Welcome to the global dance. It started in the late 1980s with Acid House - a simple, hypnotic brand of electronic dance music formed in the underground gay discos of New York, Chicago and Detroit, mixed up with trashy Euro disco on the dancefloors of Ibiza and often enjoyed alongside a new designer drug called Ecstasy. London and Manchester were the first British cities to succumb to it, but nothing this good could stay secret for long: by 1990, there was at least one big dance club in every town in the UK, and the culture was spreading all over the world.
Once, only weird kids wanted to dress up and dance all night - now this kind of clubbing is a mainstream leisure activity everywhere: from Tokyo to Telford, Birmingham to Bali. And it shows no sign of ending. The music has evolved, adapted, spun off into endless confusing categories and sub-groups, but the basic premise stays the same: repetitive electronic beats, big smiles, and huge crowds giving it lots of hands-in-the-air abandon.
Meanwhile, the clubs have got bigger, boasting massive sound systems and extravagant decor that will shock those of you whose last dance experience was a chrome disco with swirly carpets, a few flashing lights and a mirror ball.
In the past decade, major British clubs such as Ministry of Sound, Cream and Gatecrasher have become international youth culture brands, big businesses selling CDs, magazines and clothes and organising parties all over the globe. Our star DJs earn more in one night than some of us do in a year, leading a life many jet-setters would envy: summers in Ibiza or Ayia Napa, winters playing clubs in Australia, South America or South Africa, and regular monthly gigs in New York clubs.
The scene is now a huge global business with its own stars, its own social calendar with regular annual fixtures such as the gay mardi gras in Sydney, the Love Parade in Berlin, and the Miami Winter Music conference. It has also bred a whole new kind of tourism - clubbers who travel the world less to see the sights than to experience the nights. This is a guide to some of the club capitals of the world, but search in any big city and you'll find something similar. As the record says, "Let the music take control."
Berlin
"Berlin is such a great clubbing city because there has always been an interesting mix of clubbers and music since the East and West joined together"
DJ Paul Van Dyk
Local DJs Westbam, Sven Vath, Paul Van Dyk, Timo Maas, Jazzanova.
UK/American DJs Carl Cox, Jeff Mills, Derrick Carter and any of the big Techno names.
Icon Cantian Strasse 15 / Mila Strasse
Door: Dm10, Dm20 for special events
Housed in a building that used to be a brewery, this is the oldest Drum 'n' Bass venue in the city and has played host to famous DJs such as Grooverider, Peshay,and Doc Scott.
Rive Gauche Friedrichstrasse 105
Door: Dm 20 (weekends & Special events), Dm10 (Thursdays, when they have an after-work night)
Mainly populated by people in advertising, party people. The only club in Berlin next to the River Spree, it has two dance-floors, plus a coffee bar and a swimming pool.
Stern Radio Alexander Platz 5
Door: Dm15, Dm20 for special events)
Generally local crowd. The building used to be a restaurant. A lot of famous people go there, so they keep it as discreet for them as possible.
GayMF Johannisstrasse 19
Door: Dm15
Gay-only event on Sundays at the famous WMF. Jean Paul Gaultier is one of the few non-German celebs to visit the club.
Tresor Leipziger Strasse, 126a
Door: Wednesday Dm5, Fridays Dm10,Saturdays Dm15
Techno downstairs, House upstairs, and there is a Hip-Hop night on the first Thursday of every month.
Maria Am Ostbahnhof Strasse der Pariser Kommune 8-10
Door: Dm15
Building was previously a post office. They have a DJ playing in the toilets, and there are live concerts at the venue too. Ian Pooley, DJ Shadow, DJ Empire and DJ Nova have all played here.
The practicals: (all flight quotations departing from London and inclusive of taxes) Buzz (0870 240 7070 www.buzzaway.com) flies to Berlin for £105. British Airways (0845 77 333 77 www.britishairways.com) £153.70.
Buenos Aires
"Buenos Aires is perfect for me because it's a city that sleeps during the day and comes alive at night"
DJ Roger Sanchez
Local DJs Hernan Cattaneo, Javier Bussola, Urban Groove DJ collective, Diego Ro-K. UK/European/American DJs Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, Sander Kleinenberg, Deep Dish, Darren Emerson, Tall Paul, Roger Sanchez.
