Radio City

Radio City has been part of El Carmen since 1979, when it opened on Calle Santa Teresa as the city's first pub-zumería, a juice and drinks bar of the kind that was new at the time. It is often described as the oldest pub in the Barrio del Carmen, and over the decades it has turned into a multi-space cultural venue where concerts, DJ sessions, exhibitions, comedy and short-film screenings share the same rooms.

The venue presents itself as a refuge for artists and a cultural laboratory, and that is not just marketing: alongside the main music hall there is an exhibition gallery, a cocktail bar and space that is regularly adapted for theatre, dance, literary evenings and stand-up. It receives support from the Valencian Institute of Culture for its programming, and for years it organised its own international short-film festival. With room for a couple of hundred people, it feels intimate even when it is full.

The weekly programme is the best reason to go. Tuesday is flamenco night, a tradition the venue has kept going without interruption for close to 25 years, with live singers, guitarists and dancers from around 22:30; according to the venue's manager, the Tuesday audience is mostly international. Wednesdays are for a live reggae session, Fridays bring an international live music night, Saturdays feature bands, and Sunday ends with a funk jam with guest musicians. After the shows, resident DJs take over every night with a mix of funk, hip-hop, reggae, afrobeat, cumbia, drum and bass and electro.

The crowd is as mixed as the programme: El Carmen regulars, musicians, students and travellers who have heard about the flamenco. Dress is casual, there is no special door policy, and the minimum age is 18. It is a place for people who like live music and a bit of character rather than a polished club experience.

Radio City opens around ten at night and stays open until about four, with earlier openings on some days for concerts. Entry and ticket prices vary by event and generally sit around €5–€15; tickets for concerts are sold online in advance, and for the Tuesday flamenco it pays to arrive early to get a good spot. It is easy to combine with dinner in El Carmen and a walk through the old town, and the late DJ sessions mean you can stay on after the show without changing venue.