A look at the many nightlife options when you visit Platja d’Aro.
As the sun starts to set Platja d’Aro takes on a different vibe. As holiday makers pack up their towels and beach gear, many people head straight to the bars for some kind of liquid refreshment.
And then, after washing off the sand and sun block under the shower, it’s time to grab something to eat. While many may head straight back to their hotel or apartment afterwards, for many it’s just the beginning of the evening.
It’s time to chat away with a cocktail in hand, listen to music or – maybe, just maybe – dance the night away.
In this guide to Platja d’Aro’s nightlife we’ll take a look what’s available to do in this popular beach resort after dark. We’ll look at options to suit different tastes and ages.
But if you think something is missing or wrong then leave a comment at the end. We’ll update the information when this page is next refreshed.
Bars
The bars along the promenade start to get pretty busy after around 6pm. That’s when the beach loses the sun in the shade of the apartment buildings built on the seafront.
I have no idea who approved planning permission for the high rise apartment buildings right on the promenade. But they are so close to the beach that it loses the sun earlier than before they were built. And that is just stupid.
Anyway, many of these bars have comfortable sofas and chairs rather than the rigid plastic or aluminum seating typically found in these establishments. So take a seat and relax, sip something cool and gaze out at the sparkling Mediterranean.
The high street also has a load of bars with pavement seating. If you don’t mind breathing in exhaust fumes and into cars it’ll suit you. On top of all the Porsches you’re likely to see the occasional Ferrari, Aston Martin, Hummer or Lambo.
There are far too many bars to list here. Just find somewhere you like the look of. If you don’t like it you can easily move on.
Restaurants
Just like the bars, you’ll find plenty of choice to eat in Platja d’Aro. Once again, most restaurants are either on the sea front or on the high street.
Most restaurants on the promenade offer the typical selection of you’ll find in restaurants up and down the Costa Brava. Often it’s easier to pick somewhere to eat simply by whether you can get table or not.
Below we’ve listed a number of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. It’s intended to be a full listing of Platja d’Aro restaurants, but rather to give you an idea of the options available.
Spanish
If you’re looking for paella or fish then you’ve got a huge choice among the restaurants on the promenade serving Spanish and Catalan cuisine.
Pizza
It’s pretty hard to go wrong with pizza and sometimes we all need something doughy to curb our carb cravings. Sometimes pa amb tomàquet might be enough, but on other occasions there is nothing that can beat pizza.
There are plenty of pizza joints, but La Proa Pizzería Braseria (Av. del Cavall Bernat, 16), Restaurante la Dolce Vita (Av. del Cavall Bernat, 57) and Restaurant Pizzería Cafetería Llevant (Av. de s’Agaró, 57) all have good ratings.
Steak
If a nice juicy steak is your thing then you’ll find yourself well catered for in Platja d’Aro. Argentina is famous for its beef so carnivores should be more than happy with the Argentine-run Parrilla Catalina (Carrer Josep Bas, 22). Other options for meat-eaters are Don Quijote (Carrer Església, 60) and Restaurant Llevant (Av. de s’Agaró, 186).
Ethnic
While Platja d’Aro doesn’t have the sheer variety of ethnic restaurants you find in the UK, that doesn’t mean you don’t have some choice. Spice lovers can get their fill of Indian food at Taj Mahal (Carrer de Josep Maria Vila, 6) or if a Thai curry is more your thing then there’s the Thai Lounge (Av. del Cavall Bernat, 72-74).
For Chinese food head to Fulin (Carrer Juli Garreta, 10) or if you prefer Japanese then you’ll be thankful for Sushidaro (Carrer Josep Bas, 21).
Fast food
If you’re looking for a burger and want to stick with one of the big brands then you’ll find both McDonald’s and Burger King on the high street. This can be great if you have kids who both hungry and fussy! There are also quite a number of places serving kebabs in Platja d’Aro.
Live music
If live music is your thing then you’ve got some great choices, although rather limited, for listening to jazz and other music.
Nits de Jazz
The Nits de Jazz – jazz nights – takes place every Friday, mostly starting at 11pm. You’ll see the stage and chairs set out on Friday evenings but it’s free to attend and perfect a perfect start to the weekend. The concerts are advertised extensively around the town.
New Orleans Club
New Orleans Club is a bar and restaurant where you can go to hear live jazz. It’s open throughout the year and open until 3am featuring a variety of performers.
Friends Lounge Restaurant
This informal restaurant goes on until 2am and as well as offering food it often hosts events with live music.
Nightclubs
Do you look good on the dance floor – or like you’re dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984?
Either way if you’re looking for a bit of a boogey while in Platja d’Aro you’re spoilt for choice. Mala Vida (Carrer Església, 54), Gib’s (Carrer Església, 53) and Be Out (Avinguda de s’Agaró, 162) are just three to get you started. If you find somewhere that plays your kind of music with a crowd feel comfortable then stick with it.
Nightclubs open late in Spain and people go to bed late. They almost never open before 11pm and don’t expect things to finish before 3 or 4am at the earliest. You’ll need to check with each venue to find out when they’re open exactly. Dates and times vary throughout the year.
Bowling
If you like bowling then you might like to head to Ilusiona d’Aro Bowling, in the retail park near the marina. It’s open from 4pm until midnight most nights, but on Friday and Saturday it doesn’t close until 2am and 3am.
Cinema
While this multiplex cinema generally shows films dubbed into Spanish, it also has regular screenings of subtitled films shown in their original language. Mainly that means the latest Hollywood blockbusters shown in English.
Ocine is located in retail park near the marina. Screenings take place at 8:30pm every couple of weeks on a Thursday night and they can get pretty packed. It just depends on what’s being shown.
Amusement Park
PPS Park (Av. de S’Agaró, 110) is open daily between late May and early September. It’s also open at weekends from mid-March to the end of October.
The park has all kinds of attractions suitable for the whole family, such as roller coasters, water rides and inflatables. You can also get food and drinks there, making it ideal to keep bored kids happy.
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