Boston dance clubs
continue to be the rage for night owls of all ages. These clubs
have some pretty serious (and deafening) custom sound systems
blaring the latest and greatest music trends with the power to
shake your booty for you, sometimes to the point where you can
literally feel the beat from the street. These highlights of the
city’s scene open early and close late, and generally pack ‘em
in like sardines. Dress in layers, the heat rises as the night
progresses.
An Tain
31 Inda Street
(617) 426-1870
This, like many of the
downtown clubs, caters to the stuffy financial types during the
daylight hours. But there's a whole new beat after sunset. An
Tain turns up the volume and roars with energy.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: South Station
Aria
246 Tremont Street
(617) 338-7080
Aria mixes plush velvet
with goth in this eccentric nightspot. It’s totally
superficial and caters to the well-off with private tables along
the wall. You’ll see European and wealthy sugar-daddies and
trophies everywhere you turn around the small dance floor, where
the same partying beat becomes monotonous. If you arrive
fashionably late you’ll only be granted entry if you are one
of the beautiful people, where the cover charge may even be
waved. Otherwise you might try greasing the hand of the bouncer
with a crisp $20. Fast cars and trendy threads make the person
here.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies
MBTA Stop: Boylston
Atlas
3 Lansdowne Street
(617) 437-0300
Atlas is a titan on the
Boston scene, with its menu, TV screens and rhythm noticeably
big. It's frequented by the college crowd, out-of-towners and
twentysomethings, all of whom lose track of time dancing or
gaming it upstairs at Jillian’s.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies,
approximately $5
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
Avalon
15 Lansdowne Street
(617) 262-2424
Without a doubt the king
of the Landsdowne clubs, Avalon is casual and newly-renovated
with a rocking sound system and unbelievably nice bathrooms.
Spacious dance areas and occasional live concerts draw the
flocks of night mavens. Sunday is gay night, Thursday is
international night, while Friday night is "Avaland"
offering the mixes of national name DJ's, and Saturday roars
with progressive house music. Dine before you come, there aren’t
any snacks here.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies up to $19
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
Axis
13 Lansdowne Street
(617) 262-2437
This is a nightclub like
no other. Requiring only creative dress for entry – with black
always acceptable – it presents two floors of mayhem and some
fascinating people-watching potential. Here, tackiness and
bad-hair days are the norm, yet it is probably the most exciting
club in town. You'll see a gamut of personalities, ranging from
sheer class to the Dennis Rodman designer-wear types, feather
boa included. At Axis, you’re on parade, and the funkier the
better. Sunday is gay night, Monday is drag night, and Saturday
is X night. And surprisingly, people of all sexes, races, ages,
religions, lifestyle preferences and wardrobes mingle together
nightly as the techno tunes throb. Axis is non-stop,
in-your-face action and the perfect spot in which to lose
yourself – or lose control.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies from $5 to
$10
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
The Big Easy
1 Boylston Place
(617) 351-7000
One of the longest lines
in Boston stands outside this New Orleans-style club. Formerly
Zanzibar – a name it revives on Tuesday's international theme
– it boasts comfortable booths and a second-story wraparound
balcony encircling a large round dance floor. Young
professionals enjoy alternating DJ's and live bands.
Parking: Street
Cover: $7
MBTA Stop: Boylston
Bill's Bar
7 Lansdowne Street
(617) 421-9678
This chameleon seems to
change nightly – whether the soundtrack is Euro or hip-hop,
and whether the cover is $2 or $15 – the only thing tried and
true is an enjoyable time. Frequented mostly by the post-grad,
ties and Dockers crowd, Bill's offers mixes of DJ's and live
bands.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Street
Club at Il Panino
295 Franklin Street
(617) 338-1000
Nestled in the Financial
District, Il Panino's is part of the five-floor Trattoria Il
Panino restaurant complex. The three-floor dance club has three
large bars and the high-energy masses flock to an adequate
amount of dance space. Thursday is Latin and Brazilian night,
while Friday and Saturday nights offer a variety of music from
the '70s, '80s, and '90s, including Top 40 and progressive dance
music, and Sunday is International Euro night. The dress code
excludes jeans and sneakers.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Aquarium or
State Street
Karma
9 Lansdowne Street
(617) 421-9595
A flagship of the
Lansdowne beat, Karma's specialty is its ability to throw
together musical themes to keep the young, energetic masses
bumping and grooving. The club has a dress code and bans
anything clunky – including big jewelry. But it's a small
price to pay to be at one with loud music, dancing and fun
drinks. Expect a line.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies $12 to $15
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
M-80
969 Commonwealth Avenue
(617) 562-8800
The M-80 is a popular,
late-night club well-attended by international students from
nearby Boston University. DJ's mix house and international music
for this in-crowd. The dress is casual and the alcohol is
flowing. M-80-goers consume more Moet here than in any other
East Coast establishment. Dress well to fit in here and,
although you’ll hear many varied accents, lost the Boston one.
Parking: Street, nearby
lot
Cover: $10
MBTA Stop: Commonwealth
Avenue
The Roxy
279 Tremont Street
(617) 338-7699
With a prime location in
the heart of the busy Theater District, this multi-storied club
accommodates 1,200 square feet of dance floor and often
transforms into a concert venue hosting national acts. It has a
unique uptown aura with a spruced and preened clientele.
Thursday is Latin night, Friday is Roxy Rewind popular for 70's
fare, Saturday is techno, Top 40 and house music, and Sunday
rocks.
Parking: Street, garage
and nearby lots
Cover: $10
MBTA Stop: Boylston or
Medical Center
DANCE
CLUBS
ATTRACTIONS
