32,000 votes, dozens of favorites, a surprising winner: In the FAZEmag annual poll 2025, Gotec from Karlsruhe was voted number 1 among the best clubs in Germany – ahead of Bootshaus (Cologne), Fusion (Münster), and even the legendary Berghain in Berlin. A result that not only electrifies the scene but also reshuffles the club landscape.
The FAZEmag Annual Poll – what’s behind it?
Year after year, FAZEmag invites its readers to vote for the best clubs, DJs, labels, and festivals. With over 30,000 participants, the poll is one of the most important audience surveys in the electronic music scene in the German-speaking region. In the category "Best Club National," all relevant venues were up for selection, from Berlin institutions to regional underdogs.
The Top 10 Clubs in Germany 2025
- Gotec (Karlsruhe)
- Bootshaus (Cologne)
- Fusion (Münster)
- Die Rakete (Nuremberg)
- Berghain (Berlin)
- Hans Bunte Areal (Freiburg)
- Tanzhaus West (Frankfurt a.M.)
- Tresor (Berlin)
- C2 Ost (Karlsruhe)
- Odonien (Cologne)
Gotec in first place – why?
Gotec stands for uncompromising sound, especially in the fields of Hard Techno, Schranz, and Industrial. The club scores with massive line-ups (including Kobosil, Klangkuenstler, Chris Liebing), international bookings, and a party-hungry crowd. Especially in 2024, its 25th anniversary year, Gotec fired off a nonstop barrage of events with over 280 artists.
Moreover: Gotec is more than just a club. The venue, a former industrial site with unmistakable architecture, creates an atmosphere that perfectly combines closeness to the scene and ecstasy. Here, a community celebrates that feels connected – not anonymous, but familial.
Also strong: Bootshaus & Fusion
That Bootshaus in Cologne landed in second place is hardly surprising: The club has been a fixed figure in the international club scene for years. With regularly high-caliber bookings – from Charlotte de Witte to Boris Brejcha – and several floors including an open-air area, Bootshaus is a lasting institution that consistently delivers despite strong competition.
In third place comes Fusion in Münster – a club that combines underground vibe with booking quality like few others. Especially in Westphalia, Fusion has established itself as a hotspot for driving Techno. The mix of DIY attitude, progressive sound, and community feeling makes it a well-deserved contender for the podium.
Regional strength instead of capital city myth
2025 clearly shows: The German club scene is no longer centralised. Three clubs from Baden-Württemberg are in the top 10 (Gotec, C2 Ost, Hans Bunte Areal), while Berlin loses dominance. Gotec is a symbol of this change. Instead of a tourist destination: a scene meeting point. Instead of hype: stance.
FAZEmag Poll: popular, but not undisputed
As popular as the poll is, it is also debated. Some see it more as a popularity gauge than a quality rating. But it is clear: Whoever can mobilize their community shows not only reach but relevance. Gotec has impressively proven this.
Conclusion: A well-deserved victory – and a sign for the scene
Karlsruhe has delivered. With first place in the country’s most important club ranking, Gotec shows: Techno lives not only in Berlin. The club has not only hosted events but nurtured culture. Anyone who wants to be taken seriously in 2025 should have the Southwest revival on their radar. Gotec is no longer a secret tip – but the new standard.
