Alicante has a wide variety of nightlife options: bars that are just steps away from the beach, chill out terraces, fashionable nightclubs, clubs for dancing to beats of every kind and, above all, places that offer unbeatable value for money when you’re out for drinks with friends. If you’re looking for something to do in Alicante at night, or want to discover all the best party hotspots, you’ve come to the right place.
The Costa Blanca, as Alicante’s coastline is known, is one of Spain’s most popular summer holiday destinations. The great weather, delicious food and lively atmosphere delight everyone who comes here looking for fun.
You’ll notice that the party atmosphere starts to pick up from 3 pm onwards as bars and restaurants fill with people. A few beers and some tapas are all it takes to get the atmosphere going and take it to the next level, before it’s time for more drinks as the party moves on to the city’s legendary bars. And if you’ve got the stamina for it, you can even have fun all through the night by heading to the nightclubs in central Alicante that close at around 8 am. Then there are just two options left: a breakfast of churros with chocolate or a well-deserved rest.
Going out around the Central Market
At midday the square by the Central Market and surrounding streets fill with people. Bars and terraces serve an endless flow of beer and are especially busy on Saturdays. In Alicante this scene is known as tardeo – it’s a new social custom: people gather together at around 1 pm and the fun can run on all through the afternoon, meaning you can actually get some rest at night and won’t have a hangover the following day. It’s the perfect occasion, or excuse, to meet up with friends, eat some tapas and catch up on the latest news.
Inside the market, and in bars in the nearby square, popular dishes include ham, chorizo and other cured meats washed down with a glass of wine or beer.
Calle Castaños
This famous pedestrian street in the centre of Alicante, just moments from La Rambla, is many people’s favourite place for kicking off the party. Similarly to the area around the Central Market, Calle Castaños serves the first beers and tapas of the day from very early on and then people move straight on to drinks here too. There are endless bars on this street with a great atmosphere that close at 4 am. Highlights include Irish pub The Globe, modern NIC (which specialises in fantasy cocktails), and alternative bar Confetti with its characteristic indie/electronic music. We’d also recommend visiting the legendary bars La Historia and Mulligans — the latter is famous for its beer pong.
El Barrio
One of the best areas for going out is in the city’s historical centre between La Rambla and the squares of Sant Cristòfol, El Carmen and Santísima Faz. It used to be a popular spot for ‘botellones’ (big gatherings to drink in the street) with some bars serving cheap booze passed off as decent brands. Today, the nightlife options have taken off with haute cuisine restaurants, bars with live music, gastrobars with a boho vibe and outdoor terraces. The neighbourhood’s ancient streets have something for everyone from ’80s fans to modern-day champions of techno.
San Juan Beach
If you’re up for a dance then we recommend the San Juan Beach area where there are tons of gay bars and clubs that specialise in Latin beats. Avinguda de la Costa Blanca runs parallel to the beach and has numerous bars and tents where you can dance until you drop and even watch the first beams of morning sunlight appear. Prices are fairly reasonable too.
Classic spots that are always a hit include: Harley and Frontera -both are American-style with a rock atmosphere- and Texaco, a nightclub with a terrace that puts on themed nights.
Heading inland, just moments from the beach, you’ll find the San Juan golf zone. This area focuses on food, culture and great cocktails. Copity in the Laseda Gastrovillage leisure and dining complex is definitely worth a visit.
Alicante marina
Nightlife in Alicante marina also goes wild until 4 am when the bars close. The marina is home to chill out bars and also nightclubs and Latin music clubs. Popular spots include Marmarela, which has two terraces and plays different types of music (it’s definitely one of the best places in the city), and Soho Mar, where you can enjoy everything from breakfasts to delicious cocktails with views of the port.
Nightclubs in Alicante
If it’s gone 4 am but you aren’t ready to call it a night just yet, we recommend heading to one of the city’s nightclubs that has an 8 am licence. One of the best is Sala Stereo, very close to the Central Market. It plays pop, rock, indie and electronic music and also holds concerts. Another option is Clan Cabaret, a landmark in Alicante’s nightlife with DJs and live music, and also nights with stand-ups, theatre and even films. And we can’t end without mentioning Club Concerto, an avant- garde nightclub popular with Alicante’s VIPs that is famous for its live shows and DJ sessions.