Urban Groove @ K2
Door: $9, or $7 with flyer
Drag queens, ravers and clubbers alike enjoy House and Techno with a bit of Chicago/Detroit techno. There is also another dancefloor for VIPs, playing House, Garage and catering for the older crowd. Urban Groove is a collection of eight DJs: Miguel Silver; DJ Magoo; Diego CID; DJ DEE Jason; Luis Nieva; DJ Jam On; DJ L'Inspecteur; VJ Fabian Marina.
Clubland @ Pacha Costanera Norte y La Pampa
Door: varies from $10 to $25
Features: Plays host to all of the imported clubs and events. All of the big name UK/Euro DJs play here, especially when Global Underground or Cream comes to town.
Magic@ Niceto Niceto Vega y Humboldt 5510
Door: $8
Ravers and clubbers 21-35 immerse themselves in Hard Trance and House - as hard as it gets.
El Divino Avenue Cecilia Grierson 225, Puerto Madero
Door: $20
House dance, hard Trance, Hard House, Progressive in a six-room complex that includes a restaurant.
Music @ Ciudad Gotica go to Pacha parking lot between 8am - 10am to be handed flyers
Door: $15 - but free with passes and flyers
Populated by an open minded gay crowd. There are never any problems on the door, unlike some other clubs. Clientele are really up for partying and going crazy.
Quintas (various recovery or carry on parties that happen at people's houses in country) go to Pacha parking lot between 8am - 10am to be handed flyers. You will need wheels to get there and take swimming gear.
The practicals: BA £535.80; Iberia (0845 601 2854 www.iberia.com) £395.60 (via Madrid).
Cape Town
"Being a conscious black man, South Africa was always a place I was compelled to visit. Going there as a professional gave me a certain amount of personal pride as 10 years ago a black professional in South Africa would have been a contradiction"
DJ Spoony
Local DJs Darren Africa, Nick E Lauder, Ready D, Bruno Morphet.
European/ UK DJs You can find the likes of Carl Cox, Spoony, Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Paul Oakenfold.
Dockside Century Boulevard, Rylands Estate
Door: Rand20 (members) R30 (non-members); girls get in free on Wednesday
Oakie, Judge Jules, Dave Seaman, Gatecrasher & Moneypenny's have all played there. The music is UK/ Euro Trance.
The Fez 38 Hout Street
Door: R30
Longest queues in Cape Town on a Thursday night. Fez on the beach is planned for next year.
Getafix corner of Long Street & Longmarket Street
Door: R20
Opens until the last trancer goes home. Novelty machine sells loose ciggies. The music is Tribal Trance.
96 94 Long Street
Door: R30
Friendly crowd - most people know each other. Funky dresscode with no hoods. The music is Hard House Club.
169 On Long 169 Long Street
Door: R30
House party atmosphere - and the longest balcony in Long Street. Music is R'n'B.
Gijima 88 Shortmarket Street
Door: R20
The music, Kwaito, is a local slowed down House music, mixed with African vocals and chants.
Plum Crazi 94-96 Long Street
Door: R20
Beds in the chillout room for a mid-night nap. Otherwise enjoy the Funky Disco.
Unity 11 Buitensingle Street
Door: R40 (strict security on door)
VIP lounge is open to those deemed to be "friends" of the owners. The music/vibe can best be described as off-your-face/die-hard ravers.
55 22 Somerset Road
Door: free as long as you drink
This gay club is in a converted butchery.
Rhodes House 60 Queen Victoria Street
Door: R50
Themed nights every Saturday (from Bond to Latino to Masked Ball) at this gay venue.
Moomba 77 Hout Street
Door: R50
Open from 11pm until the last person leaves. Queues can be up to an hour long. Lenny Kravitz & Mary J Blige hang out there when they're in town.
The practicals: BA £662.40; South African Airways (0870 7471111) £703.40.
New York
"New York, it's got everything for everyone."
DJ Erick Morillo
Local DJs Erick Morillo, Frankie Knuckles, Funkmaster Flex, Grandmaster Flash. UK/European DJs Carl Cox, Sasha, Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold, Danny Howells, John Digweed.
Vinyl 6 Hubert Street
Door: vary with event
The music is Eclectic House & Garage. Best nights: Wednesday, "Dance Ritual" DJ Lil Louie Vega, Fridays, "Be Yourself" DJ Danny Tenaglia, Sundays, "Body & Soul" DJs Francois Kevorkian, Joe Claussell & Danny Krivit. No alcohol licence.
