Page 200 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

198  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Nightlife

Barcelona has one of the most varied nightlife scenes, with (the best ones are by Carmen
something for everybody. Old-fashioned dance halls rub de Mairena) followed by pop
shoulders with underground drum and bass clubs and revival DJ sessions. Other
trashy techno discos, and club-goers are either glammed nights feature a 1970s
and 1980s music theme.
up or grunged out. Each barri (neighbourhood) offers a
different flavour, while clubs and bars with outdoor terraces
enliven the beachfront during the summer months. Port Vell and Port Olímpic
Beach parties aside, this area
continues to be a hub for
Nightlife Marula Café. This slinky club creatures of the night. The
In the summer the beaches focuses on danceable funk Port Olímpic itself is nothing
become party havens when and R&B, and it also has a but bars and boats. Catwalk
the xiringuitos (beach bars) small stage for live concerts. is one of the few clubs in
spring back into life. Wander The tiny but ultra-hip Barcelona playing hip-hop
from Platja de Sant Sebastià Macarena is one of the city’s and R&B. C.D.L.C., in front of
in Barceloneta, all the way to most prestigious clubs. It the Hotel Arts, still draws
Bogatell (a few kilometres majors in electronica and celebrities staying nearby,
beyond the Hotel Arts) and features the city’s best DJs, while neigh bouring Shôko,
you’ll find people dancing renowned international with an Oriental theme, gets
barefoot on the sand to the artists and new talent. Jazz the crowd overflow.
tune of Barcelona’s innu- lovers shouldn’t miss the
merable DJs. Way uptown daily concerts at Jamboree,
(above the Diagonal), the one of Spain’s mythical Eixample
city’s most glamorous terraces jazz clubs. Later, the venue One of the city’s best-loved
morph into social hubs while becomes one of the most discos, City Hall, is a multiple
the Barri Gòtic – lively at the pop ular funk and hip-hop space and terrace, where you
best of times – becomes one discos in town. The Café can pick and choose your
massive street party through- Royal and Ocaña are both groove according to your
out the summer. If you want fashionable nightspots. They mood. It has different themes
to hang with the locals, the offer cocktails and DJs, plus every night from Saturday
demolition of some of El tapas and food. night-fever discos to Sunday
Raval’s less salubrious streets chill-outs. Sutton Club has
has meant that the neighbour- El Raval long been one of the smartest
hood has become much safer uptown spots and is popular
and easier to move about. Designer clubs proliferate in with local celebrities. Salsa
The underground vibe, Barcelona these days. With fans should head to Antilla,
however, remains steadfastly slinky red, black and white where live music is combined
intact with tiny hole-in-the- decor and a specially designed with salsa classes and exotic
wall-style bars where folks underlit bar, Zentraus is one of cocktails. Dow Jones is
drink and boogie till the early the best-looking clubs in the Barcelona’s “drinks stock
hours. Similarly Gràcia has a neighbourhood. A restaurant exchange”, where the
bohemian, studenty ambience. until midnight or so, the tables prices of drinks rise and fall
If it’s an alternative scene you are cleared away once the DJ throughout the evening
seek Poble Sec has a handful sessions get under way. Moog according to demand.
of “ring-to-enter” joints. The is more extreme, with blaring,
city also has a thriving and heart-pumping techno for
friendly gay scene, most aficionados of the genre. The Montjuïc
notably within the Eixample stark industrial interior gives Barcelona’s mega-clubs are
Esquerra, also known as the it the character of a New York located away from the city
Gay Eixample, boasting nightclub in the mid-1990s. centre and from anyone trying
numerous late-night drinking Like wise, the state-of-the-art to sleep. Most of them are only
holes, discotheques, saunas sound system ensures a open on Friday and Saturday
and cabarets. thumping, ear-bleedingly nights. The big boys are based
good night out. Going back in Poble Espanyol, where folks
in time, check out the old- can party until the sunrise. La
Barri Gòtic school ambience of El Terrrazza is a summer club
The Plaça Reial is overrun Cangrejo, where in 1924 the that hosts rave-like parties
with tourists banging on tin famous copla singer Carmen under the stars. It takes its
drums and whooping it up, Amaya made her debut. On name from the giant terrace
but if you’re looking for more Friday and Saturday nights it occupies. The One features a
grown-up fun, check out you can see drag shows here state-of-the-art sound system

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm