Around the resorts during the summer months there will always be regular live music and entertainment, mainly provided by late night bars and clubs with many staying open until well into the early hours. The principal towns of Máo and Ciutadella offer the greatest choice and some of the best live entertainment nightspots, with stylish piano and cocktail bars as well as jazz and salsa bars playing host to some great local and mainland performers. The various nightclubs dotted around the island range from sophisticated bars with dance floors to late night discothèques with choices to suit all tastes and ages, from the latest uber cool DJ sounds to 70s and 80s classics, and many not opening until midnight. Or, you could always try your luck in one of Menorca’s casinos, the most famous one being on Máo harbour (currently closed as relocating a few yards along the port and reopening in July 2012).
Here’s our pick of some of the best venues around:
MAO HARBOUR
Akelarre Jazz Club: Jazz, Soul, Blues
Located near the harbour ferry terminal at the base of the old city walls, Akelarre is a live music bar famous for its cocktails, sipped by trendsetters in unique surroundings dating back over 100 years. At the back there is a pretty garden area. The bar is located on 2 floors, enabling visitors to enjoy the atmosphere they like best. Live jazz and blues music is played most Thursday nights. Upstairs the disco continues well into the early hours. Open every day from mid afternoon in summer and weekend evenings only in winter.
Moll de Ponent 41-42, Máo Harbour. Tel: 971 368 520
H2O: Contemporary
Newly refurbished, this bar reopened this summer under new management and with a new name. Attracting the over 25s, this sophisticated venue plays contemporary music, serves great cocktails and is open only on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight until around 04.00 in the morning.
Moll de Llevant, Máo Harbour
Latitud 40: Contemporary
Located on the harbour front and open all year round, this is a very popular bar for residents, attracting many regular visitors and holiday markers as well as being a top choice for the boating fraternity. Commonly known by the locals as Nicky’s (who is still present behind the bar), Latitud offers a great atmosphere playing contemporary music which get louder as the night progresses and more people arrive. Closes when the last person leaves…!
Moll de Llevant, Máo Harbour
La Falua: Contemporary
A brand new bar oozing laid back sophistication with harbour views to the front and uber cool terrace garden at the back, perfect for cocktails before dinner or late night drinks with friends.
Moll de Llevant, Máo Harbour
La Mar: Contemporary
Newly refurbished and reopened under new management, this bar oozes cool sophistication and is the latest place to go for drinks and ambient music. Enjoy a cocktail at the bar or a drink outside and soak up the harbour views.
Moll de Llevant, Máo Harbour
Mambo: ContemporarySituated on the harbour, this friendly bar serves drinks, snacks and ice creams throughout the afternoon. The mood changes in the evening to a lively venue playing all types of music and serving a wide range of drinks and cocktails well into the early hours. The large terrace seating area is a great place to relax and watch the world go by
Moll de Llevant, Máo Harbour
Tse Tse: Salsa
Located at Costa des General, 14. This is a famous nightclub near the ferry terminal on the port and a great place to show off your salsa moves.
Costa des General 14, Máo Harbour
Casino Maritimo: Casino
Situated in a prime location on Máo harbour, Menorca’s casino is open every night with gaming tables offering blackjack, poker (caribbean stud) and roulette (over 18s only). There is also a restaurant with excellent harbour views for those wishing to dine plus there is a bar area with comfy sofas. Passport identification is required and there is a 3€ entrance fee for first time visitors. Currently closed.
(Relocating along the harbour and reopening in July 2012)
MAO TOWN
Zouck and Assukar: Club and Salsa
A popular night-time venue in Maó (previously People’s Bar), Zouck is a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy a wide variety of activities including bowling, pool, table football, darts and sports TV. Zouck has a large bar, new chill out terrace and dance area offering a great combination of sound, lighting, DJs and live music performances with particular emphasis on deep and techno house. Open all year round, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 20.00 hours to late, and every night in summer until 06.00 in the morning.
C / Francesc Borja Moll, 1, Maó. For reservations, contact: 690 736 288.
Assukar is Maó’s hottest salsa nightclub promising some of the best Latin sounds in Menorca. Latin DJs give the club is own exclusive atmosphere, enticing all ages with a passion for dance to salsa, merenge and bachata from 22.00 hours until well into the early hours, and until 06.00 hours at weekends in summer. There is an outside terrace area for drinks, the cocktails being a speciality. Previously the Manhattan nightclub, Assukar is situated behind Zouck.
