If you are going to travel out for some time skiing in Bansko this year then it is likely you are keen to sample the Bansko nightlife whilst you are here. Bansko definitely doesn’t disappoint on the nightlife front.
To help you make the most of your trip, I have put together this guide to the Bansko nightlife which hopefully has something for everyone.
So whether you are looking for some classic après-ski, live music and entertainment, somewhere to continue the night after the bars are closing or something a bit different then hopefully I have you covered.
If you are planning a trip out to Bansko then check out my other Bansko-related blogs below to help plan your perfect holiday!
Bansko Nightlife: Après-Ski
The Bansko nightlife offers something for everyone after a day on the slopes. From dancing on tables to thumping tunes to a decent glass of red wine whilst watching the world go by, Bansko (and we!) have you covered!
Happy End Bar
For authentic party-style après-ski and the perfect start to the Bansko nightlife, head to the best of the Bansko après ski bars; Happy End bar!
Located at the bottom gondola, or the end of the ski road back into Bansko, it is the perfect place to take off your skis or snowboard, prop them up outside and head inside for some refreshment!
Doors open around 1 pm but the party gets going from around 3.30 pm when the majority of people start heading down the mountain in search of the Bansko nightlife.
From 4.30 pm Happy End is always full, the beers are flowing and the music is loud! The music changes each night but is always guaranteed to get the party started and, after a few beers and perhaps a couple of shots, entice you up onto the tables for a bit of a dance!
If Happy End becomes too busy then there is a huge bar next door with more seating, space for a dance floor and a huge bar to help welcome in the Bansko nightlife!
Pirin 75 Bar
If you prefer a more laid-back atmosphere than Happy End then I would suggest heading down Pirin Street to Pirin 75.
This great bar wouldn’t look out of place in the French Alps with its intimate interior and a good selection of beers and wine.
When the sun is out (which it is most of the time!) then there are tables and chairs outside to watch the world go by on the main street in Bansko.
Bansko Nightlife: Live Music
A large part of the Bansko nightlife scene is live music and most of the bars in town will have some form of live music during the evening.
Here I pick out some of my favourite options, from rock covers of your favourite tunes to some more relaxing tones during dinner!
Amigos Bar
Once Happy End starts emptying out around 7-8 pm, live music takes centre stage in the Bansko Nightlife agenda and front and centre is one of the most popular Bansko bars; Amigos Bar.
Amigos is located on the crossroads, almost opposite Ginger Restaurant and, for the full Bansko nightlife experience, is the place to be from around 9.30 pm until gone midnight.
This great bar is home to the excellent Step by Step, their house band who play every night during the ski season and are well worth a watch.
Expect covers of all your favourite tunes from across the ages accompanied by their trademark motto “whiskey time all the time” which sees their lead guitarist finish off countless glasses of whiskey through the night!
The band are very good, the staff get involved (as you can see from the photo above!) and Amigos will be packed whilst they are playing each night.
Expect to see a good mix of people in here from those in their ski clothes – having probably come straight from Happy End! – to people who have had the good sense to go home and get changed!
Live Music with Dinner
If you want to eat whilst experiencing some of the best Bansko nightlife without necessarily killing the vibe then I would suggest heading to either Euphoria Bar & Grill or Ginger Bar & Diner.
Both are located on the crossroad and so perfectly located in the centre of the tourist centre and close to both Happy End and Amigos!
These two Bansko restaurants offer a huge range of international cuisine (and Ginger even features in my blog on my favourite Restaurants in Bansko) together with live music of their own.
The live music in these two is more mellow than the rock covers in Amigos; expect a lead singer and a backing band performing covers of some of our favourite songs whilst you tuck into a pizza, burger or anything else you need to set yourself up for the evening!
Fortunately, neither restaurant is overly formal and so you will be welcomed in whether you have been home and changed or you rock up in your ski wear from Happy End!
Want to know more about Bansko? Check out my other blogs:
- My Guide to the best Restaurants in Bansko
- Bansko Lift Pass Prices 2022-23
- The Best Bansko Hotels
- My Best Things to do in Bansko in Winter
- The Best Bansko Christmas and New Year Hot Spots
Bansko Nightlife: Live Entertainment
For those that prefer live entertainment then the nightlife in Bansko has plenty of options for you. Here are two of the most popular offerings.
At Home Restaurant
If you want to be entertained whilst you eat then head to At Home Restaurant which is just down Pirin Street from the crossroads. Check-in advance as they do not have entertainment every night but when they do, grab a table upstairs so you get a view of the raised stage.
We took in the Cuban dancers whilst we were there and they were hugely entertaining as we ate, either coaxing a few of us to head up and join them! They will keep the momentum going for your night out in Bansko whilst you eat, or if you are with children then it will keep them entertained as well!
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for upcoming events.
Queen’s Pub
Alternatively, I would suggest Queens Pub which is right next door to At Home Restaurant. As the name suggests, more a Bulgarian take on an English pub than a restaurant but they do have an extensive food menu.
The entertainment in Queens Pub caters for both kids and adults and so can be a good place to head to with children. Their programme varies from night to night so again check their Facebook page in advance and it will start from around 6 pm until close.
You can expect magicians for the children earlier in the evening followed by a form of more traditional entertainment such as a ballet performance or a traditional dance.
After that, Queens Pub drifts back into the more traditional Bansko nightlife scene with either a singer or a DJ for the rest of the night.