Drinkland 339 East 10th Street (between Ave A & B)
Door: $3
Hip-hop starts the evening off, followed by Drum 'n' Bass spun by the best of NYC's few Junglist DJs. The clientele is a mixture of trendy students and muso types.
The Tunnel 220 Twelfth Ave at 27th St
Door: $20 (ladies), $30 (guys).
Hip-hop all the way. The best night is Sunday, which features Funkmaster Flex plus guests. The clientele consists of Hardcore B-boys and B-girls.
GBH! (Great British House!) Fridays @ Cheetah, 12 W 21st St between 5th & 6th Avenues
Door: $20
Populated by model worshippers and eurotrash.
Centro-Fly 45 W 21st Street between 5th & 6th Aves
Door: $20
Basically, if you look good you will get in. The clientele is a trendy mixed crowd, while the music is Deep House.
Spa 76 E 13th Street between Broadway & 4th Ave
Door: $20 (weekdays), $25 (weekends)
High-end A-list crowd enjoyingt House, Hip-hop disco.
The Fryin' Pan lighthouse boat docked at Pier 63, North River, NY 10011
Door: $1,000 rental for Fridays or Saturdays for private party.
For people who appreciate a unique space. Past DJs include Basement Jaxx, Roger Sanchez
Twilo 503 W27th between 10th & 11th
Door: $35
Attracts everybody, with the exception of the Hip-hop crowd. Music is Euro Progressive, Trance, Techno, House. If you want to get in, be prepared for a long wait followed by a serious grilling from the door staff.
The Roxy Roller Disco 515 W18th St between 10th & 11th Aves
Door: $12 before 9pm, then $15
Diverse crowd of bladers and skaters enjoying soul funk and rare groove.
Shine 285 West Broadway at Canal Street
Door:$5-$10
Celebs not wanting to be seen, DJs, cool crowd. The music varies. Chicago house veteran Ron Trent is a regular on Mondays. The Stereophonics named their album "Performance and Cocktails" in honour of Shine. The door policy is low key and friendly.
The practicals: BA £370.40; Virgin Atlantic (01293 747747 www.virgin-atlantic.com) £222. Quotes to/from JFK.
San Francisco
"There's a club in this town for everyone. In the past it's been rock-based but now dance music has taken a serious grip."
DJ Scott Bond
Local DJs Doc Marten, Spesh, Greg Sandler, Jason Dyloot, DJ Garth.
European DJs Steve Lawler, Pete Tong, Dave Seaman, Darren Emerson, Scott Bond, Mr. C, and Gilles Peterson are among the frequent visitors.
Eklektic Cat Club 1190 Folsom Street
Door: $10 ($2 off with flyer before 11pm)
Free-styling rules the dancefloor every Saturday. Fantastic female Drum 'n' Bass DJs.
Release Ten15 Folsom, 1015 Folsom Street
Door: $20
The longest running club in the city, it attracts a mixed crowd of club kids, underground heads and beautiful people. World-class DJs, but you get the feeling that people aren't there for the music.
Nikita Ten15 Folsom, 1015 Folsom Street
Door: $10 (21 and over)
Fridays-only event that attracts kids from the 'burbs. Voted best dance club for fifth consecutive year in the San Francisco Bay Guardian's "Best of the Bay 2000". Has something for everyone: Drum 'n' Bass in the basement, Techno upstairs, Progressive House in the main room, classic disco elsewhere.
Rawhide 280 7th Street
Door: free before 10pm on Wednesday, $5 after; Saturday: $5 before 10pm, $10 after
Laid back but getting down hard on the dancefloor. There is an outdoor smoking patio (lighting up is banned in all restaurants and clubs in San Francisco).
Square @ Ruby Skye 420 Mason Street
Door: $20 (21 and over)
Dress to impress the mix of beautiful people and lads on the pull. The music is funky, soulful and deep house. Note for historians: housed in one of the few buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake that devastated the city.
Re-cycle @ 550 Barneveld 550 Barneveld Ave
Door: $20 (21 and over)
Friday/Saturday. Hip club kids get busy on the dancefloor.
