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Estepona Nightlife
Estepona
has an interesting night scene which, like Marbella,
gets its reputation not through what you see when you enter
the town, but from the surprises which await the visitor to
its back streets. The town is essentially divided into the port and
its immediate vicinity and the main town, the port
being the first area to which tourists will instinctively
flock. On the seafront a large selection of bars
and restaurants
specialise in serving fresh local fish, as well as
the usual international range of dishes.
There are about
a dozen bars between one end of the port
and the other, ranging from small Spanish bars to larger, more
cosmopolitan establishments. Reinaldo's is the first
bar you will see when you enter the port and typically hosts a
mixed crowd of both Spanish and international tourists. The
Christopher Colombus holds karaoke evenings which are very
popular all over the Coast and particularly in Estepona.
The back streets
of Estepona
see most of the action though. There seems no end to the
number of small bars hidden around the many narrow corners.
The most popular place is Plaza de los Flores (Flower Square)
and here you will find a large concentration of bars built
around the fountain and garden. This is the equivalent of
Orange Square in Marbella
and during the summer is definitely the place to socialise and
make new friends.
A walk around
the old town, with its quaint passageways and historic
buildings is always a rewarding experience. Find yourself in Calle
Jubrique and you might stumble upon the entrance to the
famous Robbie's Restaurant, one of Estepona's worst kept
secrets and best secret weapons, which has played host to a
variety of celebrities from Michael Parkinson and Cilla
Black to Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas.
Estepona
is rather a modest fishing town, but its environs
stretch impressively from beyond Costa Natura in the west to Benahávis
in the east, while Benavista and several other large
urbanisations all fall within its boundaries. Benavista
is home to several excellent fish and meat restaurants, such
as the Steak and Rib Shack and Charlie's.
Benavista
is quite possibly the Coast's karaoke capital and there are
five different venues where you can enjoy a pint and torture
the other patrons with your singing. For live sporting events
the place to go is Rooftops, while if you want to have a
simple and inexpensive meal with your family you should visit
The Grapevine or Grumbles. The Robin Hood is the most popular
pub in the area for the younger crowd and is right next door
to the disco Exotis, which is open every night until late and
is one of the only clubs we know that serves pizza while you
dance!
Irish Night is
popular at Rory's Bar with a live band playing spirited Celtic
music, which is usually accompanied by a glass of Guinness.
Los Arcos Bar has a reputation for the its cocktails, while
The Sin Bin features live music every night.
If you fancy a
change from all the pubs and bar food why not take a trip
into Benahávis?
This small town is located in the mountains and is known as
the gastronomy capital of the Costa, with dozens of excellent
restaurants all within a few metres of each other. There is no
limit to what you can order here and the meat is exceptionally
good. More than just the terrific cooking, the setting and
atmosphere will leave the most uptight exponent of the rat
race relaxed as you sit on the terrace, taking in the mountain
views and sampling the best steaks around.
Unlike many of
the roads up into these mountains this one is well maintained
and Benahávis is only 10 minutes drive from the main
road.
What
to Wear?
Estepona
is very casual in all things, so there is no real need to
worry about what you should wear. If you are going to a club
dressing casually is probably the best thing to do.
How
much?
Estepona's
tourist season lasts only during the summer months after which
it decreases considerably, later depending largely on local
trade for income. Prices are relatively low to please locals,
so a good night out in Estepona
will usually cost you between 20€ and 50€. If you choose to
go to Benahávis
for a meal it will usually cost around the same for a
two-course meal including wine.
Parking and
Safety
Estepona
has adequate parking along the streets of the town and in the
port. The port
closes down fairly early off-season, consequently cars are
sometimes not allowed to enter after 1a.m. Estepona
town is safe with many police patrolling the area. Benavista
has been known to have a few problems from time to time but
this is also very rare these days. Benahávis
is a quiet place with little or no disturbance. Parking is
easy, though it is best to do so before you get into the
narrow back streets. |