C/ Francesc Borja Moll, Máo. Telephone 667 815 403.
Ars café: Jazz, Blues, Rock, Soul.
This a great place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. The ground floor bar has an almost Parisian atmosphere which leads into a contemporary dining area on two levels. In the evenings, the basement provides an unusual subterranean setting with sandstone arches where live concerts and performances by the best DJs take place until around 04.00 in the morning.
Plaza del Príncipe 12, Máo. Tel: 971 351 879
Café Mo Blues: Jazz, blues, R ‘n B
A basement bar playing easy jazz and the latest R ‘n B music, particularly for the 20’s age group and is the place to go for some ‘wild and youthful fun’! C/Santiago Ramon y Cajal 3, Máo.
Discoteca Sí: Latest sounds
Located in the centre of Máo, Sí opened its doors in 1983 becoming an immediate hot spot on Menorca’s nightlife scene as the ‘in’ place to go. Still one of the most popular late night venues, particularly amongst residents of Máo, Sí has been continually revamped, the last time in 2010, to maintain its uber cool ambience and clientele. ‘Say yes to Sí’.
Sa Terrassa es Claustre: Tranquil music, informal classical and contemporary concerts
Located in the centre of the Mercat des Claustre, this unique venue set in quiet surroundings offers drinks and refreshments in the afternoons and the chance to enjoy musical performances at nightfall. There is a programme of concerts, performing arts and activities every day for people looking for live music performances and diverse entertainment.
Pati del Claustre del Carme 50, Máo. Tel: 654 961 698
NEAR MAHON AIRPORT
Grill Out Lounge: All types
Located next to the Grill Restaurant by the Airport, this open air chill out lounge plays different types of music each night until 1.00 am, ranging from Chill Sessions, R ‘n B and Reggae to Live Brazilian and House Music. A great place, especially if your flight is delayed…!!
CALA’N PORTER
Cova d’en Xoroi: Chill out, uber cool, atmospheric music, live performances
A large bar in the caves with outdoor terraces in a breathtakingly spectacular setting in the cliffs high above sea level, this is a compulsory visit that can’t fail to impress.
The natural caves, 25 metres above the sea, are considered one of the finest venues in the world and watching the sunset, sipping a cool drink, is one of the most memorable pleasures on the island.
Cova d’en Xoroi aims to offer the best range of music with internationally famous artists. It is open during the day for drinks accompanied by ambient music and magnificent sea views. It then transforms itself into a very popular night club at 23.00 with live performances and DJs playing all the latest club music until sunrise. Not to be missed for a great evening out.
Opening times are subject to change, so it is best to check, but here is a guide.
Late morning until 18.30, April to early November (weather permitting). Entrance €7.50 adults, €3.50 children, including a soft drink, beer or pomada.
Ambient session 18.30 – 21.00, May to end September (weather permitting). Entrance €12.00, including an alcoholic drink.
The night club opens at 23.00, May to end September (weather permitting). Entrance €20, including an alcoholic drink. Look out for special promotion card in shops and hotels around the island giving a €5 discount to the night club or if you visit the caves earlier in the day.
Ctra Nova 75, Cala’n Porter. Tel: 971 377 236
CUITADELLA
Space Menorca: Latest club sounds
Opened in June 2012, Space Menorca brings a new concept of sophisticated nightlife to Menorca, transporting the magic and essence of Space Ibiza to its neighbouring island. The new club promises the most powerful sound systems, advanced LED technology and the latest video mapping software, enhanced by some of the best national and international DJ’s.
Space Menorca is divided into three area with an open entrance hall and bar, the main club room dedicated to dance music and a large outdoor chill-out terrace upstairs with lounge seating and two bars to enjoy drinks in a relaxed environment. There are also VIP zones which can be pre-booked. Space Menorca is open every night from midnight until 06.00 hours.
Asere: Salsa
If dancing to the sexy salsa beat is your kind of exercise, then this stylish salsa club is the place to go. Located right on the harbour side, Asere is open daily in the summer and only weekends in the winter.
