A theater complex offering quality productions of drama and opera, the Staatstheater Nürnberg, Richard-Wagner-Platz 2-10 (tel. 0180/5231600 for tickets; www.staatstheater-nuernberg.de; U-Bahn: Opernhaus), houses the Kammerspiele, Opernhaus, and Schauspielhaus. The box office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm plus Saturday 9am to 6pm; tickets are 10€ to 65€. Students get 25% off, and the general public can check on discounted seats at the box office 1 hour before each performance. Tickets can also be obtained by calling the number listed above.

Touring cabaret acts play at the Loni-Übler-Haus, Marthastrasse 60 (tel. 0911/541156; Tram: 5), on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. The box office is open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 10pm, and tickets are 10€ to 50€. 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. For events at St. Katarina Church, it is best to call the tourist office (tel. 0911/23360).

An artists' hangout, Treibhaus, Karl-Grillenberger-Strasse 28 (tel. 0911/223041; www.cafetreibhaus.de; U-Bahn: Weisser Turm), opens early for big breakfasts that run 3€ to 15€, and offers soup, salad, and sandwich specials from 5€ to 10€ 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; www.ruhestoerung.org; 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€. It's open daily 9am to 1am.

At Mach 1, Kaiserstrasse 1-9 (tel. 0911/2406602; www.mach1-club.de; U-Bahn: Lorenzkirche), Thursday and Friday move from disco to hip-hop, warming up for Saturday's big house party. Cover is 8€ on Thursday, 9€ on Friday, and 15€ on Saturday. Hours are Thursday to Saturday 10pm to 5am.

A popular gay bistro, Cartoon, An der Sparkgasse 6 (tel. 0911/227170; www.cartoon-nbg.de; 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.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.