Bars and Clubs, Night Life in Seville |
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Seville is a haven for the tourist
looking for Bars and Clubs, Night
Life in Seville
to unwind of an evening in a lively and
friendly environment, with a wide range of entertainment to choose from.
For low-key evenings there are a number of quiet bars around the Cathedral for those looking at have a good chat with friends over some locally-produced beverages and tapas. Bar Tenderete and Antiguedades are particularly recommended, although watch out for the unusual decor of the latter. Visitors to Seville anxious for some action on the dance floor must be prepared to wait up for it. The majority of the bars and clubs around Plaza de la Alfalfa are at their most lively around 03:00 and 04:00, yet don't worry if you can't stay out until then, as the majority of places are sufficiently lively to keep even the most gregarious visitor happy. For funk and hip hop fans, the lively and popular Bestiario is the place to go, while further west in the Alameda district you'll find some of the trendiest bars and clubs. Try and blend in with the bohemian locals at the well known Habanilla Cafe in the area. The gay and lesbian scene is based near to the Triana bridge, with Isbili Ya popular with locals and visitors alike, while Antique is where to go if you fancy spotting a celebrity or two, although you should make sure you have plenty of money to spare! Spain is famous for its Flamenco, and Seville is widely regarded as one of its best exponents. Visitors can find events ranging from full-scale shows to a veritable knees-up in a traditional Flamenco bar. Enthusiasts looking for a good display but wanting to avoid tourist-orientated evenings should try Casa de Al-Andalus, where the late flamenco star Camaron de la Isla used to perform. Live music lovers should see what's on at the Auditorium of La Cartuja, which regularly plays host to major events. Failing that, there are a number of bars that host bands of varying degrees of ability. El Perro Andaluz in Santa Catalina is one of the most famous haunts, with rock, blues, flamenco and reggae bands all regularly performing to a busy crowd. Jazz fans should head to La Buena Estrella in Alameda or Jazz Corner in Buhaira, which both attract the region's best players. In addition, the La Maestranza theatre plays host to the popular jazz festival that takes place during February and March each year. Those looking for something a little out of the ordinary should try Azucar de Cuba, which provides live Cuban music, Cuban cigars and Cuban beer and attracts as many locals as visitors. The Teatro Central is the place to go for classical concerts and shows, with many well known touring companies regularly stopping in. Seville is also home to a number of arts festivals, including an open-air opera event in September at the Auditorium of La Cartuja and March's festival of ancient music at the Lope de Vega Theatre. However you choose to spend your evenings, you can be sure to pick up a flavour of the mixture of style and exuberance that characterises this region. When it comes to nightlife Seville, and in general Spain, offer a wide range of possibilities. The Alameda, the Santa Cruz district and Argote de Molina Street are perfect places to start off your night. Lively night life also extends to Betis Street and Alfalfa where there are many bars and night clubs. The streets nearby the former Plaza de Armas station, for example Marqués de Paradas, Julio César and Adriano, are also good places to party until the early hours. In the summer your best bet is to go to one of the numerous bars with terraces on the banks of the river. Seville is a city bursting with life and has something to offer everyone. From unique wondrous architecture to bustling night life or a tranquil cruise down the river, whatever you are interested in, you will find it in Seville. Orange trees, getting lost amongst the medieval streets and tapas are all essential components of the Seville experience. The city centre spans the very popular Santa Cruz area and stretches out towards the alternative Alameda de Hercules. The main shopping streets are Calle Tetuan and Sierpes, which run parallel to each other, both beginning at La Campana and stretching up to Plaza Nueva. The main tourism hot spots are in the Santa Cruz area where you will find the Cathedral and the Alcázar as well as along the River where you will encounter various touts trying to sell you “Tour por Seville” hop on- hop off bus tickets. The centre and the main tourist attractions are all relatively compact so these bus trips really aren’t necessary and you will have a much better chance to explore on foot. There is an urban myth that the city was constructed purposely in the middle ages to make navigation difficult for invading armies. Exploring the narrow streets can feel like a tribute to the past and is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Seville is a wonderful city and if you have the opportunity to spend a few months here you are very lucky. