Palma Entertainment

Palma is most definitely a party town. Majorcans tend to start late and then party until the early hours of the morning.  Visitors will find a greater percentage of locals in the capital than at the beach resorts. Nightspots range from local tapas bars and sophisticated cafés to themed bars and renowned, pumping nightclubs. Palma is also fairly liberal and has a gay and lesbian area, while the casino on the harbour- front adds another dimension to entertainment.

Nightlife

There are several busy nightlife areas in Palma where locals and visitors alike rock the city until dawn every night of the week during the peak summer season. The Casco Antigua in the Old Town is one of Palma’s main nightspot areas and is loaded with cafés, bars and pubs, while the equally bustling upmarket Paseo Marítimo offers an amazing range of nightclubs and live music venues. A combination of these two areas, and certainly the liveliest in town is Sa Llotja, with its narrow streets and huge offering of tapas bars, pubs and cocktail bars. The area is characterised by tasteful buildings and narrow streets. If you are into the gay scene, El Terreno, located to the west of the city centre in the Avinguda Gabriel Roca area, is known for its gay and lesbian hangouts.

Theatre and Music

Palma’s live music scene is best enjoyed at the many clubs and pubs around the city, especially in the Old Town and along Paseo Marítimo. Many top acts frequent the larger pubs in Palma as well as big name European DJs in the city’s many nightclubs. Palma also has a cultural side with regards to its music scene, with several theatres and attractive establishments scattered about the town. Theatres include: the 19th century Teatre Principal on Carrer Riera 2; Teatre Municipal on Passeig Mallorca 9, featuring contemporary drama, dance and ballet; the Auditorium on Passeig Maritimo, revered for its theatre and concerts; and the Castell de Beliver on Parc Bellver, where outdoor classical concerts are staged during the summer evenings.

Festivals

Like other Spanish cities, Palma boasts a calendar full of colourful festivals and events that run year-round, but particularly in the summer. Highlights include:

• Festival Isladencanta, this annual music festival covers the main genres including rock and pop and features some of Europe’s best DJs (July).
• Festival de Pollenca, this classical annual festival features a massive ensemble of renowned international artists and orchestras who all perform at the outstanding Saint Domingo Cloister in Pollenca (August).
• Fonart Short Film Festival, Palma’s Short Film Festival showcases some of the rising talent from Majorca and the mainland, with regular screenings at establishments throughout Palma during the months of August and September.
• Festa de l'Estendard, marking the end of the year and the coming of the New Year, the Festive New Year procession is an historical event which features a Mass at La Seu Cathedral (December).