Resident Advisor Club awards

source : http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature-read.aspx?id=932

RA Club Awards: Best Club

It doesn't get any bigger than this: The RA readers choose their Top 100 Clubs in the world.

What do you see when you try to imagine your ideal club? Does it have LED lights like Watergate? A raised DJ booth like Sven Väth's Cocoon? Perhaps it's just a room, like Offenbach's Robert-Johnson. Whatever your dream, club owners around the world have probably made it a reality in some form or another. From converted cinema spaces to former power plants, democratic door policies to Fascist bouncers, it's all in play: You just need to know where to find it.

Over the course of the past month, RA has been unveiling your votes for different categories in our Club Awards. Music/Programming, Atmosphere/Vibe, and Design/Layout have all been tallied. Now, it's time for the big one: The best of the best. These are the clubs where all of those daydreams come true. And, often, are even exceeded. Without further ado, the RA readers and their Top 100 clubs...

100. Cafe Barzilay, Tel-Aviv
99. Flex, Vienna
98. Kubik Barcelona, Barcelona
97. Cacao Beach, Bulgaria
96. Hardpop, Ciudad Juarez
95. Pod, Dublin
94. Cocorico, Rimini
93. Egg, London
92. Privilege, Ibiza
91. Hyde Park Café, Tampa

90. Vanguard, Los Angeles
89. Sullivan Room, New York
88. Bar 13, New York
87. Brancaleone, Rome
86. Piccadilly Train Station, Manchester
85. Basement, Beirut
84. Tape, Berlin
83. Distillery, Leipzig
82. La Terrrazza, Barcelona
81. Clash, São Paulo

80. Green Valley, Brazil
79. Footwork, Toronto
78. King King Club, Los Angeles
77. Macarena Club, Barcelona
76. The Villa, Oslo
75. Arenaclub, Berlin
74. Zouk KL, Kuala Lumpur
73. Il Muretto, Venice
72. Club Midi, Cluj Napoca
71. Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal

70. Bahrein, Buenos Aires
69. Die Registratur, Munich
68. Snafu, Aberdeen
67. SQ Club, Poznan
66. Rote Sonne, Munich
65. Haoman 17, Tel Aviv
64. Nitsa, Barcelona
63. Pacha, Buenos Aires
62. Mint Club, Leeds
61. Goa Club, Rome

60. Paradiso, Amsterdam
59. Baalsaal, Hamburg
58. Doornroosje, Netherlands
57. Session Club, Bucharest
56. Sub Club Hoxton, London
55. Arena, Berlin
54. AKA Bar, London
53. CiRCA, Toronto
52. Sankeys, Manchester
51. Stereo, Montreal

50. Love, New York City
49. Warung Beach Club, Brazil
48. Hive Club, Zurich
47. Smart Bar, Chicago
46. Club Space, Miami
45. BeCool, Barcelona
44. Turnmills, London
43. Corsica Studios, London
42. Silo, Leuven
41. Plastic People, London

40. Tresor Club, Berlin
39. Cocoliche, Buenos Aires
38. My House, Leeds
37. B018, Beirut
36. Barraca, Valencia
35. Lux Frágil, Lisbon
34. Pawn Shop, Miami
33. The Guvernment, Toronto
32. Club der Visionaere, Berlin
31. Razzmatazz, Barcelona

30. Moog Club, Barcelona
29. T Bar, London
28. Pacha, New York City
27. La Mania, Mamaia
26. D-Edge, Sao Paulo
25. Spacelab Yellow, Tokyo
24. Avalon Hollywood, LA
23. Womb, Tokyo
22. The Arches, Glasgow
21. Pacha, Ibiza

20. Ministry Of Sound, London

In the beginning… apt words indeed for dance music institution Ministry of Sound, a club that's seemingly been around since the dawn of time. However, institutions don't become legendary through longevity alone. Instead, it's a bit of longevity mixed with a healthy dose of relevance. If you look at any one-week span, you'll see the club paying tribute to the people that built its reputation and a whole new generation of DJs that will soon become dance music superstars. By consistently bringing in the biggest DJs in the world, Ministry of Sound doesn't need to worry about itself - it only needs to make sure its audience can keep up.
- Sam Louis

Derrick May:
"What can I say that has not already been said? Amazing crowd, sound, production, staff. It's the original super club. I'm very proud to call it home!"

