Whether you are a tourist looking for a way to enjoy your weekend or a local who doesn’t know where to go, we’ve summed up twenty essential clubbing destinations for house and Techno in Asia that you should check out if you happen to be in the right city.
We have arranged them by country in alphabetical order, making this an easy guide for you to refer to any time you find yourself looking for good quality house and techno in the Asian continent.
Acupuncture, China’s leading techno label, launched this underground “gongti” (worker’s stadium). Lantern boasts two raised DJ booths, a trail of VIP tables along its walls, and a vast dance floor which makes it ideal for people who love dancing. Recent 2016 bookings have included Kangding Ray, Rødhåd and Acronym just to name a few. With its great electronic music choices, it certainly is one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and Techno in Asia.
Dada Bar started its operations in Beijing roughly four years ago along the east side of the Drum Tower. Since then it has been known for its excellent sound systems, stellar music, and relaxing atmosphere. They have also been booking a selection of fine underground DJs such as A Guy Called Gerald, Kode9, DJ Hell and more. A neat thing about Dada Bar is their set-up: its dance area is loud but the bar area is secluded and is quiet enough to stay at and chill in during events or shows.
Volar is popular for delivering consistently enjoyable parties and is one of Hong Kong’s best nightclubs. Although it is quite on the expensive side of the spectrum, it is one of the most stable and respected clubs in the city considering that it has been up and running for more than a decade now. Volar has two rooms that offer different varieties of music from a mix of RnB and hip-hop to house and techno. Famous international DJs also visits the place quite often, which proves their constant push for quality and credibility, as some of 2016 bookings prove: Mind Against, Francois K, Rampue and Answer Code Request all played during the last calendar year. Being one of the essential destinations for house and techno in Asia, Volar is like nothing else you’ve seen in Hong Kong.
Shelter has brought in the best alternative music from China and different parts of the world since it has opened in November of 2007. It also caters to locally-based independent electronic artists and DJs, allowing them to share their music on given night. With various genres featured on different nights of the day – Reggae, hip-hop, Drum and Bass, Independent Dance Music, Electro – Shelter is one of the essential destinations for house and techno in Asia. It has you covered for all your underground music needs.
Their 2016 headlining artists have included Moritz von Oswald, Cosmin TRG, Berghain’s Boris, Truncate and many more.
A game changer for music destinations in the Island of Bali, Koh has taken its inspiration from the underground club scenes of London and Berlin fused with Indonesian touches to create a totally fresh concept. The usual club scene in Bali offers beautiful scenic venues with VIP tables around fancy surroundings, however Koh gives it a twist by providing music lovers with a chill and relaxed yet very well designed venue with an incredible Funktion 1 sound system as its central attraction.
As a testament to its attention to sound quality, Koh ran a soft opening to test all its sound and acoustics only to close for two months to get everything done right. The guys behind Koh certainly want to give its customers a unique and unforgettable club experience in Bali, making it truly worth the visit
Some notable DJs that have recently played at Koh include Bushwacka, Matthias Tanzmann, Trus’me, Shifted and many more.
One of the essential destinations for house and techno in Asia, offering a spacious dance floor, impeccable sound and fantastic production to boot. Located just about a 15-minute walk away from Shibuya, Tokyo’s hub of fashionistas and hip youngsters making it conveniently accessible for the young adults of the city, Womb is easily accessible while also being notoriously hard to find for anyone visiting for their first time. Many well-known local and international artists play at Womb, so be sure to check their schedules out before going there.
Some of Womb’s most coveted guest artists for 2016 have included Josh Wink, DJ Nobu, Solomun, Sven Väth, Joseph Capriati and many more.
One of the most sought after clubs in Japan, Liquidroom has been coined as “legendary” by several world-renowned periodicals. This live music and club venue started its operations as a run-down ragged space for shows, club nights, and concerts in Shinjuku’s more seedy Kabukicho district. It later on moved to a more uptown booming location in Ebisu, focusing more on hosting live events and DJ performances. It truly is one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia with its lengthy rectangular space making it an ideal place to dance while watching your favorite DJs play.
Artists that have recently played at the club include Daniel Bell, Anthony Naples, Rhadoo and more.
