Where to Go Out in Santander: Puertochico, Cañadío, Río de la Pila and El Sardinero
Santander is small enough to do a whole night on foot, as long as you know where each part of it happens. The city's own tourism office describes the usual pattern: a lot of people start around Puertochico and then move to the parallel streets of Hernán Cortés, Peña Herbosa and Bonifaz. From there, Cañadío and Río de la Pila are a few minutes away. El Sardinero is a different story, quieter and best reached by bus or taxi. Here's each area and the clubs you'll find close by.
Puertochico and Hernán Cortés: where the night starts
Puertochico covers a lot of streets and a lot of different bars. Hernán Cortés and Peña Herbosa are known for bars and restaurants where you can have a few tapas or a full dinner, and Bonifaz for restaurants with tasting menus. When it's time to dance, this area has Kudéta, on Calle Ataúlfo Argenta 45, two floors and room for more than 1,000 people. On Hernán Cortés 35 you'll find Sala Rocambole, which runs themed parties like its 80s nights.
Plaza Cañadío and the centre: drinks and a short walk between clubs
Plaza Cañadío is where many people have their first drink of the night, chatting in the square, and if things pick up there are more bars all around it. This is also where the clubs are closest together. Sala Niágara, on Calle San Simón 14, does rock'n'roll, soul and funk with DJs until 06:00 at weekends. Malaspina, on Pasaje Jesús Revaque Garea, is the indie and rock disco-pub that has been open for over 20 years. On Calle Moctezuma you have Samoa and, at number 3, Ramé Social Club, which opens at 17:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Pandora is on Calle López Dóriga 5.
A bit further towards Plaza Porticada, the streets of Arrabal and Del Medio are good for a relaxed tapas dinner, with the Mercado del Este close by. Right next to the Porticada, on Calle Guevara 12, is Melao, the Latin club. Some guides also point to Calle Vargas and San Fernando as busy streets on a night out.
Río de la Pila and Calle del Sol: younger and more alternative
Río de la Pila is where La Marejada was born, the local music scene of the 70s and 80s that went from punk to synth-pop. Nothing of it is left, but the street is still popular with a young crowd and mixes modern bars with more alternative ones. Calle del Sol, nearby, has bars with different vibes, some with live music, and is a better pick if you want to actually talk. There are no big clubs here: it's a place for drinks before heading to Cañadío or Puertochico.
El Sardinero: a calmer drink, and Latin dancing
By the beaches, El Sardinero is more about a quiet drink, dinner with wine or an evening at the Casino than a big night out. The exception is Amarras, on Calle Joaquín Costa 28: Latin music, a free dance class every Friday and a crowd where over-30s are the majority. It opens Friday to Sunday, and on Sundays it starts at 19:00.
Outside the centre: Sala Kaya and Escenario
The two biggest event venues aren't in any of these areas. Sala Kaya is on Avenida Nueva Montaña 2G and Escenario Santander on Avenida de la Constitución 39, by Parque de Las Llamas. Both work by event: concerts, guest DJs and themed parties. Plan the trip there and back, especially if you start the night in the centre.
Which nights each venue opens
| Venue | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niágara | 22:00–05:00 | 00:00–06:00 | 00:00–06:00 | – |
| Malaspina | 23:00–04:30 | 23:00–04:30 | 23:00–04:30 | – |
| Samoa | 22:30–03:30 | 23:00–04:30 | 23:00–04:30 | – |
| Ramé | 22:00–04:30 | 17:00–04:30 | 17:00–04:30 | 17:00–01:00 |
| Pandora | – | 23:30–04:30 | 23:30–04:30 | – |
| Kudéta | By date | Open | Open | – |
| Amarras | – | 22:30–04:30 | 23:30–05:30 | 19:00–24:00 |
A dash means no published hours for that day, not necessarily closed. Hours come from each venue's listings and can change on special dates.
Tardeo: starting before dinner
If you'd rather start in the afternoon, Ramé Social Club on Calle Moctezuma opens at 17:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and on Fridays and Saturdays it keeps going until 04:30, so you don't have to move. On Sundays, Amarras in El Sardinero runs a Latin session from 19:00 to midnight.
A simple route for a Saturday
| Time | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 21:30 | Hernán Cortés / Peña Herbosa, or Arrabal by the Porticada | Tapas or dinner |
| 23:00 | Plaza Cañadío | First drinks |
| 23:00–23:30 | Malaspina or Pandora | Doors open (Malaspina 23:00, Pandora 23:30) |
| 00:00 onwards | Kudéta (Puertochico) or Niágara (Cañadío) | Clubbing until 05:00–06:00 |
The times for dinner and drinks are a suggestion; the opening times are the ones each venue lists. If you'd rather not queue at the end of the route, tell us where you want to finish and we'll put you on the list or get you a table.
Quick answers
What's the best area to go out in Santander? It depends on the plan. For clubs, Puertochico and Cañadío. For alternative bars, Río de la Pila and Calle del Sol. For Latin dancing with an older crowd, El Sardinero.
What time do clubs open and close? Going by their published hours, the clubs in the centre open between 23:00 and midnight and close between 04:30 and 06:00.
Can I do the whole night on foot? Between Puertochico, Hernán Cortés, Cañadío and the Porticada, yes. For El Sardinero, Sala Kaya or Escenario, you'll need a bus or a taxi.
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