80 Best Nightlife in Barcelona, Spain

Rustic and charming with an arched, brick-wall, barrel tables, and rows of multicolor sifón fizzy-water bottles, this homey venue serves wine by the glass or liter (for takeaway) from the wine cellar, artisanal beers, and vermouth paired with homemade tapas. 

Nightly parties starring electro house music and guest DJs from neighboring clubs guarantee dancing till you drop at this raging mid-city favorite, set in a gorgeously revamped turn-of-the-20th-century theater.

This tavern-esque basement spot hosts everything from open mic nights and comedy shows to jam sessions and monologues, and has dozens of handcrafted beer on offer, as well as a small food menu. There's a small outdoor terrace if you need a breath of air. 

An homage to the traditional English martini bar of decades past, this stately spot by local mixology maestro Javier de las Muelas is paradise for cocktail aficionados seeking expertly mixed drinks.

The sweeping Mediterranean views from the 26th floor of the seaside W Barcelona hotel are no doubt Eclipse’s biggest appeal. But toss in a slick, sexy interior, fancy cocktails, good sushi, and DJs spinning house and techno, and it’s no wonder this is one of the city’s most see-and-be-seen spots. 

El Raval has its gritty side, but there’s bits of glamor, too, and El Jardí gets a good dose of it. In the gardens of the former Hospital de la Santa Creu, during the summer months, El Jardí is the perfect reprieve from the heat and heavy foot traffic, serving a selection of classic cocktails and vermouth, as well as a hot and cold tapas. The place closes shortly before midnight, so consider squeezing in a visit around sunset or for a round of post-dinner drinks. 

For most of the 20th century, this venue was the most legendary of all the cabaret theaters on Paral·lel. Modeled after Paris's Moulin Rouge, it closed in the late 1990s as the building was becoming dangerously run-down. After an ambitious refurbishment in 2010, El Molino reopened as one of the most stunning state-of-the-art cabaret theaters in Europe. The building now has five—instead of the original two—stories, with a bar and terrace on the third. What has remained the same, however, is its essence—a contemporary version of burlesque, but bump-and-grind all the same. You can purchase tickets online or before performances (which usually start at 9:30 pm). Note that shows are performed in Spanish, but you can still enjoy the spectacle.

This restaurant's stunning Moderniste facade, an exquisite vintage cash register, and other delicate reminders of its former incarnation as a turn-of-the-20th-century umbrella shop—is usually enough to lure newcomers inside for a closer look. For night owls, the real attraction is downstairs in the exposed-brick club, offering first-rate cocktails and often live music.

Despite its name, this casino is actually situated in the downmarket tourist town of Lloret (67 km, or 42 miles, north of Barcelona), a far cry from the posh resorts of the Costa Brava. Yet it does satisfy all your gaming needs, and hosts the usual restaurants, bars, and entertainment, all a quick drive from the beach.

Located on a narrow tree-lined street with twinkling lights, this pocket-size club attracts patrons of all ages for live jazz, swing, rockabilly, and blues alongside creative cocktails in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Most concerts start around 10 or 11 pm.

This contemporary cervecería resembles many of the cool offerings routinely sprouting up in Gràcia, one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. Patrons can top off drinks with self-service pours from local brewer Estrella Damm. Local craft favorites such as Brew Dog Punk IPA and classic cocktails are also on offer. Enjoy a drink with nachos, burgers, and tapas while listening to local tunes around the tiny, natural-wood bar.

This legendary nightspot has hosted some of the world’s most influential jazz musicians since its opening in 1960. Decades later, the club continues to offer two nightly shows and remains a notable haven for new generations of jazz and blues aficionados. After the last performance, the spot transforms into a late-night dance club playing soul, hip-hop, and R&B. 

Run by the Barcelona contemporary music school next door, this workshop and, during the day, café is a forum for musicians, teachers, and fans to listen to and debate their art. Most weeks, the schedule offers jazz on Monday and Wednesday; pop, blues, and rock jam sessions on Tuesday; Cuban salsa on Thursday; flamenco on Friday; and rock and pop on weekends. The small cover charge (€8–€15, depending on which night you visit) includes a drink. Gigs start between 7 and 9 pm.