Walking distance from exit number two of Shin Sakae Machi on the Higashiyama subway line, the conveniently accessible Club Mago highlights an outstanding sound system and a venue that can cater to three-hundred people. With guest DJs from different parts of the globe and home to some of Nagoya and Tokyo’s best homegrown DJs, Club Mago’s music programming is mostly centered around house and techno.
Recent 2016 acts have included Julian Perez, Peter Van Hoesen and Jacob Husley.
Noted for their foam night series, Club JB’s is a well-known Nagoya nightlife destination. Regardless of their foam parties, Club JB’s still remains an enjoyable place to drink Japanese lagers and listen to some great house and techno.
Radio Slave, Timmy Regisford, Francois K, Derrick May and Black Coffee are just some of the artists to have been featured at Club JB’s in recent times.
A very chick rooftop bar and terrace in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and close to Changkat Bukit Bintang party district. Elysium is comprised of an open air terrace deck at level 31 with breathtaking views of Petronas Twin Towers and Menara KL at the same time, and an elegant bar at level 32. Malaysia’s top bartenders are concocting some of the finest drinks in town and the food choices are delicious too.
In 2016 Elysium has hosted a variety of underground dance acts such as Maher Daniel, Stefano Noferini and Chus & Ceballos, all the while continuing to throw weekly parties with local techno and house acts.
A brand new club & lounge playing groovy & sexy house tracks located at the heart of Bangsar, Kuala Lampur’s most popular nightspots catered to locals and expatriates. Inviting elites, conglomerates, cosmopolitans, travelers and music enthusiasts, Jiro was born out of passion for life, deep house and good company by bringing the best DJ’s to the city.
Jiro regards itself for being a supporter of multinational DJs, aspiring artists and playing host to various international acts. Jiro KL is set to bring a fresh new concept in entertainment and music variety. Examples of acts that have played at Jiro in 2016 include Tiga, Eagles & Butterflies, Darin Epsilon and Hito.
3-story alfresco bar with amazing food, top quality live music and DJs, intimate club lounge and iconic roof terrace with stunning 360° city views. What more would you want in Kuala Lampur? Oh we almost forgot, a series of bookings that see the club highlight techno and house on a regular basis, such as HVOB, Weiss, Sébastien Léger and Clive Henry.
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur at Jalan Bukit Nanas, Under9 is the spanking new home for underground music lovers in the city. One of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia, Under9 is armed with an exceptional sound system and an amazing DJ booth, making it an ideal location for underground music events in the area.
A three-story club that’s divided into three distinct parts: a main DJ booth, dance floor and a bar; a balcony and lounge area with a bar; and an outdoor roof terrace which also holds its own bar and DJ booth. Time is undoubtedly one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia being the only club in Metro Manila that solely focus on playing underground house and techno. Time regularly invites some of the best international house and techno DJs like Nick Warren, Yousef, Carlo Lio, Ken Ishii and more, while also playing host to 6AM’s very own monthly event called “SHIFT” lead by DJ Clyde Harris.
CANVAS Singapore is a lifestyle and entertainment venue catering to the discerning and creative- minded; a place to come together to celebrate creativity and engage with the arts. The focus is on quality local acts as well as a selection of guests from around the world.
In the past year CANVAS has featured performances by Weiss, Detroit Techno Militia, Chus + Ceballos and Eric Volta.
CATO is a bar and lounge that has become an eccentric hotspot for underground music lovers and a refreshing alternative in Singapore’s dynamic nightlife landscape. Housed in the first OCBC Bank in Singapore that was established in the 1930s, CATO merges an old-world rustic charm and a rough, industrial décor with a world-class sound system and a penchant for messy nights.
2016 guest DJs at CATO included Ø [Phase], Adrian Hour, XHIN and Monkey Safari.
A nightclub that is popular to both local and foreign residents, Zouk has been offering superb clubbing experiences to its customers for more than twenty-three years. This award-winning club is well-known for its different styles of decoration and is one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia, as well as for catering to more mainstream EDM sounds. Aside from it’s four-in-one clubbing experience — Zouk, Phuture, Velvet Underground, Dance and Velvet Underground Lounge — Zouk also houses excellent local DJs and international guest DJs the likes of Dave Clarke, San Holo, Route 94 and Catz ‘n Dogz.
