10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Valencia

Teatro Olympia is a stunning theatre that sits in the neighbourhood of Ciutat Vella in Valencia. It has red velvet seats, beautiful gold-plated balconies, and a lavishly decorated ceiling. Plenty of restaurants and bars surround the building, so you can easily enjoy a snack or meal before or after a show.

Programmes at Teatro Olympia range from musicals and comedic performances to classical ballets and music concerts. The theatre opens 30 minutes before each show’s starting time. You can buy tickets at the box office on the day of the performance.

El Carmen is Valencia’s most famous nightlife area, found in the northeast part of the Old Town. The narrow streets of El Carmen are jam-packed with bars, cafés, shops and nightclubs, with much of the action found along Calle de Caballeros.

Among the many places luring after-dark aficionados is the famous Radio City bar, which hosts open-mic nights and flamenco dance performances as well as DJ music nights. Café Oasis is a small bar with a bohemian edge; a great spot to delve into the city’s more edgy side. Start the night at Café Negrito, a local favourite for sipping cocktails on the terrace with views of the plaza.

Valencia’s port and Malvarrosa Beach area is a lively spot to drink, dine and dance in the bars and clubs sprinkled along the seafront. Though most places are open year-round, the area really buzzes during the summer months when people pack onto rooftop bars and terraces to unwind in the sea breezes.

The stylish Marina Beach Club is a great place for sunset views, and it hosts music concerts and DJ nights all summer long. Luna Rossa disco is a fun place to get lost in the crush of the fashion-conscious throng. The sprawling outdoor garden of Akuarela Playa club attracts big crowds in summer, though its many events and DJ parties bring revellers here year-round.

The Av. d'Aragó nightlife scene is somewhat driven by its proximity to the local universities, but it’s best known for its fun pubs and live music venues. If you want a prime spot on a terrace, it’s best to go out a bit earlier to beat the crowds.

The popular Black Note club offers a rotating roster of blues, rock and soul bands. Caribbeans Aragon is a disco and DJ venue that brings in the crowds for Latin dancing, while Café Tucán puts on regular party nights.

Juan Llorens street in the Extramurs neighbourhood has a small but lively nightlife scene, just a 15-minute walk from central Valencia. There’s a mix of bars and clubs here, which bring in mostly local crowds ready to dance into the wee hours.

Hawaika bar is a good place to start, with its colourful Polynesian design and tropical cocktails, while the small Loco Club offers live music and reasonably priced drinks. Those in search of authentic flamenco music and dancing could check out Café del Duende, open Thursday to Sunday.

Plaza Canovas is found in the Gran Via neighbourhood, where the streets are lined with elegant buildings and a variety of restaurants, shops and bars. It’s a compact area so it’s easy to go bar-hopping, with most of the action found along Calle Serranos Morales. Though it attracts a mixed crowd, it’s mainly people looking to unwind after work or on the weekend.

St. Patrick’s is the place to go for some pub grub and live football events on the big-screen TVs. The Blue Iguana is a long-running bar here where you can drink and dance till dawn.

Trendy Ruzafa is the area to see and be seen, with its stylish cocktail bars, cafés and live music venues. There are certainly places for late-night dancing, but Ruzafa’s also great for gathering with friends for dinner and cocktails and lively conversations on the terrace.

Check out Café Mercedes for live jazz nights or slip inside the tiny La Bella de Cádiz to enjoy a few cocktails in its kitschy-cool vintage setting. The multi-level Play Club has something for everyone, with electronic, pop and techno music on one floor, and another floor with a mix of karaoke, indie and rock music.

Benimaclet is an area that's popular with students, with a more low-key ambience than rowdy El Carmen. Here you’ll find a smattering of café-bars that stay open long into the night, as well as some good live music venues.

The tiny La Gramola has a friendly vibe and good food and plays host to live bands and comedy performances. Kaf Cafe is an artsy little place with open-mic nights for music and poetry readings. El Glop is said to be the oldest bar in the neighbourhood, and its mix of grunge-rock music and cheap beer keeps it packed night after night.

Plaza del Cedro is where university students flock after dark to enjoy live music and a youthful indie scene. Bars here appeal to more budget-minded night owls, with good-priced beer and tapas, and many have terraces to enjoy street views.

Music lovers will want to hit the Matisse Club for its live concerts and jam sessions of jazz, flamenco, hip-hop, soul, trap, reggae, dancehall, ska and more. Check out nearby Xúquer and Honduras plazas for more nightlife action with places La Salamandra pub for tasty tapas or Kraken Rock Bar for some vintage rock and roll music.

Set at the edge of Turia Gardens in Alameda, the City of Arts and Sciences is an architectural marvel and an iconic landmark in Valencia that transforms into a party venue after dark. Adjacent is Mya, a huge dance club that’s open year-round and can hold 2,500 revellers over 3 floors. The music is mostly electronic, but you'll also get a taste of Latin, hip-hop and other dance-inducing tunes. Those with cash to flash could splurge for a VIP room and bottle service.

During the summer months, the complex’s huge domed garden area Terraza L’Umbracle opens as a bar in the evenings to offer an unforgettable night of mingling, drinking and dancing under the stars.