Webster Hall

• 2012 Winner

  Best Club

Located in the heart of the East Village this 40,000 square foor nightclub/entertainment venue was built in 1886 and designed by renowned architect Charles Rentz. It was considered the country’s first modern nightclub hosting everything from society events to anarchist meetings. During Prohibition, Webster Hall became the unofficial speakeasy of New York City, with police turning a blind eye to the happenings inside. By the time the 1950s rolled around it had become one of the premiere music venues in the city, as well as an uber-trendy night club with six separate rooms for dancing and various other activities. To this day Webster Hall remains one of the most popular dance clubs in the city.

Despite the many new music venues that have popped up in the city over the years, Webster Hall continues to attract some of the biggest acts in the world. U2 played their first ever U.S. date here, and performers as diverse as Elvis, Madonna, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Jefferson Airplane, Run DMC and Prince have taken the stage. Recent bookings by Bowery Presents, plus the addition of The Studio, a tiny venue-within-a-venue downstairs, has created new opportunities to showcase indie rock bands.

Club-wise, Webster features one of the more lax admission policies in the city -- if you can handle the huge lines and the seemingly student/Jersey vibe of most weekend nights, you probably won't have any problems getting in.

See more: East Village music venues, East Village clubs, Rock music venues, Dance music venues