Experience the night life in Istria

For fun summer evenings look no further than the rich and diverse nightlife of the Istrian peninsula. With its unique scene, numerous cocktail and beach bars, nightclubs and open-air venues for concerts and cultural events, Istria is the place to be in the summertime, regardless of where you are – even smaller towns have a lot to offer.

Rovinj

One of your stops should be the tangle of cobbled streets that is Rovinj city. Take a walk on its pebbled beaches and go to the Monvi Center, an entertainment complex hosting a number of nightclubs and bars with different kinds of music and open-air concerts.

Pass through the low archway and head down a staircase to sit on the Mediterraneo Bar’s terrace at the sea’s edge. The fun terrace is strewn with colorful tables, stone benches, and cushions for those willing to have a drink sitting on the rocks.

Piassa Granda Wine Bar is a must-visit bar for wine aficionados which features over 70 white, red, rosé, dessert, and sparkling wines by the glass. Istrian wines dominate the wine list.

Take the steps down Puntulina Wine & Cocktail Bar’s terrace, relax, watch the stunning sunset, and enjoy a glass of Istrian or other Croatian wine in a pleasant atmosphere yards from the sea, with light pop music setting the tone.

Wine Bar San Tommaso features only four interior tables, but the outdoor terrace, which is right at the seafront, is a great place to enjoy your glass of wine and nibble on a variety of cheeses and cold cuts. Wines offered here include San Tommaso’s own wines and others from Rovinj and its surroundings.

Pula

Situated in the city center, Uljanik Club in Pula is the most popular urban party venue of Istria. It offers a variety of live performances and theme parties. Usually, the city center is splattered with posters announcing its various musical events DJ nights all year and live music on its spacious terrace.

Set in a landscaped garden with a small swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs, E&D Lounge Bar is the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon with a cup of coffee or a glass of beer and take in the views of the sea or dance at night with DJ parties. During the summer the bar also serves light Mediterranean dishes.

Pietas Julia is a large, seafront dance club which also features a coffee bar and pizzeria. This is the place to enjoy a great selection of cocktails and dance the night away in Pula, with DJs playing electronic, house, techno, and R&B music.

Poreč

Discotheque Byblos in Poreč is a spacious, beautifully decorated nightclub reserved primarily for the electronic music lovers, often hosting some of the most famous DJs in the world.

Lounge bar and a nightclub Saint & Sinner in Poreč is an ideal place to relax with a glass of cocktails and sounds of popular dance music.

Tequila Beach Bar is an open-air beach bar in the shadow of pines at Pical Beach, just half a mile north of the Old Town. This is a favorite among locals for a nightcap with live rock performed by bands from all over Croatia, whereas resident DJs play mostly rock, funk, and pop.

Villa Club offers lounge chairs, wicker canopy beds, and lounge music during the day. When the evening falls you can find your rhythm with DJs, thematic parties, live bands playing dance music, and go-go dancers.

In case you drop by Umag, make sure to pop into Jimmy Woo club, which is the most popular venue for the wild summer parties often hosting some of the most renowned names of the world club scene.

Festivals

Festival-goers rejoice – Istria is a host to several international electronic music festivals, such as Dimensions in Pula or Unknown Festival in Rovinj. Rovinj also hosts a very popular Croatian Summer Salsa Festival and Valamar Jazz Festival. Every July reggae and ska music lovers practically invade Pula to enjoy the open-air Seasplash Festival. Don’t miss the Motovun Film Festival or the ATP Croatia Open, the international tennis tournament held yearly in Umag.