Current Time
Currency
nightlife
Spain nightlife
Spanish nightlife is legendary, and for good reason. This is the country that brought the world Ibiza-style house music and the international nightclub group Pacha. Yet not every night has to pulse with the beats of electronic and house music. Sophisticated cocktail bars are more popular than ever in Spain, as are theme bars (ever hear of Spanish country music?). Bohemian bars like Barcelona's Tinta Roja, with poetry readings, comedy nights, and classic film screenings, abound in the artsy districts of the big cities.
City dwellers tend to hit the first bar of the night after dinner ends (around 1 am), and then migrate to thediscotecas, or nightclubs, by 3 am, dancing till dawn. Cover charges vary widely, but you should expect to pay upward of 20 euros in classy venues. Dress to impress; trendy nightspots have strict dress codes and only allow those who look the part to cross their thresholds.
The Spaniards' deeply ingrained love for fiestas means that any city or town can host a good party, but a few stand out. Madrid residents are known as gatos (cats) for their late-night prowling; the city is famous for 3 am traffic jams caused by throngs of partiers. Seaside resorts, especially on the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca, and Gran Canaria, are also known for their nightlife.
The stretch of beach at Platja de Ses Salines bristles with a party atmosphere through summer, when the upmarket beach clubs like Malibu and Guarana open their...more
see the Ibiza + Mallorca guideHoused in an old theater building, this place morphs from a restaurant and café frequented by students to one of Bilbao's best places to hear live...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideKM5 is where the party people come to wind down. It's pretty obvious why, with its scatter cushions, hammocks, leather poufs, hanging lanterns, and red, green,...more
see the Ibiza + Mallorca guide
The groundbreaking drinks at this artistically lit "bar gastronómico" extend the Spanish flair for culinary experimentation to the cocktail...more
see the Madrid guideKnown for its massive collection of rums from all over the world, this slim, dark bar has shelves cluttered with old bottles and walls plastered with vintage...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideCuchara serves up the most sophisticated pintxos in town: tomatoes stuffed with ventresca (tuna belly) and bonito, crispy pig's ear with garbanzos, and creamy...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideThis cavernous, grand old bar, where pata negra hams hang above dark-wood tables and benches, has been around since 1927. It still draws crowds after all these...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideLike a playroom for older kids, this nightclub is decked out in pop art, museum-worthy lighting, and trendy furniture and is one of the spots of the moment for...more
see the Madrid guideLuz de Gas, in the well-heeled upper Eixample neighborhood, is synonymous with Barcelona's vibrant Latin music scene. Originally a fin de siècle music...more
see the Barcelona guideMadrid's barrio of Chueca offers the city's most eclectic array of restaurants, bars, and shops. One of the newest is Isolée, a multi-function space...more
see the Madrid guide
RSS Feeds