Cromwell's, Alicante: review of the late-night Irish rock pub

What Cromwell's is

Cromwell's is an Irish pub on Avenida Pintor Xavier Soler in Alicante, on the north side of the city and a short drive out of the centre. It's a local with a big terrace that stays busy late, and it calls itself a rock pub at heart. So expect guitars on the stereo, not chart pop.

It's popular, and not just with the regulars. Google has it at 4.4 stars from 2,461 reviews, which is a lot of people agreeing on something. Our Cromwell's listing has the map and the photos.

Honest summary before we go any further: this is a proper pub for a long session, not a sightseeing stop. If you're in Alicante for two days and staying in the old town, there are closer places. If you live here, or you're staying up this end of the city, it's the sort of place that becomes your local fast.

What to drink and eat

It's a pub first. Beer is the main event, and the photos on the listing show tall wheat beer glasses on the terrace tables, with the usual bowl of crisps alongside. There's a board outside advertising beer buckets too, which tells you what kind of evenings happen here.

The cocktail list on the board outside runs through the classics: mojito, caipirinha, daiquiri, pornstar martini, piña colada, margarita and a few house names. Don't expect a mixology bar. Expect a decent cocktail at a pub price.

There's food as well. The snacks board in the photos lists pizza, ensaladilla rusa, tortilla de patatas, bocadillos, a ham and cheese board and burgers. Pub food, in other words, which is exactly what you want at midnight with a pint. Menus change, so treat the boards as a guide to the style rather than a promise.

When to go

Google lists it as open from 10am to 4am, seven days a week. The listing blurb says 11am until around 3am. Either way, the point stands: you can come for a lunchtime pint, an early evening with friends, or a late one after everything else has shut.

Here's the catch. Reviewers say it gets very crowded at night and the waiters get stretched. Staff get good marks for being friendly and professional, but there are only so many of them. If you want a table outside, come earlier in the evening and settle in. If you turn up at midnight on a Saturday, be patient.

The big terrace is the draw for most of the year. Alicante evenings are mild well into autumn, and this is the kind of terrace where a quick drink turns into three hours.

Price feel

Cheap, by Alicante standards. Google puts it in the inexpensive bracket and we've tagged it budget in the directory. That's part of why it's rammed. You're not paying old-town terrace prices, and the drinks reflect that.

Getting there and booking

The address is Avenida Pintor Xavier Soler 6, postcode 03015. It's a short drive out of the centre rather than a stroll, so put it into your maps app and go by taxi or car. Coming home at 3am, a taxi is the realistic option.

The listing says they take reservations by phone if you're coming as a group. For a table on the terrace on a weekend night, that's the move. Ring ahead, book, turn up on time.

How it compares

Alicante has a handful of pubs that get lumped together as "the Irish bar" or "the rock bar". They're not the same, and which one you want depends on the night.

O'Hara Irish Pub, Plaza de los Luceros

O'Hara is the central option, right on Plaza de los Luceros with pavement tables facing the fountain. It opens every day from 10am until midnight, so it's an early-evening and happy-hour place rather than a late one. Google has it at 3.8 from 972 reviews. Our listing's honest take: it's Irish in name more than spirit, and one visitor was unimpressed with the Guinness pour. Go for a cheap central drink between sights. Go to Cromwell's for a pub night.

Frontera, Playa de San Juan

Frontera on Avenida de la Costa Blanca is the rock bar of Playa de San Juan, and it's the one for live bands. Gigs, jam sessions, a pool table, sport on the screens and rock on the stereo when nobody's playing. It opens from 4pm until 3:30am every day and scores 4.5 from 2,238 reviews. It's a step up in price from Cromwell's, mid-range rather than cheap. If you want music played in front of you rather than through speakers, this wins.

Austin, El Barrio

Austin is the old-town corner bar on Calle Llauradors, in the lanes where most of central Alicante's late drinking happens. Screens inside and out for the football, cocktails made from scratch, kind prices, open 11am to 2:30am. It scores 4.2 from 1,024 reviews. Pick it when there's a match on and you're already in Alicante Centro.

So: Cromwell's for a long, late, rock-soundtracked session with a big terrace and cheap drinks. O'Hara for a central pint before dinner. Frontera for live bands. Austin for the match. If you're down in Benidorm instead, we've reviewed the Shamrock Irish Pub there too.

Verdict

Cromwell's does the simple things well. Cheap drinks, a big terrace, long hours and a soundtrack that doesn't make you want to leave. The trade-off is crowds and slow service at peak times, and the fact that it's out of the centre. If you can live with that, and you go a bit earlier than you planned, it's one of the better pub nights in the city. For more of our picks across town, read the Alicante nightlife guide or browse the full bars and nightlife directory.

FAQ

Where is Cromwell's in Alicante?

Avenida Pintor Xavier Soler 6, 03015 Alicante. It's on the north side of the city, a short drive from the centre.

What time does Cromwell's open and close?

Google lists 10am to 4am every day. The listing blurb says 11am to around 3am. Either way, it's open from lunchtime until very late.

Does Cromwell's serve food?

Yes. The boards in the listing photos show pizza, tortilla, bocadillos, burgers and a ham and cheese board. Pub food to go with the drinks.

Can I book a table?

The listing says they take reservations by phone for groups. Worth doing for a weekend terrace table.

Is Cromwell's expensive?

No. It's in Google's inexpensive bracket and tagged budget in our directory.

What music do they play?

It bills itself as a rock pub at heart, so expect rock and guitars rather than chart pop or reggaeton.