After a day of enjoying the sunny sights and sounds of Seville, you should soak up the city's after-hours atmosphere. In spring and summer, after nightfall, the air is warm and the streets are bustling, so whether you want a dive bar, chic cocktail lounge or rooftop terrace with spectacular views of the Giralda, the options are varied and plentiful; even in the quieter, cooler months, the nightlife is definitely worth exploring. Cocktails are still in their infancy here, but craft beer and vermouth are both plentiful.
Read on for the best of Seville's bar scene, as here you'll find guides dedicated to the city's best hotels, restaurants, things to see and do, things to see and do for free, plus how to get a weekend in Seville. If you're planning a longer trip, discover our ultimate route in Andalusia here.
Gallo Rojo
This quirky, multi-functional venue offers a taste of Seville's more alternative scene, on a central yet quiet street close to the Setas. Every evening you can hear live music such as jazz and world music, with swing dancing on Thursdays and jam sessions on Fridays, as well as art exhibitions. Upstairs you will find a coworking space with high ceilings, as the space used to be a factory. There are four craft beers on tap and you can nibble on homemade empanadas.
Garlochi
Garlochi is without a doubt Seville's quirkiest watering hole. This baroque bar in the Arenal is themed around Seville's hugely popular Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations. If you're not there for Easter, or even if the processions of hooded penitents and religious figures aren't your thing, it's worth soaking up the theatrical atmosphere by stepping into this extraordinary temple of ecclesiastical kitsch. Think sad brass band music, pieces of red velvet with gold trim, statues of the Virgin and Jesus, and candles. The house cocktail is Sangre de Cristo (Christ's Blood), an optimistic mix of sparkling wine, whiskey and grenadine.
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Lo Nuestro
Want to try Sevillanas, the local version of flamenco, as danced at the Feria de Abril (April Fair) by tens of thousands of women in spotted, ruffled dresses? This is not a place to sit and chat; the live band plays and everyone dances. High standards are not expected and the atmosphere is fun and lively, rather than competitive. You will dance with dance lovers from Seville (the name means 'Our') and beyond. The drink of choice is the classic Feria drink rebujito (manzanilla sherry with lemonade).
Pecata Mundi
A non-touristy bar just a stone's throw from the cathedral seems like a contradiction in terms, but this place makes no compromises. Step inside to discover the Gothic decor with masks from city festivals, ghostly statues and horned goat skulls, simple wooden furniture and a special G&T menu (Puerto de Indias is the local gin). The main attraction of Sins of the World (a translation of the bar's name) lies in the classics played from the sixties, seventies and eighties. From pop to glam rock to soul, they are all top songs that are appreciated by a mixed, unpretentious audience of all ages.
La Terraza Bar, EME Catedral Mercer
Most of the more expensive bars in Seville can be found in the five-star hotels. This EME Catedral Mercer has the best views of the city's cathedral and is closest to the world's largest Gothic basilica, which is truly spectacular when illuminated at night. Numerous areas on different levels offer different atmosphere and views (the hotel is made up of 14 separate houses), although the main bar is an excellent place to come face to face with the flying buttresses. Mixologists prepare cosmopolitans and spritz venezianos (bitters, cava, soda and orange) for a smart crowd, and DJs spin chill-out tunes on Fridays and Saturdays in the warmer months.
Contact: laterrazadeleme.com
Prices: £££
Embarcadero
At the height of summer, when the air is still sweltering after darkness has fallen, temperatures along the river are considerably cooler. This outdoor bar, with stone floor and wood-and-canvas chairs, has a relaxed seaside atmosphere, away from the madness of Calle Betis (its narrow entrance, hidden between Primera del Puente and Rio Grande, is easy to miss). Grab one of the tables with views over the Guadalquivir to the Torre del Oro opposite. The melodies range from the 70s to the present, and your favorite drink is a Larios gin from Malaga, with tonic.
La Cacharreria
Although it doesn't open late, this atmospheric bar, with pennies glittering on the rough, brick wall and cool, recycled furniture, is worth mentioning for its relaxed atmosphere and great value cocktails. Open all day from breakfast: try one of the fresh juices or smoothie bowls, and don't miss the homemade sun-dried tomato-oregano bread or mango-cardamom jam, and is perfectly located between the Setas (traditional center) and Calle Feria (hipster district ). Caipirinhas and early bird mojitos are a sniper for two for €8/£7 (4pm - 6pm). Sit outside and enjoy the eclectic atmosphere of Calle Regina.
Contact: lacacharreriadesevilla.com
Prices: £
La Gintoneria
Unlike many copa bars in Seville (for drinks rather than tapas), this one caters to an older crowd and so doesn't play deafeningly loud music - just good jazz and pop classics. It offers a casual yet grown-up atmosphere, with a wooden bar and floor and over 40 gins, as well as a dry ice machine for that dramatic flourish. Aromatic Gin Mare from Catalonia, with rosemary, basil and olives, and coriander, pepper and cardamom-spiced Ophir, are both favourites, although the obvious choice is Tanqueray Seville Orange. The walls are lined with modern art and prints, and it is popular as an after-dinner stop.
Terraza Rooftop Bar, Het Hoekhuis
Seville's most stylish rooftop bar sits high above the tree-lined Alameda de Hercules, wrapped around three sides of the roof (with shade at the front overlooking the avenue). It catches the evening breeze beautifully. The decor is wonderfully relaxed, with Acapulco-style chairs, custom-made tables, wooden terraces and a beautiful pergola covered with climbing plants. Neighbors in the area ensure that there is no music, but the atmosphere makes up for this. For vermouth lovers, the bartender makes a mean negroni. When you get hungry, the ground-floor restaurant of this simple, chic guesthouse, El Disparate, has delicious salads.
Contact: thecornerhousesevilla.com
Prices: £
Fizz Bar, Mercer Hotel
This is possibly the most sophisticated bar in Seville, in terms of decor and drinks, and probably also the most expensive. It is located in the ultra-luxury Mercer Hotel, in the Arenal district. Elegant purple and moss-colored velvet chairs accommodate the perfect posteriors of Seville's glamorous crowd. Classic cocktails include negronis and martinis; there's also an impressive selection of sherries, gins, whiskeys and rums, and the soundtrack is smooth jazz and soul. The only downside is that it can lack atmosphere.
Contact: Mercersevilla.com
Prices: £££
Taberna La Quedá de Triana/Flamenco Esencia
Slightly less ethereal, this small bar with traditional décor, located between Triana's main thoroughfares, Calle Betis and Pureza, features traditional décor - think round wooden tables and tiled wall panels - and hosts Maria and Antonio's flamenco coterie . The artists of Flamenco Esencia perform for an audience of just 35 people in an intimate space, with one show daily. Check their website for the latest details on times.
Contact: flamenco-esencia.com
