Nothing beats a night out. Whether you’re exploring a rooftop nightclub in a city you’re visiting or in your hometown catching up with friends for a drink at the latest neighborhood hot spot, a night out is something we all look forward to.
Every city has its own unique energy, but we wanted to know what was the best city in the world for nightlife—from moderately mild to extremely wild. To find out, Time Out surveyed thousands of people in places all over the globe to learn what they love (and in some cases loathe) most about the nightlife scene in their cities.
We asked locals to rate their city’s nightlife based on the quality and diversity of venues and activities (including options not limited to bars or nightclubs), as well as affordability, and then crunched the numbers to complete our list. And after tallying the results, the winner is… Las Vegas.
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Yes, America’s ultimate party spot topped our rankings with 89 percent of respondents rating the nightlife scene in Las Vegas as “good” or “amazing,” the highest percentage among cities the world over.
Las Vegas found its way to the top because it delivers what many cities can’t: Big, over-the-top experiences that include star residencies on the neon Strip in show-stealing venues like Sphere, huge nightclubs featuring the world’s top DJs, immersive art museums and places where bartenders will serve you a drink that’s lit on fire when it arrives.
But what’s most exciting about Las Vegas right now is the re-emergence of the city’s Arts District. Although a not-so-hidden secret for years, the neighborhood has seen an astonishing number of new cocktail lounges pop up this year adding to the reason why locals are so stoked about their city right now.
Right behind Las Vegas in our rankings of the best cities in the world for nightlife are Madrid and Paris at two and three respectively. Vegas was the only American city to land on the list, but stay tuned for our U.S.-specific ranking later this week. In the meantime, make sure to brush up on all of the best cities for nightlife on the planet—and find out how each spot claimed its place.