19. Bar25, Berlin

As many other commentators have noted, the venue's policy of broadcasting a live stream of nearly everything that goes on there means almost anyone can be a part of the action. Just yesterday, I listened to what I think might've been a charity event that featured Iggy and the Stooges, a bit of avant-pop, and straight-up techno. This sort of hodge-podge isn't the norm, but the let-it-all-hang-out atmosphere is. Known as the place where everyone ends up after a long weekend of partying or even the place to begin the next weekend, Bar25 is the place to decompress from whatever's been ailing you.
- Todd L. Burns

Red Robin:
"Bar 25 is our own little Techno country with different rules. It is uncomparable and timeless."

18. Kristal Glam Club, Bucharest

As the newbie in Romania's clubbing scene, Kristal Glam has a lot to prove. Their recent bookings however, prove that they're more than up to the challenge. James Zabiela, Lee Burridge, Nic Fanciulli, Dubfire, Carl Cox have made their way to Bucharest to visit the club this year, and many more promise to grace the decks at the 1000-capacity venue. Numerous video screens dot the perimeter of the dancefloor, but it's hardly a distraction; ultimately the focus at Kristal will always be the music.
- Sam Louis

DJ Chriss:
"When you attend a party at Kristal you know when it starts, but you never know when it's going to end!"

17. Studio Martin, Bucharest

It seems somehow fitting that Romania's two top clubs are ranked next to one another in RA's Club Awards. Constantly jockeying for the finest world DJ talent, the only time that they don't seem to be at loggerheads is when they’re on vacation. Martin, though, has history on its side and subsequently often wins out: it's the club where the likes of Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills, and others made their debut Bucharest appearance, and Mo' Wax head set his Global Underground entry. That’s surely enough reason to forget the club turf wars and just enjoy the music.
- Sam Louis

Livio & Roby:
"The club is a legend on the Romanian scene... the incredible crowd generates an amazing vibe that inspires artists to give more and more."

16. Rex Club, Paris

While it may not rank among the superclubs of the world in terms of physical size, Paris’s Rex Club certainly punches above its weight in terms of consistency and quality. The Rex was brought to life by Laurent Garnier in 1992 and he still plays there often, alongside resident Chloé and the regular Automatik nights. Together, they keep each weekend packed with a revolving stream of the best DJs and label showcases that cross all genres: from the dub techno of Basic Channel, to the coolly Germanic sound of Kompakt, to the old-school Detroit platters of Jeff Mills. To do it all justice, the soundsystem has been custom-designed to make your night of dancing or sipping a drink in the lounge even more pleasurable. The Rex is an understated icon of the European club scene.
- Chris Mann

D'Julz: "The Rex is by far my favorite French club and one of my favorites in the world alongside Fabric and Panorama Bar. I've been hosting my Bassculture party there for more than ten years, so it's like a second home. All the staff members are music lovers, so as an artist you feel understood and always supported."

15. Zouk, Singapore

Zouk wouldn't have to do much to stand out in Singapore's limited clubbing scene, but it nonetheless delivers: This is a club that puts venues in any major city to shame. Whether it’s the lavishly detailed Mediterranean design features, the comfy sofas, or the fact that each of the three rooms has a distinct feel, it's quite simply a marvel. Pulling in top DJ talent like Richie Hawtin, Steve Lawler, Felix Da Housecat, Kenny Dope, and more can't hurt either. A top-flight club and an exotic location: Who could ask for more?
- Tim Serran

DJ Hong doesn't waste a moment telling us what makes Zouk great:
"The music, the people, the love!"

14. Fuse, Brussels

Some might claim that club years should be regarded in the same way as dog years. Considering the fruit-fly-esque lifespan of most venues, it makes sense. The reason that most clubs die out, though, is simply a refusal to deviate from what worked three, four, or five years ago. Not so with Belgium's Fuse, a club which assiduously keeps its finger on the pulse and continues to fearlessly book the hottest DJs of the moment. Coming up in August? Mannheim's Johnny D and Bucharest's Raresh—two young 'uns that just go to prove that there's a little bit of fight in this club yet, even 14 years on.
- Charles Merwin

Pierre:
"Fuse is without a doubt one of the founders of Belgian nightlife as we know it now, with an impressive list of DJs whom stopped by to party behind the decks. As I'm a resident at Fuse since almost 15 years now, I'm really happy to be part of this success story for so long."

