The Best Nightlife in Barcelona for College Students
I already spilled all the details on what to know before traveling to Barcelona, 10 places to go during the winter, AND where to eat for every meal.
Now comes the fun part. Nightlife.
When I was in Barcelona I mostly just ventured out to bars. If clubbing if your scene, I got you girl. Clubbing in Barcelona is different than in America. For example, I love to dance, but I don’t love to get pick-pocketed. Be careful!
I also discussed in one of my other posts about how going clubbing in Barcelona means going out at 2 am. Not coming home at 2 am, but leaving your house at 2 am. Going out to bars will still be a late-night adventure, but a little more reasonable.
Bars in Barcelona
Le Cyrano
This was my very first bar experience in Barcelona! A whole bunch of study abroad students ventured out to this special bar on one of our very first nights.
To be special there has to be something that sets it apart. The kicker at Le Cyrano was that you got to pour your own drinks. You paid for what you poured. Dangerous!
You could tell that this bar was a local favorite. It was well kept but felt like home. There was popcorn to be had and different conversation roared throughout the room. Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it (I didn’t!).
Just remember, always be respectful when out drinking in a foreign country. No one likes annoying, drunk Americans!
Dow Jones
Another Barcelona bar with a twist!
This bar’s special flavor says it all in the name. At Dow Jones, the prices of the drinks vary as the stock market changes. You could pay 5 euros for a drink one moment, and 2 euros the next!
Make sure you watch the screens!
I only went here once but when I did it was packed with college students and other foreigners alike. A great spot to meet new people. There are pool tables in the back, but good luck getting back there with the crowd!
Pippermint
This bar is perfect for a girl’s night out. One tip: pace yourself!
The unique aspect of Pippermint is the sizes of the drinks. They range from 1 liter, 2 liters, 6 liters, and 13 liters! Yes, the drinks are bigger than your head.
Such a fun experience! We shared this one drink with about 6 girls, perfect!
The atmosphere in Pippermint is more high energy and electric, versus the more dive-bar feel of Le Cyrano and Dow Jones. So whatever your vibe is, there will be a place for you.
Belushi’s
This bar is where we came after going to our very first (and probably only) Barcelona soccer game.
It is perfect for an ‘after’ bar. The bar is right near La Rambla, one of Barcelona’s most touristy streets filled with shops and food.
Belushi’s is connected to a hostel, so you will be able to meet other travelers! Meeting people in a foreign country is so much better than meeting people back home.
I will also let you in on a secret about this bar…get the nachos! SO GOOD. A group of us split these delicious, loaded nachos and even though it was a horror show trying to get through a crowd of drunk people with nachos, it was still worth it.
Afterlife
What I loved about this bar was that we found it due to wandering around randomly, and it was in a location we hadn’t explored yet. It is in a more quiet part of the city, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Afterlife is a gamer bar. When we went it was completely dead (remember, everything is open later!) but it was fun to have the whole place to ourselves.
In the back, they had a few different games set up, such as dance dance revolution, and they also had an x-box set up where you could practically play any game that you wanted.
I’m not much of a gamer, but it was still an awesome spot!
Ice Bar
For this one, I am going to be brutally honest. Of course, ice bars are such a cool idea (get it).
I would definitely go and check it out once, because there is certainly a huge hype around this bar. I loved the experience of waiting in line, putting on the big jacket and gloves, and seeing an actual bar made of ice.
Like, how different is this place??
BUT, obviously, it’s freezing. If you aren’t good with the cold (like me) then you are going to be miserable after the first 10 minutes. You have to buy a ticket before you go, which gives you access for one hour and one free drink. (I think we left after a half-hour).
Also, the drinks come in these frozen glasses. I honestly loved that idea, but they will melt, and quickly! I had to get a new pair of gloves because my cup melted onto my hands and then my hands were freezing.
All in all, worth the one time trip!
Cocovail Beerhall
This was one of my favorite spots. I hate to say that I loved an American style beerhall while studying abroad, but I’m not gonna lie.
My study abroad class came here one night for an event to try and meet some local Spanish students. Mingling with strangers is always awkward at first, but it turned into an awesome night.
I loved being able to try craft beer from Spain and other parts of Europe. Cocovail had a fun, college, laid-back vibe and it was nice to be in a place that reminded me of home.
Also, they had American style food! Don’t get me wrong, I loved the food in Barcelona but I’m a sucker for some mozzarella sticks.
Clubs in Barcelona
First and foremost, going out in Barcelona can be dangerous for Americans. Make sure you are always with someone you trust and are aware of your surroundings.
That being said, also have some fun!
Barcelona has a very vibrant clubbing scene, even in the winter. The clubs are located right on the beach and it is very easy to get VIP.
Here are some clubs to consider:
There are so many more and each of them offer a different experience. There will most likely be a cover, but put on your dancing shoes and have a great time!