Club Kyo is the newly opened underground night club to rock the city-state of Singapore. Situated along the business district of Cecil Street, Kyo tends to corporate and business workers looking for enjoyment and relaxation right after work. They also offer a wide array of Japanese whiskeys and collection of sakes, as well as an adequate choices from spirits, sparkling wines, champagnes, and wines. The decoration of Kyo is inspired by the wonderful minimalist ambiance of the art of escapism, decorated with wood furnitures, dark earthy colors and contemporary Japanese designs.
With all that being said, let’s not forget why Kyo is one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia: its programming. In 2016 alone the club paid host to Eagles & Butterflies, Till Von Sein, Dave Seaman, Locked Groove and Mind Against just to name some examples.
Mystik is located in the district of Itaewon, in central Seoul. It is one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno as it offers one of a kind authentic music through a high-end sound systems with excellent visual effects. They are actually one of the first underground clubs in Seoul to have worked extensively to deliver a top-tier sound system to their patrons, also boasting a diverse booking policy when it comes to guest DJs.
Some of 2016’s headliners at Mystik have included Scuba, A Guy Called Gerald, Mr.G and Prosumer, while Resident Advisor chose the venue as one of the hosts for its celebrated RA in Residence party series.
Vurt is the child of a team of creative minds composed of DJs, producers and music directors: DJI, Suna, Unjin, Mix Architekt, Solee, SJP0. Located at the borders of Hongdae and Hapjeong stations, the club features gloomy and almost post-apocalyptic ambience that makes it an ideal location for dark, minimal and more underground sounds. The likes of Rrose, Lucy and Mike Parker have already played the club, highlighting why Vurt is certainly one of the essential clubbing destinations for house and techno in Asia
You wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that Faust’s interior reminds you both of Berlin techno venues or a typical Los Angeles warehouse. Armed with a world-class sound system and an impeccable DJ selection, Faust is without a doubt a highlight of Asia’s techno and house music scene.
As an example, in 2016 the club showcased DJ sets by none other than Cinthie, Oscar Mulero, Baikal, Axel Boman, Fiedel and Stimming, once again underscoring why it’s a central destination for underground dance music lovers visiting Seoul.
Club Octagon sits in the group of Asian mega-clubs that cater to all sorts of electronic music. It is the hippest and hottestdance club in the Gangnam district of Seoul, a massive venue that accommodates sixty VIP tables and ten VIP rooms as well as a small swimming pool inside! While the club does not really focus on providing an underground feel, it does make for a luxurious nightlife experience in Seoul with great house and techno music featured in its lineups.
Past guest artists to have played Club Octagon include Nic Fanciulli, Loco Dice, Alan Fitzpatrick, Dustin Zahn, James Zabiela, Jamie XX and Ben Sims.
A hidden club for open-minded people, Korner is located in a basement within a commercial building in the Gong Guan area of the city. Musically, they featured the likes of Abdulla Rashim, Diskonnected, Rødhåd, Voiski, Ben UFO and DJ Nobu in the latter part of 2016 alone. Their resident DJ program is second to none, featuring some of the city’s best local talent, meaning that regardless of who is headlining, Korner remains one of the best choices to get your fix of house and techno if you’re in Taipei.
Located in a “Back Soi” in the center of Bangkok, Glow can cater up to 250 people and features a two-story setup with Funktion 1 sound systems. They invite local guest DJs like Sunju Hargun, Moreno, Dan Buri and have had high-caliber international guest DJs spin as well, including Seth Troxler, Sasha, Dubfire and Julia Govor just a few of them. Head to the event section of their Facebook page for info on upcoming events.
The Observatory started as a multipurpose space that served as a platform for different types of art and music events. It is a booming underground DJ space with a loyal fan base of young adult expats, tourists and a smaller group of locals. It relocated to Saigon’s port area in the late 2014, offering their customers a spectacular and relaxing view of Saigon River from their outdoor balcony. People who love all things indie and artsy will surely appreciate The Observatory location, decor and general atmosphere.
2016 saw The Observatory bring a list of respected artists from around the world such as Till Von Sein, Alex From Tokyo, Nick Monaco, Young Marco, Nd_baumecker and an entire Giegling roster.
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