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Barcelona Nightlife

Barcelona is one of Europe’s best places to party. As the city usually picks up its rhythm only around midnight, Spaniards tend to party till dawn.

For the trendiest nightspots, head to the stylish Port Olímpic or Port Vell, where the Maremagnum shopping complex transforms into a nefarious collage of cafés, bars and nightclubs. This area also plays hosts to several bars modernos themed with designer décor that are the talk of the town.

The free seasonal guide See Barcelona (www.seebarcelona.com) and the Guía del Ocio booklet (www.guiadelocio.com/barcelona) both provide nightlife listings and are available from newsagents and newspaper stands. For performances, there is a cultural information desk at Palau de la Virreina, La Rambla 99 (tel: 93 316 1000; www.bcn.cat). Caixa Catalunya runs the central ticket agency Entrada (tel: 902 101 212; www.telentrada.com).

Bars in Barcelona

El Quatre Gats

One of the most famous artists' hangouts in Barcelona is El Quatre Gats, a classic bar decked out in antique paintings, iron-wrought chandeliers and teak wood frames. The vintage bar sure has style and an even more attractive range of beer and live music from 2100. The original menu, designed by Picasso, is on show in the Museu Picasso.

Carrer Montsió 3, 08002 Barcelona
Tel: 93 302 4140.
Website: www.4gats.com

El Xampanyet

Xampanyerías, champagne bars serving sparkling Catalan wine (cava), are a speciality of the city. One of the coolest champagne bars in Barcelona is El Xampanye: an eclectic bodega dolled up with antique artefacts, blue tiles and neon lights. The place also serves an array of cider and tapas.

Carrer Montcada 22, 08003 Barcelona
Tel: 93 319 7003.

L'Ovella Negra

L'Ovella Negra is a hot favourite as much with the international backpackers as it is with local university students. With a young crowd and a hopping atmosphere, this is the best place to go if you’re looking to meet people. The bar organises themed parties several times a year, especially during festivals.

Carrer Sitges 5, 08003 Barcelona
Tel: 93 317 1087.
Website: www.ovellanegra.com

Clubs in Barcelona

Bikini

A young, down-to-earth crowd boogie to the latest sounds at Bikini. This trendy club has two rooms, one playing pop and hip pop music, the other playing sexier Latin rhythms.

Avinguda Diagonal 547
Tel: (93) 322 0800.
www.bikinibcn.com

Club Apolo/Nitsa

Put on your best gear for the wildest night at Barcelona’s all-time favourite dance club. Converted from an old theatre, the massive club has a different section for each genre of music – hip-hop, R&B, jazz and techno. Looking to dance all night long? This place doesn’t shut until 0600 in the morning, so get ready for a dance-a-thon till dawn.

Nou de la Rambla 113, 08004 Barcelona
Tel: 93 441 40 01.
Website: www.sala-apolo.com

Moog

The split-level Moog club, in the Chinese Quarter, offers the best of European techno and electro music and also hosts big international DJs. If you’re looking for something original, head upstairs for some indie retro pop numbers. Located right in the centre of Barcelona, Moog is small but extremely popular. What’s more: it’s open from midnight till dawn, 365 days a year.

Arc del Teatre 3, 08002 Barcelona
Tel: 93 319 17 89.
Website: www.masimas.com/moog/movie.html

Razzmatazz

If you’re a party animal looking to experience the best of Barcelona’s nightlife, you won’t want to miss this. The enormous complex of Razzmatazz is made of five nightclubs, each presenting distinctive styles and music. Hop over to Razz Club for some indie rock, The Loft for tech-house music and the Pop Bar for ‘60s pop. The admission fee can be costly on weekends but allows access to all five rooms (and a drink). Performances are normally ticketed separately.

Carrer Almogàvers 122, 08018 Barcelona
Tel: 93 320 8200.
Website: www.salarazzmatazz.com

Live Music in Barcelona

Centre Artesà Tradicionarius

For cultural performances, the Centre Artesà Tradicionarius offers traditional folk music from Catalonia, Spain and the rest of Europe. With a spacious, comfortable theatre, the centre hosts music concerts in the evenings. Here, you can expect to find regular harmonica, orchestra band and drum performances.

Travessera de Sant Antoni 6-8, 08012 Barcelona
Tel: 93 218 4485.
Website: www.tradicionarius.com

Jamboree / Los Tarantos

Every night, the cavernous Jamboree hosts jazz, Latin and blues gigs. On Mondays, the outrageously popular WTF vocal jam session is crammed with a young local crowd. Upstairs, slicker sister venue Los Tarantos stages flamenco performances and later in the night connects with Jamboree to become one big nightclub playing Latin or funk sounds.

Plaça Reial 17, 08002 Barcelona
Tel: 93 319 1789.
Websites: www.masimas.com/jamboree; www.masimas.com/tarantos

Tablao Flamenco Cordobés

Although flamenco originated from Andalusia, there are a few authentic flamenco shows in Barcelona. One of the best is Tablao Flamenco Cordobés with nightly performances by Andalusian dancers. Its packages include dinner. Visitors feast on typical Spanish cuisine before moving to the cave room where the spectacle begins.

Ramblas 35, 08002 Barcelona
Tel: 93 317 5711.
Website: www.tablaocordobes.com

Classical Music in Barcelona

Palau de la Música Catalana

The main concert hall in Barcelona is the Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage building and one of the world’s most extravagant music venues. Designed by modernist architect Domènech i Montaner, the building is a showcase for the Catalan renaissance. Sunday concerts here are a Barcelona institution.

Carrer Palau de la Música 4-6, 08003 Barcelona
Tel: 902 442 882.
Website: www.palaumusica.org

Dance in Barcelona

L'Espai de Dansa I Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya

L'Espai de Dansa I Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya
The city's main venue for ballet and contemporary dance is L'Espai de Dansa I Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya (referred to simply as L'Espai). On Sunday mornings, the atmosphere here is laid-back as locals flock to watch and participate in the local dance - the sardana in the square overlooking Catedral de la Seu.

Travessera de Gràcia 63, 08006 Barcelona
Tel: 93 414 3133.

Theatre in Barcelona

Teatre Lliure

Barcelona's theatre scene does not enjoy the same international recognition as Madrid, but what it lacks in literary authority, it makes up for in the visual and audio aspects. The theatre scene in the city is lively and well-attended, showcasing work by regional and international playwrights. Popular venues such as Teatre Lliure play host to an adventurous array of theatre that occasionally spills on to the square outside.

Plaça Margarida Xirgu 1, Montjuïc, 08004 Barcelona
Tel: 93 228 9747 or 902 101 212 for tickets.
Website: www.teatrelliure.com

Music and Dance in Barcelona

Gran Teatre del Liceu

Barcelona's emblematic opera house is the stunning Gran Teatre del Liceu along La Rambla, originally constructed in 1847 and rebuilt in 1999. It hosts a mix of in-house productions and co-productions with leading international opera houses. Expect to find a series of recitals, ballet and opera performances all year round.

La Rambla 51-59, 08002 Barcelona
Tel: 93 485 9900.
Website: www.liceubarcelona.com

Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC)

A varied programme of drama, music and dance is on offer at the spectacular Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. Designed by Ricardo Bofill, the theatre has three performance spaces, where a good mixture of contemporary and classical pieces is staged.

Plaça de les Arts 1, 08013 Barcelona
Tel: 93 306 5700.
Website: www.tnc.cat

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