A must for craft beer lovers, this modern high-ceilinged bar and shop is filled to the brim with more than 200 international craft brands plus around 15 rotating artisanal beers on tap. 

This busy LGBTQ bar, decked out in quasi-religious memorabilia, attracts locals and visitors of all persuasions, tastes, and age ranges.

One of the city’s liveliest gay bars features a funky retro-style interior. It's a colorful backdrop for drag shows, including the venue's Queer Flamenco events.

With a rotating selection of 15 craft beers on tap—including local Catalan brews, international varieties, and its own brand of IPA—as well as a wide selection by the bottle, this lively spot is a beer-lover’s dream. 

In the heart of Barcelona’s former Jewish Quarter, this rustic charmer serves a wide variety of hearty national wines paired with regional cheeses, meats, and tapas. The antique carved-wood furnishings and candlelit setting makes for an atmospheric respite from the area’s chaotic pace.

In a space ideally located on Barcelona’s exclusive shopping avenue, Passeig de Gràcia, the acclaimed Torres wine dynasty offers an ample selection of their international wines and spirits to accompany delectable Mediterranean fish or meat dishes such as the signature oxtail in Sangre de Toro red wine sauce. The dark, modern space is adorned with walls of stacked wine bottles, and strategic lighting illuminates the natural wood tables.

Ambitiously named "The Lord's Vineyard," this romantic wine bar directly across from the entrance to the Santa Maria del Mar has an extensive wine list featuring more than 350 wines by the bottle, and a rotating selection of 20 by the glass. Watch your step on the rickety ladder leading to the pint-size mezzanine.

Come to this smart corner bar for its ever-changing menu of seasonal craft cocktails made with fresh, and often inventive ingredients.

Luz de Gas, an ornate 19th-century theater, offers everything from live performances (mostly world music and Latin) to wild late-night dancing (expect soul and standards).

Everything about this stylish bar is a happy contradiction: the chandeliered space has large gilded mirrors and polished chocolate brown stools that curiously complement the rickety antiques and quirky touches (check out the bathtub sofa in the back room). Cocktails run the full gamut from classic to creative.

There's no doubt about what the name of this laid-back Raval hangout pays tribute to: that of the early '80s Manchester scene, with the Joy Division and Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. The sheer number of people (both locals and foreigners) crowding around the wood tables and dancing in the spaces in between suggest that a tribute is welcome.

Inaugurated in 1820, this historic venue, a favored haunt for artistic notables such as Gaudí, Picasso, and Hemingway, has remained remarkably unchanged since its celebrated heyday. The chipped paint on the walls and ceiling, cracked marble tables, and elaborate spiderwebs on chandeliers and bottles all add to the charm, but the main reason patrons linger is one special shot: Marsella is one of few establishments serving homemade absinthe (absenta in Spanish), a potent aniseed-flavored spirit meant to be savored and rumored to enhance productivity.

The brainchild of two Catalan sommeliers, Més de Vi is a chic wine bar with a purpose: to educate visitors on the art of Spanish wines, with a particular focus on regional vintages. There are plenty of seating options: a tasting table for serious aficionados, romantic tête-à-tête tables, and a bar area for socializing.

For more than a decade, this “secret” basement bar, in an area otherwise dominated by student pubs and tourist traps, has had a rotating lineup of international acts including blues, soul, jazz, flamenco, swing, and pop. The space resembles a 1940s cabaret, with a brass bar, spot-lit photos of previous acts, and red banquette-style seating.

Resembling a prim parlor lounge with touches of kitsch, this cozy bar bistro with plush sofas, gilded mirrors, handmade knickknacks, and tastefully worn tapestry wallpaper has been a favorite hangout for young expats for more than a decade. Best known for its legendary brunch, night time here tends to be less crowded and more intimate. Try the Michelada, a dramatic alternative Bloody Mary reserved for the strongest constitutions: Corona beer mixed with hot sauce, Worcestershire, and tomato juice.

This cocktail bar, pared down to mostly black decor and a shiny varnished bar, is for no-nonsense sophisticates of all ages. What sets Negroni apart and keeps it popular year-in, year-out is the talented barmen’s dedication to the art of cocktail creation; no menus, just reveal your favorite spirit and have a little trust.