Anzu

An undisputed titan of Brazil's thriving scene (seven clubs in the top 50 of this poll is proof if it's ever needed), Anzu has held its own alongside the big boys, consistently troubling the higher ranks of this poll for the last few years. And for good reason too. Intent on bringing a club with a steely warehouse vibe to the outskirts of the Brazilian capital city, praise for this capacious cauldron of noise shouldn't be confined to its mental main room, where the likes of Showtek, Yves V and Amine Edge & DANCE entertained Anzu's ridiculously loyal followers silly during the carnival celebrations.

No, with room for the poppy, more r&b-inflected sounds upstairs in the mezzanine, it's the outside stage that really catches DJ Mag's eye. Thanks to ace local DJ Rogério Soldera, Anzu's leafy smoking area is transformed into a writhing haven for sexy pulsations of deep house, tech-house and techno, where the likes of Solomun, Lee Foss and Jamie Jones have all played in recent times until the golden sun shines high.

Feeding Brazil's insatiable appetite for understated, groove-based dance music to the point where it's even rivalling EDM for the big stages, Anzu's influence should not be underestimated.