Metropolis
Metropolis is Ulaanbaatar's largest nightclub, occupying a basement space near the eastern end of Seoul Street. The venue spans multiple rooms: a main dance floor with a raised DJ booth and professional lighting rig, a second room with different music, a VIP section with bottle service, and bar counters in each area. Total capacity approaches 500, making it the biggest dedicated nightlife space in Mongolia. The sound system is surprisingly powerful, imported and installed to club-standard specifications. Weekend nights pack the main floor with young Mongolians dressed to impress. The music programming alternates between electronic dance music, Mongolian pop, K-pop, and Russian club tracks depending on the night and the DJ. Metropolis represents UB nightlife at its most intense, both in energy and in the safety risks that come with heavy Mongolian drinking culture.
What to Expect
Descend the stairs into a dark, loud, bass-heavy space with lasers cutting through haze. The main floor is a sea of moving bodies by midnight. Young Mongolian men and women dressed in their best outfits, drinking vodka at tables, dancing in groups, and radiating an intensity that catches first-time visitors off guard.
Intense, loud, and unapologetically Mongolian. The energy level is high and the drinking is harder than most foreigners expect.
EDM, Mongolian pop, K-pop, Russian club tracks, and hip-hop depending on the DJ and the night
Dress to impress. Dark colors dominate. Collared shirts or fashionable streetwear for men. Most women wear heels and dresses. Sportswear will get you turned away.
Young travelers wanting the authentic UB club experience. People who can handle intense environments and heavy drinking cultures.
Cash preferred for speed. Cards accepted at main bars. VIP bottles are cash or card.
Price Range
Cover MNT 15,000-30,000, beer MNT 8,000-12,000, vodka bottle MNT 60,000-120,000, cocktails MNT 15,000-22,000
Cover ~USD 4.50-9/~EUR 4.10-8.30, beer ~USD 2.40-3.60/~EUR 2.20-3.30, vodka bottle ~USD 18-36/~EUR 16.60-33.20
Hours
Thu-Sat 10 PM to 4 AM
Insider Tip
Arrive before 11 PM to avoid the line and higher late-night cover charges. Stay away from the entrance area after 1 AM when drunk crowds create the most tension. The second room is usually less crowded and the music is better. Keep your phone in an inside pocket.
Full Review
Metropolis is where you go when you want the real UB nightlife experience, stripped of the expat buffer that Grand Khaan provides. The entrance is on a side street near Seoul Street, marked by a queue that forms after 11 PM on weekends. Security checks are brief but present. The cover charge varies by night and how late you arrive.
The staircase descends into the main room, and the volume hits immediately. The sound system pushes serious bass through a room that's been treated for acoustics. Laser rigs and LED screens create the visual backdrop. The DJ booth is elevated, giving the DJ a clear view of the floor and, on good nights, creating the feedback loop between performer and crowd that drives club energy.
The main dance floor gets packed. By midnight on Saturday, it's shoulder to shoulder. Mongolian clubbers dress up and go hard. Tables around the perimeter are occupied by groups sharing vodka bottles, which is the standard ordering format. A bottle of Chinggis Gold vodka with mixers and a table reservation forms the basis of a typical group night. Individual drinks at the bar are cheaper but the bar service is slow during peak hours.
The second room runs different programming, often deeper electronic music or hip-hop, and tends to attract a slightly older crowd. It's less intense and provides a needed breather from the main floor's energy.
Safety awareness is necessary here. Alcohol consumption levels among the local crowd are high, and the gap between energetic dancing and aggressive behavior can narrow quickly after 1 AM. Fights near the entrance and in the smoking area happen on busy nights. Pickpockets work the crowded dance floor. Foreign men talking to Mongolian women can occasionally trigger confrontations with Mongolian men. None of this should prevent you from going, but going with awareness and ideally with companions is smart.
Metropolis represents what UB nightlife actually is: young, intense, vodka-fuelled, and operating at an energy level that surprises visitors who expected a quiet Central Asian capital.
The Neighborhood
Near the eastern end of Seoul Street, within walking distance of other venues but on a side street. The area is commercial during the day and quieter than the main strip at night. Taxi pickup points are on Seoul Street itself.
Getting There
Walk east along Seoul Street from the State Department Store (7-8 minutes) or take a taxi from anywhere in central UB (MNT 3,000-5,000). Look for the entrance on a side street just off Seoul Street.
Other Venues in Seoul Street
Grand Khaan Irish Pub
Ulaanbaatar's most popular expat bar on Seoul Street. Draft beers, pub food, and live music on weekends. The go-to meeting point for foreigners in the city.
Lux Lounge
Upscale lounge bar near Chinggis Khaan Square. Cocktail-focused with a more mature crowd than the clubs. Leather seating, dim lighting, and a curated drinks list.
Mint Club
Popular weekend nightclub on Seoul Street. Two dance floors, mainstream pop and hip-hop playlist, and a young crowd. One of UB's busiest spots on Saturday nights.
Corner Pub
Casual local pub just off Seoul Street. Draft Mongolian beer, simple food, and a low-key atmosphere. A good spot to start the evening before the clubs open.
Sky Lounge at Blue Sky Tower
Rooftop bar on the 23rd floor of the Blue Sky Tower hotel. Panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar and the surrounding mountains. Premium cocktails and a dress code.