Nightlife in Torrevieja

Anyone looking for a night out in Torrevieja usually starts in the same spot: the seafront. Paseo Vista Alegre runs along the sea through the centre, busy from early evening until late, lined with restaurants, terraces and ice-cream parlours. A little further on, by the Marina Salinas marina, sits a second cluster of restaurants and bars overlooking the boats. Between the two, on Calle Ramón y Cajal, is Portofino: a cocktail bar and wine bar a short walk from the seafront. This guide is an honest look at where to go for an evening out in central Torrevieja, and where Portofino fits in.

Central Torrevieja is compact: the seafront, the marina and the main streets all sit within walking distance of each other once you have parked. Along the Paseo Vista Alegre an evening stroll mixes easily with a stop for tapas or ice cream; the promenade is busiest between eight and midnight. Pacu Restaurante Pizzería, on the Paseo Marítimo Juan Aparicio right on the water, is a long-standing option with a seafront terrace. For dinner in the old town, head to Calle San Policarpo for Restaurante Las Cañas, a Mediterranean restaurant that has been there since 1964.

The seafront is quieter in the early evening, for a walk and dinner; later, things shift toward the marina, where the terraces stay open late. Anyone wanting a table at one of the seafront restaurants at the weekend does well to book ahead, especially in summer, when Torrevieja draws plenty of visitors.

By the Marina Salinas marina, terraces overlook the boats, busiest at weekends and in summer. Restaurante El Puerto, right on the marina, serves fish and seafood with a view of the water. For something other than Spanish or Italian food, Calle Concepción has Diba, with a Persian-Spanish menu built for sharing.

Portofino fits into that evening as a starting point or a closing one: a cocktail before dinner nearby, wine with the meal, or back for one more cocktail with live music. At our nine-metre bar we pour signature cocktails, classics, gin & tonics and wine by the glass, with live music four nights a week, from jazz to Dutch headliners such as Mart Hoogkamer, Django Wagner and John de Bever. Portofino is at Calle Ramón y Cajal 47, a few minutes' walk from the Paseo Vista Alegre. Coming by car, there is a parking garage by the shopping centre, a two-minute walk from the bar. Portofino opens soon; once the doors open, the bar runs Wednesday to Sunday from 6 pm.

A night out in Torrevieja does not have to mean choosing between dinner, a walk by the sea or a cocktail. The seafront, the marina and Portofino sit close together in the same centre, and are easy to combine in one evening.