As Dundee’s biggest LGBTi-friendly bar, Kandy Bar Dundee is certainly making waves as one of the top go-to nightclubs in Dundee. We decided to visit this first since it is the most accessible, being open all week.

We appreciate that it is only a 2-minute walk from the Dundee Bus Station. This is convenient not just for those going there but also for those going home in the wee hours of the morning.

We had a couple of sets at their pool table, which we really enjoyed. With the eclectic music and friendly staff, we felt quite ready to party in this place!

Upon a little digging, we found that they sometimes host special events, which not all nightclubs do. Some of these include a Drag Idol contest and Karaoke Nights.

What they are really known for, though, is their drag shows. People from all walks of life flock over here to watch drag performances by the greats –  Rome Mosaic, Skinny Minnie, Cadenza, and Scarlet Diamonte.

We like that their drinks are also quite affordable compared to the drinks being served in other nightclubs. We recommend their gin and tonic, vodka, and beer.

When visiting, though, just keep in mind that Kandy Bar Dundee can be pretty packed due to their popularity, so make sure to get their earlier if your party is a bit big or if you want to get the table you prefer.

Since some of us are 80s and 90s babies, we decided to try Club Tropicana as well. This 80s and 90s retro-themed nightclub seemed like something we’d enjoy, so we readied ourselves for heaps of nostalgia.

The club did not disappoint. They were blasting music that really gave us the feels while growing up, and we had a blast listening to these retro hits. 

We enjoyed dancing the night away on their very spacious dance floor – with its high ceilings and psychedelic strobe lights.

We also learned that this club holds special events such as gigs by well known and up-and-coming artists, local competitions, or special-occasion events, such as during St. Paddy’s Weekend.

We also learned about their various party packages available, for those looking to save money while celebrating special occasions. These include Stag Dos and Work Nights.

For bridal parties looking to celebrate their special event, they are particularly known for their £100 Hen Night Premium Package. It comes with a bottle of spirits, VIP Entry for up to 10 hens, and even a free bottle of prosecco!

For birthday celebrants, they also have an £80 VIP Birthday Package. This one includes VIP free entry for 6 people, reserved seating, a bottle of house spirits with 2 mixers, and a jug of cocktail or beer.

Sadly, you’d only get to enjoy this retro nightclub three days a week since they are only open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Also, we were informed that their DJ does not like accepting requests, which we thought was a bit uppity on their part.

The next nightclub we visited was Duck Slattery’s, which is famous for being the place for a sing and dance-along do. Unlike other clubs, they offer free admission, which we thought was pretty decent of them.

We were impressed with the sheer size of this venue. We also liked their very long wooden tables that evoked a communal feel, making you feel welcome indeed.

They hold a Frat Wednesday event every week, which we think is great for students who want to let their hair down. It is not uncommon for students to end up dancing on their benches – in fact, we heard this behaviour is even encouraged!

They also host a weekly ‘BIG Saturday show’ wherein they feature UK’s best DJs, bands, or artists. This would definitely be something to look forward to after a long week at work.

For those who love unique contests and games, they also hold fun ones such as lip sync battles and disco bingos. One famous game they hold is Bongo’s Bingo, which is a crazy mix of traditional bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, and audience participation.

If you are looking to do an advanced reservation, do yourself a favour and do it online. This is because they have discounts for online booking, which could save you around 15%-25%.

Sadly, this magical place is off-limits on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Also, we felt their toilets were so filthy that we had to hold it in and go elsewhere rather than use theirs.

For the young and the young-at-heart, Underground might be the nightclub for you. Located at the heart of Dundee, this spot is known for their awesome student nights and exclusive weekend booth packages.

For instance, students who go there on Mondays would experience Project U – this means listening to adorable, cheesy tunes and chugging £2 drinks. On Tuesdays, they have their Juicy Tuesdays, which include a free-entry guest list and £2 drinks.

For students who like to have fun on Thursdays, they have Rubaduck Thursdays hosted by a huge, adorable yellow duck. Students can have selfies with the duck while listening to the top of charts songs and hip hop.

Fans of cocktail trees could schedule a visit on Fri-Yays, while those who like booth bottle service can attend their Underground Saturdays.

Speaking of booths, they have exclusive booth packages that you can choose from based on your budget. Each booth booking includes VIP entry for your whole party, hostess-led table service, and one of the best seats in the house.

They also have various VIP Deals for those who want to have the best bang for their buck. For instance, their Friday VIP deal includes 1 Spirit + Mix for only £3!

Overall, we did like the club’s hip, rustic vibe – rough stone walls, wood floorings, and spacious booths.

We did find the bouncers to be quite rude, and upon speaking to other customers, we found out that we’re not the only ones. Several customers have experienced their appalling behaviour.

Also, do note that they are closed on Wednesdays.

We wanted to try an authentic basement nightclub, so we went to Afro Beats. We think this is one of the hidden gems in the Dundee night scene.

Upon entering, we really dug the cool, Caribbean-inspired vibe of the place. We especially liked the wooden bar which looked like a hip, beach bar somewhere in the Caribbean.

We also noticed that the crowd is a bit younger compared to the crowds in other nightclubs. Most of their customers looked like they were uni students, which we felt lent a more energetic vibe to the place.

As for the music, we loved the DJ’s set which is a cool mix of house, techno, reggae, R&B, and rap music. Near midnight, everyone was on the dance floor, dancing like there’s no tomorrow!

We talked to a couple of the staff, and they told us that the place is available to rent for private functions. We definitely think this would be a cool place to host your birthday or maybe have a singles mixer.

What’s unique about this basement nightclub is that they are open till 3 AM. Young and young-ish night owls would fit right in with this crowd.

Surprisingly, they are closed on Sundays, as well as Mondays and Wednesdays. If you feel like going clubbing on these days, we suggest you try the student nights of the other nightclubs we went to.

Also, their loo was flooded, so they might want to get that fixed.