Best Clubs in Cardiff

As a student in Cardiff, nothing takes the edge off a rigorous course like going out clubbing. With so many options to choose from, finding the best Cardiff nightclubs for a night out with friends can make or break your uni experience. Don’t worry, though. We’ve done the research so that you don’t have to, so stay tuned to learn more about the best nightlife Cardiff has to offer.

Cardiff Nightclubs

There are many nightclubs in Cardiff to explore during your time as a student, but don’t let the sheer number of possibilities stop you in your tracks. You can narrow down your options by knowing what you want to experience as a student in the city. From there, simply review our roundup to compare your options and plan your night. With this in mind, here are the best Cardiff clubs to consider!

Tramshed Cardiff

Located just 0.5 miles away from the Cardiff Central Station, Tramshed, Cardiff, features renowned musicians in impressive lineups, making it one of the most obvious choices when planning a Cardiff night out. The club has many types of parties, festivals, and live music events, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone! From disco to trance and classical to R&B, the venue prides itself on fair accommodation, offering level flooring, a lift to reach the first floor, and an overall welcoming atmosphere for deaf and disabled students.

The Globe Cardiff

Who says you need to go out on Fridays and Saturday nights, when you can go out on weekdays at The Globe in Cardiff? This venue takes security seriously, allowing you to have a safe night out while partying as a uni student in a potentially unfamiliar city. Just keep in mind, the bar is card only, so be sure not to rely on cash when planning a Cardiff student night. The Globe, unfortunately, also does not offer disability accommodations for those in need.

Revolution Cardiff

Found in the shopping arcade Castle Quarter Arcades, Revolution Cardiff is the perfect high-end cocktail bar to visit after a day trip to over 60 shops, eateries, and businesses found in the arcade. Gather your uni friends and plan an outing in this historic hotspot, then celebrate your Saturday night at one of the best restaurants and bars in Cardiff while checking out Revolution’s club nights! 

Revolution offers a wide selection of food, making it one of the best clubs in Cardiff to grab a bite to eat. Show up on a Wednesday night for a £5 margherita pizza and an on-the-rocks, frozen, or spicy margarita.  

Circuit Cardiff

For those pursuing degrees in the arts, Circuit Cardiff is a club located directly across from New Theatre, a performing arts theatre with a Victorian-style theme. You can be the knowledgeable leader of your programme by planning a trip to the theatre with other students in your course and ending the night at Circuit Cardiff, one of the newest and fastest-growing nightclubs Cardiff has to offer. The club features a 1,500 capacity with two rooms for experiencing music of your choice, making it one of the largest clubs in the area!

DEPOT Cardiff

Established in 2015, DEPOT is one of several clubs in Cardiff city centre that offers a comprehensive calendar of events, from live performances to immersive events that will leave you buzzing with memories from dancing the night away! DEPOT has an industrial vibe and offers in-house food from street vendors. Check out their BINGO LINGO, which is a spin on traditional bingo and includes raves, dancing, silly prizes, and more for a one-of-a-kind night out.

District Cardiff

If you want to hop from club to club, District Cardiff is right next to Circuit Cardiff, allowing you to quickly explore nightclubs in Cardiff city centre. This club offers stacked events, with daytime and nighttime events featuring top-of-the-line DJs and guest appearances. The lighting and sound systems at District are top-notch, making a night out more exciting than venues with fewer equipment amenities.

Pulse Cardiff

Pulse Cardiff is an LGBTQ+-friendly nightclub in Cardiff, located right next to Exitus Escape Rooms. Create the perfect itinerary for you and your uni friends, rack your brains solving escape room puzzles, and then head over to Pulse for dancing. Alternatively, head over in the daytime for a pub setting and tasty food. At night, Pulse shifts from a daytime bar to a vibrant nightclub, with pulsing lights that make the club worthy of its name.

Coyote Ugly Cardiff

Open seven days a week, Coyote Ugly Cardiff is a popular bar and grill that makes every night an opportunity for a Cardiff student night, easily fitting into your busy schedule. Known for its eccentricity, chaos, and high energy, you won’t want for a good time at this change of pace from your typical club. Go to one of their line dancing events, or check out their rodeo or karaoke nights to change up your typical club experience.

Popworld Cardiff

Popworld Cardiff is a great night out for students who love – you guessed it – pop music! This club also offers freebies during special events, so keep your eyes peeled for prize opportunities when you plan a night out there. If you and your friends are looking for a club that merges style with cheesy pop music, you’ve come to the right place. Popworld plays pop tunes for a lighthearted outing that will leave you laughing while you dance. 

