Nightlife

Options abound when it comes to nightlife in Barcelona. From the young and trendy Born area, just to the north of the international Gothic Quarter, to the always lively avenue Carrer d’Aribau in L’Eixample, Gracia, and up into upper Barcelona, the city offers a myriad of night time activity.

To get things started, a typical night out usually starts with a late dinner. Many formal restaurants usually take reservations for either 9 or 11 pm, the latter being of preference for those prepping for an all-nighter. These times are typical of restaurants frequented by spanish people however and most restaurants in the central areas cater to varying schedules and will serve meals round the clock.

Student crowd
The local university crowd tends to stick to the low-key bars around the Plaza de la Universidad, just to the south of Plaza Catalunya, in the Raval area. Along the Carrer de Fernandina, which is the southward street off the plaza in front of the Macba, are numerous bars with a cool, casual atmosphere.

For those seeking a more Erasmus-esque atmosphere, hit up the various lounges and clubs in the Plaza Real, just off the Ramblas. Some, like the Cafe Royal, Nou de Zurbano, 3, don’t charge a cover and play a mix of soul, funk, bossa, and latin jazz, while others, like Jamboree, Plaza Real, 17, are replete with several dance floors and therefore charge a cover, in this case 9 euro.

Hip area – Gracia
For the more mature, thirty-something crowd who are looking for a good time but away from the crowds, the area of Gracia is full of cool and modern bars and clubs. One fun place is the Elsa Bar, along the calle Torrent de l’Olla, a hole-in-the-wall bar serving up freshly muddled mojito in a decidedly cuban atmosphere. While it may lack a dance floor, that doesn’t stop the bodies from moving their feet.

Rich and beautiful
If you want a taste of where the rich and their wannabes hang, head up to “Barcelona Alta” (upper Barcelona), around the Tibidabo to the bar Mirablau, where they may check to see you’re wearing Prada before letting you in, but the view from the top is truly incredible…Plaza del Doctor Andreu, ’til 6 am.

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