Skopje has a strong cafe culture — coffee shops are the social venue of choice for the city's large student population, and they fill up from mid-morning onward. The main pedestrian zone (Makedonija Street) has many options; the cafes along the river and in the Old Bazaar are more atmospheric. Drinks are cheap by Western European standards.
Nightlife concentrates in the clubs along the river and in the Centar district. The scene is young, loud, and inexpensive. Macedonian rakija (fruit brandy) is what people drink; local beers are unremarkable. The city does not really sleep early.