At C/ Almogavers, 122, Sant Martí, Barcelona 08018 stands club Razzmatazz, a behemoth of a venue that is very close to unapologetically ruling the night scene here. With a capacity of over 3000 people, it still sees ridiculously long queues of waiting club goers on its busiest nights. It should be warned that Spanish time is not the same as North American time, and clubs in Barcelona don’t get really hopping until 2 or 3 a.m., after the bars let out; go at midnight and you’ll think you’ve been lied to. However, arriving so early does ensure no long line waits. (If you’re staying at a hostel, check with the front desk first and see if they offer any discounts to this massive medley of manic music; you could save a load better used on refreshments.)
The drinks are pricey here, which is to be expected at such a location, so you may want to whet your whistle ahead of time, and while laws were passed to restrict smoking, they are not enforced, so difficulty breathing in a smoke-shrouded room might very well be a reality. There is a terrace for smokers to go or just for a gasp of fresh air. Avoid this venue at all costs if you are allergic to smoke.
Razzmatazz is considered five clubs in one; a converted warehouse, the largest of the clubs is the one you enter into off the street and from there you can branch out, moving through the brick and steel pathways until you find the sound of your choice, and all the rooms deliver a different style.
The Razz club room kicks out high volumes of indie rock, with sweeping and strobe lights, resided over by a DJ. Huge projector screens are always displaying images of videos. This is exactly like the kind of massive nightclub you see in the movies and have always wanted to try.
Techno pop bubbles loudly in the LoLiTa room, tech-house screams from the Loft, electro rock and disco shake the Rex room, and electro pop boils over in the Pop room. Each room is bursting to capacity with locals, students, and tourists having an awesome time. Atmosphere is friendly, spirited, and low-key. Dress code is anything goes, but it’s not a glam bar. You’ll see everything from jeans and t-shirts to full gothic attire.
While this is The Place To Be for dancing until sunrise, Razzmatazz fills another niche, too. It’s vastly important for its live music concerts. This joint has seen thousands of name bands over the years with drops like Cyprus Hill, MGMT, Bananarama, Interpol, Motorhead, and I am Kloot. The cover charge allows for all 5 rooms to be accessed and includes the quality live entertainment, which happens weekly. Check the website for attractions and gigs.
If music pounding a hole through your chest and dancing till you drop is what you feel the need for, there’s no contest this is the place for it, and if you crave live music blasting through every available nook and cranny in a 3,700 square foot radius, you’ve found your fix. Make sure to check the live offerings, and rock out to some of the best sounds available.