13. Weekend, Berlin

It should have been no surprise to see Weekend in RA's Club Awards earlier this month in the Design/Layout section. If the club did nothing else right, it would certainly have its stylish décor and beautiful view of Berlin to fall back on. (Not to mention its secondary club on the 15th floor and summer roof action). But Weekend doesn't stop there, regularly bringing in Dixon, Anja Schneider, Ewan Pearson and more, making it a must visit while in Berlin.
- Sam Louis

12. Cielo, New York

Nightclubs are not built to last. The velvet rope is a fickle, wandering beast. In NYC's cobblestoned Meat Packing District, Cielo has not only endured, it has thrived. Over the last five years, the little space with the big sound system has cultivated a loyal mix of nightcrawlers, from fly-by dilettantes to hardcore connoisseurs—both on the dancefloor, and in the DJ booth. Beloved stalwarts and white-hot upstarts, including co-founder and owner Nicolas Matar, Francois K, Carl Craig, and Loco Dice, work the decks like every night is the last night on the Titanic, giving dancers a blissfully different kind of soaking with remarkable consistency. Cielo aims for the sky—and fortunately for music lovers everywhere, the night only gets better from there…
- Jorge Hernandez

Louie Vega sounds off:
"Cielo captures New York City nightlife at its finest. Perfect sound, decor, atmosphere, and a great crowd."

11. Club 11, Amsterdam

The inclusion of Club 11 on RA's Club Awards is somewhat bittersweet, as after four years the Amsterdam club has closed its doors. In that short time the club ranked among the world's finest in terms of music/programming (Francois K, Trentemoller, Carl Craig, Âme, Ricardo Villalobos), atmosphere (the club featured a beautiful restaurant with a healthy bar area), and design/layout (the venue was perched on the top floor of a former post office). One can only hope that the owners haven't given up home in Amsterdam, as the hole that Club 11 has left is a big one indeed.
- Charles Merwin

Patrice Baumel:
"11 symbolises the bundled creative energy Amsterdam has to offer.
Design, video art, music - this is the place where it all flows together and explodes right in your face."

10. Sub Club, Glasgow

"Small" and "intimate" are usually code words for "painfully crowded." Not so at Glagow's Sub Club, which works with its "intimate" vibe instead of against it. When you can't really move, you see, you can't do much except dance. That part is helped along by some of the finest DJs Scotland has to offer. Whether it be the ultra-eclectic likes of Twitch and Wilkes, the 20-years-and-still-fresh Harri and Domenic, or the top-flight DJs that fly in from around the world to experience it for themselves, Sub Club is all about the music—and that's the way it should be.
- Sam Louis

DJ Harri puts it as simply as he can:
"Good People + Good Sound = Great Party"

09. Amnesia, Ibiza

It's been more than 20 years since the mind-altering DJing of Alfredo turned Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling on to the charms of Ibiza. Ever since then, the club has continued to remain in the good graces of the ever-shifting allegiances of ravers. Chalk that up to the constant innovation, hedonism, and care that the club has received. Added to this, the Sven Väth seal of approval means a lot in clubland, and his reign at the club on Mondays has given the crowds one more reason to flock to the White Isle. And don't forget the foam.
- Charles Merwin

08. Cocoon Club, Frankfurt

With an aesthetic that melds visions of Star Trek with something that a loved-up H.R. Giger might have designed, Sven Väth’s Cocoon Club is one of a kind. The techno-meister’s ideas, experience, and ambition have transformed the space into an uber-club that's otherworldly, yet organic. At Cocoon, Sven’s party faithful play out on a sound system to die for, while the immersive experience is heightened by multimedia technology. Feast your senses at restaurants Micro and Silk before moving to the main room, where projections flicker over the perimeter wall, which itself appears to pulsate with music. VIPs may hit the pods, but any aficionado wanting to feel the heat will hit the floor, because Cocoon makes music come alive.
- Lisa Loco

07. Robert-Johnson, Offenbach

In club terms, the difference between great and good is a matter of intimacy. Located in Offenbach next to Germany’s financial capital Frankfurt, Robert-Johnson has plenty of it. Established in ’99 by Ata (of Playhouse fame), and named after the legendary blues singer mysteriously rumoured to be in league with the devil, the club succeeds in pushing all the right buttons: a minimalist and ever changing interior design, TV monitors and coloured neon tubes in lieu of a blinding laser show, a wooden floor that’s easy on dancing feet and knees, and a moving sound system meant to massage listeners and dancers alike. The musical programming is just as impressive: landlord Ata provides monthly evidence of his twenty year career in cutting edge selection, supplemented by regular guests such as disco viking Prins Thomas, Ricardo Villalobos, Magda and the Innervisions crew. Good old Bob would have loved it!
- Jason Gern

Ricardo Villalobos gets philosophical:
"Robert Johnson is a place where the anarchy of molecules gets fertilized by the sound and thus become a wave of collectivistic, mutual and physical exchange."