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. The Cathedral & The Alcazar- There are a multitude of tourist attractions here, it is the main industry, and the Cathedral is a good point to start from. However if you’re not a fan of tourist trekking and you do nothing else touristy while in Seville, take a walk around the stunning Plaza de España. This is an architectural highlight not to be missed. A visit to the “Alcazar” is also well worth the effort in Plaza del Triunfo right opposite the Cathedral. The Arab architecture is stunning and the gardens lovely. Flash your student card and it’s free as well. If you are more interested in pampering yourself, the Arab baths are a real treat. Tucked away on Calle Aire, a short walk from the Cathedral it would be easy to overlook them. Relax and enjoy a massage or simply soak up the ambience in the various different baths. Triana and Los Remedios- just the other side of the river, opposite the Plaza de Toros is Triana and a little further on, Los Remedios. A short walk from the centre these residential areas are pretty popular for students to live in. Parque de los Principios is a lovely place to hang out in and the Triana market is well worth a look. The Feria de Abril takes place in Los Remedios as well. Semaña Santa- or Easter week is a very emotional time for the locals and they take it very seriously indeed! It involves a number of gold laden processions by day and night, followed by crowds offering their adorations of the virgin. Each procession travels from its church of origin to the Cathedral through the city centre over the course of a few hours. You can pick up timetables from local papers and there’s live coverage on local TV channel “Giralda” if you don’t feel like braving the crowds! Over the course of Semaña Santa many of the main routes into the city centre are closed so be prepared for it to take longer than normal to get about. The Feria de Abril- takes place in the last week of April and is a release from the solemnity of Semaña Santa. Walking through the site is an amazing experience as you see an array of colourful dresses, horses and carts and “Casetas”. These are tents, some private and some public, where they spend the day eating, drinking, dancing and socialising. There is also a funfair for the kids and for those who didn’t manage to get an invitation to a private caseta! Bull fighting- whatever your opinion may be of Bull fighting, it is an integral part of Spanish culture and even if you are not planning on seeing a match, the museum and the Bullring are worth a look. The season runs from April until October and the best place to buy a ticket is at the Plaza de Toros (the bullring) itself as touts hanging around outside will overcharge. Flamenco- there is an array of different venues in which to watch some flamenco. These range from shows purely for tourists to more authentic environments. La Carboneria, which can be found on Calle Levies (you will certainly need a map!) is a great spot. It does attract mainly tourists but the performances are high quality and there’s a show on every night. It’s also free whereas many other venues charge and there’s a great atmosphere. The gardens are also nice to relax and have a drink in afterwards. Amongst varying spots all over the city every Tuesday at El Laberinto, just off Plaza de la Encarnacion, there are performances from local artists and often novices ad lib much to the delight of the crowd. |
Abades
Abades 1, Seville Phone 955718279 A converted mansion in the Barrio Santa Cruz has been turned into a rendezvous that's been compared to "a living room in a luxurious movie set." In the heart of the Jewish ghetto, this 19th-century house constructed around a central courtyard with a fountain, evokes the Spanish Romantic era. . Alianza Bar & Cafetería Calle Rodrigo Caro 9, Seville Phone 9542176-35 You'll follow narrow alleyways to reach this restaurant, the centerpiece of a hidden square in the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Cool tiles, marble surfaces, and air-conditioning are the perfect antidote to the heat of a sultry Sevillana midafternoon. Antique Teatro Pabellón Olímpico de Expo 92, Seville Location Matemáticos Rey Pastor y Castor s/n Phone 95446-2-07 This is currently, one of the liveliest dance clubs in the city. Hours are Thursday to Saturday 11pm to 7am. In summer a terrace with torch lights opens up. Bar Antigüedades Argote de Molina 40, Seville Set less than a block from the cathedral, within a timber-ceilinged triangular-shaped room lined with 18th-century