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In contrast to the revelries thrown in wanton abandon in Benidorm, Alicante has a far less party vibe within its borders. Nevertheless, the city, albeit those proportions, compensates far more than it could, since the genuine Spanish culture is intrinsic in the city. Only in Alicante will one find the liveliest, truly authentic Spanish night life on the entire Costa Blanca. The proportions notwithstanding, in no way does the devotion of the town to the pursuit of fun go anywhere near low. In fact, Alicante never seems to lack alcohol and socializing at almost any time of the day or night. Watering holes concentrate the densest in the area adjacent to the port. Along the length of the Muelle del Puerto, the nocturnal party animals prowl from one bar to the next in the popular stretch of pavement that's also known as the Explanada d'Espanya. At least the 20 nightspots that rock through the wee hours should suffice for a consummate night out.
True to their Spanish gene pool, Alicanteans prefer to talk, so it’s a wise option to join them in the bars of the old town, such as La Naya in Calle Labradores and La Llum in Calle del Padre Maltes are particularly lively. Nowhere else would anyone find truly Spanish, nocturnal partying.
Like any other Spanish community, the party only begins after the very belated dinner. In Spanish culture, dinners are usually served at 10 pm. As the hour past midnight strikes, the crowds, most especially in summer, can become entire swarms crawling throughout the Barrio. The hordes usually lounge and party in bars such as Baccus, Callejon, Rasgos, El Templo and Carnaval. The hordes of small scale bars in the barrio stay open till 4 am.
After dinner, that’s when the fun spills out. Henceforth from 11 pm to 4 am, entire mobs of those searching for an exhilarating Spanish night out troop to the dozens of bars and discos that are ready to swallow the partygoers. From its normal daytime tranquility, the streets of the El Barrio seamlessly switch into nonstop booty shaking.
La Mission is known as one of the best party hubs in town, located at Calle Virgen de Belén 9. It is an impressive place, boasting not one, not two, but three floors swelling with Spaniards entranced by the local beats.
As leviathan as La Mission is La Biblioteca, located on Calle Montengon 6. Party animals also throng here. In addition, the queer could feel right at home in the night life of Alicante, which has an impressive and relatively large gay scene for a city of its size. The visitors joining the influx swell between July and August. They usually come from other parts of Spain, Madrid in particular.
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Caníbal Pub, situated on César Elguezabal 26, is where the evening starts. Without a doubt, the famous bar is a hub for the queer at heart.
Around 4 am, when flocks of bodies are wasted, those heading for hangovers make a slow and steady exodus down towards the marina, locally known as the El Puerto (the port). In this vicinity they fulfill a consummate life nocturne since this is where bars, discos and gargantuan modern clubs still churn out nonstop dance tunes. In fact, they don’t close their doors long until the sun rises, at 7 am. After La Mission’s party missions have waned back in El Barrio, Puerto Di Roma takes over the job where Potato pulls in house music fans. A euphoric mix of music swirls at Directo Café. And, after 7, everyone heads back to town to partake in either good breakfast or sound sleep in bed.
An al fresco bar no less, Astronoma offers a respite from the dense crowd drawers, complete with palms and lounge chairs. Pub Nepal meanwhile is a blatant spoof to the mountainous kingdom. This is a faux shrine bouncing and swaying to the feverish salsa rhythm.
If one is up for the local Spanish delicacy, the most popular is Bar Potato, where tapas are devoured in vigorous abandon. Puerto di Rana is another alternative. Their addresses are all at the Muelle del Puerto s/n. However, they have no phones as of press time.
If house, drum and bass or hip hop music is a preference, Ovuca delivers just the right touch of electronica. It is located at Calle San José 10. Here, fresh and fledgling dj's show off their most innovative pieces.
On Calle Virgen de Belén 22, Astrónomo is frequently playing a heady blend of the latest Spanish and Euro dance music.
One wouldn’t miss Tasca El Coscorrón in Calle Tarifa 3, with its signature door rising only to chest high if you are 6 feet tall. The hobbit sized door though, is only a threshold to fun. A ‘watch your head sign’ is now accompanied with the pillow atop, an obvious improvement. The distinguishable high in this place is the exotic mojito, a jaw dropping concoction of mint leaves, rum, sugar, and lemon.
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Alternatively, the narrow streets of Alicante’s Casco Antiguo (old compound) are not surprisingly affluent in bodegas and tavernas such as those of Calle Laboradores, Calle Cien Fuegos, and the Plaza Santa Face. For one’s consideration, there is the El Mesón, in the Calle Laboradores 23; La Tapería, Plaza Santísima Faz, 3 (tel. 96-520-61-02); and El Pote Gallego, Plaza Santísima Faz, 6 (tel. 96-520-80-84).
For those scrimping on budget, the El Barrio offers scores of bars and clubs around Plaza Carmen and Plaza San Cristobal. One of the city’s most well known bars is Sante Fe, uniquely themed after trains and locomotives. Another popular music bar is Desden, a bar cum café infused with very superb jazz ditties.
Located at Plaza Virgen del Carmen 12, Armstrong is touted as one of the best jazz establishments in El Barrio. Armstrong lives up to its namesake, concocting the nomenclature after the jazz great himself. There’s high quality jazz all night, kindled live music or mixed by regular DJs.
At times irreverent, Celestial Copas is a guilty party accommodation, combining religious premises with great music. It is a guiltily artsy take on irreverence in a Catholic town.
For those on budgets mid-range, just in the vicinity of the Explanada, and around Avenida de Ramón is ‘La Zona.’ The place unmistakably adjoins the streets San Fernando, Canalejas and Alemania. In sum, La Zona is a livewire environment offering a diversity of drinking spots to suit anyone.
For the blessed luxurious, around the port and marina there are a wide range of refined dining and wining to last the entire night. The most popular meeting place in all of Alicante is the Pacha, located on the Explanada de Espana, beautifully overlooking the harbor.
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