Entertainment in Spain
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Tupperware
A Malasaña stalwart and prime candidate for the bar that best catches the enduring rockero spirit of Malasaña, Tupperware draws a 30-something crowd, spins indie rock with a bit of soul and classics from the ’60s and ’70s, and generally revels in its kitsch (eyeballs stuck to the ceiling, and plastic TVs with action-figure dioramas lined up behind the bar). By the way, locals pronounce it ‘Tupper-warry’.
reviewed
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Local Café Bar Lounge
With its swirling colour scheme, funky soul, disco and deep House beats and a predominantly gay crowd, Local is Chueca in a nutshell.
reviewed
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Teatro Joy Eslava
The only things guaranteed at this grand old Madrid dance club (housed in a 19th-century theatre) are a crowd and the fact that it will be open. (The club claims to have opened every single day for the past 29 years.) The music and the crowd are a mixed bag, but queues are long and invariably include locals and tourists, and even the occasional famoso.
reviewed
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Café Bar Las Teresas
Always busy, an inviting cool, tiled inner decor, and a location at the nexus of the Santa Cruz district; all this bodes well for the hard-to-miss Las Teresas. The tapas aren’t bad either.
reviewed
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Cardamomo
One of the spiritual homes of flamenco in Madrid, Cardamomo is a dark, smoky bar that draws a knowledgeable crowd. It has lost a little atmosphere after a recent change of owner, but the flamenco is top-notch and there are nightly shows at 10pm.
reviewed
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El Gato Lounge
If it's a louder ambience you're looking for, you'll find the pink party at the mega clubs and gay bars in Torremolinos. That's right, the 'in crowd' goes to Torremolinos for fun!! What had turned into a decayed symbol of a better past is now making a comeback. New bars, restaurants and clubs are opening and the area is becoming one of the major gay holiday destinations in Spain.
La Nogalera (close to Torremolinos train station) is the centre of BLGT - bi, lesbian, gay and transgendered - tourism in the province. Here, the variety of bars, pubs, clubs and discos guarantees a good time. Check out the new and trendy El Gato Lounge, where cool cats chill over a beer and a…
reviewed
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Sala el Sol
This opened in 1979, just in time for la movida, and quickly established itself as a leading stage for all the icons of the era, such as Nacha Pop and Alaska y los Pegamoides. La movida may have faded into history, but it lives on at El Sol, where the music rocks and rolls and usually resurrects the ’70s and ’80s while soul and funk also get a run. It’s a terrific venue and opening times vary – most concerts start around 11pm but can be as ‘early’ as 10pm. Check the website (which also allows you to book online) for upcoming acts.
reviewed
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Liquid
reviewed
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Museo Chicote
The founder of this Madrid landmark is said to have invented more than a hundred cocktails, which the likes of Hemingway, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Frank Sinatra all enjoyed at one time or another. It’s still frequented by film stars and top socialites, and it’s at its best after midnight, when a lounge atmosphere takes over, couples cuddle on the curved benches and some of the city’s best DJs do their stuff (CDs are available). The 1930s-era interior only adds to the cachet of this place. We don’t say this often, but if you haven’t been here, you haven’t really been to Madrid – it’s that much of an icon.
reviewed
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Corral de la Morería
This is one of the most prestigious flamenco stages in Madrid, with 50 years’ experience as a leading flamenco venue and top performers most nights. The stage area has a rustic feel, and tables are pushed up close. We’d steer clear of the restaurant, which is overpriced (from €43), but the performances have a far better price-quality ratio. This is where international celebrities (eg Marlene Dietrich, Marlon Brando, Muhammad Ali and Omar Sharif) have all gone for their flamenco fix when in town.
reviewed
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El Berlín Jazz Club
El Berlín has been something of a Madrid jazz stalwart since the 1950s and it’s the kind of place that serious jazz fans rave about as the most authentic in town – it’s all about classic jazz here, with none of the fusion performances that you find elsewhere. The art-deco interior ads to the charm and the headline acts are a Who’s Who of world jazz. The headline acts take to the stage at 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with other performances sprinkled throughout the week.
