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Look down on the glittering Barcelona cityscape from this stylish bar perched atop Tibidabo. Once you’ve drunk in the view (and a cocktail or two), head downstairs to the dance club and groove to tunes from the 1970s and ’80s, with some current Spanish pop favourites thrown into the mix.Hip Drinking Spots.

Founded in 1820, this atmospheric throwback, run by the fifth generation of the Lamiel family, sits in the heart of the Barri Xinès (Marsella). Marsella is one of the few places in town where you can enjoy the potent drink absinthe (absenta ). Settle in at one of the wrought-iron Modernista tables, surrounded by ancient mirrors and old religious statues, and test your mettle with the potent yellow liquor that is specially bottled for the bar. See Bars & Clubs.

A swanky Barcelona night-life institution, this three-storey disco is on the itinerary for well-heeled media types. The music verges on the mainstream, with big-name DJs spinning everything from techno to contemporary favourites. See Hip Drinking Spots.

This tiny, trendy bar in the heart of Gràcia is a magnet for mellow barflies who come to mingle, smoke and listen to DJ-spun tunes, including techno, pop, soul and 1970s classics. (Hip Drinking Spots).

Pulsating near the “Gayxample” – a section of the lower Eixample that is dotted with gay bars and clubs – is this see-and-be-seen nightspot. It’s always jam-packed with a dance-driven crowd of scantily-clad, beautiful men cruising for a connection. The two large dance rooms vibrate to the beat of techno, and music from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, played by local and international DJs.

Designed by Javier Mariscal (creator of Cobi, the 1992 Olympics mascot) and architect Alfred Arribas, this lavish, other-worldly disco is housed in two faux medieval towers (replicas of those looming over the city walls of Ávila) in the Poble Espanyol Poble Espanyol. The cover charge is steep but includes a drink. See Restaurants, Cafés, Bars & Clubs.

One of the pioneers in the revival of the El Raval barrio , this spacious lounge bar serves up cocktails and light bites to a hip, eclectic crowd. With a nod to its former life as an old furniture shop, the minimalist space is scattered with comfortable, mismatched secondhand sofas and chairs. See Bars & Clubs.

If Gaudí’s undulating Pedrera rooftop. (La Pedrera), looks surreal by day, experience it at night for full effect. On Friday and Saturday evenings between mid-June and late July, La Pedrera opens up its magical rooftop for a night of live music and cava drinking. Wander among Gaudí’s mosaic chimneys, illuminated against the night sky, while enjoying jazz, flamenco fusion or tango.

Venture underground – liter-ally – to this popular, hopping jazz-club-cum-nightclub in a vaulted space beneath Plaça Reial. Nightly live jazz sessions kick off around 11pm. DJs take over later with dance-inducing sounds. See Clubs & Music Venues.

Come nightfall – and well into the early hours of the morning – the Port Olímpic turns into a massive dance party, its long string of clubs and bars (Bars & Beach Clubs), booming everything from techno to salsa, Spanish pop to more techno. Club-hop your way down the strip and sip overpriced cocktails on the outdoor terraces before joining the sweaty, gyrating dance crowds inside. Entry into the bars and clubs along the strip is free, and most start getting lively after 10pm, staying open until 3am, 5am or later.