The Best Bars in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Laid-back, local and unfussy – this casual drinking hole, in central Las Palmas, en route to the old quarter, La Isleta, is great when you need only a frosty beer and a chilled-out place to relax. Outdoor tables clutter around the corner location, so nab yourself a seat and savour that affordable sangria or first-rate “gin tonic” in the warm evening sunshine. Tummy rumbling? Order a simple meat and cheese platter to soak up the drinks, and you can carry on chatting until late.

If it’s not a night out for you without a proper band, then head for the Paper Club, a live-music favourite in the historic Triana district. Here, you can tuck into juicy steaks or gooey cheeseburgers, sip large glasses of plummy red wine and hear a whole list of bands, DJs and solo singers. The space exudes an old-school feel with its soaring ceilings and white columns. If you’re a real music junkie, come early for the best chances of getting a table near the stage.

When those warm Canary Island days get a bit too searing, retreat to La Azotea de Benito: it’s an al fresco cocktail bar on a rooftop in Las Palmas’s historic district where the breeze – and chilled drinks – will cool you down. Pull up a seat at the bar – or get a table under umbrellas overlooking the city – and order a zippy mojito, packed with ice. In the heat of day, grab a spot under the canopy, order a burger and relax until you feel ready to start exploring again.

The inside is contemporary urban chic, with patterned banquettes, leafy palms and statement minimalist lighting. But the drinks are all holiday tiki vibes, served up in quirky mugs and brimming with transportive flavours like coconut and lime. After a busy day pounding the pavement in the old town, pop in to sip La Niña Bonita, a frothy pink drink served up stunningly in a coupe glass. Need one more reason to visit? The service is top-notch.

When you’re out to party until late, La Terminal is your place – open until midnight seven days a week, it is invariably packed with groups of friends cheers-ing with glasses of sangrias or frothy beers. The illuminated purple back bar injects clubby vibes, and the generous cocktails ramp up the fun factor – think goldfish-bowl “gin tonics” or fruit-laden sangrias. On warm nights (and in Las Palmas, that’s most of them), park yourself at one of the tables outside so you can people-watch as you drink.

It doesn’t get much more “holiday-in-the-sun” than an outdoor nightclub – and this one is a winner, overlooking the glittering waters of the Atlantic, as well as Las Palmas’s spectacular main beach and Gran Canaria’s volcanic hills. It’s an open-air rooftop affair serving up social scenes to admire from tables in the sun. To temper the heat, order a cocktail crammed with plenty of ice, and sip it in the shade of a cool, cream-coloured umbrella. Just don’t forget your camera: Instagrammers love this place for a reason.

Shaded by towering palm trees, the outdoor seats at La Bohême are the perfect place to watch the world go by – tourists on holiday and islanders out strolling with baby carriages all pass by this opulent golden-tone historic building. You’re here for the world of of fruit-flavoured cocktails and the distinctly moreish tapas: cheese, jamón and decadent rice dishes. Come after dark to drink while gazing at the view of the grand, illuminated Biblioteca Insular: the Island Library.

For a watering hole that oozes real, old-world Las Palmas spirit, pull up a stool at Bar La Tienda and settle in for the evening. With its chequered black-and-white floors, impressive back bar and wooden benches, it has a laid-back, local feel that sets it apart from some of the city’s flashier drinking establishments. It’s about good old light-hearted fun here: there’s even table football if you fancy a match. Otherwise, practise your español over a chat with the local crowd who pops in for chats over beers beaded with condensation, straight from the fridge.