LAST FACTUAL UPDATE: 13th February 2020 (Before Coronavirus Lock-down)
Note: 22nd July 2022 – Please note that we are undertaking the slow process of updating the information below, some of which has changed, or continues to change, due to the Covid Pandemic, which has seriously affected the entire hospitality industry in Tenerife. Some bars, discos and nightspots still remain closed, or have scaled back operations and opening hours. Meanwhile, other new establishments have sprung up in their place.
We will continue to update this guide with the latest information, so please bear with us if anything is out of date.
Your ultimate guide to nightlife in Tenerife – All you need to know
Tenerife is one of the top destinations in Spain, or indeed most of Europe, for nightlife. The sheer variety of offerings and the number of bars, lounges and clubs leaves visitors spoilt for choice. Whether you are looking for a quiet drink with a view, or a full-on night out dancing and drinking until the sun comes up, Tenerife has you covered, regardless of your taste, style, budget or sexual orientation.
For those looking for lady luck, check out our Tenerife Casino Guide HERE
As there are literally hundreds of watering holes and nightspots in Tenerife, listing them is beyond even the Guru’s ability. Instead, we have focused on the main areas where you can find bars, lounges or nightclubs. You can view each area that we have highlighted on the map below, or in the clickable list further down below the map that takes you to a description of each area and what you can expect to find there.
TENERIFE SOUTH – Playa de las Americas & Los Cristianos
- CC Veronicas
- C.C. Starco
- The Patch
- Parque La Paz
- C.C. Safari
- C.C. San Telmo
- C.C. Passarella Oasis
- C.C. San Eugenio
- Puerto Colon
- Torviscas
TENERIFE NORTH – Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz & La Laguna
C.C. Veronicas
It is virtually impossible to have a discussion regarding nightlife in Tenerife without mentioning C.C. Veronicas. Located on the beachfront in the centre of Playa de Las Americas, this infamous ‘strip’ has been home to Tenerife’s most raucous nightlift for over 30 years. It gained even bigger fame and popularity after featuring regularly on the TV Series ‘Tenerife Uncovered’.
Some 300 metres long, it is home to numerous nightclubs and bars, most of which continue well into the early hours of the morning. Veronicas is located on the opposite side of a road and footpath tunnel to CC. Starco. Although technically separate, many partygoers typically find themselves drifting seamlessly backwards and forwards between the two areas as the night progresses.
Whilst still very popular today, it does not attract the same numbers of revellers as it did in a typical summer back in the 1990s, when the strip would be crammed with so many people, it was almost impossible to walk from one end to the other. However, the area still attracts partygoers in their 1000’s during busier nights of the year.
The age range for the area is typically young (18 – 35) but many older residents and tourists can also be spotted in the area, particularly on weekends or in the winter months. The format is generally the same everywhere. All bars offer free entry, but PRs on the street will try to tempt you into a particular bar with offers of ‘2 for 1’ drinks, free shots, etc etc. Some clubs offer free entry, whilst others charge an entry fee which typically includes your first drink.
The PRs are friendly but as they work purely on commission, they tend to be persistent and pushy. For anyone heading somewhere specific, a firm “no thanks mate” usually does the trick, or the old line “We are workers, mate” is also popular (PRs tend to leave other workers alone). However, some savvy PRs desperate to pay this month’s rent may see through this ruse and test you with ‘follow up’ questions, before they finally move on to easier prey. In most cases, avoiding the PRs and negotiating directly with each barman will get you better priced drinks with larger measures and a greater chance of being served with ‘Smirnoff’ rather than ‘Chekoff’. However, some regulars swear they get a better deal by by going through their favourite PR. You decide! Either way, alcohol measures are still relatively large, so those not accustomed to Spanish measures should pace themselves.
Music varies widely from bar to bar and club to club to suit all tastes. However, anyone looking for dance/house/techno/jungle/grime/R&B/Hip-hop/rock/chart music in any combination will easily find something to suit their tastes.
