While Spain might be known for flamenco, Latin-style dances like salsa and bachata are very popular here and there’s a sizable salsa/bachata community in Palma with a variety of classes, socials, and clubs to choose from for all levels to enjoy. Whether you’re a beginner who just wants to try something new, start a new hobby, or have a night out that’s a little bit different or whether you’re a seasoned dancer, there’s something for everyone and a long list of reasons to try salsa and bachata!
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Classes
Palma is a small city, but it shows how popular salsa and bachata currently is because there are a variety of studios to choose from. If you are really serious about learning salsa and bachata, I recommend taking classes from one of the studios. If it’s something you’re interested in for fun, but you don’t want to commit financially or make the time commitment, check out the Connect Lingus classes. And if you’re big into fitness and are looking for a new gym that has a bit of everything, including dance classes, maybe look into Megasport.
Victory’s Baile
If you ask somebody where to take salsa and bachata classes, Victory’s will most likely come up. It is very popular and well-known. However, my understanding is that the style of teaching is more old school than some other academies. But regardless, it is a very popular studio. They teach salsa en línea, salsa cubana, and bachata sensual, along with other styles of dance like kizomba and hip-hop. It is about a 15- to 20-minute drive from Palma center, or you can get there with EMT 5.
Address: Calle Selva 12
IG: @victorysbaile
InfiniT Dance School
If you’re wanting to specifically focus on learning bachata sensual, this dance school only offers bachata sensual classes. I know many people who take classes here and have learned a lot. It is one of the more popular places to learn bachata at the moment. They also offer dance socials with workshops. It’s about a 15- to 20-minute drive from Palma center. You can also get there by bus or metro.
Address: Gran Vía Asima 20, Local 3, 1º
IG: @infinitdanceschool
Da House of Dance
This studio is a lesser-known one in Palma but I’m told it’s a great place to learn salsa because one of their instructors, Adrián Sevilla Cortés, is one of the best salsa instructors in Spain. They have different pricing options but 69€/month will give you unlimited access to their dance classes, fitness training facilities, and yoga and pilates classes. It’s located about a 15-minute drive from Palma center, about 30 minutes by bus or metro.
Address: Carrer de Gremi Ferrers, 3
IG: @dahouseofdance
Top Dance
Top Dance is one of the main dance studios in Palma and teaches a bit of everything, including bachata and salsa. They also have lady style classes. There’s a 40€ one-time sign-up fee and pricing varies depending on the frequency of the class.
Address: Calle Joan Ripoli i Trobat 1
IG: @grupotopdance
Gimnasio Megasport
Megasport is the go-to gym for salsa/bachata enthusiasts because this massive gym offers salsa, bachata, and kizomba classes (along with other styles of dance) as part of the membership. The gym membership is a bit pricier than many at 80€/month, but if you’re into fitness and want to improve dancing, the facilities look incredible. And there’s a really cool spa.
Address: Carrer sels Fertilitzants, 8
IG: @megasport.oficial
Connect Lingus
The salsa and bachata classes offered by this international social group is the best way to dip your toes into the idea of social dancing. It’s low commitment and low cost. Also, there are people from all over the world so there’s always a nice blend of English and Spanish. It’s a great way to meet people. And one of my favorite things is that the classes are outside and it’s just a cool thing to be taking a dance class by the sea as the sun sets with the cathedral in the background. I’ve made a lot of friends through this group and 10/10 recommend. The classes are 3€.
IG: @connect_lingus
Socials
Okay, you’ve been taking classes or you just already know how to dance and you want a fun night out where you are completely confident everyone will be dancing salsa and bachata. Go to a social! They are dance events dedicated to salsa and bachata (and sometimes with a little kizomba or msouk thrown in there). They’re a fun environment and it feels healthier than going fully on a night out because while there are little bars and your ticket usually includes a beverage, it’s really rare for people to be drunk at these events. A lot of alcohol doesn’t help with coordination after all. Also, don’t worry if you don’t have a partner because it’s completely normal to dance with a variety of people. With the amount of studios and socials, you can most likely find some social going on at any point in the week. Bonus? Many socials have a workshop at the beginning of the night.
Victory’s
Victory’s is synonymous with social dancing in Palma and is perhaps the most well-known place. There are some absolutely incredible dancers there because many of them take lessons at Victory’s and just all in all take their bachata/salsa/kizomba/mzouk very seriously. And people dress up. Everyone looks nice and many of the women are committed enough to the hobby (or should I say lifestyle) that they’ve bought their sparkly, good-quality dancing shoes. As such, Victory’s can be incredibly intimidating. My first time, I only danced a few times and most of the time was spent with my jaw on the floor in utter amazement at how skilled and talented everyone was. It felt like being at a dance performance. It’s fun just to watch honestly. That being said, going dancing at Victory’s feels more like going to an event and it’s fun to dress up a little. And it is a wonderful place to level up your dancing and be inspired to learn more.
