t A street in Santa Cruz, Seville, lined with tapas and cocktail bars
The fact that there’s a specific Spanish word – madrugada – for the hours between midnight and dawn says everything about Andalucía’s nightlife. From traditional tapas bars to pumping nightclubs, swanky rooftops to dingy flamenco tablaos, there's something for everyone.
t A street in Santa Cruz, Seville, lined with tapas and cocktail bars
Evenings kick off at la hora del aperitivo – the traditional tapas time – between 8:30pm and 10pm. Join the locals on a traditional tapeo before heading to a bar de copas (cocktail bar). In Seville, our favourites include Bar Gigante, where fruity cocktails can be sipped al fresco, and the jazzy, Art-Deco-style Bar Americano at the Hotel Alfonso XIII.
Andalucía’s big cities offer something for nightclubbers of all stripes. Marbella's glitzy “Golden Mile” is lined with megaclubs. Not your scene? Indie and rock fans should seek out Seville’s Fun Club, which hosts up-and-coming bands (www.funclubsevilla.com). For a similar vibe, make for Granada's underground spots, such as Planta Baja (plantabaja.net).
Seville is not a sky-scraping city, but it does have its fair share of terraces. As the name suggests, the bar at the EME Catedral Mercer hotel is the place to go to admire the cathedral (www.emecatedralmercer.com), while El Balcón de Las Setas at the top of the Metropol Parasol is another quiet spot to take in the view. If this all sounds far too sedate, dance the night away at Terraza Bilindo in the Parque María Luisa.
Andalucía’s calendar is jam-packed with festivals. July sees jazz musicians come together in Almuñécar for Jazz en la Costa (www.jazzgranada.es), while the blues and soul world congregate for the BluesCazorla Festival. For something more traditional, visit Jerez for the Flamenco Festival or check out the Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Clásica Andrés Segovia (ww.certamenandressegovia.com).
Hidden Gem
The Real Alcázar’s gardens host a variety of musical performances during the summer months. Can you think of a better setting than these paradisal gardens? Check the Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcázar website for the programme (www.actidea.es).