Any dress code along the strip is essentially non-existent. Some people dress up in their best club wear. Others rock up in amusing hen-night outfits with inflatable genitalia. Many just wear shorts and flip flops. You may even see the odd Borat ‘mankini’. Bottom line: anything goes on the strip.
The main exception to the above is ‘Papagayo’ nightclub. Located at the far end of Veronicas, this stunning semi-outdoor nightclub is Tenerife’s answer to Ibiza, Marbella and Miami. The club regularly hosts famous international DJs and attracts a far glitzier crowd than the rest of Veronicas. There is usually an entry fee (first drink included) and the dress code is smart casual (shorts, sandals, vests etc are not usually accepted). The most popular option is VIP bottle service in one of the private huts or on a sofa. The club is also popular late afternoon/early evening for sunset chill-out cocktail sessions. As with all nightclubs in Tenerife during the pandemic, dance-floors are officially closed, but this doesn’t seem to stop most patrons from shaking their stuff.
Although most visitors to Veronicas have a fantastic trouble-free night out, the strip does attract a very small percentage of unsavoury characters, particularly in the later hours around closing time. Like in most busy nightlife areas around the world, you can expect to rub shoulders with the occasional drug-dealer, pickpocket, beggar or prostitute. We deal with this more in our ‘SAFETY IN TENERIFE‘ page. However, as in all such areas around the world, basic common sense goes a long way and typically ensures a trouble-free visit. Avoid getting too drunk that you don’t know what you are doing or where you are going. Walk away from any situation where somebody attempts to start an argument or fight. Avoid walking around alone late at night. Avoid flashing the cash, expensive watches, jewellery or phones.
Map location: VERONICAS MAP
2. CC Starco
Referred to by some as the ‘little brother’ of Veronicas, Starco is in fact a thriving area in its own right and despite being slightly smaller than Veronicas, is in no way dwarfed or defeated by its slightly bigger brother.
Located literally across the road (or through the small tunnel) from Veronicas, Starco consists of similar bars and nightclubs, the vibe, range of music and clientele are essentially identical to what you will find in Veronicas. Depending on the night and time of year, the bars can get busy from as early 9.00pm onwards, whereas very few bars in Veronicas get lively before 11.00am. On the other hand, nearly all bars and clubs in Veronicas are closing or winding down by 4.00am, whereas Rags nightclub at Starco continues typically until 6.00am or beyond. Starco also has a few fast food outlets catering for the late night munchies.
Some of the more popular venues include Linekers Bar, Yates, METT and the famous Tramps Nightclub.
Map location for Starco: STARCO MAP
3. The Patch
Located a short walk east along the coast from Veronicas and Starco, ‘The Patch’ is an area reknowned for its nightlife, but is somewhat less energetic and boisterous than Veronicas or Starco. The area is host to dozens of bars, restaurants and even a nightclub.
The age range is mixed, from groups twenty-somethings right through to elderly couples. However, most of the bars and restaurants have more of a family feel to them, whereas most people wouldn’t feel comfortable partying with their entire family at Veronicas or Starco! The majority of bars are British or Irish, but a few other nationalities also feature in the area. Live entertainment, quizzes, Karaoke and comedians all feature strongly in this area, so if you are looking for some good live music, you are certain to find something to suit your taste. There are also a fair number of restaurants and fast-food outlets too, varying widely in selection and quality. Finally, for the young and young-at-heart, there is TIBU nightclub, which stays open until the early hours. In terms of safety, there is far less to worry about than in Veronicas or Starco, but visitors might come across the occasional pick-pocket, drug-dealer, looky-looky man etc. Visitors arriving or leaving after midnight are also likely to be approached by PRs working for the local strip clubs and escort venues.
Some of the more popular haunts include: Gaelic Corner, The Dubliner, Princess Di’s, Sax Bar, Railway Tavern, The Drunk ‘n’ Duck and Marquee Bar.