reviewed
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El Mojito
El Mojito is a modern temple to one of the favourite drinks of madrileños. In fact, it doesn’t really serve much else, but the price is right (€6) and the crowd is oh-so-cool and all dressed in black; the music (often live on Thursdays) is as Cuban as the mojitos. Space is always at a premium (the wall-to-ceiling mirrors make it look larger than it is).
reviewed
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La Vía Láctea
A living, breathing and delightfully grungy relic of la movida, La Vía Láctea remains a Malasaña favourite for a mixed, informal crowd who seems to live for the 1980s. The music ranges across rock, pop, garage, rockabilly and indie. There are plenty of drinks to choose from and by late Saturday night anything goes. Expect long queues to get in on weekends.
reviewed
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Pacha
In business on the northern side of Ibiza City's port since 1973, Pacha has 15 bars (!) and various dance spaces that can hold 3000 people. The main dance floor, a sea of colour, mirror balls and veils draped from the ceiling, heaves to deep techno. On the terrace, sounds are more gentle and relaxing.
reviewed
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Morocco
Owned by the zany Alaska, the stand-out musical personality of la movida, Morocco has decor that's so kitsch it's cool, and a mix of musical styles that never strays too far from 1980s Spanish and international tunes. The bouncers can be a bit shirty, but then it's not the most amiable profession in the world, now is it?
reviewed
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El Son
If you’re looking for salsa, merengue or some sexy tangos, look no further than El Son. This is the top place in town for Latin music and it’s very popular with Madrid’s South and Central American population. Live concerts Monday through Thursday keep the place packed all week long.
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Palacio Gaviria
A recently renovated palace converted into one of the most popular dance clubs in Madrid, this is the kind of place where the crowd can be pretty young and boisterous and the queues long. Thursday is international student and house music night – international relations have never been so much fun.
reviewed
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Palau de Dalmases - Espai Barroc
Perhaps the most pretentious bar in town, this 'baroque space' occupies the ground floor of a handsome 15th-century palace. Like a Peter Greenaway set, it is often the stage for a little light baroque music or operetta - the perfect accompaniment to your outlandishly priced goblets of wine.
reviewed
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Robadors 23
On what remains a classic dodgy El Raval street, where a hardy band of streetwalkers, junkies and other misfits hangs out in spite of all the work being carried out to gentrify the area, a narrow little bar has made a name for itself with its Wednesday night gigs.
reviewed
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Casa de la Memoria de al-Andalus
This flamenco tablao in Santa Cruz is probably the most intimate and authentic nightly flamenco show, offering a wide variety of flamenco styles in a room of shifting shadows. Space is limited to 100, so reserve tickets in advance.
reviewed
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El Garlochi
Dedicated entirely to the iconography, smells and sounds of Semana Santa, the ubercamp El Garlochi is a true marvel. A cloud of church incense hits you as you go up the stairs, and the faces of baby Jesus and the Virgin welcome you into the velvet-walled bar, decked out with more Virgins and Jesuses.
Taste the rather revolting sounding cocktails Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) and Agua de Sevilla, both heavily laced with vodka, whisky and grenadine, and pray they open more bars like this.
reviewed
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Miramelindo
A spacious tavern in a Gothic building, this remains a classic on Passeig del Born for mixed drinks, while soft jazz and soul sounds float overhead. Try for a comfy seat at a table towards the back before it fills to bursting. Several similarly barn-sized places line this side of the passeig.
reviewed
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Granada 10
A glittery converted cinema is now Granada’s top club for the glam crowd, who recline on the gold sofas and get hip-swivelling to cheesy Spanish pop tunes.
reviewed
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Tetería El Harén
A large teahouse that rambles over several floors with lots of private nooks. Live music Thursday to Saturday evenings.
reviewed
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Maiden's
Maiden's (for heavy metal maniacs) offers boisterous beer and thumping tunes from 22:00 until about 03:00.
reviewed