Joburg named one of the world’s best nightlife cities in Time Out ranking

Johannesburg has been ranked among the world’s top cities for nightlife in Time Out’s latest Best Cities for Nightlife list, placing seventh overall and ahead of destinations such as Brighton, Beijing and Amsterdam.

Why Joburg made the list

Time Out says Johannesburg’s after-dark scene has repeatedly reinvented itself, evolving from the warehouse parties of the 1990s into a varied modern landscape that includes deep house, techno, Afro-house, gqom, drum and bass and experimental sounds. The publication highlights concentrated nightlife in Newtown, where multiple venues sit close together along Gwigwi Mrwebi Street.

Notable venues and neighbourhoods

Time Out names Club A.M., AND Club, Bad Manors and Carfax as part of Newtown’s cluster of nightlife spots. For visitors seeking alternatives to clubs, the ranking points to neighbourhoods such as Melville and Rosebank for cocktail bars, pubs and other late-night options.

Community and affordability helped

Time Out’s survey data played a major role in the ranking. According to the report, 80% of people living in Johannesburg said it is easy to find connection and community in the city. The city also scored 66% for affordability, a factor that distinguished it among the featured nightlife destinations.

The global picture

In Time Out’s final top 10, Bangkok tops the list, followed by Berlin and New York City. Melbourne and São Paulo make up the top five, with Medellín in sixth place and Johannesburg in seventh. Brighton, Beijing and Amsterdam complete the top 10. Time Out allowed only one city per country onto the final list.

How the ranking was compiled

Time Out surveyed residents in cities around the world about the quality and affordability of nightlife, clubbing and bars, community, safety, diversity and how exciting and welcoming their city feels after dark. Editors, culture experts and things-to-do specialists then used those results to select the final ranking.