By early evening the light over Sükhbaatar Square has gone flat, offices empty onto Chinggis Avenue, and the first drinkers settle in along Seoul Street. Later, the clubs fill and the city's nights turn loud, particularly toward the end of the week.
Ulaanbaatar's nightlife is surprisingly wild for a city this far north, and it suits visitors who want music and dancing rather than a quiet round of drinks. Beer is cheap, clubs run late, and the scene is at its busiest on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, when finding a seat is nearly impossible. It rewards going out in a group rather than alone.
Where to go out in Ulaanbaatar
1. The club and bar strip along Seoul Street
Seoul Street, running south of the State Department Store, holds a cluster of venues within walking distance of one another: a German-style brewhouse, an Irish pub, and further along the street the circus building. It suits a night that starts with dinner and a few beers and can end in dancing without a long taxi ride between stops.
Practical point: the Dublin Irish Pub on this street is open until midnight, while the Grand Khaan Irish Pub near the National Drama Theater keeps hours of 12:00 to 22:00, so plan the later part of the evening elsewhere.
2. Chinggis Avenue and the area around the Post Office
This central stretch mixes restaurants that turn into clubs at night with a comfortable sports bar and grill next to the National Drama Theater. It suits visitors staying centrally who want foreign-friendly venues with English-speaking staff and a mixed crowd.
Practical point: Ambrosia, across Chinggis Avenue from KFC and south of the Post Office, is popular with foreigners and charges around 3000₮ for a beer; the Grand Khaan Irish Pub nearby charges around 4000₮ for a beer and 15,000₮ for a meal.
3. The brewpub and live-music circuit
Ulaanbaatar has a small but established set of brewpubs and bars that host Mongolian bands at weekends, with house brews on tap alongside the better-known local brands. This suits anyone who wants live music and a seat rather than a packed dance floor.
Practical point: Ikh Mongol, next to ASA Arena, offers a main dining area, a VIP upstairs and secluded tables at the back, with concerts from Mongolian bands most weekends; half-liters start at about 3500₮. Brauhaus, on Seoul Street past ASA Arena, serves X Beer with half-liters around 2500₮ and is big but usually not noisy.
4. Large clubs in office and hotel buildings
Some of the city's bigger clubs occupy upper floors and hotel premises, with more than one dance floor and a clientele that includes foreigners and visiting businessmen. This suits groups who want a full club night with trance, techno, electronica and house music.
Practical point: Choco Metropolis Club occupies the 11th floor of Seoul Plaza on Seoul Street, and Strings is in the White House Hotel. Beer in clubs costs about 3500₮, and vodka is sold by quantity, with 100g at about 4500₮.
5. Traditional performance venues
An evening of dance, music and religious ceremony is a different kind of night out, staged for audiences that are mostly foreign visitors. This suits anyone who would rather watch than drink, and it can be paired with an early dinner.
Practical point: Tumen Ekh, south of the main square and west of the Shangri-La hotel in the Children's Palace, performs daily from May to October at 18:00, with weekday performances in October and November, lasting about an hour at 30,000₮.
6. Opera, ballet and theatre
The State Opera and Ballet Theater sits in the red building on the southeast side of Sükhbaatar Square, and the National Academic Drama Theater occupies the red Georgian building just south of the Post Office on Chinggis Avenue. This suits a quieter evening built around a performance, with local productions that are inexpensive.
Practical point: the opera and ballet box office is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00, and most performances are at 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday; check the board in front of the theatre for upcoming shows.
7. Sports halls that double as concert venues
The Wrestling Palace in Bayanzürkh hosts Mongolian wrestling competitions and music concerts, and the National Sports Stadium serves as the main venue for Naadam as well as a site for occasional concerts and cultural events. This suits a night out tied to a specific fixture or show rather than a general bar crawl.
Practical point: check what is scheduled before you go, since these venues only host events intermittently.
8. Quieter pubs and restaurants
If clubbing is not your thing, the city has more sedate pubs to choose from, including a French restaurant on the west side of University Street a block north of Sükhbaatar Square. This suits a low-key evening of dinner and a drink.
Practical point: Le Bistrot Francais is the only French restaurant in Ulaanbaatar and serves pastis alongside dinner.
How a night out unfolds
Clubs and pubs must by law stop serving alcohol after midnight and close at 03:00, though some clubs stay open and keep serving until 04:00. The busiest nights are Wednesday, Saturday and above all Friday. Note that the prohibition on serving alcohol on the 1st of each month is universally adhered to, even when it falls on a weekend, so plan around that date.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Naadam — held annually from 11 to 13 July, with wrestling, horse-racing and archery; the National Sports Stadium is the main venue.
- Playtime Festival — Mongolia's largest annual outdoor music festival.
Frequently asked questions
When is the busiest night to go out?
Wednesday, Saturday and, above all, Friday nights are the busiest, when finding a seat is nearly impossible.
How late can you drink?
By state law, clubs and pubs must stop serving alcohol after midnight and close at 03:00, though some clubs stay open and continue serving until 04:00. No alcohol is served on the 1st of each month.
Is it safe to go out alone?
It is best to go out clubbing in groups rather than alone, especially after dark on the busiest nights. Authorities take a hard line against public intoxication, and the clubs in the 3rd district and the Sansar microdistrict are best avoided.
What should you do if you bump into someone?
Apologize if you hit someone or step on their feet, as this is a considerable breach of local etiquette. If you step on someone's feet, offer to shake their hand.
Decide which part of the city suits your evening, check the performance schedules and the calendar for the 1st of the month, and plan your night out accordingly.