Boho Club Cardiff

Below Cardiff Market lies a bar called Boho, which operates from Wednesdays through Saturdays. Boho offers an impressive lineup of events. This venue has events running through the week, with cocktails and vibes on Wednesdays and Sundays, warmups on Thursdays, and all kinds of main events on Saturdays and Sundays.

Retro Cardiff

As the name suggests, Retro is a club with an old-school vibe. The venue hosts flashback Fridays, wonky Wednesdays, karaoke Thursdays, and Saturday night fever, featuring hits from the 70s to the early 2000s. Retro has three floors and an outdoor terrace and offers a range of events, including cocktail masterclasses and student nights. Put on your retro outfit and get ready for a fun night that takes you back in time!

The Live Lounge Cardiff

This bar and restaurant calls itself the liveliest venue in Cardiff, offering exciting events like live music every day from midday to midnight. After midnight, the DJ switches to top hits until 4AM, making this a solid choice for night owls. Sports lovers will also appreciate the live broadcasting that Live Lounge features during sports events. 

Be At One Cardiff

There are many perks to being a student in Cardiff, and this establishment is no exception; Be at One offers more than 100 cocktails and freebies for booking parties at their venue. You can also book a cocktail masterclass to learn how to craft your very own beverages. The bar prides itself on opening every day of the week, so you can glam up and go out no matter the day!

Vaults Cardiff

In the basement of Portland House, you can find Vaults, a former bank transformed into one of the best underground clubs in the UK. Vaults features techno music, holiday-themed raves, and more. Its unique establishment will have you feeling like you’re in a movie, and it’s even been used in several films, music videos, and TV series. 

The Philharmonic Cardiff

This venue is host to five different bars: the Philly bar, 360, the Cwtch, Gold Lounge, and the Atrium. Each bar features different activities and events, so there’s plenty to see and do. Whether you want to dance, have brunch, go to a private underground bar, or have a decadent night with friends, The Philharmonic has it all. It features Philly Fridays, with cocktails, live entertainment, and pizza, karaoke night every Friday, and Philly Saturdays. 

Y Plas Cardiff

When it comes to the best clubs Cardiff has to offer for students, you won’t find a more tailored location than Y Plas Cardiff. This students’ union functions as a site for social learning in the daytime, and at night, it becomes a lively venue for Cardiff University nightlife. The venue was recently redeveloped and now features a mezzanine balcony, a glass roof, and impressive decor.

Fuel Rock Club Cardiff

As the main established rock club in Cardiff, Fuel’s motto is “live live, live loud, live proud” for a reason. Rock and metal musicians perform live music at Fuel and offer a head-banging energy fit for those who love rock music. The venue was once one of Cardiff’s oldest pubs but switched to a nightclub in the early 2000s. As a fully accessible, disability-friendly site, Fuel is smaller than many of the nightclubs in Cardiff, with only a 160-person capacity for its live room.

Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff

With a 40-year reputation for hosting live music, Clwb Ifor Bach has played an important role in supporting local musicians. The venue helped establish the careers of famous Welsh musicians and continues to serve as a platform for promoting Welsh music and more. If you want to get a taste of local music, especially electronic music for partying, add Clwb Ifor Bach to your list of best nightclubs in Cardiff.

Is Cardiff a Good Night Out?

You won’t struggle to find good nightlife in Cardiff as a student. As the capital of Wales, the city offers an astonishing number of venues, so there’s a little of something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly club, retro music, an international-themed nightclub, or a student-based nightclub, Cardiff has it all. One of the best parts about being a student in Cardiff is that it’s an affordable city with plenty of specials and discounts for uni students looking for a fun time.

With so many nightclubs to choose from, nightlife in Cardiff is in your hands. Just be sure to plan ahead of time to make the most out of your time as a student. If you plan on catching a bite to eat while out, check that a club offers food to avoid having an empty stomach. Likewise, look at the events happening at a given venue in advance to ensure you’re going to a club that has things you like. But most of all, get ready for a good night out wherever you go.

Book Student Accommodation in Cardiff

Cardiff is considered one of the most friendly places in the UK for students, making it an ideal place to live for international students. With its unique nightlife, renowned universities, and rich cultural history, you won’t want to miss out on all there is to do and see. Why not make your time here even more memorable and stress-free by choosing Here! Student accommodation? Our Cardiff student housing puts you front and centre in the city. Enjoy the luxury of being within walking distance of essential transportation, or access prime events on foot with our student accommodation today.

Whether you’re attending Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of South Wales, or elsewhere, our residence puts you in the best location to take advantage of all there is to do in the city. If you’re struggling to find the right place to live while studying in Cardiff, reach out to Here! Students today to help you locate the right student accommodation for your campus and budget.