Clubbing is an essential aspect of university life for many new students. Regardless of what opinions you have of this late night activity, there is a very strong possibility that you will end up in one at some point having been dragged in by a friend or two. This list is designed to make planning your Cardiff nights out a little easier, by ranking nightclubs in Cardiff in terms of safety, value for money and the general vibe of the place.
1. Retro
Perfect for lovers of 90’s music. This nightclub in Cardiff features three floors alongside an outdoor terrace, there is a lot to explore with your friends. Open Wednesday through Thursday 9am to 4:30 am, this is one of the latest closing clubs on the list if you are looking for a party that lasts right up until the early hours. The drinks menu is slightly more in the expensive side, however, these cocktails contain quite a strong amount of alcohol for one person. I also highly recommend their cocktail masterclasses, which are an ideal way to learn new skills that can’t be found during your lectures.
- Safety – 7/10
- Value for money – 7/10
- General vibe – 9/10
2. Revolution
The first of the Big Two of Cardiff student clubbing ( Revolution, Circuit,) and Better known as ‘Revs’ by the Cardiff student population, Revolution is a solid night out. I absolutely recommend the food menu here – unlike other Cardiff clubs, Revolution has a fully functioning restaurant area. A nice option that my friend group once tried out was hitting the dancef loor in the clubbing room for an hour, then heading to get food afterwards. It’s definitely an advantage to have good food on offer inside the venue, saving students the need to walk further into town to find a take away (an even better advantage during winter – you get to stay in the lovely warm club).
- Value for money – 7/10
- Safety – 6/10
- General vibe – 8/10
3. Live Lounge
Whilst not an official ‘club’ in most aspects, live lounge deserves its place on this list for it’s banging live music. A potential con to the many pros this place has is the fact that it is open to the public, meaning that on some nights the student to public ratio is a bit skewed. Whilst mixing with non-students in club settings is not a terrible thing to do, sometimes it’s easier and safer to head to a student majority venue.
- Safety – 4/10
- Value for money – 6/10
- General vibe – 7/10
4. Boom Battle Bar
Boom battle bar is another on this list that isn’t just classified as one of the nightclubs in Cardiff. If you’re looking for something special for a friend’s birthday or simply something out of the ordinary, then this place has some great activities for you. Here, you can mix good clubbing with axe throwing, prosecco ping pong and karaoke (You might want to wait until you’ve finished the axe throwing to start heavy drinking, though).
- Value for Money – 9/10
- Safety – 6/10
- General Vibe – 8/10
5. Misfits
It’s hard to ignore the lure of this one on a night out. With its comfy seating, epic dance floor and good music, Misfits is a smaller yet no less brilliant venue for clubbing. Open all days of the week til 3am, It’s vital that students head out early as the lines to get entry can get pretty long by 9pm. This one is a perfect entry club for clubbers who are just staring out — not too crowded, with plenty of places to sit.
- Safety – 9/10
- Value for money – 5/10
- General vibe – 10/10
6. Cardiff University’s Student Union
Whilst a couple of universities reside in Cardiff, the one with the best club has got to be Cardiff University. The silent discos are top notch, not to mention the reputation and success of Yolo, which are big hits with students .A slight drawback to consider would be how, unlike the other clubs featured on this list, the Cardiff university student union is not located in Cardiff central (This places you a little walk away from nearby take aways to satisfy that post clubbing hunger – you might be best ordering an uber eats)
- Safety – 10/10
- Value for money – 7/10
- General vibe – 7/10
7. Circuit
Every city with a university and an active student population will have a Circuit, and Cardiff is not an exception. Open on Fridays and Saturdays between 10:30pm and 3am, this place is the ultimate clubbing experience that every student has to try at least once during their time at university. Be sure to snag those first release tickets as the earlier you are, the cheaper the price ( first releases start at £3, then go up to £5 in the next releases). It’s worth
- Safety – 5/10
- Value for money – 7/10
- General vibe – 8/10
8. Clwb Ifor Bach
Translated from Welsh to mean ‘Little ifor’s Club’, this is perhaps the most unique club on this list because of its distinct identity as a very Welsh language friendly venue. However,
Students from outside Wales shouldn’t be put off by this club’s vibrant celebration of Welshness, this is an environment that’s open to all students from all backgrounds – an understanding of welsh is definitively not required (Unless you happen to find yourself at one of the welsh language music nights, which may be a slight disadvantage). An excellent range of themed music nights is constantly on offer, and a tonne of live music from touring indie bands.
- Safety – 7/10
- Value for money – 6/10
- General vibe – 10/10
These are my top nightclubs in Cardiff that I feel every student should try at least once in their uni life. They all have different things to offer so let me know which is your fave!
Curious about the student clubbing scene in other cities? Make sure you check out our top clubbing cities guide to find out more.
FAQs on Top Nightclubs in Cardiff for Students
Some of the nightclubs students tend to favour include Retro, Live Lounge, and Clwb Ifor Bach. These offer a mix of genres — from mainstream and dance to indie and alternative — and often host student nights or discounted entry deals.
Student nights often include reduced entry fees (sometimes free or under £5), cheap drink specials, guest DJ nights, and themed events. These deals tend to happen midweek (often Tuesday-Thursday) and some clubs offer student card discounts every night.
Yes. Venues like Clwb Ifor Bach frequently host live bands and indie/alternative nights. Live Lounge also mixes in live acts along with DJ-sets. These provide a different vibe to the mainstream club nights and are popular among students with varied music tastes.
Most nightclubs in Cardiff stay open until around 3–4 am on weekends. On student nights or during term time midweek events, many close earlier (11 pm-1 am), but some venues extend closing times depending on licensing and special promotions.
Yes, many clubs charge a cover, though students often get free or heavily discounted entry if they arrive early or bring student ID. Some clubs also have guest lists or promotions that waive the cover fee.
Hi! I’m Ruby and I’m an undergraduate studying English and Journalism at Cardiff University. Outside of lectures, I’m either at the library or on the hunt for a spontaneous sweet treat.