06. The End, London

Established in 1995, The End is certainly a far cry from being a new kid on the block. It's well-worn surfaces have a comfort, though, that defies trends and pretensions. And it's this lack of trendiness that has allowed the club to age so gracefully. The vibe at The End always seems to be about having fun rather than looking cool. With everything from intimate drum and bass nights to road blocking minimal parties—often all within a given week—the club goes as far as possible towards being all things to all people. (At least as far as quality club music is concerned.) Here's hoping there's no end in sight.
- Colin Shields

Will Saul reps for one of his favorite clubs:
"From the soundsystem, design, and layout through to the programming and friendly staff—everything combines [at The End] to provide an electric atmosphere that makes DJing and clubbing there an absolute pleasure."

05. Space, Ibiza

Space Ibiza is a mecca for clubbers around the world, with many making the annual pilgrimage to immerse themselves within its unique environment. There's no black stone to kiss, but a cheer and fist pump on the terrace—as planes fly overhead—is equally as significant. During the week superstars Carl Cox and Danny Tenaglia host residencies, but the We Love... parties on Sundays are the main attraction. And who can argue with 4,000 disco kids losing themselves, soundtracked by any number of international DJs in a well designed superclub? The fact that it's on the least likely of party days is just icing on the cake.
- Nick Sabine

Steve Lawler:
"When a club is as successful as Space, it's not down to one factor but many: The crowd, the venue, the sound, the music policy, the people behind it, and above all their vision."

04. DC-10, Ibiza

While the concept of super-clubs died in the UK some years ago, it's business as usual in Ibiza. A consistent oligarchy caters to the larger and more commercial crowds. At DC-10, though, it's not about the DJ's or the big brand. Sure, they've got renowned names on the decks, and Circo Loco is infamous around the world, but it's the up-for-it carnival vibe that has made DC-10 legendary. It's also probably why DC-10 is closed. Without it, there's a sense of something missing in Ibiza. When it's open, on a typical sunny Monday afternoon, DC-10 serves up just the right amount of madness and chaos. The club regularly provides spontaneous moments of exhilaration and escape, leaving memories that linger long after the summer tan has faded.
- Richard Chinn

Andrew Grant, what makes DC-10 great in seven words or less?
"Crazy international vibe under one roof, uttermadness."

03. Watergate, Berlin

You could hardly ask for a more picturesque setting than Berlin's Watergate. The sublime view of Berlin is delivered via the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Spree. Of course, those same windows are only opened after a long night’s dancing, when the harsh glare of sunlight filters in on the LED-drenched dancers. But perhaps what makes Watergate stand out is its commitment to innovation. Far from resting on its laurels, the group behind the club has been quick to book live acts and is looking to take advantage of its reputation to introduce some lesser-known DJs to the world. That sort of attitude is rare in today's market-driven world, and a welcome antidote to excesses elsewhere.
- Sam Louis

02. Fabric, London

Good clubs pick up on what's happening, and deliver it to their punters. Really good clubs gain enough trust to take risks with their bookings, opening their crowd up to exciting new sounds. Legendary clubs fundamentally alter the musical landscape. Above all else, that's what puts Fabric in this list. Opening at a time when the UK superclub era was lurching to a messy close, Fabric cannily picked up the pieces, and went about proving that a forward-thinking music policy could work as part of a top-end business model. Throw in a breathtaking soundsystem, a universally professional and friendly team, and a series of mix CDs that arguably define dance music in the modern age, and you've got a club that, despite the occasional bout of griping, is rightly revered as one of the greatest of all time.
- Lee Smith

Craig Richards tries to encapsulate Fabric in as few words as possible:
"An undeniable force delivered with passion and belief."

01. Berghain/Panorama Bar, Berlin

Berlin's Berghain puts nearly every other club in the world to shame with its impeccable sound, music programming, and unique design. For clubbers, it's a veritable embarrassment of riches. If you're ready to make a night of it, you can head downstairs for the uncompromising techno of Marcel Dettman, or ascend to the Panoramabar and the heavenly house music proffered by Cassy. Famed for its marathon sessions, you can get as lost as you want to be in its cavernous environs.
- Sam Louis