In De Blaauwe Hand
Grote markt. the oldest pub in nijmegen. very, very picturesque.
Samson
Houtstraat. old fashioned and classy with service of a high quality. (http://www.cafesamson.nl/)
Universiteitscafe Piecken
Studentencomplex hoogeveldt, university campus. this bar, owned by students, is the homeplace for all the local and the international students in nijmegen. visit the website to see if there is a party or other activities. (http://www.piecken.nl)
St. Anneke
St. annastraat. of interest primarily if you're staying in hotel catharina as it's right across the street but even then you'd be wise to walk a little 50 meters further to frowijn on the corner of the pontanusstraat as that has a much nicer terrace.
Mets
Grotestraat. the premier gay / lesbian hangout.
Kollektief kafee de Bijstand
Van welderenstraat. this is where the local activist scene congregates. wednesday night is cheap vodka night. all profit goes to charity.
Chaps
gay leather bar is a reasonable and fairly priced pub with interesting socks-only and jack-off parties. only for men that are interested in the same sex.
Downtown Nijmegen and the neighborhoods just next to it are positively swarming with pubs and cafés. Some notable ones:
Brouwerscafé de Hemel
Odessa
sint anthoniusplaats is a reasonable and fairly cheap restaurant, but on mondays it functions as a jazz bar that attracts lots of foreign students.