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Entrance of Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain

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Bilbao Nightlife

Nightlife in Bilbao is lively and fun. The city has a late night culture, for both eating and drinking, so you’ll always be able to find something happening. The Old Town and the Abando area are packed with bars, eateries and clubs.

The Bilbao Guide, published every two months by Bilbao Turismo, contains information about the main cultural events taking place in Bilbao. It is available at the city's tourist offices as well as from the majority of Bilbao's hotels.

Bars in Bilbao

Bluesville

A rather bizarre place that completely pulls off its medieval theme and serves fabulous cocktails, too. As bars go, this place can get pretty lively – when it has events on such as for Halloween or Carnival, there’s fancy dress galore and there is often live music. But they have tasty tapas during the day, too, and the atmosphere is good.

Telesforo Arazandi 1
Tel: (94) 443 7056.
www.bluesvilledisco.net

Café Boulevard

Café Boulevard is Bilbao's oldest café with a stylish art deco interior. It has got a bit of everything: it’s open for meals during the day and then at night, it turns into a dance spot. On Fridays, you might just find some tango fans doing their thing. Originally opened in 1871, it was refurbished and reopened in 2010, so it’s in beautiful shape. Always popular.

Paseo del Arenal 3
Tel: (94) 415 3128.

El Huevo Frito

El Huevo Frito (The Fried Egg) is one of Bilbao’s most famous places. It is a tiny, cheerful, informal tapas bar in the new town where everyone flocks after work and throughout the evening. The staff are friendly and efficient – your beers and wine are always en route – and you can stuff your face on the bite-sized food. The banter spills over into the street if you want some space. Great place.

Maestro Garcia Rivero 1
Tel: (94) 441 2249.
www.elhuevofrito.com

Clubs in Bilbao

Congreso

Congreso is a famous club in Bilbao, attracting big national and international DJ stars. Largely featuring house music, this is one of the most famous options in Bilbao, and if you’re into the clubbing scene then you don’t want to miss this. A bit of an all-nighter, there will be the odd podium dancer and so on – all part of the atmosphere.

Muelle de Uribitarte 4
Tel: (94) 424 7382.
www.congresoclub.com

Conjunto Vacio

A place to go for it on the style and dressing up factor, Conjunto Vacio is a house music dance venue for those who wish to boogie all night long. This place has a great vibe: dead confident, very slick and a whole mix of people. Drinks are extortionate, but on the other hand things get going at about 0200 so you might have had enough by then.

C Muelle de la Merced 3
Tel: (94) 415 8338.

Cotton Club

Cotton Club is an excellent Bilbao club for dancing, with a mixture of DJs doing their thing and live pop and rock groups on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It’s a tiny little place, so be prepared to be another sardine in the tin, but the atmosphere is happy and lively. Check the website calendar to find out who’s playing. Enjoy the red and black decor and the immense choice of run and whiskey.

Calle Gregorio de la Revilla 25
Tel: (94) 410 4951.
www.cottonclubbilbao.es

Oboe

Oboe is a more exclusive and elegant place for less hectic evenings in central Bilbao. You can choose between two atmospheres: a more boisterous one out on the dance floor, or a quieter, more intimate one at the small bar.

Calle Ercilla 44
Tel: 94 441 5616.

Live Music in Bilbao

Kafe Antzokia

Kafe Antzokia is Bilbao's best live music venue with a wide repertoire from Basque music to international pop-rock bands, world music and reggae. The former cinema was converted into a multi-purpose venue in 1995. It is best known for promoting the Basque culture, both as an artist’s venue and for the clientele.

San Vicente 2
Tel: (94) 424 4625.
www.kafeantzokia.com

The Rock Star

The Rock Star is getting more and more popular all the time, and is cultivating a reputation for hosting bigger and better rock bands, including Joe Satriani in December 2010. It’s loud and lively and a lot of fun – you go here to rock out, so let your hair down. The website is below for listings of upcoming acts.

Calle Gran Vía 87
Tel: (94) 445 9295.
www.salarockstar.com

Classical Music in Bilbao

Euskalduna Palace

Euskalduna Palace is a spectacular cultural centre with a concert hall seating up to 2,200 people. It hosts all types of musical events, from classical and opera to jazz and rap. You can see top international acts and performances here. Fridays are reserved for classical music performed by the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra.

Avenida Abandoibarra 4
Tel: 94 403 5000.
www.euskalduna.net

Theatre in Bilbao

Bilborock

Bilborock is a popular venue for concerts, films and theatre in what used to be a baroque church.

Muelle de La Merced 1
www.bilbao.net/bilborock

Music and Dance in Bilbao

Teatro Arriaga

The main theatre in Bilbao is the Teatro Arriaga, on the banks of the Nervión River. Here you can experience world-class opera, classical music, ballet, dance, performance and even zarzuelas (comic operas).

Plaza Arriaga 1
Tel: 94 416 3533.
www.teatroarriaga.com

Teatro Campos Elisios

Gorgeous old theatre offering diverse performances from musicals and circus acts to pantomime and folk music.

Abandoibarra 4
Tel: (94) 415 0444.
www.arteria.com

Casinos in Bilbao

Gran Casino Nervion

If the bright shining flashing lights of the slot machines are your thing, you’ll be able to find a casino or two in Bilbao. Gran Casino Nervion is the well-known place to be for trying your luck: here you will find poker, roulette, blackjack and the requisite slot machines. Inside you’ll also find the La Concordia bar for a few drinks and the Ibaigane restaurant which serves high-end gastronomic food.

Gran Casino Nervion
Tel: (94) 424 0007.
www.gran-casino-nervion.es

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