city at night; town at night; nighttime streets
Refers to the general atmosphere or scenery of a city or town after dark, without necessarily implying nightlife.
Walking alone through the city at night is a little scary.
From the window, you can see the lights of the town at night.
nightlife district; drinking district; entertainment area
Specifically refers to areas with bars, clubs, and nightlife; often carries a slightly seedy or adult-oriented connotation.
He goes out to the nightlife district every night.
This area is a well-known drinking district.
歓楽街 is a pleasure quarter or entertainment district, often with a historical or red-light connotation. 夜の街 is a more common, modern term for nightlife areas.
Standard kanji spelling; 街 suggests a bustling area with buildings and nightlife.
Alternate spelling; 町 can feel slightly more general or smaller-scale than 街.
Compound of 夜 (night) + の (possessive particle) + 街/町 (town/city). The phrase literally means 'town of night' and is used both literally and to refer to nightlife districts.