Valencia nightlife: List of the best nightclubs and bars in Valencia
Angelina
Updated on May 22 • 6 minute read
Valencia has a deeply-rooted music culture. And you’d be surprised, but a rave culture too. Yet good spots can be hard to find. But we’ve done some digging and made a fresh selection of the best of Valencian nightlife for every taste and wallet.
In our guide, we’ll walk you through the hot spots for nightlife in Valencia, the best clubs, and bars in the city. You can also find all our recommendations on this Google Maps list!
Does Valencia have good nightlife?
Valencia has one of the liveliest party scenes in Spain. Its streets are lined with buzzing cafes, bars and clubs, and you’ll find an exciting festival for each month of the year.
The Valencian scene mainly revolves around commercial house, Latin sounds, urban and reggaeton, so don’t expect to hear much underground techno or experimental music in the local clubs. That was different back in the ‘80s.
In fact,
“Valencia was the birthplace of the clubbing movement in Spain.
”
The death of Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco in 1973 gave way to freedom of expression and the emergence of the legendary rave culture known as La Ruta del Bakalao. This movement's often compared to the ones of Berlin and Rotterdam!
“Bakalao (cod) comes from ‘Esto es bacalao del bueno’ - a Spanish phrase used by Valencians to say that a track's good, and La Ruta (route) refers to bouncing from club to club along the highway CV-500.
”
Unfortunately, due to police pressure, Valencian underground rave culture was extinguished by 1998. But you can still dance at one of the few legendary clubs that survive to this day!
Valencian nightlife areas
If you know where to look, Valencia will surprise you with entertainment options for every taste and budget. Each of the Valencian neighbourhoods has something special up its sleeve.
One of the most popular Valencian nightlife areas is the neighbourhood El Carmen, found in the Old Town. Many bars, tapas spots and clubs are concentrated along the streets behind the Cathedral.
Want to mingle with other students? You can head to Ciutat Vella or Ciutat Jardi.
Excited to get the taste of hip, artistic and queer Valencia? Then the Russafa neighbourhood's your best bet!
And don’t worry if it seems like all the cool spots are scattered around the city, Valencia's very walkable and boasts a very efficient public transportation system. From 4 a.m. until 0:30 a.m. you can conveniently get around by metro. And after the metro's closed, you can just hop on a night bus that runs until 3:30 a.m.
Best bars in Valencia
Best Valencia gay bar: La Boba y el Gato Rancio
What: A vibrant gay bar located in the Ruffasa neighbourhood.
Why go: This laid-back Valencian gay bar's a great place to warm up before a party. La Boba y el Gato Rancio's known for its friendly staff, cute interior with funky paintings, and great, reasonably priced cocktails.
“Try their special Agua de Valencia, but be careful-it’s addictive!
”
Where: C. de Cuba, 59, València
Best cocktail bar in Valencia: USUAL resto-bar
What: USUAL resto-bar should be on your list for its authentic Mediterranean cuisine, bespoke cocktails and sophisticated industrial interior.
Why go: You can just tell the barman your wishes and they’ll make you a cocktail you’ll fall in love with. While sipping your drink you can take in the unique interior with its iron-cast bar stools, Mediterranean-style tiles and leafy green plants.
And if you feel like some fresh air, you can sit down on a heated terrace that’ll keep you warm even on a chilly evening.
Where: Carrer de Moratín, 13, Valencia
Best live music bar in Valencia: The Artist bar
What: It’s just what it sounds like: a bar with live music, delicious cocktails and a crowd of creative thinkers.
Why go: The Artist bar in Valencia's a perfect place to meet like-minded people, unwind after a long day, or prepare yourself for a long night out. The staff is extremely welcoming and generally, speaks English pretty well.
This hip Valencian bar boasts an unpretentious living room vibe. There's a big chance you’ll catch some live concerts and impromptu jam sessions on most of the days of the week. Oh, and did we mention they bake yummy cakes?
Where: Calle Bello 3, Valencia
Best industrial bar in Valencia: La Fábrica de Hielo
What: A culture centre and bar housed in an old factory on the Playa del Cabanyal beach.
