A theater complex offering quality productions of drama and opera, the Staatstheater Nürnberg, Richard-Wagner-Platz 2-10 (tel. 0180/1344276 for tickets; U-Bahn: Opernhaus), houses the Kammerspiele, Opernhaus, and Schauspielhaus. Note: Until November of 2008, the theater will be closed for some extensive renovations. Before that reopening, performances will take place in the Kongresshalle in the former Nazi Party Grounds at Zeppelin Wiese on the eastern outskirts of Nürnberg and in the Tafelhalle, Aussere Sulzbacher Strasse (tel. 911/2315297). The box office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm; tickets are 9€ to 56€ ($12-$73). Students get 25% off, and the general public can check on discounted seats at the box office 1 hour before each performance. For tickets to this venue, call the number listed above or contact the town's largest ticket-selling agency (it's within a large department store and sells tickets to virtually every cultural and sporting event in the region), Fanatix Kartenvorverkauf im Saturn (tel. 0911/777744).
Touring cabaret acts play at the Loni-Übler-Haus, Marthastrasse 60 (tel. 0911/541156; U-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. The box office is open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 10pm, and tickets are 10€ to 50€ ($13-$65). The city's premier outdoor venue, St. Katarina, is located in the ruins of the Katharinenkirche, Katherinenkloster 1 at Peter-Vischer-Strasse (U-Bahn: Lorenzkirche). It hosts concerts by an eclectic mix of international musical acts. The events within this evocative outdoor ruin are, by necessity, subject to sudden cancellations because of inclement weather. With that in mind, contact the above-mentioned Fanatix Kartenvorverkauf im Saturn (tel. 0911/777744) for information about tickets and scheduling.
A garden house glowing in blue light marks the rear entrance to Starclub, Maxtorgraben 33 (tel. 0911/551682; U-Bahn: Rathenauplatz), known as the "House of 11 Beers" for its 11 home brews. Beers start at 3€ ($3.90), accompanied by baguette sandwiches at 4.50€ ($5.85) and other cheap snacks. Students come around for backgammon and darts or animated conversation on the patio out front. It's open Sunday to Wednesday 7am to 1am, Thursday 7pm to 2am, and Friday and Saturday 7pm to 3am. An artists' hangout, Treibhaus, Karl-Grillenberger-Strasse 28 (tel. 0911/223041; U-Bahn: Weisser Turm), opens early for big breakfasts that run 2€ to 13€ ($2.60-$17), and offers soup, salad, and sandwich specials from 3€ to 5.50€ ($3.90-$7.15) throughout the day. At night, it dims the lights and keeps serving drinks. It's open Monday to Friday 8am to 1am, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 1am. Food is served until 10:30pm, and breakfast is served all day.
Another low-key arts scene, Café Ruhestörung, Tetzelgasse 21 (tel. 0911/221921; U-Bahn: Lorenzkirche or Rathenauplatz), offers some of the best people-watching in the city. Just sit on the patio and order a drink or a sandwich and watch the world stroll by. Draft beers are 2.50€ to 4€ ($3.25-$5.20). It's open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 2am, Saturday 8:30am to 3am, and Sunday 9am to 2am.
At Mach 1, Kaiserstrasse 1-9 (tel. 0911/203030; U-Bahn: Lorenzkirche), Thursday and Friday move from disco to hip-hop, warming up for Saturday's big house party. Cover is 6€ ($7.80) on Thursday, 7€ ($9.10) on Friday, and 9€ ($12) on Saturday. Hours are Thursday to Saturday 10pm to 5am.
A popular gay bistro, Cartoon, An der Sparkgasse 6 (tel. 0911/227170; U-Bahn: Lorenzkirche), serves beer, wine, and light meals Monday to Saturday 2pm to midnight and Sunday 2 to 11pm. For later hours, hit the dance clubs, all of which have both gay and straight clientele.