Bansko Nightlife: Nightclubs
When the rest of the Bansko nightlife is starting to wind down after midnight, there are 3 main nightclubs in Bansko to choose from.
Flash Club
If you, like me, are looking for good music and space to dance in a nightclub then I would suggest heading to Flash nightclub which is along the same road as Amigos. There is a takeaway conveniently located right next door!
Entry is 8BGN although a little haggle will likely get at least the female members of your group in for free. Inside, expect a central bar with space to dance around the outside. There is a stage at one end with dancers performing all night and a DJ playing music we all recognise!
Oxygen Club
The two alternatives to Flash are both free to get into and so perhaps worth a look if you want to try everything that Bansko nightlife has to offer!
Oxygen club is located down Pirin Street, nearly opposite At Home and Queen’s Pub. You will get in for free and the guy at the door will have plenty of drinks offers for you including free shots with your first drink.
Head inside to what I consider a traditional European club by which I mean more seating than dancing albeit with music and space to dance. It is not as big as Flash but is still good fun and the music is generally pretty good (by which I mean recognisable and easy to dance to!).
Jack’s House
If you prefer more of a late bar vibe then head to Jack’s House Bansko. It is located along the same road as Amigos but heading back across the crossroads.
Head down the steps and into a large underground club with a rectangular bar taking up most of the space in the middle. Chairs and located all the way around and – at least when we have been in there – most people are sitting at the bar and smoking.
That said, there is always a DJ playing decent music and plenty of room for dancing so you definitely have the option and as the night wears on more and more people hit the floor!
It can get quite smoky in Jack’s with a lot of people at the bar smoking so, if you like the underground, smoky late bar hangout with the possibility of a dance then this is the place for you!
There won’t be a charge to get into Jack’s (and if one is suggested then a quick haggle should get you in for free).
Bar Crawls
If you are hitting the slopes in Bansko and fancy combining a day of skiing with some Bansko nightlife then you are in luck!
Keep an eye on the Facebook page Bansko Bar Crawl which regularly organises bar crawls that typically start in the Goat, the highest bar/restaurant on the resort and then head down the slopes stopping at all the main bars on the way back into Bansko.
The itinerary is put up on the Facebook page in advance and there is no fee to pay or need to register. Simply turn up at the start, or any of the stops on the way, and head down the slopes with the group.
Stop off at some of our favourite bars on the slopes including 180 bar, Peshterite and Kolibata towards the bottom of the ski road (two great bars to stop at on the way down the ski road in any event!).
Then take off your skis/snowboard and head straight into Happy End, the number 1 après-ski bar in Bansko! There will usually be another stop after Happy End to help you take in the best of the Bansko nightlife!
The bar crawls tend to start around 12.30 pm and arrive at the final destination around 7.30 pm which, if you make it from top to bottom in one piece, will leave you set up perfectly for tackling the rest of the Bansko nightlife!
Pub Quiz!
If you fancy a pleasant break from the traditional Bansko nightlife of drinking and dancing then consider exercising your brainpower at a pub quiz whilst you are skiing in Bansko!
Smokey Mountain
There are two main quizzes to choose from in town. The first is at Smokey Mountain which is further down Pirin Street. It takes place every Wednesday from 7.30 pm and is open to teams of up to 6 people.
Entry is 5BGN per person and there is a cash prize which depends on the number of entrants but is around 100BGN for the winners, 50BGN for second place and 20BGN for third place.
The quiz is entirely in English and resembles a traditional English pub quiz so no specialist local or Bulgarian knowledge is required to enter!
Whilst at Smokeys, take the opportunity to try their food which is incredible (and again they appear in my blog, the best Restaurants in Bansko). As the name suggests, BBQ food is their speciality and the burgers are pretty spectacular!
The quiz is quite popular with locals and tourists alike so keep an eye on their Facebook page and get in touch in advance to book your place.
Bansko Street Dogs Quiz
The second quiz of note, and one which I love, is the Bansko Street Dogs quiz! As the name suggests, this is run by the Bansko Street Dogs charity and usually takes place every other Monday although the team do put on weekly quizzes during the high season so do check their Facebook page for details.
The quiz is in a different venue each week which is a great way to get to know some new restaurants and local mehanas (taverns).
As with the quiz at Smokey Mountain, the quiz is entirely in English and this one is run by the English team behind Bansko Street Dogs. Entry is again 5BGN and whilst there is no monetary prize, with all proceeds going to the Bansko Street Dogs, there is a trophy to win and your team’s name to be etched forever on its cardboard box (or at least until the box gives out!).
As well as the quiz, there is usually a raffle with numbers sold for 5BGN and a top prize of 500BGN.
Again, keep an eye on their Facebook page to find the next quiz and again these are popular so get in touch in advance to secure your place.
Summing Up
So that is my brief canter through the Bansko nightlife options and hopefully, it gives you a flavour of the many things to do in Bansko after a day of skiing!
Going hand in hand with this blog on the Bansko nightlife is my blog with my favourite Restaurants in Bansko.
If you are heading out to the Bansko ski resort then do take a look at my other blogs on Bansko which are below and will hopefully help you make the most of your time here.
As ever, if you have any questions then do let me know and equally, if you do head to any of these Bansko nightlife hotspots then I’d love to hear what you think!
In the meantime, do please give me a follow on Instagram, Pinterest and/or Facebook to keep up to date with our adventures and to see my future blogs!
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