The social opens with a lesson but be prepared because it isn’t an easy one. If you don’t go to the lesson, I recommend going a little later because it’s pretty dead at first. Also, I recommend being a bit strategic with where you sit. It’s tempting to sit by the wall, especially if you feel intimidated, but the tables beside the dance floor are a better spot for finding dance partners. The music is usually two bachata songs, two salsa songs, and two kizomba/mzouk songs. You can get there by bus from Palma center, but the night buses can be tricky coming back since it’s so late so you might want to plan on taking a taxi back.
Their socials are on Fridays and Sundays and start around 10 pm. The cost is 8€ and includes a drink, either one alcoholic beverage or two soft drinks.
Address: Carrer de Selva, 13, Palma de Mallorca
IG: @victorysbaile
El Cid
El Cid on a Sunday night is my favorite place for social dancing because the vibe and atmosphere is fun and casual, and it’s overall much more relaxed than Victory’s. It’s also a nice venue with dark wood accents, red walls, and a black-and-white checkered floor and just feels like a cool place to spend a Sunday night dancing. Most importantly, for me anyways, it is a tardeo which means it starts at 6 pm and ends at 10 pm which is great since others can go until 3 am. People don’t dress up too much and you’ll find a lot more casual shoes (yes, you can dance in sneakers). There are “animations” at different points where everyone does the same dance in lines and it’s just a vibe. It is usually 50-50 for bachata and salsa music. Bonus: it’s easy to get to by bus from the Palma center. Just take EMT 23.
They have bachata and salsa tardeos on Sundays and Wednesdays. On Sundays, it begins at 6pm and ends at 10pm, and the cost is 10€ (including one alcoholic drink, or two soft drinks). On Wednesdays, it begins at 8pm and the cost is 5€ and includes a beverage.
Address: Carrer de Damìa Reixach, 3, Zona Molinar
IG: @elcid.club
Bat
Bat Jockeys is also a popular spot for dance socials. Like El Cid, it feels much more casual and relaxed than Victory’s. I would say that the general level is a little lower than El Cid, so it’s particularly good for beginners.
Bat Jockeys also offers a workshop at the beginning of the social (the style of workshop varies depending on the day). The workshop is a bit easier than the one at Victory’s. There are socials throughout the week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Price, time, and style of dance depends on the day so check their instagram pages for updates. It’ll be between 6€ and 10€ and include a beverage. The socials are a mix of bachata, salsa, and kizomba.
It’s about a fifteen minute drive from Palma center. Bus or metro are also an option, but remember that if you stay until late you will most likely need a taxi.
Address: Carrer Gremi Selleters i Basters, 23
IG: @batjockeys
Bailate Mallorca
If you’re interested in social dancing, I highly recommend following @bailatemallorca on IG. It’s a group that organizes dance socials and they’re always posting something new. The most common venues they use are El Cid, Sala Palma Ball, and El Eden Boliviano.
Bars/Clubs
Let’s say you want a night of dinner and dancing, or you’re on a night out and are tired of the music in some of the clubs and want a change and a chance to practice some salsa and bachata. In that case, a bar or club that plays Latin music is probably a better choice than a social.
Baum
This Argentinian bar is a fun place to try out your salsa and bachata skills. It’s right on Blanquerna, minutes from Plaza España, and they play a mix of bachata, salsa, and cumbia. It’s a small bar so there isn’t a ton of space for dancing, but there’s always some going on. A fun night would be getting dinner or tapas in Blanquerna and then popping into Baum.
Address: Calle de Blanquerna, 1
La Bodeguita del Medio
If you’re on Paseo de Marítimo for a night out and want a break from techno and American and British pop, check out La Bodeguita del Medio. They play salsa, bachata, and overall Latin-style music. It’s always a great vibe with lots of people dancing casually. Also, it’s only a two-minute walk past Epic so if you’re planning on going there but there’s a line, just keep going and check out this fun bar.
Address: Av. de Gabriel Roca, 27
Habanera Club
If you’re wanting to check out multiple places on this list on the same night, you’re in luck because Habanera Club is right next door to La Bodeguita del Medio. They are side-by-side on Paseo Marítimo so it’s easy to check out the vibes at each and decide which you prefer. It and La Bodeguita del Medio are very similar. They are both small clubs that play Latin music.
Address: Av. de Gabriel Roca, 27
Cuba Live
Cuba Live is a club dedicated to salsa, bachata, and Latin music located near Santa Catalina. They also host dance socials sometimes.
Address: Carrer de Ramon y Cajal, 2