Map Location for ‘The Patch’: THE PATCH MAP
4. Parque La Paz
This is a strip of bars, pubs and eateries attached to Aparthotel Parque la Paz in Playa de las Americas. They cater primarily for the British and Irish but many nationalities find there way here. The strip consists of approximately 8 different bars with indoor and outdoor seating. Most offer different forms of live entertainment, depending on the night of the week. Some also serve food, ranging from full menu offerings to simple bar snacks. Drink prices are pitched for the tourist market but are still quite reasonable, particularly in comparison to nearby Safari Centre. The other advantage of this area is that some of the bars are open for daytime/afternoon drinking.
PARQUE LA PAZ MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/XfjLwVB5RYax2SNX6
5. C.C. Safari
Located in what is known as the ‘Golden Mile’ in Playa de Las Americas, C.C. Safari Centre is an upmarket open-air complex featuring various shops, bars and restaurants.
Popular with visitors and residents alike, a typical evening at Safari Centre might begin with pre-dinner drinks in the legendary Harrys Bar with views of the fountain light show, followed by dinner in one of the many top quality restaurants. Some restaurants also offer live entertainment during and after dinner, e.g. El Embrujo, which features an amazing Flamenco show.
After dinner, the socialising continues over drinks in one of the local bars, some of which feature live music or karaoke. However, those wishing to continue on into the early hours usually find their way across the street to the famous ‘Magic Lounge’, where the plush decor, VIP bottle tables and live entertainment followed by a late night DJ keep the young and the ‘young at heart’ on their toes until well into the early hours.
Popular local haunts after dinner include Harrys Bar, Magic Lounge, Hard Rock Cafe and the Biergarten.
C.C. Safari Map: https://goo.gl/maps/BqFJTxJjxbz351HG7
6. C.C. San Telmo
Located on the beachfront by Playa Las Vistas beach in Los Cristianos, San Telmo is a large complex featuring dozens of restaurants, bars and shops. It has more of a Spanish/European feel to it than most of the nighlife spots in South Tenerife. As such, it is popular with locals and visitors wishing to avoid the typical tourist bars and restaurants.
The complex consists of 3 levels. The upper roadside level features predominantly Spanish or Italian run restaurants and bars, including two popular nightclubs, Casablanca and Punta Cana. Whilst most restaurants on this level double up as bars to enjoy a pre or post dinner drink, the action until midnight is really limited to the restaurants, after which time the nightclubs begin to liven up.
C.C. San Telmo – Top Floor / Road Level
The middle level of the complex is accessible from the side stairs running down to the beach. This features a number of small bars, which open late and don’t tend to get lively until at least 11pm or later.
C.C. San Telmo – Middle Level
Finally, the lower level of the complex is accessible from the beach promenade. This area features various shops, bars and restaurants. Many of the businesses on this level are open nearly all day and cater to the passing tourist trade and beach visitors, whilst in the evening they offer dinner, drinks and some live entertainment.
C.C. San Telmo – Lower Level Beach Promenade
C.C. San Telmo Map: https://goo.gl/maps/uKUw7Md74QxhREDp8
7. C.C. Passarella Oasis
This popular commercial centre is located in Los Cristianos, a 5 minute walk from the seafront or a 10 minute walk from the town centre.
The centre features various shops, businesses, bars and restaurants. There are also a couple of rows of bars and restaurants in locations dotted around the centre within walking distance. During the day, the main activity of the area focuses around the banks, offices, shops, cafes and a surprisingly well stocked supermarket, but from late afternoon through to late night, the focus shifts to the bars and restaurants. The entire top floor features the famous ‘La Pepa’ food court, offering a wide variety of international cuisine from various stalls and outlets, to be eaten in a large open-air communal area featuring big screens that show major sporting events.
