Nightclubs and bars in Andorra

Pas de La Casa in eastern Andorra is sometimes called the Ibiza of the Pyrenees. Well, it's not at all true. However, in the evenings my friends spendng winter vacation in Pas de la Casa in 2006 went to restaurants and bars (especially to the large Milwaukee bar) located just a short stroll away from their Hotel Parma. Duty free prices meant that local spirits were cheaper than in both France and Spain and happy hours lasted usually two hours (4-6 or 5-7 pm). The bars were full of folks of various age (not only at 20s) in the evenings. Skiing and just nightlife, not the look itself (most hotels are ugly, rectangular large edificies) make Pas de la Casa outstanding place.

My friends liked most Italian restaurant called La Copa which served fantastic steaks (not at all Italian food, right?) by lovely wood fire.



Dress Code: No dress code for visitors and skiing fans.

We walked past it a load of times and never really noticed it until one night after a few bevvies we decided to give it a try. It used to be an old nightclub and still has the black walls and mirrors everywhere! It's been made more homely with some comfy chairs, a pool table and an eating area with a big open fire-come-BBQ where you can get some great chicken and jacket potatoes!

The music is quite chilled and laid back and the drink is about average price.

***EDIT*** March 2004 - They no longer do food but the drinks are still very cheap!

Dress Code: Anything goes - come straight in off the piste if you want

I was warned that the resort was popular with men, but not with women? The ratio was to be 7 men for 1 woman.

Not a problem, if you are a totally skiing or boarding freak...... think I could become one quite easily.

The total count of women spotted after apres ski hours, evrey night of the week, was less than 4.

Don't get me wrong, its just that it felt like I was trapped in some science fiction world where all the women had been hidden away!

To escape, they bus you to a neighbouring resort, where you can discover it was all just a nightmare! :-)

Dress Code: Clothes are good.

Even better if it looks like you landed here on your dude board.....

Other than the restaurants and the Caldea complex in Escaldes, Andorra La Vella does not have much of a nightlife. Most of the shops close up after 8:00pm at the latest, and the streets clear out. However, oddly enough, there are an abundance of nightspots in the towns further up in the mountains, many of which are affiliated with the ski resorts and lodges. These go all night long, especially in winter, and are a lot of fun. Your hotel or the tourist office can provide a list of the best places, which range from discos to jazz clubs and bars.

Dress Code: Dress in all but the very nicest of Andorra's clubs and restaurants is casual, though men are expected to wear collared shirts.

Andorra's shopping is known all over the world. Everything is prepared to give the customer the leading role. The privileged tax system allows very competitive prices. Shopkeepers offer a very high level of professionalism to satisfy their customers' needs.

At present the shops carry a great variety of offers and products in sectors such as jewelry, optical goods, sports gear, perfumes, electronic goods, models, foodstuffs and high quality clothes. The quality/price ratio is the distinguishing mark of Andorra with more than 4800 shops on its territory.

The long opening hours enable this aim to be completely attainable. The big stores do not close at midday or on holidays. On Sunday many shops open in the morning and most of them do not close in the afternoon.

The agreement with the European Union on customs allowances has enabled the quantity and value of products purchased in Andorra and imported into Union countries to be increased considerably.

Shopping hours

Shopping hours are as follows:

• Large stores:
Monday to Friday 09.00-20.00
Saturday 09.00-21.00
Sunday 09.00-19.00

• Shops and stores
Monday to Saturday 09.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00
Sunday 09.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00

THE DUTY-FREE ALLOWANCES
On returning to the European Union you may take with you, duty free, the quantity or value of products purchased in Andorra indicated in each section of the following table:
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Coffee 1,000 g of coffee or 400 g of extracts
Tea 200 g of tea or 80 g of extracts
Alcohol (*) 1,5 l of spirits over 22 degrees
or 3 l of spirits and aperitifs below 22 degrees
or sparkling wines

5 l of drinking table wine
Tobacco (*) 300 cigarrettes
or 150 cigars (less than 3 g apiece)
or 75 cigars (more than 3 g apiece)
or 400 g of pipe tobacco
Other agricultural products Up to a value of 175 euros
Persons under 15 up to a value of 90 euros
- without exceeding:
2,5 kg of powdered milk
3 kg of condensed milk
6 kg of fresh milk
1 kg of butter
4 kg of cheese
5 kg of sugar and sweets
5 kg of meat
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Perfumes 75 ml of perfumes

375 ml of colognes
Other industrial products Up to a value of 525 euros
Persons under 15, up to a value of 270 euros
Maximum quantities and amounts per person
(*) Persons under 17 are not eligible for any duty-free allowance on these products.

Several good bars/clubs out there. I can't remember the name of the place we went to, but if you find a little Irish bar out there make sure you pay it a visit. It's on one of the back streets near one of the bars that the reps take you to. If you think you've got a strong stomach then drink the Absynth. Good Luck!

Ambit is a club 15 minutes away from the capital, it is a very famous place to go at night. It is a two stories stone house. Next to it are others bars to go also.