Santiago de Compostela is a fantastic place to go out partying, but to really have a good time, you need to know the best spots.
In this article, we’ll tell you where to go out in Compostela, with various options so you can choose the outing that best suits your tastes.
Before going out, you might want to have a drink or dinner. Check out our articles on the best restaurants and bars in Santiago.
You might be interested in:
Electronic party in Santiago de Compostela
Table of contents
What time does the party start in Santiago?
The city’s vibe depends a lot on the weather. If it’s sunny, you’ll see people on the terraces from early afternoon, while if it rains, people go to more enclosed places without terraces and at later hours.
In summary:
- If it’s sunny: from 17:00 or 18:00, you’ll find a lively atmosphere on the terraces.
- If it rains: you’ll find people inside the bars from 20:00 or 21:00.
Where to start the party in Santiago?
Mainly, there are two areas where people gather to have a drink before going out: the old town in the historic centre and the new town, also known as the Ensanche.
Starting the party in the old town of Santiago
The old town itself has several hubs or areas with terraces and bars where people gather.
Porta Faxeira y Avenida de Rodrigo del Padrón
A popular area among locals and tourists, the terraces here are slightly more expensive than if you delve deeper into the old town.
Entering Avenida de Rodrigo del Padrón, you’ll find the legendary Marte, known for its tortilla tapas. Its large covered terrace is crowded both in summer and winter and is a great place for dinner and drinks before heading out.
El Franco
El Franco is the busiest street in the old town, full of restaurants and bars mainly catering to tourists, but with standouts like París, Dakar (have you heard of Santiago’s París-Dakar?), or Ourense, one of the city’s oldest bars.
While some restaurants and bars on this street are expensive, others remain affordable and are great for drinks and tapas.
Rúa Raíña
At the end of El Franco, near the Fonseca square, you’ll find Rúa Raíña on your right.
Hidden behind El Franco, it has more affordable bars and terraces favored by locals.
Zona Plaza do Toural
Moving up the parallel streets to El Franco, you’ll find another area with several bars perfect for pre-party drinks.
A classic is Bar La Tita on Rúa Nova, a tortilla house where every beer comes with a large tortilla tapa, regardless of the time. They also have a great menu… but honestly, the tapas are enough.
La Liga is another classic in the area, a sports bar where you’ll always find that match you don’t want to miss. Drinks are very affordable, though they don’t serve hot tapas or dinner, but the prices and atmosphere make up for it.
Las huérfanas
Heading up from Toural, you reach Las Huérfanas street (Das Orfas in Galician, but no one calls it that).
We’ll return here later for the old town’s party scene, but to start, there’s “La otra Tita,” a namesake of the classic tortilla house on Rúa Nova.
Before the street narrows, you can turn right and find A Novena Porta, an Irish pub perfect for starting with drinks, watching sports, and chatting with friends as you get into the night’s rhythm.
Plaza de Mazarelos o “Historia”
Known by the name of the university located there (a beautiful building worth visiting during the day to see the cloister), this square has several terraces and connects at the back with Fonte Fonseca square, which has two more terraces for drinks and tapas.
Plaza de Feixoo
A favorite spot for locals to start the night, although the Feixoo square only houses Riquela and Modus Vivendi, this party area extends through many adjacent streets filled with pubs and lively crowds.
Modus Vivendi is a Santiago classic, with an ancient basement accessible via surprisingly old stone stairs. They’re safe but be careful not to slip.
Riquela is relatively new but has already become a Santiago nightlife staple due to its location, drinks, and great atmosphere. It opens late, but since it has an outdoor terrace, people often start arriving around 8 or 9 PM and stay until the early morning hours (the terrace closes around 2 AM).
Rúa Antealtares
The street branching off from Feixoo square to the right of its lower corner houses many well-known and frequented pubs.
In the afternoon and early evening, you’ll find terraces along the entire street, starting in front of La Borriquita and ending at the back terrace of Gramola.
At the corner, there’s Carrilana, a popular spot for drinks.
If you continue to the end of the street, you’ll reach Quintana square, but just before you get there, on the right, you’ll find A Casa das Crechas, a well-known local bar that sometimes features live music.
Zona Plaza San Martiño and nearby streets
Through the Troia street alley, you’ll find a few bars like Pub Atlántico and Bar Camalea at the corner of the square.
Plaza da Pescadería Vella
Perfect for late afternoon and early evening drinks and snacks at its bars Cabalo Branco, Taberna do Tarela, and Milonguitas.
Zona Porta do Camiño y Virxe da Cerca
In Porta do Camiño square, people usually meet for beers and snacks before going out, or even for a good dinner on Rúa San Pedro.
On Virxe da Cerca, you’ll find multiple places for drinks, like the legendary Pub Momo, open from the afternoon until late at night, with a fantastic interior terrace.
Don’t miss Embora, up the ramp “Tras San Fiz de Solovio,” which connects with the Historia area.
Starting the party in the new town
In the new town, the nighttime crowd is younger, although both young people and adults often enjoy the afternoon in the busiest streets of the new town center.
