Radio City

Radio City is one of the longest-running nightlife venues in Valencia. It opened in 1979 as a pub and juice bar in the Barrio del Carmen and has reinvented itself several times since, becoming a music hall and creative space with a varied weekly programme. Its crowd is mixed, open-minded and international, which makes it an easy place for visitors to drop into.

The best-known night is Tuesday, when Radio City has hosted flamenco for close to 25 years. Musicians, singers and dancers perform in an informal setting, much closer to the atmosphere of a neighbourhood peña than a polished tourist show. Arrive early on Tuesdays to find a good spot, as the room fills up. Other nights have their own character: reggae on Wednesdays with a live session and guests, live bands on Fridays and Saturdays, and a funk and soul jam with guest musicians on Sundays.

After the live music, resident and guest DJs keep the bar going late into the night. The venue also programmes film, dance, literary evenings, stand-up comedy and art exhibitions, and it invites artists to propose their own performances. Check the programme on the website before you go, as times vary; most events begin at 21:00, 22:00 or 22:30.

Radio City suits travellers who want live music in a relaxed, unpretentious setting, solo visitors and groups of friends. It is a bar rather than a seated theatre, so expect to stand for much of the night, and expect it to be loud and busy at weekends. Prices are moderate. For a more formal flamenco performance with seats and a set show, a dedicated tablao such as Café del Duende is a better choice.

The bar is on Calle Santa Teresa, in the southern part of El Carmen between the Central Market and the Plaza del Tossal, the heart of the old town's nightlife. That makes it easy to combine with dinner in the old town and drinks in the surrounding squares. The Central Market and La Lonja are a few minutes' walk away, and taxis are easy to find on the nearby main roads late at night.