5 Best Nightlife in Zadar

Arsenal Zadar is a lively bar occupying an 18th-century naval building. The soaring ceilings make it a great event space for live music, concerts and theatrical performances. By day, it serves as a café, art gallery and tourist information centre, but visit at night to see a vastly different side to the venue.

Arsenal Zadar’s upper floor hosts a restaurant serving modern Croatian cuisine, while a cocktail bar and spacious stage occupy the space downstairs. You can expect to hear world music concerts, traditional Dalmatian a cappella groups, local bands, and well-known DJs, as well as events like fashion shows and film screenings.

Caffe Bar Brazil is a laidback little café just down the waterfront from the Sea Organ art installation. It serves coffee and ice cream during the day, followed with beer and wine at night. Tables spill out onto the landscaped gardens next to the café, offering incredible views of the sea and Zadar's gorgeous sunsets. From your seat on the terrace, you can even hear the Sea Organ when the tide comes in.

The café’s interior is almost as lovely, with vaulted stone ceilings and a sunken bar. Enjoy a wide range of cocktails, tall glasses of beer such as Leffe and Hoegaarden, and local wines sourced from nearby vineyards.

Zlatni Kutić is a favourite with students of Zadar University, who come for the lively atmosphere and long list of cocktails. The bar is tucked away in the winding streets of the Old Town. There's plenty of outdoor seating where you can people-watch or admire Zadar's period architecture.

Zlatni Kutić serves a range of inventive cocktails, beers, wines and whiskey. If you’re feeling hungry, there’s a fun self-serve popcorn machine and an extensive list of burgers on the menu. You can find a mix of young locals and fellow travellers at Zlatni Kutić, and it's easy to strike up a friendly conversation.

Podroom, one of Zadar's biggest clubs, is where the young and hip hang out on weekends. International DJs that often appear at this nightclub spin music that ranges from pop and dance to hip-hop and R&B. Various live acts also take place on weekends, along with the latest Croatian music by resident DJs.

Podroom has private booths and a VIP room decorated with motifs of famous films. Drinks include imported beers and a good selection of cocktails. As a late-night venue, it takes a while for things to kick off, so save your visit until the early hours of the morning to enjoy the best atmosphere.

Stepping into Rio Bar in Zadar feels like a trip straight back to the 1970s. The bar prides itself on playing a great selection of funky music, with retro disco sounds, blues and rock booming across the terrace every night.

The bar does a wide array of creative cocktails – the signature 'Rio Colour' is a unique take on the classic mojito. Its convenient location near the waterfront provides a great spot for hanging out with the young and local crowd.