It is definitely no understatement if we affirm that the Costa del Sol is brimming with nightlife, especially during the summer months, when the warm air invites to be out and about all night long; and with countless street cafés, beach bars, restaurants, clubs and bars, both foreign visitors and Spaniards enjoy partying until the early morning hours.
Lately, the leisure harbors have turned into the preferred locations for going out and actually the majority of the most popular pubs and bars can be found in the marinas of the mayor tourist resorts along the Costa del Sol.
You can take your time; Spanish nightlife does not start until late, so you have plenty of time to savor your ways through a wide variety of “Tapas”, before heading for the clubs and Night bars.
In Malaga city the locals enjoy the nightlife in the streets, with more bars for square meter than any other place in Europe.
The mayor part of Malaga’s nightlife is to be found in the historic quarter around the streets Calle Granada and Calle Beata, the area around the square Plaza Uncibay, Calle Álamos and La Malagueta. Alongside the sea promenade we find the quarter of Pedregalejo, where the mayor action takes place in the street Juan Sebastian Elcano with a multitude of bars and discotheques.
The nightlife of Torremolinos is famous along the whole Costa del Sol and has its own personality. Torremolinos has the liveliest nightlife along the southern Mediterranean Sea with an enormous number of clubs, disco bars, dance halls and a blossoming gay scene.
For starters and some Tapas, you can head for La Bodega in San Miguel with a wide variety of delicious tapas or Bar central in Plaza Andalucía for some enjoyable cocktails and snacks in a lively ambience.
In the Avenida Palma de Mallorca you can head for the largest Discotheque in Europe, the Fun Beach, with several dance floors and a swimming pool. Hardly less to offer has the very popular Palladium, actually to be found in the same street. So, don´t forget to wear your swimwear!
In La Nogalera we can find establishments and disco bars for more “mature” out-goers like Oscar´s and many popular gay bars like Abadia and the top gay disco Tension.
If you feel like gambling, you can do so in the Casino of the Hotel Torrequebrada in the close by resort of Benalmádena, 11 km down the road. The casino stays open until 5 am on weekends.
Just 11 km west from Torremolinos we find the tourist resort of Benalmádena, which as well has a flourishing night life with a large amount of fantastic night clubs, discos, bars and a Casino.
The action takes place here on the so-called 24-hour square along the coast road and in the close-by leisure marina.
In Fuengirola the night life is mainly centered in the area of the marina and the sea promenade. As well this tourist resort on the Costa del Sol has a wide range of entertainment for all likings and a very active nightlife during the summer months.
For the ones who like to enjoy a drink in a casual atmosphere with good varied music and outdoor terraces, there are several very popular Music Bars in town, such as the London Pub, the Beetle Bar or Linekar´s Bar.
The good thing in Fuengirola is that you can just go out of one place and into the next, as the locations are all conveniently situated along the seafront.
Discos, Clubs and Live Music Bars are manifold in Fuengirola. Star is one of the more established clubs with a very good atmosphere. Sal´s Paradise is one of the best live music bars with life concerts and jam sessions.
If you want to submerge into the crowd in a remarkable night club, then take a taxi to Oasis, near Centro Miramar and about one 1km from Fuengirola´s centre. A chic late night spot in town is Millenium with house Music and an outdoor terrace.
For the “elder generation” there is Maxi´s with an enjoyable mixture of rock, reggae and music from the sixties and seventies. Heaven´s gate is a trendy place with modern music.
If you feel like a more tranquil going out, there is a Theatre in Fuengirola, the Salón Varietes with frequent productions in English language.
More familiar establishments are the Tivoli Amusement Park in Arroyo de Miel which in summer stays open until 1 o´clock in the morning. And in Fuengirola Zoo are offered “Moonlight Tours” where you can observe the nocturnal behavior of the animals.
Marbella is internationally known for its ostentatious and glamorous nightlife. Along the Golden Mile and the Leisure Marina of Puerto Banús you can find the most exclusive and sophisticated night venues as this is the hot spot and meeting point along the Costa del Sol for the rich and famous.
