Sir Walter

Owner Walid El Sheikh drew on directors like Lars von Trier and Peter Brook to stage this 434-square-metre space — midnight-blue curtains hiding floor-to-ceiling windows, several levels, and a 30-metre bar lit from above so the room glows gold. Opened in 2016 next to the Kunsthalle and the Deutsche Oper, it's held its reputation as one of Düsseldorf's most polished nights out since.

Cocktails and wine both get real attention, though the room shifts from bar to club as the night goes on — expect a genuine door policy on weekends, so dress for it. Best approached as an evening that starts with a proper cocktail and doesn't necessarily end with one.

• cocktail bar
• club
• dress code
• date night
• nightlife