The best clubs in the world, as chosen by six artists

Eliza Rose, DESIREE and more tell us about their number one dancefloors. 

How do you define what makes a club? Is it the sound system? The design of the room? The people on the dancefloor? And how do those things come together to be a seriously good place to party? This is something we spend a lot of time thinking about, which our collaborator ARNII dug into for his series, What I'd Build.

As we move into clubbing season, we asked artists from around the world to share the places they have a special kind of love for. From dance music institutions to under-the-radar cult favourites, their picks span London, New York, Guadalajara, Makati, Johannesburg, and Amsterdam.

Which clubs would you add to the list?

Eliza Rose
Nowadays - New York, US

“Nowadays in New York. I’ve been a few times and played once. It’s always magical. Gorgeous dancers and lovely staff, and the DJs are always killer.”

DESIREE
Bar Americas - Guadalajara, Mexico 

“Bar Americas will forever be ingrained in my memory as a standout clubbing institution. It’s an unassuming club with an audience a DJ can only dream of.”

Anish Kumar
Phonox - London, UK

“Phonox. Single room, massive disco ball, what’s not to love? Every night I’ve been there it’s been a super locked crowd. I’m lucky to have been asked to DJ there over the years, as a guest for my friends Sofia Kourtesis and Barry Can’t Swim during their residencies. This month I get to do my own, and I couldn’t be more gassed.”

Ezzrei
B-Side - Makati, Philippines

“B-Side, a gritty underground music hub inside The Collective that became a home for so many different scenes. That’s where I really discovered the dub universe through Irie Sunday Manila and Nomad Massive. 

The club hosted this Sunday ritual around drum & bass, jungle, dubstep, reggae, and sound system culture, with an iconic ice cream van where they played vinyl and had MCs holding it down all night.”

Blck Mamba
Truth - Johannesburg, South Africa

“Truth because of its unique indoor and outdoor spaces, and the way you can feel the bass through your entire body. They host beautifully curated nights, making it one of the go-to spots for electronic music in Joburg.”

Dam Swindle
Radio Radio - Amsterdam, Netherlands 

“A club made for dancers. It’s small enough to feel intimate, and the floor design—where the dancers are on various levels so close to you—means the energy that goes back and forth from DJ to dancer is amazing. Add to that the arty and effective lighting design, and you’ve got one of our favourite clubs.” 

Words by Emily Hince
Photo from @phonoxlondon