07 Jul Songful Barcelona: 10 Music Venues to Dance the Night Away

Beloved for their architecture and acclaimed for their museums, the streets of Barcelona are filled with art. From ramshackle vintage shops to posh galleries, the Catalan capital offers a dash of inspiration for everyone – be an enjoyer of arts and crafts, an avant-garde enthusiast or a passionate supporter of street performances, Barna hides a surprise at each corner. And, everywhere around, the sweet sounds of music roam the air. Here’s a suggestion on where you can hear it live and loud.

1. Sala Apolo

Doubling as a concert hall and a nightclub, Sala Apolo is a long-established and notorious hot spot for indie and techno clubbers. Unlike most Barcelona clubs, this mischievous music venue doesn’t seem to stop, and it takes much pride in its every-night-of-the-week policy. Go where the crowd takes you, and be sure not to miss one of the infamous Nasty Monday parties – upstairs, a sweat-pouring DJ will serve you a big indie plate of Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin and Daft Punk, while the less crowded downstairs will indulge you with heady, dirty electro. During the weekends, Sala Apolo is literally a hard techno heaven.

Directions: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 113

2. Razzmatazz

Considered the monster playground by the locals, Razzmatazz is a five-in-one delicacy for night crawlers. For an indie delight, stay downstairs at the Razz Club. However, if tech sounds are what gets your hips moving, you can find them all over the place – upstairs, The Loft is mostly house-oriented, Lolita is a cloud nine for spicy techno pop, while the Pop Bar and the Rex Room are reserved for electro lovers. And, in addition to regular DJ sessions, Razzmatazz sets up a stage for live gigs as well, and welcomes some of the biggest names of the contemporary scene.

Directions: 1er piso, Carrer de Pamplona, 88

3. Sidecar Factory Club

Less sweaty, but splendidly smokey instead, Sidecar Factory Club enjoys the title of the hippest alternative joint in the capital. Set underground, as you might expect it, the club changes its indie repertoire each night and opens an alternative dancefloor just in time for the after party. And, if you are wondering what that seductive fragrance is all about, you’ll be ecstatic to find out that Sidecar Factory was once an American bar set for US sailors and Catalan lassies to kiss the night away. Opened 25 years ago and still as amazing, the club is a perfect host for every Barcelona rambler.

Directions: Plaça Reial, 7

4. Jamboree

In the true style of its name – Jamboree means tribal reunion in Zulu – this acclaimed giant of the Southern jazz scene excels in fusing jam sessions, blues gigs and flamenco fun. Everyone from Bill Coleman to Chet Baker poured their sweat on the Jamboree stage, and helped make this basement club a landmark of its genre. Even if jazz is not your cup of tea, Jamboree’s steamy concrete walls, swaying crowds and the intoxicating atmosphere will take you straight back to the 60’s, to cry and dance with Ella Fitzgerald.

Directions: Plaça Reial, 17

5. Luz de Gas

With a classy charm of a vintage music palace and an opulent repertoire of danceable oldies, Luz de Gas nights are as memorable as it gets. Start your week with a glass of red Catalan wine and have your heart broken with the club’s Monday blues; dance the Tuesday away to the ritzy sounds of Dixieland jazz, celebrate the Studio 54 with disco Wednesdays, join the indie vibe of Luz de Gas’ pop-rock Thursday, shake your hips with Friday night’s soul and get a bit of a bona fide Spanish zest during the weekends.

Directions: Carrer de Muntaner, 246

6. BeCool

With sounds of house, techno, deephouse and disco pounding over at BeCool’s, the Barcelona clubbing scene is on its absolute finest. The uptown club specializes in making their attendants deeply immersed in the vibrant atmosphere, whether it’s a minimal techno scene dragged to the South all the way from Berlin, or the grooving throbs from London’s latest indie stages.

In the separate Red Room, which regulars consider the ultimate chill-out zone from the club’s usual frenzy, the vibe is somewhat different – when in need of a pause from the hard-core electronica on the main floor, the upstairs offers a sweet pop rock relief.

Directions: Plaça de Joan Llongueras, 5

7. Heliogàbal

If cramped, shoebox-like clubs are your idea of a fun evening out, than Gracia’s Heliogàbal is your destination for the night. Established 15 years ago and still supported by the Institut de Cultura, the bluesy club is certainly the most sophisticated honky-tonk of the district. Aside from staging blues, indie, folk and jazz sessions, Heliogàbal takes every chance to promote and contribute to the city’s contemporary art scene. With painting and photography exhibitions, poetry readings and audio-visual screenings, every night at Heliogàbal is as quirky as it is uplifting.

Directions: Carrer Ramón y Cajal, 80

8. Bikini

Cherished by the locals for its gold-ticket shows and hot new gigs, Bikini has a special trick up its sleeve – once the live act is over, the club’s movable partition wall transforms the two-room space into the largest dance floor in all of Barna. When divided, the Bikini rooms resonate with Latin, lounge and pop notes, as well as hip pop and house beats. And, since it’s an uptown spot, the club attracts dedicated music addicts, which makes it the perfect place for the late night boogies.  

Directions: L’Illia, Av. Diagonal, 547

9. JazzSí

One of the rare places with live music all throughout the day, The JazzSí Club Taller de Músics is where all the flamenco flocks set down. Established back in 1992, and still going strong, the Raval’s favourite cultural site is open to both up-rising artists and music veterans. Don’t miss the Flamenco nights that take place each Friday – thanks to those, the club has been named the best flamenco show in Barcelona. For jazz lovers, the uniquely Spanish fusion of two genres combines passion and licentiousness with poise and refinement.

Directions: Requesens, 2

10. The Streets

Bohemian at moments, but always vibrant and songful, Barcelona is packed with street artists. For an artsy summer feeling, head down to the Barceloneta district and stroll down its boulevards or along the beach – the sound you may hear here varies from salsa to Bob Dylan. Over at the Gothic Quarter, a little vacuum spot behind the Cathedral is just acoustic enough to stage local performers – nonchalant indie guitarists and elderly opera choirs alike.

Fervent about celebrating life, the city of Barcelona is an ongoing festivity dance. Whether an underground joint, a posh music palace or a behind the Cathedral stage, the capital’s music scene is just another of Barcelona’s countless jubilations.