Best nightlife in the south 2018 (comparison, live, better, map)

[KodeBlue]

How does Baltimore rank as a bar city compared to other southern cities? We have a lot dive bars, but not too big on night clubs.

[CXT2000]

Originally Posted by _OT

Lay off the drugs.

Wynwood is CLEARLY larger and more dense than Deep Ellum, L5P and Five Points in East Nashville. It's also MUCH more developed....

Atlanta, Nashville, and Dallas could only wish.

Wynwood is pretty small actually, outside the dense arts area, it's pretty run down/ghetto. The concentration is between 23rd-29th streets N-S and I-95 to N Miami Avenue W-E. So essentially 4-5 blocks in each direction, and outside of that is either run down homes or Midtown.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by odurandina

i've traveled over 2M miles, been there spanning from a few visits to weeks to months, to years for vacations, passing through, school & work over 38 years. i believe my rankings to be an honest estimate, albeit subjective opinion like all the posts in this thread. i think the number of cities i mentioned is good because some of you might not have checked them all out. i felt they were all well-deserving of mention.
Peoples' experience can range widely on their personal preferences, racial and cultural backgrounds.

For example, i prefer Ft Lauderdale's epic Downtown, and Delray Beach/Atlantic Ave over South Beach, or Ft Lauderdale's A1A/ Las Olas party scenes.... i love the flavor and diverse character of St Augustine's night life over Daytona or Orlando.

Even after all these years, i still believe finding great night life in California a challenge. While others fit in well, i've always preferred hanging with friends in San Diego (and recently in Orange County and LA) rather than pounding the pavement in PB, the LA beach zone or TJ.

I liked Atlanta (Buckhead specifically) a lot. Because Atlanta is so spread out, you're not always going to be at such an advantage to enjoy one part of Atlanta vs another. Sometimes your local watering holes are easier, especially if you're going out early.

How many places can you party all day and night on the weekends? In this, context, few places top Austin; because when you add 6th street + Barton Springs, Zilker Park + Lake Travis, Hippy Hollow, etc to your favorite neighborhood bar (i was a regular at Speeds off Riverside on the East Side of Austin), not to mention its diverse and endless character, Austin is VERY tough to beat. You'll rarely leave disappointed from an evening, day or weekend in Austin!


estimates of my time spent

1. Miami - better part of 8 winters in Ft Lauderdale
2. New Orleans - about 3 weeks spent exploring the area (incredible nightlife)
3. DC - about 3~4 weeks over the years
4. Austin - lived there from '94-98
5. Ft Lauderdale - better part of 8 winters in Ft Lauderdale
6. Atlanta/ Buckhead - summer of '93
7. Delray Beach, FL - 8 winters in Ft Lauderdale incredible night life on Atlantic Ave
8. St Augustine - been maybe 20 times. unsung, incredible night life
9. Orlando, FL - 3 months summer of '14
10. Panama City and the Emerald Coast - 1 week in 2017
11. South Padre Island - been 4 or 5 times for a few days each time
12. Huntington Beach - at least 70 short visits, surfing, OP pro over the last 5 years
13. Newport Beach - lived in Newport Beach 1 year
14. Nashville - passed through many times. never there long.
15. Venice Beach - lived, worked in LA about 3 of the past 5 years
16. Redondo Beach - lived in LA 3 years
17. Pacific Beach - attended UCSD 5 years resident of La Jolla/Del Mar
18. Clearwater Beach, FL - spent a summer in the early 80s, 3~4 short visits about 7~8 years ago
19. Myrtle Beach, SC - 3 or 4 short visits
20. Anaheim/ Disneyland Dr - lived in Newport Beach 1 year
21. Sunset Strip/ Sunset, Hollywood Blvd - LA 3 years

honorable mention/s
Dallas - 2 months in 2008 during the financial meltdown
Houston - about 5 times
Charlotte - about 3 times
Lake Havasu - seasonal mecca been 3 times
Biloxi, MS - about 3 weeks in the area in 2017
Mobile, AL - about 3 weeks in the area in 2017
Anderson Hollow Cove - Lake of the Ozarks - two weekend visits in early 2000s
San Antonio River Walk - probably 15~20 times out partying
Santa Fe, NM - 3 weeks snowboarding, exploring the area
Juarez, Chihuahua 2.5 years within the city limits from 1998-01
(if planning a visit to Valentino's, exercise extreme caution )

Palm Springs bout 4 or 5 times; Palm Springs is more of seasonal hot spot.
Redlands, CA might is probably the best place in the Inland Empire.

i've had the fortunate experience of being in a Porsche club, and frequently visit people or their car events all over the country.... On average, folks who've seen more of America possibly number a few Army/AF brats, or truck drivers. i've met quite a few gringo truckers giving J-Town a try, when confronted with the less spicy El Paso.

Again, a ridiculous list and since when was Los Angeles, San Diego, Lake Havasu, Santa Fe, and Juarez known as Southern cities?

[_OT]

Originally Posted by djesus007

Wynwood is pretty small actually, outside the dense arts area, it's pretty run down/ghetto. The concentration is between 23rd-29th streets N-S and I-95 to N Miami Avenue W-E. So essentially 4-5 blocks in each direction, and outside of that is either run down homes or Midtown.

If Wynwood is small, then L5P, Five Points in Nashville, and Deep Ellum are TINY. L5P in Atlanta is literally like a street, and DE is like 2 or 3 blocks. Not even comparable to Wynwood, not one bit...

[polo89]

Wynwood's hype among the locals fading, doesn't mean it's growth as a nightlife district is fading. It's still a premier neighborhood. Becoming a tourist trap is part of the growing process.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by odurandina

honorable mention/s
Dallas - 2 months in 2008 during the financial meltdown

You're kidding me right? 2008? Dallas has changed A LOT since then. Some current vibrant neighborhoods now were ghost towns in '08. Heck, even as late as 2014. So much change since even then. Let's be honest and come back for a visit. It's one of that fastest growing cities in the nation. That's like saying Pittsburgh is filled with steel mills, even though you haven't been there since 1975.

[ayoskillz]

Originally Posted by odurandina

Austin should be as high as 4th behind Miami, DC & New Orleans.

i'd rank it above Atlanta/Buckhead etc.

1. Miami
2. New Orleans
3. DC
4. Austin (for Christ's sake's people).
5. Ft Lauderdale
6. Atlanta/ Buckhead
7. Delray Beach, FL
8. St Augustine
9. Orlando, FL
10. Panama City and the Emerald Coast (aka Redneck Riviera).
11. South Padre Island
12. Huntington Beach
13. Newport Beach
14. Nashville
15. Venice Beach
16. Redondo Beach
17. Pacific Beach
18. Clearwater Beach, FL
19. Myrtle Beach, SC
20. Anaheim/ Disneyland Dr

honorable mention/s
Dallas
Houston
Charlotte
Lake Havasu
Biloxi, MS
Mobile, AL
Anderson Hollow Cove - Lake of the Ozarks
San Antonio River Walk
Santa Fe, NM
Juarez, Chihuahua

2nd that this list is Ridiculous.

1.miami
2.n.o
3.atlanta
4.dc
5. Key west

Close in the runnings not in any order but orlando, charleston, Austin, charlotte, dallas, Savannah

[NDFan]

This list is iffy:

My ranking:
1. N.O.
2: Miami
3: Atlanta
4: Key West
5: Orlando

Other places in the running: Austin, Nashville, Charleston, Dallas, Columbia (SC) a tier below the others but still decent, Richmond.

[R1070]

Originally Posted by _OT

I don't even think it's right to put Wynwood in the same group with freaking East Nashville, EA/LFP, or Deep Ellum. Y'all have to be joking...

Wynwood is WAY more walkable, more dense, larger, has better urban bones, has a versatile nightlife, Wynwood is just overall a more complete neighborhood/entertainment district than those three you just listed.

Umm... Deep Ellum is a pretty good sized neighborhood with diverse food and entertainment options. And is pedestrian friendly with two rail stations. I'm not sure why you're downgrading the neighborhood to prop up Wynwood. I like Wynwood, but I wasn't like "OMG Dallas needs this!".

[CXT2000]

Originally Posted by R1070

Umm... Deep Ellum is a pretty good sized neighborhood with diverse food and entertainment options. And is pedestrian friendly with two rail stations. I'm not sure why you're downgrading the neighborhood to prop up Wynwood. I like Wynwood, but I wasn't like "OMG Dallas needs this!".

I've never visited Dallas, but Deep Ellum has an impressive concentration of bars/restaurants and art from what I've seen on Google. It looks like a neighbourhood with more diverse options as well, which makes sense since it's an older, more established neighbourhood.