The World's Great Cities, After Dark

Glamorous and chic, these global cities boast cosmopolitan nightlife sure to keep you entertained into the wee hours of the morning.

You may have visited a city a dozen times, spending countless hours meandering its museums, markets, cafés and parks. But to explore a place when the sun sets — as it comes alive in a whole different way — is to see it for the first time all over again. From the rooftops of Dubai to the operas of Berlin, discover some of the world’s best nightlife.

TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS IN BERLIN

A visit to Germany’s capital can feel like traveling back in time to an era when the most electrifying evenings included culturally rich outings. When the sun goes down, plan to listen to world-class music in one of the city’s two historic venues. The Philharmonie Berlin, the architecturally striking home to the Berlin orchestra, is one of the world’s top venues for classical music. The concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin can arrange for tickets to a concert, or opt instead to see the Berlin State Opera perform at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Either promises to be an unforgettable experience. Cap off the night with perfume-inspired cocktails at the aptly-named Fragrances, with sips based on both popular and slightly esoteric scents. 

EXCLUSIVE DANCE PARTIES IN DUBAI

The most populous city in the United Arab Emirates is known for its unparalleled nightlife. Places like WHITE Dubai — the city’s first rooftop club — has live music for dancing under the stars, while La Baie at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai offers a relaxed beachside scene. Depending on the atmosphere you’re after, venues like the Cavalli Club and Soho Garden — the London inspired spot with four venues in one — host lively parties every night of the week. Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE isn’t easy to access, with its far-flung beach location halfway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but that’s the point. Guests arrive in high style, some via helicopter or yacht. If you’ve made it to the city sans air transportation, companies like HeliDubai offer luxury VIP flights late into the night. 

EPICUREAN DELIGHTS IN TOKYO

After dark, taste your way through Tokyo’s treasured culinary offerings, from back-alley izakaya in centrally located Shibuya to refined cocktail bars in Shinjuku. The latter includes Bar BenFiddich, where owner Hiroyasu Kayama crafts meticulously-made drinks with herbs and spices cultivated from his family home. In the dynamic Roppongi district, restaurants serving Michelin-starred sushi and other Japanese specialties abound. Try Nihonryori Ryugin or Sushi Saito, both open for late-night bites. At The Bar on the 45th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, sip sake from traditional Kiriko glassware, or taste one of the award-winning specialty cocktails, like the Botanical Terrace with gin, homemade lavender cordial and homemade lemon sherbet, from your lofty post high above the sparkling city.

CULTURALLY RICH EXPERIENCES IN NEW YORK CITY

From its perch overlooking the city’s famed leafy oasis, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park offers a respite in the middle of the city that never sleeps. Nightclubs, rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and speakeasies are open for every taste and whim, but it is the city’s seemingly endless cultural offerings that really sets it apart. For starters, the Strand — the East Village’s iconic bookstore — stays open until 10:30 p.m. each night. Come for an author reading, and stay to peruse endless stacks of books, including limited and rare editions. Music aficionados can take in a show at the Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, where Dizzy Gillespie once played, or a concert at iconic Carnegie Hall, just four blocks from the hotel. Also nearby is the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, home to a dozen arts organizations including the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet. End your evening with an urban stroll to fully take in the city’s after hours energy and excitement.

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Article and Images courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton