Opium Mar Club / Restaurant

Port Olimpic / Barceloneta, Barcelona –

With a prime beachfront location, a maze-like space, a smattering of big-name DJs, and a liquor license that allows the club to serve and stay open until 6am, it’s no wonder Opium Mar is one of the most talked-about venues in Barcelona.

The elegant cream interior was cleverly designed to feature a host of split levels and raised platforms, as well as half a dozen bars and several cordoned-off VIP areas, that together create an exciting nightlife playground.

A large dance floor in the center is flanked on one side by a long bar and a well-placed VIP area where patrons can sink into beige sofas and treat themselves to a prime view of the action.

Regardless of the plush décor awaiting them inside, many patrons take advantage of the warmer nights to start their evening out on Opium’s beach terrace, where a mix of formal seating for dining and creamy couches for lounging offer a chance to admire the sea and flirt with the other good-looking guests.

Around 1am, however, a steady stream of young women in tight dresses and high heels begins to arrive, closely followed by hordes of continental playboys with slicked-back hair and roguish smiles.

A few expensive cocktails later, and both groups make their way to the dance floor to show off their moves and watch the beautiful go-go dancers on stage.

The party really gets swinging after 3am, when the nearby lounges and clubs close and swarms of clubbers arrive for more late-night action.

Slightly pretentious but still able to deliver an energetic good time, Opium Mar is definitely on the must-see list for anyone who enjoys a club scene with a more upscale flair.