Tel Aviv boasts an international vibe created by unique individuals. Kuli Alma is a hip underground club owned and operated by a collective of Tel Aviv DJs and artists. You can sip on a cold beer in the outdoor garden to take a break from the dance floor powered by electronic, house, and hip hop beats, or check out the featured art galleries and have a chat with the artist. Vibrant murals decorate the walls along with unique graphics and vintage films.
For more underground, rave the night away at The Block, located in the new central bus station. It can easily be recognized as the ‘Berghain’ of Israel, hosting trance parties all night with one of the best art analog sound systems in the world, the kind that makes you feel every tinge of bass in your chest. Radio EPGB is also worth a visit for itms variety of music including funk, punk, new age, electro and indie electronic while the Breakfast Club is the go-to after hours spot, open until 8 am. Tel Aviv is an awesome city to party, especially if you’re there in time for the gay pride parade or during the Midburn Festival.
6. Los Angeles
LA, the most populous city in California that always guarantees a night composed of meeting interesting characters left and right. This city never disappoints with its endless entertainment and high end bars. Where to even begin? PCN recommends checking out Elevate Lounge, located on the 21st floor of an office tower, for a beautiful view of the city. Start here for your first cocktail and then make your way to OHM, a nightclub that boasts 150,000 watts of sound with a lively dance floor and a chic space for intimate seating. Le Jardín is also a worthy nightclub for live DJs, and for private events including a capacity of up to 600 people with two full service bars. Other elegant nightclubs include the Nightingale with specialty cocktails created by renowned mixologists and the Warwick, featuring even more delicious drinks like the Kaffir Melon Cooler served in one of the most stunning cocktail lounges in LA.