Reus Entertainment

Reus itself is a sleepy little city, where the bars are mellow and the grand theatres dominate the cultural scene. Its a wonderful place to relax and soak in the culture, but if its hot nightlife you want, you should head to Salou on the coast. Reus has plenty of excellent restaurants and places to shop, so youll be sure to stay occupied.

Eating out

There are lots of great places to eat in Reus, from tapas bars to restaurants with fine dining. Like the rest of Spain, people in Reus dine late. Lunch is served from 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner from 21:00 to 23:00 in almost every restaurant. If you try to fight the Spanish eating schedule, youll really miss out, as the places which serve food continually from 13:00 until 01:00 tend not to be very good.

Local cuisine

Catalonian cuisine is hearty food marked by combinations that may seem strange at first glance. Red meat and fish are cooked together, nuts are pulped into sauces and poultry is cooked with fruit. Vegetarian dishes are virtually non-existent and the main meal at lunch is a big affair, which makes it hard to find anything light to eat. Catalonians like their food hearty and more elaborate than the cuisine of southern Spain. Salted cod is a particular favourite around Reus, but every other kind of seafood is also enjoyed in this region.

Tapas bars are a good choice for light eaters. The varieties are endless and include vegetarian, seafood and meat snacks. Catalonian food is perhaps best symbolised by one thing - pa amb tomaquet which is a slice of rustic bread rubbed with tomato pulp and drizzled with olive oil. This ubiquitous staple is reminiscent of the years during the Spanish Civil War, when times were hard for the local people and food was somewhat scarce.

Theatre and music

While you may be able to find a bit of live music at one of the bars around town, it is the theatre which takes top billing in Reus. The citys two glorious theatres - the Fortuny and the Bartrina - were originally built in the late 1800s and are well known within Spain. These Baroque buildings are treasures in their own right and continue to be used for world-class performances of all kinds. It is likely that you can catch a symphonic concert or a play during your visit to one of the venues.

Shopping

If its shopping youre after in Reus, then theres only one place to go. El Tomb de Reus is an amazing fusion of residential and commercial interests in one large district. Much of it is pedestrianised, which makes browsing the endless shops, cafs and coffee shops a real pleasure. Add to this the locals who live right in this neighbourhood and youve got a fascinating mix of culture. Located right in the heart of Reus, this area has it all and is the perfect place to spend your afternoons and evenings.