The Spinjam 150 Folsom Street
Door: donations appreciated
Every Thursday night. Starts with yoga and ambient sounds and slowly builds from there. The hardcore spinners like to show up early so they can have plenty of room to operate
Spundae Ten15 Folsom, 1015 Folsom Street
Door: varies (21 and over)
Local groovers serious about their music in intimate gathering - laid back and unpretentious. Attracts big international names, resident DJ is Jerry Bonham. Also check out the record store at 678 Haight Street.
The Beta Lounge 1072 Illinois Street, San Francisco
Door: free
Thursdays. Mix of tech-heads, sophisticated clubbing crowd. Some are loungey, laid back - too cool to dance.
Universe 177 Towsend Street
Door: $10 (21 and over)
HiNRG and house featured in this Gay sweat box
Futura Kings Street Garage, 174 Kings Street Second and fourth Saturday of each month
Door: $10, $3 before 11pm with flyer (21 and over)
The majority of the crowd is made up of gay Latino men, with about 20% female while the rest are straight couples. Referred to as "The Crown Jewel of Latino Club scene in San Fran".
The practicals: BA £268.30 (outward flight from London is via Phoenix); Virgin Atlantic £249.90.
Sydney
"As everyone saw at the recent Olympics, Sydney is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world, and that extends to clubbing as well. It's also a very advanced scene out there with a strong infrastructure in place, much the same as England but on a much smaller scale."
DJ Dave Seaman
Local DJs Alex Taylor, John Course, Dynamic Dynamix, and Endorphin.
European DJs the Australian club scene attracts most UK/ Euro DJ's, both superstar and amateur - the likes of Carl Cox, Judge Jules, Brandon Block, Dave Seaman, Danny Rampling, and Darren Emerson.
Blue-print The Globe, King Head Tavern, 60 Park Street
Door: $8
The crowd can best be described as Gucci meets Puma. Two floors, Drum 'n' Bass downstairs, Breaks upstairs. Check out the bubbly lift operators who keep the crowds fully entertained in the elevator between the two floors.
The Chinese Laundry 3 Slip Street, Sydney (back entrance to Slip Inn)
Door: $15
Spend Saturday night in a basement rabbit warren with several bars, secret nooks and crannies and two separate dancefloors.
Sublime @ Home Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour NSW 2000
Door: $20
Four rooms, four styles: House, Techno, Breaks, Drum 'n' Bass. The crowd are young, full-on and up-for-it.
Home Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour
Door: $20
The queues at Home are pretty serious, so either arrive early and down a few cocktails in the Terrace bar, or become a member.
Frantic various venues (check flyers !)
Door: varies
Every two weeks. Door policy: no attitude, dress relaxed - shorts, trainers, whatever.
Tweekin' Club 77, William Street, Kings Cross
Door: $10
Full-on, the most happening vibe on a Friday night. It might be a dimly lit, grungy basement on the way to Kings Cross but Club 77 gives more than any other venue to Sydney's club scene. No wonder it won best club at the Australian Dance Awards while resident DJ Phil Smart was voted the best in the business.
Sounds on Sunday Greenwood Hotel, Greenwood Plaza 36 Blue Street, North Sydney
Door: $8 noon-2pm; $12 after 2pm
Mix of dirty stop-outs and groovers out for a Sunday afternoon chill out. Big line-ups with Sydney's finest DJs spinning throughout the day, themed rooms, chill areas and a café. Headliners in the public bar do Hi-NRG, Hard-House, Techno and Trance, while the outdoor arena offers a retro, garage, disco feel. The Groove Café features old school, soul and funk.
The practicals: BA £1,013.30; Qantas (0845 7 747 767) £828.
Tel Aviv
"Tel Aviv is a rocking, very modern city full of culture: from the Museum of Modern Art to exciting ground breaking clubs. It is also a city with beaches coupled with beautiful areas such as the old port at Jaffa. It has got everything old and new, with a very receptive cosmopolitan club scene committed to finding out what key sound is driving the music scene at that moment."
DJ Sister Bliss
Local DJs Jez & Choopie, Ella Gutman, Sahar Z, Zidan.
European/UK DJs all the major players are frequent on the Israeli scene, especially the likes of Sasha, Sister Bliss, Danny Howells, Brandon Block, Dave Seaman, and Scott Bond.
Club House Pacha, Kaufman Street
Door: Israeli shekel (IS)70
Beautiful Ibiza-inspired venue is the place to get loved-up in Tel Aviv. Expect crews such as God's Kitchen with Seb Fontaine to show up for the party.
