Playa de Palma has one of the liveliest bar strips in Mallorca, centred on the stretch known informally as the Bierkönig area — a dense cluster of open-air bars and nightclubs running along the promenade that fills up every night in summer and does not empty until the early hours. The atmosphere is rowdy and predominantly German-speaking; if you are after something quieter, avoid this section of the strip after dark.
Ca'n Pastilla at the northern end is a few degrees calmer, with beach bars and cafes that attract a slightly older crowd. The airport end of the strip also has several bars where you can watch planes making low approaches over the sea — an unexpectedly entertaining spectacle.