Why go: Why's this bar the coolest in Valencia? Because it has it all! You’ll fall in love with its high ceilings, eclectic furnishing, and leather sofas. Delicious burgers and snacks are served straight from a shipping container, drinks are surprisingly cheap and there's a live program for almost every day of the week.
Actually, this cultural hub has a pretty varied agenda, featuring screening events, workshops, theatre and exhibitions. There is something for everyone!
Where: C. de Pavia, 37, Valencia
Best nightclubs in Valencia
Best gay club in Valencia: Deseo 54
What: Deseo 54's one of the hottest gay clubs in Valencia, hosting special events during Gay Pride, Fallas and other major celebrations.
Why go: If you’re looking for an epic night out with drag shows and podium dancers, no place will serve you better than Deseo 54. Over 2 rooms, you’ll hear the best of commercial house, EDM and pop sounds, strengthened by an impressive light design. You’ll find that the crowd is very open-minded and everyone feels welcome there, regardless of their sexual orientation.
“For a full local experience, go to Muse for a pre-drink! It’s only 4 minutes away.
”
Where: Carrer de Pepita, 13, Valencia
The legendary club of Valencia: Barraca
What: Barraca's one of the last legendary nightclubs from the times of La Route that you can visit today. It’s really where it all started!
Why go: The vibe in Barraca might not be the same as back in the 80s but it’s still an important feature of the Valencian music scene. The 57-year old club boasts 4 rooms where you can get lost in the sounds of techno and house. Some of the iconic DJs who played in Barraca include Ricardo Villalobos, Len Faki and Óscar Mulero.
Barraca's actually located outside of Valencia, in the small town of Sueca, at what used to be the end of La Route. On warm days, an outdoor terrace welcomes you to enjoy the view of the sea. And to get refreshed after a long night, you can just take a swim-the beach's mere 5 minutes away!
“If you feel like club-hopping, check out Spook. Also a legacy of the Valencian rave culture, this multi-space club is located on the way to Barraca, just outside Valencia.
”
Where: 7P3M+V9 Sueca, Valencia
Best bottle-service club in Valencia: Mya & Umbraclé
What: Mya's a chic club in the famous City of Arts & Sciences. Umbraclé's an open-air dance floor that you can visit from May until the end of the summer.
Why go: As you can imagine, partying in such an architectural masterpiece's quite a unique experience. That’s why Mya's so popular among local young crowds, Erasmus students, and internationals.
Dance your night away to EDM, Latin or hip-hop in one of the 3 rooms or enjoy a drink at a VIP table, surrounded by palm trees. But beware, this Valencian nightclub isn’t for small wallets; the entrance costs €20 and the drinks start at €11.
But if you’re an Erasmus student, we have good news for you! For some events, you might be able to get a free or discounted ticket through Erasmus Valencia.
And don’t forget to dress to impress - the dress code is pretty strict here!
Where: Av. del Professor López Piñero, 5, València
Best student parties in Valencia: Agenda Club
What: Parties every day of the week in the heart of Valencia.
Why go: Agenda club's a go-to among many local and international students. It’s a good opportunity to mingle while dancing to disco, funk, hip-hop and house in one of the 2 rooms.
Where: Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 111, Valencia
Experimental music in Valencia: NVCLI
Update: Unfortunately, NVCLI's announced it's closure in May 2022. They aim to reopen on a new location so keep an eye on their socials.
What: A hub for sonic explorations in the Alboria suburb of Valencia.
Why go: As hard as it can be to find experimental music in Valencia, it’s possible if you know where to look. In NVCLI, you can hear everything from ambient and drone to EMB and hyper pop. Some of the noteworthy event promoters that hosted a party there are Domino, a roaming concept and an experimental label.
But don't get us wrong, NVCLI isn’t actually a club. The organisation, housed in an old food warehouse, is a meeting point and co-working space that also hosts workshops for building instruments, vinyl fairs, talks and meditation sessions.
You can even stay there for multiple days to finish what you’re working on. And kids are also welcome to join a session together with their parents.
Where: Partida de Masquefa, 44, Alboria, Valencia
There’re many reasons to live in Valencia and always having plenty of things to do is one of them! So go ahead and start planning your move to this exciting city!
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