Barcelona Nightlife

Things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the best party destinations in Europe. So whatever you’re looking for from a night out, you can be pretty sure Barcelona has what you’re looking for; it’s just a case of knowing where to go!

With Barcelona, there isn’t just one area to go to. This metropolitan city is made up of different “barrios” (neighborhoods) where each one has its own vibe.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas, the famous boulevard, is always a good place to start, as you’re in easy reach of all the other neighborhoods with the better clubs, but there are still some nice bars down here. It is just as buzzing at night time with locals and tourists admiring the street performers.

The gothic quarter of Barcelona, to one side of the famous Ramblas, is home to lots of little bars tucked away in its narrow streets, such as Milk Bar, Sugar and Kinky Boots Bar. You will also come across traditional Irish pubs, with “Flaherty’s” being a local favorite, with a good crowd and friendly atmosphere. Plaza Real (Plaça Reial in Catalan) is a good place to congregate due to the clubs of Jamboree, Sidecar, and Los Tarantos, which are located here, and very popular with backpackers. You will also find many bars here; although they can be slightly pricey, it is worth paying the difference just to sit in this beautiful square! Marula Cafe is close to here, and despite the name, it is a club, and plays everything from funk to salsa music.

Continue through the gothic quarter and you will find El Born, one of the most fashionable districts of Barcelona. It has many bars and clubs, which are on the smaller scale, but still just as popular. Passeig de Born is the heart of this unique area, and this is where you will find most of the bars. In this area towards the Ciutadella Park, you will come across all the main clubs; Mix, Magic, Suborn, and DioBar, a dungeon club with a Greek restaurant upstairs!

El Ravalis another good partying district in Barcelona, on the other side of Las Ramblas from the gothic quarter. This is more alternative, so if you’re after something a bit more edgy, this area is for you. The central strip to this area is Rambla de Raval, where you will find bars Zentraus and Ambar, and the more classy and sophisticated Marmalade cocktail bar. Nearby Nou de la Rambla is where you will find famous clubs “Les Enfants” (the oldest club in Barcelona), “Moog”, and “Sala Apolo”, famous for its events “Nasty Mondays” and “Crappy Tuesdays”.

The central area of L’Eixample is known for its nightlife. As the new town of Barcelona, it is very large, so knowing where to go in this area is quite important. Just off the main city square, Plaça Catalunya, you will find Belushi’s Bar, which is a great place to start the night without spending too much money. Around this area there are lots of promoters, giving out coupons for promotions on certain clubs. The area around Casanova Street in this district is the “gay” area of Barcelona, so you will find a whole array of funky gay bars.

Graciais known as being another cool area similar to that of El Raval, slightly bohemian, but this is more Catalan than El Raval. You won’t find many tourists in this area, but you can do as the Spanish do and enjoy a drink on the terrace in one of their many bars, or enjoy or a can of beer in the plaza which, although illegal, is where you will find most of the Barcelonans!

Bars on the beach

Head to the beach and you will find some of the best clubs this city has to offer. Port Olímpic can offer you sophisticated bars on the beach, as well as the well-known clubs which stay open till 6am: Catwalk and Opium Mar. Aside from these luxurious venues, you will find Moll Mestral, a row of cheap bars and clubs with a range of music! Port Olímpic is also where you will find the Barcelona chain of the renowned Ice Bar.

If you’re in Barcelona for just one night, the place to go would be the famously large club Razzmatazz, in Poblenou, not too far from the Olympic village. With five rooms of music here and a good crowd, you are almost guaranteed a good night out. La Terrrazza, is also a popular club which will provide you with a completely different experience, as it is an open-air nightclub!