Best Dance Clubs In The Sacramento Area

By Juliet Farmer

Whether you like to shake your thing or merely tap your toes, Sacramento's dance club scene offers a variety of venues, ranging from swanky and sophisticated, to Go-Go dancing and gay friendly, plus a couple of places where you're likely to rub elbows with people adorned in tattoos, piercings and hip haircuts. Here are the best dance clubs in Sacramento.

MIX Downtown
1531 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-8899
Hours: Tues - 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Wed to Fri - 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sat and Sun- 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
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The rooftop patio, fire pits, and lounge feel make for a chic vibe at MIX Downtown. Guest DJs include Gabe Xavier (Wednesdays), Elliot Estes and 100.5 FM (Fridays), and Mike Moss (Saturdays). If you're in the restaurant/nightclub industry, be sure to flash your business card at the door on Sunday nights for free entry to Sunday Circus hosted by DJ Xavier and featuring lots of drink specials all night long. On Tuesdays, don't miss Jazz in the MIX. Dancing starts at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Cover is $10 Wednesday and Thursday, $15 Friday, $20 Saturday, and $5 Sunday. VIP packages are available starting at $275 on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for up to six people, and include free VIP front-of-the-line admission, a top shelf bottle of alcohol, reserved seating, and a VIP cocktailer. MIX is 21 and older.

Faces
2000 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-0706
Hours: Mon to Thurs- 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fri to Sun 12- p.m. to 2 a.m.
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In the mood to dance like no one's watching? Then head to Faces. Known primarily as a gay bar/nightclub, it's also a fabulous place to boogie the night away. With three separate dance floors and 15 bars, there's more than enough room for everyone (there's even an outdoor pool, although I've never seen anyone in it). The cover at Faces is $10 Friday and Saturday nights, and ranges from free to $5 the rest of the week. On Fridays and Saturdays, the music is mostly hip-hop, Top 40, and house. If you like your music with a bit of flavor, Latin Night is Tuesday ($5). Faces is 21 and older.

Badlands
2003 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 448-8790
Hours: Mon to Thurs - 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fri and Sat- 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sun- 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
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The mirror ball is always spinning at Badlands, where there's dancing every night of the week. If you like Top 40, check out Tipsy Thursdays. If high-energy dance is more your thing, don't miss Fabulous and Gay Fridays. Like both? Hit up Spectacular Saturdays. There's only one dance floor at Badlands, but if you're feeling crowded, you can always head upstairs to the mezzanine, or relax on the outdoor patio next to the waterfall. The cover at Badlands varies, but generally falls under $10 on weekends. Badlands is 21 and older.

Insider tip: When you tire of dancing, look for the secret passageway to next door's The Depot, where you can enjoy a game of pool while you watch videos in this multi-screen video bar.

Townhouse
1517 21st Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 837-3374
Hours: Mon to Fri - 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Sat- 8 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
www.townhouselounge.comIf you're in the mood for laid-back cool with a side of hipster, Townhouse has it (and that's not a bad thing!). From a no-cover-charge 80s night on Wednesdays, to an indie/pop/dance Thursday night that will only set you back $3, Townhouse sets the mood for dancing, hanging out and enjoying good tunes. Don't miss Record Club Fridays ($5), when the DJ spins a little bit of everything. Townhouse is 21 and older.

Old Ironsides
1901 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 443-9751
Hours: Mon to Fri- 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sat- 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Closed Sunday)
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When Old Ironsides isn't showcasing live music, they're open for dancing. Twice a month, Old I (as the kids call it) hosts two great dance parties. The first Saturday of the month is "Lipstick," featuring indie rock, indie pop, Britpop, soul and more (think Phoenix, MGMT, Passion Pit, Empire of the Sun, Kinks, Ramones, Two Door Cinema Club, Le Tigre, Miike Snow, etc.). Lipstick starts at 10 p.m. and costs $5. Every second Saturday, Old I hosts "Fascination," featuring New Wave 80s music, such as Joy Division, New Order, The Cure, and The Smiths. The cover is $5, and the dancing starts at 9:30 p.m. Old Ironsides is 21 and older.