Tarantela Bar – Coffee and Evening Drinks at the Square in Jelsa

Tarantela Bar is situated at the main square in the heart of Jelsa and has been a part of the daily life of this square for over twenty years. It is not a modern lounge bar trying to stand out with design, but a relaxed place with a large terrace where morning coffee, cold drinks, and evening gatherings take place throughout the day.

Tarantela fits well with the rhythm of the square. In the morning, it is quieter and suitable for coffee, during the warmer part of the day for juice or beer, and in the evening it becomes significantly livelier as the main square fills with strollers and guests from nearby restaurants and bars.

Large Terrace at the Main Square of Jelsa

The majority of Tarantela's summer life takes place outdoors.

Tables are arranged around the square, allowing guests to sit literally in the central part of Jelsa. A few steps away, the old streets, waterfront, and park begin, making Tarantela a natural stop while exploring the center.

It does not have a view of the open sea like bars on Mala Banda, but it offers something quite different – the atmosphere of the main island square through which almost everyone staying in Jelsa passes during the day.

Morning Coffee Without a Specific Plan

Tarantela is one of the places where coffee plays as important a role as evening drinks.

In the morning, the terrace has a much calmer character, and good coffee is regularly highlighted among the reasons guests return. Freshly squeezed orange juice is often ordered alongside, especially during the warmer months.

This is not a brunch spot or a restaurant. It is best viewed as a true café bar in the center of the town – a place to sit, enjoy coffee, and watch the square gradually fill up.

Cocktails, Wine, and Drinks in the Evening

As the day progresses, Tarantela increasingly transitions from a café bar to a place for evening gatherings.

Cocktails are a constant part of the menu, along with beer, wine, gin, and other classic bar drinks. Hvar wine naturally fits into the offering, so there is no need to stick only to cocktails.

The atmosphere is relaxed and informal. Tarantela is not one of the more glamorous cocktail bars in Jelsa, which actually gives it a recognizable character – it feels more like a place to return for another drink rather than a venue visited only once for its appearance.

Music is an Important Part of the Atmosphere

Tarantela has been known for its well-selected music for years.

In the evening, it is the music, full terrace, and life in the square that give the bar a livelier character. It is not a classic nightclub or a large concert space, but a bar where music accompanies socializing and creates an atmosphere into the late hours.

This is one of the reasons why the same space feels completely different in the morning and evening.

Where Does the Name Tarantela Come From?

The name of the bar was not chosen by chance.

Tarantela is named after a small lizard that can be seen on Hvar. This somewhat unusual name has become so associated with the local area over time that many now simply connect it with the square and the nightlife of Jelsa.

A Local Place Not Just for Tourists

One of the better aspects of Tarantela is that it does not feel like a place made exclusively for summer guests.

In current experiences, it is regularly described as a relaxed, homely spot, with a mix of guests who have been coming to Jelsa for years, locals, and tourists who have just discovered the place.

This character is especially felt during morning coffee and outside the peak evening crowds.

Tarantela or a Cocktail Bar by the Sea?

If you are looking for a view of the harbor, sunset, and a more pronounced cocktail bar experience, Mojito on Mala Banda has a different character.

Tarantela is more connected to the square itself. Here, you sit in the main square, observing the life of the center, and without much planning, you stay for another drink.

Therefore, these two places do not actually compete in the same way. Mojito is a bar by the sea, while Tarantela is one of the classic bars in the old town center of Jelsa.

A Good Place to End an Evening Stroll

Tarantela is very easy to include in an evening out without a specific plan.

After dinner by the waterfront or a walk through the old town, you can simply come to the square and sit for a drink. Due to its central location, almost all other important parts of Jelsa remain within a few minutes' walk.

This is the greatest value of Tarantela: there is no need to make a special trip to it – it is already at the very center of life in Jelsa.

Useful Information

  • Type of establishment: café bar / bar
  • Location: main square in the center of Jelsa
  • Tradition: has been operating at the same location for over twenty years
  • Best for: morning coffee, cold drinks during the day, and evening gatherings
  • Coffee: one of the recognizable parts of the daily offering
  • Drinks: fresh juices, beer, wine, gin, cocktails, and other classic bar drinks
  • Terrace: large outdoor terrace at the main square
  • Atmosphere: relaxed during the day, livelier in the evening
  • Music: an important part of the evening ambiance
  • Food: Tarantela is best viewed primarily as a bar; there is no need to present it as a restaurant
  • Special feature: a long-standing local bar that follows the entire daily rhythm of Jelsa's square from morning coffee to evening drinks