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Nightlife

Barcelona is one of Europe's coolest party spots, attracting droves of international nighthawks for serious clubbing fun. Nights usually start with a late dinner, followed with a bar crawl that kicks off around 11pm and continues until 3am when the crowds move on to the clubs (or discotecas, as they're known locally). There's something to suit everyone's taste in Barcelona, from live flamenco acts and blaring techno gigs to tango performances and acoustic concerts. For up-to-date listings information, pick up the weekly Spanish-only Guía del Ocio entertainment guide (www.guiadelocio.com). English speakers should subscribe to Le Cool weekly bulletin (www.lecool.com/barcelona) or pick up the free Barcelona Metropolitan (www.barcelona-metropolitan.com) magazine.

The always-crowded Club Fellini (La Rambla 27; www.clubfellini.com) is a mainstay, with three rooms providing surefire fun: boogie down to techno and house in the Mirror Room; dance to electro, rock, and punk in the Bad Room; or get down to funk, soul, and dancehall in the Red Room. Fellini's sister club, La Terrrazza (Poble Espanyoll; www.laterrrazza.com), is a seasonal open-air affair where Barcelona's trendy and beautiful dance to tech-house under starry summer skies. One of the city's oldest clubs (over a 100 years old), La Paloma (C/Tigre 27; www.lapaloma-bcn.com), is set in a theater in El Raval and done up with plush velvet fabrics and shiny chandeliers; grandparents practice their cha-cha-cha steps in early evening and, come midnight, DJs spin eclectic tunes to a younger crowd. Our favorite small club is Moog (C/Arc del Teatre 3; www.masimas.com) in El Raval, where a bar, chill-out area, and tiny downstairs dance floor are dedicated to electronica. For clubbing by the sea, check out the cool Sugar Club (Moll de Barcelona; www.sugarclub-barcelona.com) in Port Vell or mix with the fashionistas at Club Catwalk (C/Ramon Trias Fargas; www.clubcatwalk.net) in Port Olímpic with its beach-y decor and a roster of hip hop, R&B, and house.

For jazz and other music treats such as flamenco, Afro-Brazilian fusion, and Cuban, head to the small and smoky Harlem Jazz Club (C/Calle Comtessa de Sobradiel 8; 093/310-0755). More jazz, funk, and Latin beats can be heard at Jamboree (Plaça Reial 17; 093/319-1789; www.masimas.com), a cavernous basement space with live gigs most nights. Upstairs is Los Tarantos, known as the city's best flamenco spot and host to top-of-the-line performers since the 1960s. If acoustic sound is your thing, head to Razzmatazz (C/Almogavers 122; www.salarazzmatazz.com), a large club in a warehouse that puts on live acts and club nights for a mixed crowd in the industrial area of Poblenou.

For the bar scene, head to downtown favorite Barcelona Pipa Club (Plaça Reial 3; 093/302-4732; www.bpipaclub.com); it's been pulling in loyal locals since the eighties – ring the doorbell next to the pipe and head upstairs to its wood-paneled interior. London Bar (C/Nou de La Rambla 34; 093/318-5261) in El Raval is another popular watering hole, around since 1910 with live gigs – from blues to acid-jazz – on most nights. For a late-night drink, we recommend Tinta Roja (C/Creu del Molers 17; www.tintaroja.net) in Poble Sec, a Buenos Aires bordello-inspired bar and performance space where you can catch anything from tango and flamenco to poetry readings. Hang with the city's socialites and enjoy breathtaking city views at Mirablau (Plaça Doctor Andreu 1; 093/418-5879) at the peak of Tibidabo.

See Barcelona Travel Guide