Palma Nightlife

Palma has a thriving night scene, with some bars and clubs partying till dawn. Main nightlife districts include La Llotja, Darsena de Ca'n Barbarà, the up-and-coming eastern suburb of Portixol and, for nightclubs, the Passeig Marítim. Currently 'in' bars include Abaco, Carrer Sant Joan 1, for cocktails in a lavish 17th-century palace with caged birds, fountains and candles; ultra-cool Garito Café, Darsena de Can Barbarà, with its hip DJs, funky sounds and occasional live bands; and trendy Kaskai, Carrer Vicario Joaquin Fuster 71, Portixol, with pavement tables on the waterfront.

Tito's, Passeig Marítim (website: www.titosmallorca.com) (the largest, most famous disco with its six bars and flamboyant laser shows), is a must for those who enjoy the Balearic beat. Alternatively, salsa the night away at Made in Brasil, Passeig Marítim 27.

For live music, Bar Barcelona, Carrer des Apuntadores 5, plays mellow jazz nightly and Ses Voltes open-air venue, Parc de la Mar, hosts pop and rock bands most weekends.

Palma is the main cultural hub of the Balearic Islands, with an ambitious programme which attracts world-class performers year round. Three main theatre venues, Auditorium, Passeig Marítim 18 (tel: 971 234 735; website: www.auditoriumpalma.es), Teatre Municipal, Passeig Mallorca 9b (tel: 971 739 148), and Teatre Principal, Carrer de la Riera 2 (tel: 971 713 346; website: www.teatreprincipal.com), stage everything from classical to contemporary drama, dance, classical concerts, opera and zarzuela (Spanish light opera).

To find out what's on when, check out the tourist office's official website www.infomallorca.net; the free monthly island guide in English called Digame (available in selected bars and cafes or at www.digamemallorca.com); or the daily guide in the English-language newspaper, The Majorca Daily Bulletin (website: www.majorcadailybulletin.es).

There are several cinema complexes, including Multicines Chaplin, Carrer Bartolome Torres 56 (tel: 971 277 662) and Cine Nuevo Hispania, Carrer de Benito Pons 4 (tel: 971 270 475), which show mostly 'original version' blockbuster movies with Castilian Spanish subtitles. Programmes and times are advertised in the local newspapers