A Guide to Nightlife in Ankara
To enjoy the best places for fantastic nightlife in Ankara, tourists should visit some of the few Ankara bars available in town. As the official capital of the country, this city does not have many pubs in comparison to Istanbul. In Ankara, locals like to sit over a beer and have long conversations, so the clubbing scene here is not really there. Here are some of the best nightlife venues where you can drink, talk, listen to some good music, and have fun.
Nefes
Nefes is one of the top places for nightlife in Ankara. This bar is famous for hosting some of the best talents in the country. Therefore, the best if you are visiting this city is to get a beer and get to know some real national talent. The alcoholic drinks include local beer, wine, a wide range of cocktails, and some whiskies. The good thing is that they also have some top-notch bar food here. The Nefes Ankara bar is located at Sakarya street in the Fidanlık neighborhood, near the Kolej subway station.
Zula Bar a Good Pub for Expats
Zula Ankara bar is a nice alternative in the city because of its unique vibe. This bar has a laid-back attitude and is always crowded with people. The beer here is fantastic, and they offer some grubs for you if you get hungry. Also, if you want to enjoy some quality nightlife in Ankara in one of the funky-looking pubs in Ankara, then Zulu Bar is for you.
Many foreigners and expats love to come here for beer and music. Located on Kızılırmak Street, the best way to get here is to get off at Kizilay station. Then, walk toward Güvenpark on Ataturk Boulevard until you reach Olgunlar Street. Take that street until you reach Kızılırmak Caddesi; there, you will find Zula Bar.
The Soul Pub best Place to Hear Blues Music
The Soul Pub is a really good place if you want to drink and have a good nightlife in Ankara. This bar is probably one of the best places in Ankara. Its cozy atmosphere, good music playing, and very good menu make it a must-stop. Also, the music played here is mostly American blues and, as a result, is quite popular with art and music university students. With two floors and an outdoor sitting area, there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy your drink.
Manhattan
Since 1993, Manhattan’s stage hosted many local and international bands from the rock, jazz, and blues worldwide. If you visit here on the weekends, you’ll get a real sense of Ankara’s nightlife when you hang out here.
Update: This live music bar is not operational at the moment.
Corvus Pub Famous for its Balconies
Corvus Pub is a nice Ankara bar with a multi-floor setting. This place is inside a building that has a bar on every floor. Therefore, you need to follow the signs by the stairs to find it. This bar is famous with locals in the warmer months because of its large balcony. Also, the best thing here is their good beer as well as meeting the people at the table next to you.
If you want to have coffee or Turkish tea in this city, you need to go to the top 5 cafes in Ankara. This city is full of nice cafes; however, these few cafes are some of the best in the city for tourists and travelers.
Finding The Best of Ankara bars
If you are into bar hopping, then you need to start from Kizilay station and walk first towards the Cumhuriyet neighborhood, where some of Ankara’s bars are located. Then, walk south adjacent to the Ataturk Bouvard, where the rest of these pubs are scattered in the smaller alleyways.
