Stary Maneż in Gdańsk's Wrzeszcz Garnizon is the 1,500-capacity former cavalry riding hall turned concert venue, 1,700m² under one roof, booking touring indie, jazz, pop and electronic acts year-round.
Tip: Doors 19:00 on most show nights; the standing pit fills first, the balcony tier opens with the headliner. Trams 6 and 12 stop outside.
Address: ul. Słowackiego 23, 80-298 Gdańsk
Protokultura in Gdańsk's Stocznia is the three-stage alternative culture club on ul. Niterów, with an indoor concert room and the 700m² walled Patio outside stage that runs underground electronics, metal and hip-hop.
Tip: Patio operates from May to September; indoor stage runs year-round. Tickets on goingapp.pl, usually 30-60 PLN.
Hard Rock Cafe Gdańsk on Długi Targ is the two-storey rock memorabilia bar between the Green Gate and the Neptune Fountain, with a 100-cover outdoor patio and a small stage that books tribute and cover acts most weekends.
Tip: Live music nights tend to run Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the upstairs balcony is the calmer table when downstairs fills. Reserve via Facebook.
SASSY Rooftop in Gdańsk's Granary Island is the eighth-floor cocktail bar and club above the Nikka Asian restaurant on ul. Chmielna, with a glass-walled terrace looking across the Motława to the Main Town skyline.
Tip: Reserve a terrace table on besassy.pl for sunset; the floor opens 22:00 Friday and Saturday. Cocktails 38-58 PLN.
INK Above in Gdańsk's Granary Island is the top-floor cocktail bar of the Puro hotel on ul. Stągiewna, with the rooftop terrace looking straight at the Crane and the Mariacka spire across the Motława.
Tip: Bar opens 17:00 daily; the corner seats facing the Crane book first. Author cocktails 38-52 PLN, non-alcoholic 25-32 PLN.
High 5 in Gdańsk's Targ Rybny is the fifth-floor open-air terrace of the Hilton, the rooftop pool bar that looks over the Motława, the Crane and the AmberSky Ferris Wheel from one of the city's only true rooftops.
Tip: Lift to floor 5 from the Hilton lobby; the western edge catches sunset over the Old Town. Cocktails 39-69 PLN, oysters by the half-dozen.
Flisak '76 in Gdańsk's Main Town is the subterranean cocktail bar on ul. Chlebnicka run by the third generation of the Rathnau family since 1976, with the current Greatest Show vintage-circus concept and presentations in perfume bottles and tiny cannons.
Tip: Walk down the stairs at Chlebnicka 9/10, no sign at the door. Cocktails 38-55 PLN; the Clown with gin, strawberry and shiso is the order.