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 daily life in this square for over twenty years. It is not a modern lounge bar trying to stand out with its design, but rather a laid-back venue with a large terrace where morning coffee, cold drinks, and evening gatherings take place throughout the day.

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

Large Terrace at the Main Jelsa Square

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

Tables are arranged around the square, allowing patrons to sit literally in the centre of Jelsa. A few steps away, the old streets, the waterfront, and the Park begin, making Tarantela a natural stop while exploring the town centre.

While it does not offer a view of the open sea like the bars at Mala Banda, it provides something entirely different – the atmosphere of the main island square through which nearly everyone staying in Jelsa passes during the day.

Morning Coffee Without a Specific Plan

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

In the morning, the terrace has a much calmer character, and the good coffee is regularly highlighted as one of the reasons guests return. It is often accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice, 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 town centre – a place to sit, enjoy a coffee, and watch as the square gradually fills up.

Cocktails, Wine, and Drinks in the Evening

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

Cocktails are a constant part of the offering, alongside beer, wine, gin, and other classic bar drinks. Hvar wine also fits naturally into the selection, so there is no need to stick solely 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 distinctive 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-curated music for years.

In the evening, it is the music, the full terrace, and the 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 socialising and creates an atmosphere that lasts into the late hours.

This is one of the reasons why the same space feels entirely different in the morning compared to the 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 locale over time that many today simply connect it with the square and the nightlife of Jelsa.

A Local Spot Not Just for Tourists

One of the better aspects of Tarantela is that it does not feel like a place created solely for summer visitors.

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 particularly felt during morning coffee and outside of the busiest evening crowds.

Tarantela or a Cocktail Bar by the Sea?

If you are looking for a view of the harbour, a sunset, and a more pronounced cocktail bar experience, Mojito at 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 centre, and without much planning, you stay for another drink.

Thus, 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 centre of Jelsa.

A Good Place to End an Evening Stroll

Tarantela is very easy to incorporate into an evening out without a specific plan.

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

This is where Tarantela's greatest value lies: there is no need to make a special trip to it – it is already at the very centre of Jelsa's life.

Useful Information

  • Type of establishment: café bar / bar
  • Location: main square in the centre 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 socialising
  • Coffee: one of the distinctive 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