Hannover Vorschau, a monthly newspaper devoted exclusively to the city's nightlife and cultural venues, is available for 2€ ($2.60) at news kiosks but is usually given out free in the city's hotels.
The Performing Arts -- The Nieder Sächsische Stadtstheater Hannover GmbH, Opernplatz 1 (tel. 0511/99991111; U-Bahn: Kröpcke), built between 1845 and 1852, is the region's leading venue for ballet, concerts, and opera. Depending on the performance, tickets cost from 15€ to 49€ ($18-$59) each. Less formal, with popular as well as classical offerings, is the N. D. R. Symphoniker, Rudolf Benigsen Ufer 22 (tel. 0511/9880; bus: 2 or 6), an ugly postwar building whose charm derives from what goes on inside. You can hear poetry readings, jazz and rock-'n'-roll concerts, and chamber orchestras. Tickets cost 15€ to 35€ ($20-$46).
Bars -- Many of Hannover's most appealing bars are Irish pubs. The biggest and best of the lot is MacGowan's Irish Pub, Bruderstrasse 4 (tel. 0511/14589; U-Bahn: Steintor or Hauptbahnhof). It's open daily 5pm to 2am, and serves Guinness and Murphy's on tap, along with sandwiches, fish and chips, and Irish stew. When Irish music bands are booked, a cover ranging from 8€ to 10€ ($10-$13) is imposed.
Dance Clubs -- The best place for mainstream dance is Osho Disco, Raschplatz 7L (tel. 0511/342217; U-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), a longtime survivor of the club scene. It plays funk, house, and other dance music. It's open 10pm to "whenever," Wednesday to Sunday. Cover is 4€ to 8€ ($5.20-$10). One of its leading competitors is Palo Palo, Raschplatz 8A (tel. 0511/331073; U-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), where house, funk, blues, reggae, and Motown play every night 9:30pm until dawn, for a cover of 5€ to 8€ ($6.50-$10).
Live Music -- An alternative venue, Café Glocksee, Glockseestrasse 35 (tel. 0511/1614712; tram: 10), stages hard-core, punk, and techno shows. Thursday concerts start at 9pm; cover is 21€ ($27). On Friday and Saturday, it's disco mania 11pm to 7am and again on Wednesday 6pm to 2am; cover is 3.50€ ($4.55).
Gay Clubs -- Schwul Sau, Schaufeldstrasse 30A (tel. 0511/7000525; tram: 6), hosts discos, theater performances, and private parties, attended by a crowd of gay and straight arts-conscious patrons. It's open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8pm to 3am, Saturday 9pm to at least 7am, and Sunday 3pm to 2am. Cover is 8€ to 10€ ($10-$13) for parties or theater events, and 5€ ($6.50) for dancing. There's no cover Tuesday, Wednesday, or Sunday. A hip and happening dance spot, Men's Factory, Engelbosteler Damm 7 (tel. 0511/702487; tram: 6), is open on Friday for a mixed dance night and Saturday for gay dance night. On Friday, the cover is 9.50€ ($12); Saturday, it's 8€ ($10).
A Casino -- The Spielbank, Österstrasse 40 (tel. 0511/980660; U-Bahn: Kröpcke), has an impressive roster of blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. It's set within a modern building, with none of the Belle Epoque trappings or decorations you might have hoped for, and contains both a bar and a restaurant. Men are required to wear jackets and ties, and women are requested to dress appropriately. The casino is open daily 3pm to 3am. Admission costs 2.50€ ($3.25), and you must show your passport to enter (you must be 18 or older to enter and gamble).
