Nightlife in Gibraltar

As the sun goes down on the Rock then Gibraltar’s wide variety of different nightlife pursuits come to life, from a relaxed marina facing meal to vibrant discos and pubs.

As beautiful and exciting Gibraltar might be in the daylight, offering countless leisure options both to its inhabitants and tourists, going out in Gibraltar in the evening have undoubtedly their charm. But first things first: depending on your idea of a fun night in the city, there are several choices to be made.

Wine and Dine

Starting a wild night out at a quiet little restaurant can be quite contrasting. Our advice: never start a drinking session with an empty stomach. Like in many towns, the hidden gems are often down the side streets and to some respects this is true for Gibraltar. The concentration of restaurants is in Casemates Square, Ocean Village or Queensway Quay so maybe stroll around and see what menu grabs you. From juicy steaks to creamy pastas, from fresh seafood to a traditional lamb shank, from Indian to Italian, Spanish or Jewish, Gibraltar’s cuisine scene is quite an eclectic one.

If you are a “meat person” then Gauchos, situated just by Casemates Square, is a great choice, especially if you prefer an intimate ambiance, as they have the seating arrangements ideal for smaller and larger groups. For a delicious Cod Fillet in a Beer Batter and a splendid sea view, try The Lounge Gastro Bar in Queensway Quay. When fresh beers and colleagues or friends enter into the equation, you should know that all roads will lead you to Ocean Village. Gatsby’s, located in Watergarden is one of the best Classic British Pubs in town.

Fighting next mornings’ hangover, Lord Nelson’s full English breakfast enjoyed at early weekend hours gives you a true taste of Gibraltar in the morning. Sitting in a comfy raffia chair while waiting for your delicious plateau, you’ll get the chance to admire noiseless Grand Casemates Square, usually brimming with tourists and early riser.

When it comes to delicious food, attractive plating and first rate services, hidden gems, in our opinion, are Paparazzi or Cafe Rojo so put them in Google and search them out, as we are sure they are worth looking for. As you can imagine, these are just a few of the restaurants in Gibraltar where you may properly start your night.

Bar Crawling in Ocean Village

If you are a big fan of exquisitely mixed spirits, you must try some of the fancy cocktail bars located on the west side of Gibraltar, in Ocean Village Marina. In many of the bars you can have a drink whilst looking out to the marina and the sea which on a warm summers evening is heavenly. O'Reilly's Irish Bar, Brunos, The Cuban or The Ivy Sports bar are just a few bars in Gibraltar where you can spend some quality time with your friends, over a few glasses of wine, originally garnished cocktails or some ice cold beers. Friday night is THE night to go out so after a week at work, grab a drink with friends and mingle! Later on you might want to check out the Dusk Nightclub, the most popular nightclub in Gibraltar, who play house and dance music.

Gaming Time!

What about some good old poker challenge or roulette? Are you into the thrilling chase of winning prizes? Then we have some good news for you: entertainment in Gibraltar is synonymous with casinos. Casino Admiral at Leisure Island is the first European facility to house a casino, bingo club and sports betting zone under one roof. Once you enter the Admiral, you have multiple choices: jackpot slots, bingo or an 80-seat poker. And you can always take a break and enjoy a great drink at one of Admirals five bars.

Casino Sunborn, an amazing five stars super yacht hotel provides both traditional table games (American Roulette, Blackjack, Sunborn Stud Poker and Mini Punto Banco) and Electronic Roulette, slot machines and progressive jackpots.

Party like the Irish!

Former Back Street, today known as Irish Town, the road which runs parallel to Main Street is the home of great bars, one of them being the oldest in Gibraltar. Legend says that here, several hundred years Christopher Columbus diverted into Gibraltar to enjoy some fillet steak meal at The Star Tavern. The Clipper and the Royal Oak, decorated in a unique marine style, are must-see spots in Gibraltar.

Dance, party, sing. Repeat.

