A guide to nightlife in the Balearics

The Balearic Islands are home to some of the world's best bars and clubs, making the region a party animal's paradise. The sheer number of venues means there's something for everyone; take a look at our guide to find out more.

Ibiza

Ibiza is the ultimate clubbing destination thanks to a slew of award-winning nightclubs that have become recognised names around the globe. Amnesia is one of these; it has won several awards giving it the status of best club in the world, and has expanded to the extent that it now has clubs in five different locations.

However, it's the original Amnesia on San Antonio Road that you should make a point of visiting on your break. Thousands of people fill its dance floors during the summer months, taking refreshment from the dozens of bars located around the club - making for an exhilarating, unforgettable experience.

If you've booked a holiday in San Antonio specifically, you'll find many more bars and clubs to visit. This part of Ibiza is home to two of the most famous venues on the island - Cafe del Mar and Cafe Mambo.

Cafe del Mar is perfect if you prefer a more relaxed night out compared with the sometimes frenetic goings-on at the bigger, more colourful clubs. Head here in the early evening to take in some excellent ambient music as the sun goes down, or visit later on to wind down at the end of a big night.

Cafe Mambo, meanwhile, is probably best known for the BBC Radio 1 events and festivals hosted there each year. It also offers great views of the famous Ibiza sunset and its resident DJs include Andy Baxter and Jason Bye.

Majorca

Majorca - or Mallorca, to use its Spanish name - doesn't have as many trendy clubs as Ibiza, but there are still plenty of options for keen clubbers to choose from. One of these is Pacha in Son Caliu.

As you might guess from the name, it's one of the outposts of the original Pacha venue in Ibiza, bringing a little bit of that island's clubbing culture to Majorca. With four rooms providing everything from funk, soul and house music to fine dining, the club aims to cater for a range of tastes.

Another major club in Majorca is BCM in Magaluf, where clubbers can dance all night long to tunes pumped out by an impressive 65,000-watt sound system. It's a good idea to time your trip to coincide with one of the events the club holds during the summer; highlights of this year's line-up include performances and DJ sets by Jessie J and Calvin Harris, as well as music from regulars like Dave Pearce and Judge Jules.

If you'd rather chill out in a bar, try Abaco for some excellent cocktails, or Bar Maritimo for a relaxing drink in retro surroundings. Both can be found in Palma de Mallorca.

Menorca

For a low-key holiday, Menorca is the place to go. You won't find many wild clubs packed with super-energetic dancers here; instead, the nightlife is much more laidback. If jazz is your thing, pay a visit to Akelarre in Mahon for live performances.

Alternatively, try the unique experience of dancing in a natural cavern by heading to the Caves of Xoroi in Cala en Porter, where you'll find a bar and dance floor located high up above the sea. Other nightspots include Asere in Port de Ciutadella, where you can indulge in some salsa dancing, and Pedro's in Cala Santandria, which is a tourist-friendly club. 

Stuart Davis splits his time between travelling the world and working for Directline Holidays