brickwork, this is a fun, post-movida nightspot for 30- and 40-something Spaniards. Bar Entrecalles Calle Ximénez de Enciso 14, Seville Phone 617867752 No matter how late it is, this place within the narrow and claustrophobic alleyways behind the cathedral is usually filled with hip and usually attractive people in their 20s and 30s. Bodega Manola Blanco Calle Madrid 8, Seville Location Corner of Calle Zaragoza, behind Plaza Nueva 9542257-22 Although this place occupies an impossibly cramped triangle of a street corner just behind the Hotel Inglaterra and the Plaza Nueva, it seems as though everyone in the neighborhood, including the sales staffs at the upscale shops around the Plaza Nueva, crams in daily for drinks and tapas. Boss Address Betis 2, Seville DJs rule the night at this favorite, which is open daily after midnight and usually rocks until the early hours. Casa Anselma Address Pagès del Corro 49, Seville Location Corner of Calle Antillano Campos If you're bored with touristy flamenco shows, seek out this little hideaway deep in the heart of Triana on the western bank of the river. The building, which is completely covered in decorative tiles called azulejos, is hard to miss. Inside it's wildly decorated with a lot of Spanish memorabilia, including bullfighting paraphernalia. The owner, Anselma, is the most celebrated flamenco performer in Sevilla, a secret the locals who flock here would like to keep to themselves. Flamenco performances are unrehearsed and spontaneous. Sometimes the joint jumps with communal singalongs or dancing with guitarists striking up their instruments. The club keeps no set hours, but it's usually packed and the action begins at midnight, Monday to Saturday. Instead of a cover, you're charged for what you have to drink. It's best reached by taxi, lying four blocks back from Calle Betis. Casa Morales Address García de Vinuesa 11, Seville Phone 9542212-42 Near the cathedral and Avenida de la Constitución, this is an old bodega dating from 1850 and decorated in a traditional Andalusian style with rustic wooden furniture. Its auténtico atmosphere is pretty much as it was when it welcomed the dons of the 19th century. Casa Román Location Plaza des los Venerables City Seville Phone 954228483 Tapas are said to have originated in Andalusia, and this old-fashioned bar looks as if it has been dishing them up since day one (actually since 1934). Definitely include this place on your tasca-hopping through the old quarter of the Barrio Santa Cruz. Casa Ruitz Address Calle Francos 59, Seville Phone 954228624 As you make the rounds of tapas bars, you'll discover treats like pata negra ham, made from a black-hoofed Iberian breed of pig. One of the world's great hams, the flavor is subtle and sweet instead of salty like Virginia ham. Cervecería de la Moneda Corner of Santander and Joaquín Hazanas City Seville Phone 954226387 Disco Catedral Cuesta del Rosario 121, Seville Playing the latest dance tunes, Disco Catedral is open Wednesday to Saturday at 11pm El Arenal Calle Rodó 7, Seville Phone 954216492 The singers clap, the guitars strum, the tension builds, and the room fills with the ancient and mysterious magic of the flamenco. In the rear of a 17th-century structure, two shows are performed nightly at 9:30 and 11:30pm. Drinks and food are served at minuscule tables in a sweltering back room that evokes Old Andalusia. El Hombre y el Oso Amor de Dios 32, Seville Phone 954563029 Founded in 1999 near the Alameda de Hercules, and with a gay underground following of men from throughout the region, this is the most popular and most frequently visited "bear bar" in Andalusia, with a decor that's loaded with depictions of bears of all shapes and sizes. El Patio Sevillano Paseo de Cristóbal Colón 11, Seville Phone 954214120 El Patio Sevillano is a showcase for Spanish folk song and dance, performed by exotically costumed dancers. The presentation includes a wide variety of Andalusian flamenco and songs, as well as classical pieces by such composers as de Falla, Albéniz, Granados, and Chueca. El Rinconcillo Address Gerona 40, Seville Phone 954223183 El Rinconcillo has a 1930s ambience, partly because of its real age and partly because of its owners' refusal to change one iota of the decor. This is the oldest and one of the most famous bars in Seville, with a history that dates from 1670. Amid dim lighting, heavy ceiling beams, and iron-based, marble-topped tables, you can enjoy a beer or a full meal along with the rest of the easygoing clientele. The bartender will mark your tab in chalk on a well-worn wooden countertop. El Rinconcillo is especially known for its salads, omelets, hams, and selection of cheeses. Isbiliyya Café-Bar Paseo de Colón 2, Seville Phone 954216400 This is a popular meeting place and cruising grounds, mainly for young men, a lot