Barcelona Weekend Break
Barcelona Nightlife
Because of Barcelona's size and status as a year round destination for all ages, it manages to supply every possible variety of night life from the techno clubs to the relaxing jazz bars and large scale flamenco shows. At night, just as during the day, a Barcelona weekend break offers something for everyone.
Most of Barcelona's visitors, irrespective of their age, will want to start the evening off with dinner and you can find out more about eating in Barcelona on our "Barcelona Dining and restaurants" page and our "Tapas bars" page.
A number of Barcelona's attractions including museums, parks and even markets stay open until 8.00pm and beyond, so the culture does not have to stop once the afternoon disappears.
Even so, for most an evening in Barcelona is a time best spent enjoying some aspect the city's nightlife.
Barcelona at night
Here is a quick list of everything that you can see, do, go to, and participate in while experiencing an evening in Barcelona (- if that is you look hard enough).
Bars, restaurants, tapas bars, clubs (including dance, jazz, folk, rock etc), festivals, opera, ballet, theatre, cinema, variety shows (flamenco), drag shows, museums, street performers, a red light district, a gay scene, seafront walk, an illuminated water fountain display and the list goes on.....
This should be enough to keep any Barcelona weekend breaker occupied.
Clubs and shows
Jazz clubs
Barcelona has a number of clubs presenting jazz music and one of the best is "Jamboree" in the old quarter. Other sounds and styles of music also have a home in this club including blues and dance.
Another jazz club in the city is the aptly named "Harlem" and you will find the likes of "Bel Luna" (just of las Ramblas), The "Pipa Club", "Jazz Si Club" and "la Boite" all offering a jazz night on at least one evening of the week.
Shows
One of the most popular shows with Barcelona's visiting guests is Flamenco and you
will see many different venues offering many different versions of this traditional dance, music and dress performance.
The size of these shows varies considerably, as does every ones idea of what authentic flamenco is like. Some of the smaller venues offer an intimate performance with a small dance troupe and a couple of musicians, whilst the bigger theatres have large scale productions with elaborate costumes and dinner included. It is down to each tourist to take their pick and decide which version they prefer.
Flamenco show venues include, "Tablao Flamenco Cordobes" and the "el Tablao de Carmen", which are both at the "big production" end of the scale. I have only seen the "Tablao Flamenco Cordobes", but this is quite spectacular and definitely a "not to be missed" night out for anyone spending a weekend in Barcelona. These shows are not "tacky" and are worth every penny.
Clubs for the young (and young at heart)
For anyone wanting to party until the early hours, Barcelona has several areas that are synonymous with clubs and dance music (of all types). The most notable of these are the MareMagnum leisure centre, the l'Eixample district, the Olympic Yachting Marina zone and of course the las Ramblas and Barri Gotic neighbourhoods.
The MareMagnum centre spends the day as a shopping and tourist hotspot with its aquarium and IMAX cinema attracting the families, but at night this island like area comes alive as the city's hottest new night spot. MareMagnum is full of bars and clubs and all stay open until very late, or very early depending upon your perspective.
The "Port Olympic" Yacht club is a similar to MareMagnum with a mix of bars and clubs. Both centres are far from cheap (at least in terms of drink prices), but the partiers never seem to complain.
The central las Ramblas and Barri Gotic districts of Barcelona have their own feel and atmosphere and represent what many tourists expect of this great city. These areas are busy during the day, but at night they are transformed into an eating and partying paradise with bars and restaurants at every turn. Clubs and music (at least of the dance kind) are not as liberally dotted around in this neighbourhood are they are by the seafront districts, but they are there if you look for them.
Also on the partygoers trail is an area commonly referred to as l'Eixample. This area is just outside of the central part of Barcelona and has a number of nightclubs and of course plenty of bars.
Bar and club opening hours
Most bars remain open until 2.00am or 3.00am and clubs generally see extended opening hours running through to 5.00am or 6.00am the following morning.
Anyone over the age of sixteen can be served alcohol in Barcelona.
Safety considerations
Something to be aware of, but not overly concerned about, are pick pockets. These unpleasant people are not violent, but they are opportunists and if you are careless, or worst still drunk, you may give them an opportunity to steel from you.
Barcelona, particularly at night, has a high police presence, so your safety is almost assured, but your purse or wallet is not, so be vigilant and sensible with they way that you treat any possessions that you carry around with you. Money, mobile phones and cameras are always top of the pick pockets list, so keep them out of sight. Other than that, use a Barcelona weekend break to enjoy the nightlife of one of the world's most exciting cities.