Plaza Roja
The central hub of the late afternoon and evening scene in Santiago’s center is Plaza Roja. In the plaza’s bars, you’ll find people drinking throughout the afternoon and into the night.
Among its terraces are Santiago classics like Krystal and Milai cafés, and more modern pubs like Tropical, popular with young people from 8 PM until it closes around 2 AM.
On the wider side of the square, there’s the large terrace of Le Mans, a great spot for beers.
Rúa Nova de Abaixo
A street near Plaza Roja with many bars for drinks and tapas in the evening.
Special mention to Raíces, a legendary Santiago bar where every drink comes with a tapa.
Pubs to Party in Santiago de Compostela
The party pubs in Santiago usually start getting crowded around 2 AM and close at 4:30 AM.
In Santiago’s historic center, you can find very typical and rustic places, as well as modern venues.
In the new town, the places are more modern, although there are some older spots that are not “enxebres” or rustic, but simply old. Most of the new places are well-maintained.
Sala Riquela
A great place to start the night and even continue until late. They usually have live music or a DJ until 2 or 3 AM, and then they play commercial music until closing time.
Good drinks in wide glasses, always full of people, friendly bartenders, and a good vibe among the patrons make this pub a recommended spot for anyone.
Pub Nvogue SCQ
A good place to hang out on the terrace until late, with good drinks and cocktails inside the pub. Very good atmosphere.
Tarasca
Probably the most well-known pub in the old town, a place with a low ceiling, 80s Spanish music, lots of people, and heat.
All these might seem like reasons to avoid it, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you want to experience the typical Santiago vibe, you can’t miss Tarasca, an authentic experience.
Pub O Curruncho
Across from Tarasca, you’ll find this pub, often visited by the LGBT community, although it is not exclusively for that crowd. A very fun place with a great vibe among people who are out to have a good time.
Bloom
If the previous pub had some LGBT ambiance, this one is 100% LGBTQ+. Inside, you’ll mostly find gay men and some lesbian women.
The vibe here is incredible, the music is current pop, the drinks are good, and no matter your orientation, you can have a great time here.
O Avante
A very special place known for playing Ska and Galician music, frequented by people with Galician nationalist political views, and serving an “interesting” coffee liqueur.
Paraíso Perdido
In the area behind Cervantes, we have this typical old town basement converted into a nightclub.
Frequented by young people with party music, the drinks are not the best you’ll find, but the atmosphere is good.
Pub Black
A small and hidden techno venue on the outskirts of the old town.
It’s best to ask someone where this pub is if you’re interested in going. It stays open a bit later than what’s legally allowed, and the crowd, though good people, is quite “party-minded,” if you know what I mean.
Sala Sonar Compostela
Already a classic among Santiago locals, here you’ll find a slightly older crowd compared to other pubs, with Spanish indie music and some current pop hits and good drinks.
La Reixa Bar
A pub frequented by long-time Santiago residents, you’ll find an older crowd, good drinks, good people, and generally a great atmosphere.
Where to Continue the Party in Santiago de Compostela
As we mentioned, pubs and clubs close around 4:30 AM, so if you want to keep the party going, you’ll need to head to one of the following places, all of which are located in the newer part of town.
Discoteca Blaster Santiago
Although it opens at 2 AM, it doesn’t get busy until around 3:30 or 4:00 AM, and it stays open until 6 AM.
They play modern music, and while you might see people of all ages, the average age is quite young.
Gabanna Discoteca
A classic nightclub in Santiago that has managed to reinvent itself and stay popular over the years.
With a slightly older average age than Blaster (but not by much) and also playing modern music, it’s a good place to end the night.
It closes at 6 AM.
Discoteca Facultad SDC
A large club in the centre of Santiago with a modern pub and a fairly young average age.
It closes at 6 AM.
Discoteca Vanitas
The successor to the famous Apolo nightclub, Vanitas is the new addition to Santiago’s nightlife in the newer part of town.
It’s a very spacious and modern club with a fairly young crowd.
It’s a good spot to finish the night if you need to catch a taxi home, as the taxi rank is right next to it.
It closes at 6 AM.
Discoteca Ruta
Probably the largest nightclub in Santiago, it has two areas: an upstairs section with modern pop and a downstairs area with electronic music, often featuring a DJ.
If you enjoy electronic music, check out our dedicated post.
Although the average age is quite young, you can still have a great time if you like the music they play.
The drinks aren’t the best here, so it’s advisable to drink plenty of water to avoid a hangover from cheap booze.
It closes at 6 AM.
Discoteca Maycar
With a “party” atmosphere, dim lighting, and rock music, this place is a great spot to end the night.
It’s a perfect dive for closing out the evening, with an average age that’s higher than at other nightclubs.
It closes at 6 AM.
After para terminar la fiesta en Santiago de Compostela
If, after 6:30 AM, you still want to keep partying, there’s an after-hours venue on Santiago de Chile Street called TNT. It’s next to “Parrillada 9 de Julio”; I mention this because it doesn’t appear on Google Maps, but you’ll find it if you head towards the Parrillada.
It’s a bit worn-out, with very low music and bright lights, but beers are €2, and there’s a mix of people to keep the party going until the sun is high in the sky.
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