Nightlife & bars in Palma
Majorca’s nightlife is not only contained within the major resorts, as you will discover in Palma. The city is loaded with nightspots, from trendy cafés and tapas bars in the old town to popular nightclubs with renowned European DJs. The night only starts at about 23:00 when the majority of people decide to surface and doesn’t wind down until dawn.
Palma is different to the holiday resorts of Majorca because a large percentage of the local population comes here to socialise, creating a friendly and more Spanish atmosphere. There are several recognised areas to party in Palma, ranging from the cultural and historical areas of the city to the gay and lesbian district.
Most people tend to congregate in and around the Casco Antiguo (old town), where you will find Palma’s main attractions and a web of alleyways and wide avenues. This charming area is full of bars, quality cafés and pubs where drinks are reasonably priced and the atmosphere is lively.
From Casco Antigua, Paseo Marítimo (Gabriel Roche) is the best part of Palma with regard to nightclubs and live music and is where the majority of revellers end up after visiting the likes of the old town and Sa Llotja. Paseo Marítimo stretches from the old town and the cathedral to Club del Mar.
However, the liveliest area in Palma for nightlife and bars is Sa Llotja; these mazes of narrow streets near Plaça Llotja attract many people who come here for after dinner drinks. This area is one of smart cocktail bars in tastefully decked out buildings, some of which are converted mansions.
El Terreno, once an area where the rich convened to socialise in the upmarket establishments of the day and later the centre of the nightlife in Palma has now got what some might consider a sleazy rather than sophisticated atmosphere and is home to numerous gay and lesbian bars. Located to the west of the town centre, El Terreno still has some interesting nightspots and prices are reasonable.
West of the city in a much more modern and affluent area, the nightlife and bars on Avinguda Gabriel Roca are somewhat more upmarket and chic than those of El Terreno, but with prices to match. The area is located on Palma Bay, with fantastic views of the harbour and city lights.