Techno Ha'oman 17 , Ha'oman 17
Door: IS80
Viewed by many as the greatest club in Israel - very Ibizan in style. Upcoming Israeli star Sahar Z is resident DJ. Every winter the club moves to Tel Aviv beach while the venue is rebuilt from scratch.
Alternative Electronica Dinamo Divash, Abarbanel Street
Door: up to IS70
Situated on border between Tel Aviv and Jaffa Town, the club is committed to a leftfield music selection, and respected for that. The best place to come to escape Trance! One of the more the relaxed clubs vìs-a-vìs dress policy.
Pacha Kaufman Street,
Door: around IS70
Legendary smoke machine called the Megatron, powered by carbon dioxide frozen to -80 degrees C.
Funky/Flavasome Fish Supper Vongoly Iben Gvirol Street
Door: IS140 per person
The plaice for you if you want cod in batter with your platters that matter. Not cheap! - three courses with booze approx IS220. Regular haunt for visiting DJs and Israeli glitterati.
Fetish Rambam Street
Door: IS40
The place to go when it's 5am and you've had one too many Red Bulls. Party with the Tel Aviv hardcore until midday. Also features chillout room and sofas in the back in case you suddenly realise it's time to sit down
Octopus Tel Aviv Old Port
Door: IS70]
One big open-air space; stay after 7.30am for sun-kissed hedonism. One of the longest established and biggest names; exclusive host for A-list DJs, including Sasha and Sanchez.
Totally Eilat Street,
Door: IS60
Now under new management - the capable hands of DJ Choopie, the unassailable King of House in Israel, his stated aim "to bring the local electronic music industry forward".
Vertigo Kibbutz Ramat David, near Afula
Door: IS35, free for women
Began life 60 years ago as canteen; became one of the biggest clubs in Northern Israel. Wednesday night is the largest party; hardest drinking volunteers are Danes, Russians and Brits. Stay after 11 if you can; music becomes flat-out Israeli Trance.
Al Matl Ramallah Al-Tira Street
Door: free entry
Set in beautiful, atmospheric stone vaults, Yasser Arafat's brother is a regular - apparently he doesn't like to dance but isn't averse to a drop of Black Label.
Diwan Ben Sira Street, Ramallah
Door: free entry
Just outside the Old City; rotation of 30 DJs. Great for most leftfield/alternative beats; leftfield crowd to match.
Underground Yoel Salomon Street, Ramallah
Door: IS30
Underground room right in the heart of Jerusalem; great place for Israeli youth to go on the pull. Theme nights every Thursday.
The practicals: BA £210.10; El Al (UK agent Superstar Holidays 020-7957 4300) £206.
Tokyo
"Whatever you're into be it trance, drum'n'bass, techno, you name it, there's a banging scene out here."
DJ Seb Fontaine
Local DJs Tsuyoshi Suzuki, Ken Ishii Shinkawa, Captain Funk.
UK/European DJs Carl Cox, Dave Seaman, Tall Paul, Steve Thomas, Groove Armada.
The Loop Nihon Fudo Bldg B1, 2-1-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Door: varies
Tiny venue attracts a great crowd enjoying Hard House, Happy House and minimal Techno.
The Ring Kohama Bldg 1F/2F, 1-8-8 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku
Door: Yen 2,500-3,000
Good gay-friendly party with dancefloor and bars built to accommodate big crowds that congregate especially at the weekend.
Passion @ Club Complex Code Shinjuku Toho Kaikan 4F, 1-19-2 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku
Door: Yen 2,500-3,000
Every Friday night at Tokyo's monster club. Progressive House tunes.
Harlem Dr. Jeekan's Building, 2F 2-4 Yamacho
Door: Yen 2,000-3,000
Huge dance floor plays host to Hip-hop. Upstairs lounge with a more laidback atmosphere.
The practicals: BA £1,389.10; All Nippon Airways (020-7224-8866) £797.10.
• Call 01233 211608 for The Clubbers Guide to Travel, a brochure from the Ministry of Sound in conjunction with Cosmos. It lists clubbing holidays in many destinations. Reservations: 0870 2646075. As an example, a two-night trip to Berlin on March 9 inc flights and B&B is available from Cosmos for £309 pp. Information on clubs is also available.