Some of the more popular bars in the area include Manhattans, Casey’s and Taylors Lounge. The action generally continues until around 1.00am, but outdoor music is prohibited after midnight.
Nightlife in the area is fairly low-key and generally attracts families, couples and groups of friends.
C.C. Passarella Oasis MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/mGyTmWi8UaccdH1R7
C.C. San Eugenio
Although the San Eugenio shopping centre itself doesn’t contain any bars or nightlife to speak of, it is located bang in the centre of a zone featuring various popular bars and restaurants, catering primarily to the British and Irish, but which also attract visitors from various other countries.
On one side, 400m from the shopping centre and opposite the Iberostar Bouganville Playa Hotel, is a small parade of businesses that includes a few live entertainment bars and venues, featuring live music, comperes, comedians etc. The most popular are the Star bar, Wali Kaii and the Pheasant Plucker. All are family-orientated bars and generally wind down after midnight.
Star Bar – Opposite Iberostar Bouganville Playa Hotel
On the opposite side of the roundabout outside C.C. San Eugenio is another area featuring several lively bars, including St Eugens, Temple Bar, Coconut Bar and The Thirsty Turtle. Again, all nightlife in this area is family orientated. Most bars continue open after midnight but usually begin to wind down from this hour onwards.
St Eugens & Temple Bar
Head further up the street (away from the sea) and you will come across another area featuring a number of bars and restaurants, including the Irish Rover, the Rumpot, Faces Irish Pub and the Cobra bar. Again, all bars in this area are family friendly.
C.C. San Eugenio MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/kmekjrfvVJBnSsmD9
9. Puerto Colon
Puerto Colon is a popular area for both day and nighttime activities. During the day, the action revolves around the beach and the boating marina, with various bars, cafes and shops catering to tourists and local workers. Most bars open in the early afternoon and many have live entertainment or screen popular sporting events from early-afternoon onwards.
A few of the more popular bars include The White Horse, Irish Rose, and Skybar.
Puerto Colon Harbour & Commercial Centre
Puerto Colon MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/Ypxt7ph76h3J1TQp7
10. Torviscas
Head west up the coast approximately 2 kilometres from Playa de Las Americas and you will arrive in Torviscas, a part of what is known as Costa Adeje.
This predominantly tourist area has some great restaurants, whilst nightlife revolves mainly around the tourist bars, cabaret lounges, live bands, karaoke venues and bars showing live sports.
Some of the more popular For British/International venues, check out the Wigan Pier and the Moonlight Bar. Or for a more Spanish experience, try La Flaca Cafe
Daytime through to sunset, the beach clubs on and around Torviscas Beach are particularly popular.Check out Le Club, Fiji Beach Club and Kaluna Beach Club
Meanwhile, for revellers looking for late-night action away from the tourists, the best option is Achaman Disco Pub, a Spanish/Latin disco which stays open until the early hours, plays great music and serves great, reasonably priced cocktails.
11. Puerto de la Cruz
Located on the north coast of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz is Tenerife’s oldest and original holiday resort. Whilst this picturesque town is still fairly popular, it has somewhat lagged behind its more popular cousins in the south, particularly since the financial crisis of 2007 – 2013.
As such Puerto de la Cruz is very much a contradiction in terms. Those seeking modern international bars and nightclubs are likely to be disappointed, as are most groups of younger single travellers. However, perhaps ironically due to the lack of investment in tourism, PDLC has managed to retain a lot of its historic Canarian character that the resorts in the south have either lost over time, or never had to begin with.
From a typical tourist’s perspective, PDLC’s nightlife is fairly low key. The age range for visitors outside of July and August is generally ‘of advanced years’, intermixed with a smattering of younger tourist couples and Spanish locals. In 2018, the average age of the estimated 900,000 visitors to PDLC was officially declared as ’47’, although many local residents joke that the statisticians must have jumbled those two digits back to front. As a whole, the resort attracts very few single visitors, particularly from outside Spain, even in the summer months. PDLC also attracts a rather different mix of nationalities to the south, with the focus switching away from the typical British / Irish themed entertainment in the south, whilst attracting more Germans, Scandinavians and mainland Spanish. The resort also has a well-established Gay Scene, although this has declined somewhat over the past few years.