of whom speak English and seem eager to meet foreigners. Itaca Calle Amor de Dios 31, Seville Technically, this place admits women, but since females are not admitted beyond the modest-size front bar, most of the inner workings of this dance club are reserved for men. The venue is weekends-only, when it tends to be very crowded with high-testosterone 20- and 30-somethings who come to dance, dance, dance. Kios de la Flores Plaza de Altozano s/n City Seville Phone 954333898 Next to the Puente Isabel II, this is an enduring favorite in the Triana area across the river. With its typical tile floors and plastic tables and chairs, it is simplicity itself. In fair weather, the outdoor tables fill up quickly. The cook specializes in shellfish tapas. La Alicantina Plaza de El Salvador 2, Seville Phone 954226122 What is reported to be the best seafood tapas in town are served against a typically Sevillian, glazed-tile decor. Both the bar and the sidewalk tables are always filled to overflowing. The owner serves generous portions of clams marinara, fried squid, grilled shrimp, fried cod, and clams in béchamel sauce. La Antigua Bodeguita Plaza del Salvador 6, Seville Phone 954561833 Antigua Bodeguita, a mellow place, loaded with the patina of years of hard living and cigarette smoke. It consists of two tile-sheathed rooms, each with a thick wooden bar for standing La Bodega Fernan Caballero 6, Seville Phone 954211920 Some visitors, but mostly locals patronize this tiny bar with tasty tapas on a small street off San Eloy. It's a modest joint, with glaring neon lights at night that are unkind to all but those with perfect skin. The owner is helpful, and lovingly describes his tapas to every visitor -- in Spanish. Along with a cold beer or a glass of Andalusian wine, you can sample montaditos (tiny sandwiches), savory prawns, fried anchovies, chorizo, and even baked salmon and various local cheeses. Shellfish tapas are a specialty. La Cucaña Calle de Betis, 9, Seville, 41010 Phone 954340131 This bar is engineered for staying cool in the scorching afternoon Iberian sun, with tree-shaded tables along the breezy banks of the Guadalquivir. Start with a pitcher of vino de verano and then have the gazpacho Andaluz, served in a wineglass with ice and garnished with fresh green peppers, tomatoes and onions. The cucumber salad and chorizo Ibérica also has a cooling effect. La Tasca de El Burladero Canalejas 1, Seville Phone 954222900 On the ground floor of the deluxe Hotel Colón, this is one of Seville's more sanitized tapas bars. Its long corridor looks like a bodega with arches, heavy lamps, wooden partitions, and dark colors, even a number of "squat tables." Modesto Cano y Cueto 5, Seville Phone 954416811 At the northern end of Murillo Gardens, opening onto a quiet square with flower boxes and an ornate iron railing, Modesto serves fabulous seafood tapas. The bar is air-conditioned, and you can choose your appetizers just by pointing. Tablao Los Gallos Plaza de Santa Cruz 11, Seville Phone 954216981 Negotiating the labyrinth of narrow streets of the Barrio Santa Cruz somehow contributes to the authenticity of this intimate and high-energy flamenco club. The location is 2 blocks south of Ximénez de Enciso along Santa Teresa. No food is served during the shows, which begin every night at 9 and 11:30pm. Teatro de la Maestranza Paseo de Colón 22, Seville Phone 954226573 It wasn't until the 1990s that Seville got its own opera house, but it quickly became one of the world's premier venues for operatic performances. Naturally, the focus is on works inspired by Seville itself, including Verdi's La Forza del Destino and Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. Jazz, classical music, and even the quintessentially Spanish zarzuelas (operettas) are also performed. Trinity Pub In Hotel Inglaterra, Plaza Nueva City Seville Phone 954224970 There are several highly visible Irish pubs in Seville, but this one is the classiest, most elegant, and in some ways, most evocative of good times and the literary wealth of Ireland. Don't come looking for spilled beer and sawdust on the floor: Replicating a decor that evokes James Joyce's favorite hangout in Dublin, circa 1900, cost many thousands of euros. Most of the artwork and antiques, including the dartboards and their decorative boxes, derive from Celtic Ireland. Thanks to a pair of champion bartenders, it has produced more original cocktails than any other bar in Seville. If you're tired of Bushmill's and Guinness, ask for such original Trinity Bar prizewinners as a Trinity 2002 (dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, and gin) or a Manilva (a playful rum-based drink that tastes like tropical fruit punch).
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Seville
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