Going out in Seville

ACTIVITIES >>GOING OUT

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>> Nightlife

PHOTO REPORTS

Alameda de Hercules

Plaza Alfalfa

El Arenal

Calle Betis / Triana

Mateos Gago /Santa Cruz

Cartuja

Nervion

DJ Thorsten

More Information:

Jeff on La Marcha

When looking for nightlife in a new city it’s best to find the districts where the action is. Below are some of the spots where you can find something on almost any night of the week. We mention a few of the popular bars, but realize everyone has their own tastes. So we recommend finding these areas and then making a choice which appeals to you!

Alfalfa: nightlife activity in the heart of the city center starts with the area around Plaza Alfalfa, most notably on Calle Perez Galdos and several surrounding streets. A collection of smaller bars attracts a lively mix of Spaniards and visitors with the activity beginning close to midnight. Popular spots include el Cabo Loco, Sopa de Ganso and Berlin, which stays open until the early morning hours. Just down the street on Calle Siete Revueltas is El Mundo, with live flamenco on Thursday nights, and a mixed crowd.

Calle Betis: along the water front in Triana, Calle Betis is famous in Seville for it’s offering of nightlife. Many larger bars line the waterfront offering views of the city center, where younger groups gather. Boss, one of Seville’s largest discotecas, is a popular spot for the after hours crowd. Lo Nuestro is well known for it’s nightly flamenco music performances. Calle Betis is especially popular in the summer and warmer months for those looking to cool off by the river. It’s best to walk down the street and choose from the large number of bars.

Alameda: the center of the alternative scene in Seville lies just 5 minutes from the Plaza del Duque in the large open plaza of Alameda de Hercules. It’s common to find as many people outside in the plaza as it is inside the large selection of bars lining the plaza. Live music in some bars, and at times outside in the plaza, can often be found on any given night. Just a few blocks off the main plaza is Café Hercules, a popular hang out for local artists and performers.

River/Terrazas: During the summer months the river and the parks are the most popular spots for nightlife. Locals and tourists alike flock to these cooler spots in the city to enjoy the outdoor patios of several bars. Just next to the Torre del Oro along the river banks there is plenty of seating around a kiosk style bar for a relaxing late afternoon drink. A kilometer away at the Triana Bridge is Capote, another outdoor bar with views of the river and bridge, which gets moving later in the night. Several bars along the Paseo de la O in Triana, (opposite Calle Betis) are also popular nightlife spots. Finally the area bordering the Maria Luisa Park there are several bars which are popular in the summer such as El Bilindo and Chile.

Viapol: just a short walk (or quick taxi ride) from the city center in the more modern quarter of Seville lies the area of Viapol, named for the large government building complex bordering La Buhaira neighborhood. A young crowd often starts at O’Neill’s Pub, one of Seville’s largest Irish Pubs, and then later moves to such nightlife spots as Wall Street and Voulez-Bar. There are several discotecas in La Buhaira on the way back to the city center and Puerta Carmona.

Arenal/Cathedral: Starting around the Cathedral on Calle Argote de Molina is a small collection of bars offering copas, or mixed drinks. From Flaherty’s, one of Seville’s most touristy Irish bars which caters to English speakers, to Antiguedades, where the walls and ceilings are decorated with interesting local art. Crossing over to Arenal, between the Cathedral and the river, there are several bars along Calle Adriano and the surrounding streets. Nu Yor offers mojitos and Cuban music for an older crowd, while Elefunk features sevilla5’s own DJ Thorsten on some nights.

>> Music & Theatre

PHOTO REPORTS

Teatro de la Maestranza

Evening at Teatro Central

Teatro Lope de Vega

More Information:

Teatro de la Maestranza

Orchesta Sinfónica de Sevilla

Teatro Central

El Giraldillo

OPERA AND ZARZUELA:
Venue: Teatro de la Maestranza
Price: 6 - 80 €
Season: Dec - June

Teatro de la Maestranza
Paseo Colón, 22
tel: 954 22 33 44

Teatro Central
Isla de la Cartuja
Avda. José de Gálvez s/n
Tel: 955 037 200

Teatro Lope de Vega
Avda. María Luisa, s/n.
Tel: 954 590 855

There are several theatres in Seville which provide a variety of performances. In these venues visitors to the city are offered a wide variety of the arts: opera, zarzuela, plays, flamenco, music and ballet.