Port de Ciutadella, Ciutadella. Tel: 609 672 610
Jazzbah: Jazz, R ‘n B, live music, chill out
Considered one of the hippest night spots on the island, cool music radiates from this popular venue which is one of the reasons why it is frequented by so many locals and tourists. Regular live jazz music and concerts by local and mainland groups and musicians performing a range of music styles as well as a resident and visiting DJs. There is also a chill-out room and outside terrace area.
Pla de Sant Joan, Port de Ciutadella.
Sa Clau Jazz Club: Jazz
Located in a natural cave in the enchanting Port of Ciutadella, the Sa Clau Jazz Club boasts of programme of the best national and international jazz complemented by a wide selection of cocktails. Established some 40 years ago, some of today’s best jazz musicians have performed at this club.
Marina, 93. Port de Ciutadella. Tel.: 971 38 48 63
Si Vens Café: Mixed
This café, located within the Galeries Molí des Comte, inside an old windmill, just off the Plaça Alfons III (known locally as the Plaça de Ses Palmeres because of its palms trees) is a cool night spot tucked between sandstone arches. Bands here tend to be local and there are also poetry recitals and exhibitions.
Avenida Constitucio 22, Ciutadella. Tel: 971 368 520
Es Vaporet: Live music
Established in 1998, this music bar on the slope down to the harbour puts on regular concerts and performances by local and mainland groups and musicians.
Costa del Port, Ciutadella: Tel: 971 380 044
Limoo Bar: House, rock, contemporary, live music
A harbour side nightclub located on two floors, each with its own atmosphere and specialising in electronic music and Indie-rock. There is also extensive outdoor terrace area with excellent harbour views. The Limoo Club on the ground floor is minimalist in style with resident DJs playing some of the best sounds on the island, including House, Techno-house, Funk and Rock. The second floor bar has a Mediterranean feel offering a mix of musical styles including Rock, Rumba, Funk and hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Open evenings only from 23.00 at weekends and every day in July and August, Limoo Bar is renowned for its great cocktails.
Pla de Sant Joan 4b, Port de Ciutadella. Tel: 616 924 524
Bar Ulisses: Live music
Located in a traditional style building with whitewashed arches and greens of the woods, this bar has a distinct charm of its own and has become a regular meeting place for locals and visitors to catch up on the latest news over a drink. In the evenings, Bar Ulisses plays host to a variety of live music performances attracting some great musicians as part of their summer circuit which can be enjoyed from the outside terrace area.
Plaça des Mercat, Ciutadella.
La Margarete: Live music
This delightful café and cocktail bar, hidden in the old quarter of Ciutadella, has a lovely garden where drinks and snacks can be enjoyed all day. In the evenings, there are regular live music performances and a resident DJ.
C/ Sant Joan Baptista 6, Ciutadella. Tel: 971 482 097
Claustre de Seminari: Classical and contemporary concerts
A varied programme of classical and contemporary concerts takes place throughout the year where the acoustics provided these ancient cloisters create a magical atmosphere right in the heart of Ciutadella.
C de Seminari, Ciutadella.
ES CASTELL
Tonic Night Club: Various
Located in Son Vilar, just outside Es Castell, this nightclub has created a distinctive style all of its own since it started back in the 70s. Having recently undergone complete refurbishment all styles of music are played from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as the latest sounds, and nights are often themed to one of these eras.
Es Cau: Traditional folk music
This is a live music bar, built into the rock where locals sing traditional Menorcan songs and customers encouraged to take along their own instruments. It is open daily from 22.00 and promises a good night for all.
Cala Corb, Es Castel
SAN CLEMENTE
San Clemente Jazz Club: Jazz, folk
The Jazz club in San Clement, Menorca’s oldest jazz venue, holds a jazz night every Tuesday evening (and Thursdays in high summer) from 21.30. In addition to regular local players, the club attracts visiting professional and semi professional musicians who join in while taking their summer holidays in Menorca.
Carrer Sant Jaume, 2, San Clemente. Tel: 971 153 418
SON BOU
Mai-Tai Cocktail Bar: Music bar
Not only does Mai-Tai serve up great cocktails and drinks accompanied by a wide and varied selection of music until the early hours, it also now offers a selection of homemade tasty snacks and tapas as well as burgers and sandwiches from 13.00. Open 7 days a week high season and weekends only in the winter. A real holiday atmosphere and good night out for tourists and locals.
Centro Comercial, Son Bou. Tel: 971 372 301