Here is a list of the hottest electronic clubs in Florianopolis. Also, head to the party prepared with my tips on Clubbing etiquette in Brazil… what to wear, when to go, and what to expect!
P12 (Dayclub, 2pm-10pm, Jurerê Internacional)
P12 is a BEAUTIFUL Dayclub located in the Posh area of Jurere Internacional, right next to the beach at the end of Jurere beach. It is as beautiful as beach clubs in Vegas (think Marquee Dayclub or Surrender). Jurere international is the area where the richest of the richest people in Brazil have their summer homes. P12 has a huge pool that even has a bar in the middle of the pool. The whole club has a plenty of seating area for the VIP and regular people alike, from white linen barracks, beach chairs, to picnic tables. There is a separate adjacent tented area for a DJ stage, elevated DJ tables on the side, and a large dance floor. Great that it is tented because that means the party goes on even if it rains! The dance floor is narrow so people tend to get stuck in the back, make your way to the front for a lot of space to dance (a good festival tip in general!)
Here they book in general international commercial house talent. The biggest DJs in the industry have played here at P12 (i.e. Armin, Bingo Players, Fatbloy Slim, you name it). The principal DJ usually arrives at 8pm. It is worth it to get there during the day though to enjoy the sun, pool, and beautiful people! I love how beach clubs have a generally more laidback vibe. People go in bikini, sandals, and are less dressed up and less made up, as Brazilian girls tend to be when they go out!
My only complaint is that there a very few “Caixas”/Cash registers for the amount of people there; line was terrible and they really should add more cash registers if they want people to drink in their club. Tip here is to just put more value in your bracelet in the beginning so that you just have to line up once. Or try to get someone in the front to buy a drink for you (pay them). There are generally parties every Saturday or Sunday during high season, and then a party once every two or three weeks following carnaval. (Not sure 100% if it closes during the winter)
Conclusion: I LOVE P12. If you are in Floripa, GO TO P12! I loved it SO much, and even my Paulista friend (Paulista is what you can people from Sao Paulo) said that going to P12 alone was worth the 12 hour bus ride from Sao Paulo to Floripa.
Pacha Floripa/Terraza (Nightclub, Jurerê, 11pm-after 6am)
Pacha is an international chain of nightclubs that originated in Ibiza. In Floripa, Pacha is located within the music complex “Music Park” that is actually 3 clubs – Pacha, Devassa Stage, and Terraza. When you buy an entrance to Pacha Floripa, you get to access the Terraza stage as well (if there is a DJ playing there that night, I think there usually is)! Pacha is where there is a more mainstream sound (books big international talent, i.e. Paul van Dyk, but generally errs on the side of second-tier international talent in terms of popularity), whereas Terraza is dedicated to the underground. It seems to me that the crowd that goes to Pacha is a lot younger, I saw a lot of 18-year old looking folks around the club (if you want to avoid them, go to Terraza, or get VIP). People are generally less “sophisticated” in terms of behavior compared to in P12, I think because of the age.
If you go to Pacha, be prepared for lines, lines, and more lines. I got there around 1:30am, and there was about 200 people in the line for guestlist, and then another 200 people in the line for general admission. I used my New York clubbing training to manage to go in through VIP line, and skip the guest list line as well by winning a ticket online, but I may have gotten a little lucky 🙂 Anyways people, ladies in general, it doesn’t hurt to put on a big smile or clueless foreigner face to try to get in faster!!!
Side story: When I went, Pacha was passing out bunny ears for their Crazy Bunny Easter party. One guy actually took my bunny ears from my head and I yanked it back out of his hand as he was putting it on the girl that he was trying to hit on. Unbelievable! Trying to please a girl by giving her stolen ears, too bad I couldn’t react fast enough in Portuguese to scold him, I really should have. I was giving him the evil eye for a while, and it seemed like the girl didn’t like him anyway. Asshole.
Sete Nightclub, Previously El Divino Lounge (Nightclub, Centro)
On my second day in Florianopolis, I was lucky to meet some Brazilian boys at the hostel who were going to this club owned by the same owner as P12. Best thing was that they have a car, which is like hitting the jackpot in Floripa, whee! The club is located in the Center of Florianópolis, right on the Beira Mar Avenue which goes all along the coast. It is part lounge, with a open garden area with tables for guests to relax and sit at, and adjacent to it is the club room. It doesn’t always play electronic music, but it has a state of the art sound system. I was SUPER impressed. When I walked into the club room, I felt the bass and the sound make my body tremble, and I instantly knew it was going to be an awesome time. The club’s decor and vibe is dark, sleek, and sexy. The funny thing about this club is that the regular admission/floor area is really tiny, and over 80% of the club is “VIP area”. What the heck? Here it was more “exclusive” to be on the floor! Thus the floor is quite far away from the DJ booth, but there was good space to dance in. This club doesn’t book big electronic talents; it is mostly local/Brazilian talent. I believe it is currently closed for reforms now that the high season in Florianopolis has concluded.
In April of 2014, the Divino Lounge changed its name to Sete Nightclub. They have Deep House Thursdays and have booked Tujamo in one of their first weeks of opening. I have not been but surely they maintained the state-of-the-art sound system.
Cafe de la Musique (Jurere Internacional, Beach Club, no pool)
Cafe de la Musique is a chain of clubs/lounges in Brazil. It’s super chic and is open every day during the high season for beach-goers. Here you can lounge around the club, eat and drink, and listen to deep house on the beach. Great vibes! They also do parties on the weekends, but it’s generally not electronic I believe. Probably only open on the weekends during low season, open all days during high season.
Taikô (Jurerê Internacional, Beach Bar, no pool)
Taiko is a smaller Beach Club also located on the beach of Jurere Internacional. They have a killer sound system, a DJ, and a small dance floor. Here you can also lounge around eat and drink at their barracks and tables, or even get served at the beach. The type of music played is Deep House, which is AMAZING for a day on the beach. Probably only open on the weekends during low season, open all days during high season.
Other Beach Clubs/Bars with DJs or good electronic sound:
Most are only open during high season or weekends with good weather in low season:
- Bar Do Deca (Praia Mole, Gay Beach Club): I have never been here, but I’ve passed by/leeched music here and it has a great sound system. Generally plays a mix of commercial and deep house. I hear that in the high season the DJ starts spinning in the afternoon and goes into the night. Probably closed in the low season in general
- Tropical Bar on Praia Mole
- There is a Pacha Bar on Praia Mole
- There is a Beach Bar on Joaquina (close to the right side of the entrance to Joaquina) that has a great sound system where they play electronic music from their iPod
- Malam Bar in Lagoa de Conceição – they have “Electronic Parties” here on Wednesday, at least in low season. I am only mentioning this place because this is a post about electronic venues in Floripa, but this place is terrible, do not go there. When I went, granted it was low season, but the dance floor is tiny and separated from the lounge with a curtain like a high school dance, with only foreigners. Seriously do not go there!!
Check out my Clubbing Tips to Florianopolis, and since you are already in the state of Santa Catarina, why not also check out the legendary Warung Beach Club and Green Valley?