There is no shortage of all kinds of fashionable, stylish, elegant and selected locations in the area to entertain their distinguished guests.
One of the seriously posh, cool “must be´s” for celebrity spotting and the financially well-off is the Olivia Valere, to be found on the road to Istan near the Marbella Mosque. Next to it you can find the Babylonia Palace Restaurant. Suite is another Marbella top night spot, situated in the Hotel Puente Romano. The Loft on the Golden Mile offers funky house, chill out and salsa night until very late. Nikki Beach next to the Hotel Don Carlos is as well a top hot spot situated on the beachside, with a lush and stylish atmosphere, combing night club with beach club during the day.
Icon is one of the most selected clubs along the Golden Mile.
Be prepared, any of these locations is fairly expensive and frequented by the seriously cool. You might as well dress up to kill, otherwise you won´t pass by the doormen.
Dreamers in Puerto Banús is widely considered the best club, with several dance floors and fabulous cocktails.
Another definitive place to see and be seen is Pangea. Located conveniently in one of the most posh areas of Puerto Banús, with Porsches and Ferraris in the streets, this magnificent venue is frequented as well by many celebrities. Another hip venue in a superb location is Glam, open until 7 am and as well with a big celebrity crowd.
Last not least Seven, another gem and one of Puerto Banús most exclusive and elegant clubs.
Being one of the more western tourist resort along the Costa the Sol, Estepona nevertheless has a very active nightlife that basically is concentrated in the beautiful leisure marina and the old city centre, about 2 km away. The marina attracts naturally a great amount of foreigners, with bars, restaurants, music bars and clubs; nevertheless a different and very lively action takes place in the many little streets of the town centre and the clubs located there.
In Nerja we can find the area of nocturnal entertainment and diversion in the old city centre, around the square Plaza Tutti Frutti, only a few minutes from the Balcón de Europa. In this area there are disco pubs, discotheques and cocktail bars.
Although Nerja is a calmer tourist resort in comparison with its wild neighbors along the Costa del Sol, nevertheless during the summer months nocturnal amusement can be taken for granted. Around the Plaza Tutti Frutti you find as well many Cafeterias and Tapas Bars, if you feel like having some starters before dancing into the night or you might prefer sitting in some of the terraces and enjoy watching the bustling nightlife in the streets.
The majority of the nightlife is to be found around the street Antonio Millon and the neighboring Tutti Frutti Square, as for instance in the Discotheque Jimmy´s, that opens Fridays & Saturdays, starting 12.30 am. You should show up with dressy attire. Be aware, there are some hot go-go shows going on. In the Buena Sombra we find an interesting bisexual gay mix and good music.
On Burriana beach has opened All That Jazz, which combines food and drink with top life entertainment.
If you feel like more, you can as well take a taxi into the night life of Torre del Mar, the next mayor tourist resort along the Costa del Sol, 22 km away.
Along the sea promenade of Torre del Mar are lined a great variety of restaurants, bars discos and night clubs. The discos are normally getting busy during the weekends and then until the early morning hours, especially in the area along the seafront called El Copo. This quarter, being a former fisher utility, has transformed into a zone of more than half a kilometer where are concentrated more than a hundred night bars and discos, that provide entertainment from dusk till dawn.
The area is really mixed and you can find any kind of style, from more casual to more classical.
The advantage of this place is that you can just wander around and choose the venue that most appeals to you and move on any time – Bar hopping! Café de Luca is situated conveniently at the seafront and next to the zone of the “Movida”, El Copo; this is a perfect place to start the night with a drink on the magnificent terrace.
VIP coffee drinks is one of the best cocktail bars in Malaga area with good ambience and concerts, in the street Doctor Marañón 15. Stars Live Music Café is a cafeteria on the seafront with a large terrace, a wide variety of cocktails, good music, sometimes live music and Flamenco on Thursdays.