Whilst there are several bars open from afternoon and early evening, the livelier nightlife doesn’t really get going until after midnight. The reason being is that it caters primarily for Spanish or Canarian youngsters, as opposed to tourists. Many older tourists who typically go to bed before midnight could be forgiven for thinking that PDLC has no nightlife whatsoever, as they are unlikely to ever stumble across it.
However, for those looking to embrace Canarian culture and who are not averse to staying up late, PDLC has some lively nightlife options, particularly on the weekends.
Nightlife options in PDLC
Most of the livelier bars and clubs are roughly located between the areas of Playa San Telmo and Plaza de Charco. We have listed some of the more popular places below:
Blanco Bar
Situated in the rather aptly named Calle Blanco, Blanco Bar is a popular bar/nightclub catering primarily for Spanish and locals, but which also attracts a fair number of visitors and tourists. It ranges from ‘quiet’ to ‘dead’ during the week, but is generally heaving after midnight on the weekends. The music is mostly Pop, Chart, Techno, House and Latin. Look out for special events such as Comedy Nights.
Website: https://www.blancobar.com/
2. The Molly Malone
Located in Calle Las Lonjas in the centre of Playa San Telmo, this lively Irish Pub has been entertaining tourists and locals alike for over 30 years and is perhaps the most international and visitor-friendly nightspot in PDLC. Enjoy live music every night from 9.30pm, except on Sundays.
Website: http://www.themollymalone.es/
3. Bee Hive Pub
Located in Calle La Hoya in the centre of Playa San Telmo, this is one of PDLC’s few British Bars and is generally considered to be the best of the bunch. They show all major English, Scottish and Irish sporting events, which is also evidenced by the ceiling-full of scarves for various teams. Customers can also enjoy a game of darts or pool whilst sipping on their favourite drink.
Facebook page: BEEHIVE TENERIFE
4. Las Tejas Verdes
Looking for something a little more Spanish during your visit to PDLC? Then look no further. Las Tejas Verdes is a charming Canarian bar conveniently located at Calle Puerto Viejo 28 (click to view on Map)
This cozy bar plays live Spanish music performed by their duo act “Tejas Verdes” from 8pm to 1am. There is also a nice outdoor patio to enjoy your drinks ‘al fresco’.
For more info, visit their website here: LAS TEJAS VERDES
5. Abaco
Located a 5 minute taxi ride outside of Puerto de la Cruz in the village of El Durazno is the charming restaurant and Flamenco showbar ‘Abaco’.
Set in a quaint, traditional Canarian building and charming courtyard, Abaco serves great food, but the real draw is their famous ‘Flamenco Show’, plus occasional concerts and even Opera. Start upstairs for dinner and flamenco and then move downstairs for drinks at the bar with a pianist who takes requests.
For more info, check out their facebook page: HERE
12. Santa Cruz (Capital)
With its chic city vibe, amazing architecture, lively bars and amazing restaurants, Santa Cruz is an amazing, but often overlooked, nightlife destination for visitors to Tenerife.
Below we have listed a few (but by no means all) of the more popular nightspots in the city.
Bar 92
Located at Calle de Santiago 20, this cozy bar is renowned for its great music selection, including live music acts. They even make their own alcohol! Bar 92 is open from Wednesday to Saturday until 2.00am / 3.00am.
For more info, visit their website here: BAR 92 WEBSITE
2. La Guiri
Conveniently situated at Calle el Clavel 9, this charming bar with an American twist serves cocktails, craft beers and a wide variety of whiskies. Come for the drinks, stay for the ambience!
View their Tripadvisor page and Map: HERE
