Moog- Barcelona

Tucked into one of Barcelona's many famous cobblestoned side streets adjacent to tourist hotspot Las Ramblas, Moog, despite its unfortunate name, is one of the best spots in the city to sneak into and lounge your night away.

Trendy, but not overly pretentious, this hidden techno club has something for loungers and dancers alike. If you are looking for a great small intimate place to have a cocktail and chat with friends, there is adequate bar space and various hidden nooks and crannys available to burrow into and relax. If movin' and shakin' is your thing, the bar also plays home to a regular rotation of some of the most high profile local DJ's, spitting out a variety of house and techno tunes to keep you dancing until the (rarely enforced) 5am closing time. With a couple drinks in your veins (or some locally purchased illicit drugs, in the case of my good friend, who from then on spent most of the night remarking on the soft nature of the wooden tabletop), the club takes on a new slightly more sensual guise.

The luscious red and blue lights cast a glaze of cool over everyone, and the mod-ish decor makes the place turn suddenly seductive in typical Barcelona style. The regular inhabitants, beautiful and styled to the max already, appear to be more gorgeous and appealing as ever. Deep bass notes throb through the wooden stools, scene kids and androgynous shadowy figures lurk in the corners, glide quietly to the bar, and disappear into the throng of dancers on the small but intimate dance floor a few steps below the lounge area. The atmosphere has the distinct scent of anonymity to it-- an understated, quietly hip niche for people to blend into the long sleek night. Great for local regulars and tourists alike.


Hint: It's a great idea to spend the time wandering around the conjoining streets to score a flyer for free cover charge. Otherwise, plan on dropping at least 9 euros to get inside. Which may or may not be worth the money depending on your expectations. If you're looking for a jam-packed sweaty ecstasy fueled dance floor with women dancing in cages and pickpockets slipping things into you drink, by all means check out the other more high-profile locations. But if a quiet seductive anonymous hole in the wall with more than adequate music and ambiance is your bag, definitely plan on spending at least a chunk of your night here.