Wearing your favourite dancing shoes means only one thing: you are up for an all-nighter dancing experience, so we recommend Dusk Night Club but no need to get there before about 12.30 / 1am as it will be fairly empty until then. Bars in Gibraltar are known for providing an exciting evening programme, especially during weekends, when you can have your fair share of live music. Casemates Square, once a place of public executions, host nowadays many cosmopolitan bars and fashionable cafes and restaurants where you can attend live concerts. Casemates Square is also the home of Gibraltar’s Spring Festival, organized by the Culture & Heritage Agency and known to be one of the most lengthened cultural manifestations in Gibraltar: three weeks filled with entertaining activities like dance shows, cultural events (art exhibitions, theatrical performances etc.), concerts and activities for kids. The festival’s grand finale is known as “Calentita”, a beloved street party and food festival that reaches this year its 10^th edition. By taking part in this culinary demonstration, you’ll get to have a taste of Gibraltar’s culinary scene, represented this year by stalls from UK, India, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Genoese and many more.

But meanwhile, you don’t have to barricade yourself in the house and get deprived from a good old clubbing experience. Located at Ocean Village Marina, Dusk Cocktail Terrace and Nightclub is our first option when it comes to attend a thrilling party in Gibraltar.

Festivals in Gibraltar

There are also events to cater for pure dance music tastes through to heavy rock.

The Gibraltar Music Festival is by far the most renowned event from Gibraltars entertainment agenda. The annual music festival has been taking place at the Victoria Stadium since 2012, every year in mid-September, gathering some of the best names in music. Some 10,000 people each year have listened to acts such as Kings of Leon, Duran Duran, Keizer Chiefs, Rita Ora, Ollie Murs, Little Mix, Jessie J, The Script, Level 42, Tony Hadley, Madness and many more.

There are also events to cater for pure dance music tastes through to heavy rock. Held at the Victoria Stadium, Monkey Rocks Festival has around 3500 attendees annually and it also takes place in September. Gibraltar Drama Festival, Gibraltar Literary Festival, Gibraltar International Song Festival, Gibraltar Festival of Colours or Gibraltars National Day are all great opportunities to attend and enjoy at The Rock!

Held at the Victoria Stadium, Monkey Rocks Festival has around 3500 attendees annually and it also takes place in September more specifically on National Day (10th September). This year, the festival reaches its third edition, so keep checking their Facebook page, as they should announce the headliners any minute now.

Although it only debuted last summer, the Festival of Colours was a huge success among youngsters, who gathered on a warm sunny evening at Europa Point, wearing only white clothes. Quite bizarre, right? Well, not, if you know about Holi spring festival, an ancient Hindu religious festival originating in India. Basing its concept on this particular event, the Festival Of Colours is a unique experience due to the coloured powder thrown up in the air, that’ll paint the participants’ white clothes in a multitude of rainbow like nuances. Great music, joyful people and a stunning setting are the key ingredients of Gibraltar’s Festival of Colours.

Gibraltar International Drama Festival will take place this spring at the Ince’s Hall Theatre, so if you have some acting skill, might want to compete for the big prize! Gibraltar Literary Festival, Gibraltar International Song Festival, or Gibraltar’s National Day are all great opportunities to attend and enjoy at The Rock!

Gibraltar Electronic Music Festival just announced its first international act for 2016 – Lady Waks, who’ll come straight from Russia and perform at in august on one of the festival’s two stages. Many more artists to be announced on a weekly basis, so keep your eyes wide open, while you purchase your tickets for this summers’ hot, electrical nights!

Alternatives

Taking your family out for a fun night together is a great idea and people are generally much more tolerant to families being out in the evening than in the UK for example. Kings Bastion Leisure Centre, located on Queensway Road offers many leisure options: cinema, bowling, and Ice Skating Rink, an amusement arcade or a Games Room. Salsa & Latin American Dance classes can be a fun was to spend your Saturday evenings. Rockers will love Rock On The Rock club, where the biggest rock hits off all times are constantly played and special events and concerts are regularly organised for rock fans.

Whether it comes to coffee shops, restaurant, nightclubs or bars, cinemas or casinos, Gibraltar has the all, offering to both its residents and visitors the chance to experience the citys vibe long after the sunset.