Teatro de la Maestranza
Seville's premier venue, built specifically to host some of the best opera in Europe, is the Teatro de la Maestranza. Located by the river on Paseo Colon, the theatre was designed by architects Luis Marin de Teran and Aurelio del Pozo, with a capacity of just under 1,800 spectators. A smaller concert hall with seating for approximately 400, plus two exhibition halls complete the main facilities. The season generally runs from December until the middle of June, with typical programming of opera, zarzuela, ballet and classical concerts by the Royal Symphonic Orchestra of Seville. Piano, flamenco, and other musical concerts are also complimented by several dance performances. Depending on the event and seat location, tickets prices range from 6 to 80 Euros.

Teatro Central
Situated in the Isla Cartuja, former site of the World's Fair, Teatro Central is known as a highly adaptable venue, able to host a range of events from music and plays to dance and various other performance arts. Some of the best flamenco artists can often be found in the yearly programming. Ticket prices for events in Teatro Central often range from 4 - 50 Euros depending on the performance.

Teatro Lope de Vega
Located next to the Maria Luisa Park, the Teatro Lope de Vega was the former pavilion for the city of Seville during the 1929 Expo. Now operated by the city government, the venue hosts many events during the year including opera, theatre and Seville’s annual film festival. Classical, pop and flamenco music are also regularly scheduled. The theatre itself is worth visiting as an architectural site. Designed by architect Vicente Traver y Tomás, elements of the baroque style can be seen throughout the entire structure.

Small Independent Theatres
There are a number of smaller theatres and salas which hold a variety of events. Teatro Alameda is one example: a theatre with programming specifically aimed at children and the younger audience. The best way to stay informed about the events in these smaller theatres is to obtain a copy of El Giraldillo, a monthly magazine which lists up to date programming. Free copies of the magazine can be found in the tourist offices as well as many bars and restaurants in the city.

>> Workshops

Photo Reports:

Samba music parade

Modern dance

Price range: 20-50 Euros /week

>> Markets

PHOTO REPORTS

Collectables: Cabildo

Art: Museo

Antiques: El Jueves

Animals: Alfalfa

Accessories: Plaza Duque

Food market: Feria

More Information:

Jeff on Outdoor Markets

SEVILLE'S MARKETS - The many outdoor markets in Seville provide an opportunity to see a bit of local life while shopping for something more original. From arts, crafts, or antiques, to fresh foods, collectable coins and stamps or pets, the markets in Seville offer a little something for everyone. Most specialty markets are on Sunday, while the food markets are open almost every day.

Collectables – stamps, coins, pins and semi-precious stones are the main attractions in the Sunday market in El Cabildo, just across the Avenida Constitución. In the same plaza you will find several stores dedicated to the sale of the same collectables. A small selection of antiques, watches and other items varies each Sunday.

Art – in the Plaza del Museo, just off of Calle Alfonso XII and in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Every Sunday, weather permitting, local artists sell their works along the plaza. Most of the works are paintings and sketches, but occasionally other pieces are on sale as well. Many of the younger artists are studying at the Fine Arts Faculty and support their studies by selling their works on the weekends.

El Jueves – Seville’s oldest market, on calle Feria every Thursday morning, has been a tradition for centuries. While officially an antiques market, there is a little bit of everything to choose from in what is more of a flea market atmosphere. At El Jueves, you are sure to experience plenty of local color and customs. Everything from furniture, compliments, old electronics, flamenco dresses and posters can be found every Thursday. Haggling over the price of many items is customary.

Animal Market – one of the most popular markets on Sunday is the Alfalfa Pet Market. The plaza is crowded with Sunday morning strollers, with the main draw being the dogs featuring pure and mixed breeds. But there is also a wide variety of pets for sale including birds, cats, fish and reptiles, in what has evolved into a petting zoo of sorts.

Hippie Markets – there are two markets in the Plaza del Duque and Plaza Magdalena which offer a wide variety of accessories and crafts. In Plaza del Duque local artisans and merchants sell everything from jewelry and bags, to belts, scarves and crafts. In Plaza Magdalena one can find a variety of crafts and clothing as well as carved figures and masks from Africa. The markets are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Food Markets – in the center and outlying neighborhoods one can find a number of fresh food markets selling vegetables, meats and seafood. This is a wonderful way to see some of everyday life in Seville as well as pick up something good to eat. Closest to the center is the market in PLAZA ENCARNACIÓN, although this location is perhaps currently the least interesting. The work on the new Encarnación market is underway, although not expected to be finished until sometime in 2007. The TRIANA market, just across the bridge from the center city, is the best location in Seville. Recently rebuilt over the ruins of the Castillo de San Jorge. The market offers plenty of space, air conditioning, and a few tapas bars. Other locations in the historic center are the market on calle FERIA as well as one in ARENAL on Calle Galera which also houses a small supermarket.