The Best of Barcelona’s Nightlife

If you are looking for a short break to a city where you can (potentially) never sleep then Barcelona is a very attractive candidate.  Although you may not find the wide range of options you might on a night out in London, or the kinds of big names that you might see on a clubbing trip to Ibiza, the range of entertainment after the sun goes down in Barcelona is certainly not to be sniffed at.  Whether you are looking for a gentle evening that involves little more than lazily drinking a cerveza and watching the world go by on Las Ramblas, or you want to go all out drinking and dancing until dawn, there’s plenty of both here.  Here’s what you can expect from the best of Barcelona’s nightlife.

Festivities tend to start late in Barcelona so if you’re heading out for the evening at 7pm then you might find yourself alone at the bar.  It’s common to go out for dinner around 9pm (or later, depending on how fast you eat..) and most of the bars don’t start filling up until around 11pm.  If you’re planning on hitting a club or two then these start to get busy just after midnight.

9pm – 11pm

If you’re a tourist in Barcelona then Las Ramblas still holds plenty of appeal.  This central Barcelona street is 1.2km long  with Port Vell at the Southern most end and Placa Catalunya to the north.  There are lots of restaurants here and it’s a good place to start your night out with some delicious tapas and a couple of beers, as the street is at its best earlier in the evening.  If you want to branch out and try something different, there are plenty of dining options – for example, Bar Lobo near Las Ramblas has a mouthwatering Japanese menu. (http://www.grupotragaluz.com/barlobo).

11pm – 1am

After you’ve filled up on tortillas and chorizo it’s time to hit some of Barcelona’s legendary bars.  There’s a huge array of different types of drinking establishments here, from the most traditional, to the smartest of cocktail hang outs.  Head to Cafe de L'Opera (http://www.cafeoperabcn.com) for a traditional take on Las Ramblas, or if you are looking for a fancy cocktail there’s the funky retro Rita Blue (http://www.ritablue.com) nearby.  If you are seeking sexy and stylish surroundings, Dostrece (http://www.dostrece.net) fits the bill perfectly, or head to Boadas (C/Tallers 1, Barcelona) and have your cocktails mixed by a bartender who trained at Hemmingway's Floridita Bar in Havana.

1am – Dawn?

After a few stops for cocktails you’re now ready to hit the local clubs,  Indie kids will love the legendary Magic Club (http://www.magic-club.net) or head to Marula Café (http://www.marulacafe.com) for some soul, jazz, funk and latin.  If you like your dance music then the Macarena Club (http://www.macarenaclub.com) is small but its beats are supersized and Moog Club (C/ Arc del Teatre, 3 08001 Barcelona, Spain) is a great techno spot, only a few minutes from  Las Ramblas.  Beach clubs are also popular in Barcelona in the summer months and some of the best are Shoko Club (http://www.shoko.biz) and the Mondo Club (http://www.mondobcn.com), which has a fabulous terrace.  At Catwalk Club (www.clubcatwalk.net) you’ll find an Ibiza vibe and some big name DJs, and CDLC (http://www.cdlcbarcelona.com) is one of the city’s most exclusive nightspots so wear you best threads and your most charming smile if you want to get in.

This was a guest post by Amy for Easyjet who offer cheap flights to Barcelona