Bar entertainment in Spain
-
A
La Inquilina
One of our favourite bars in Lavapiés, La Inquilina has a cool-and-casual vibe and deep roots in the Lavapiés soil. Contemporary artworks by budding local artists adorn the walls and you can either gather around the bar or take a table out the back. It’s a small slice of sophistication in a barrio not known for such characteristics. They serve tapas for €1 until 10pm if your night is starting early.
reviewed
-
B
La Confitería
This is a trip into the 19th century. Until the 1980s it was a confectioner’s shop, and although the original cabinets are now lined with booze, the look of the place has barely changed in its conversion into a laid-back bar. A quiet enough spot for a house vermut (€3; add your own soda) in the early evening, it fills with theatregoers and local partiers later at night.
reviewed
-
C
La Venencia
This is how sherry bars should be – old world, drinks poured straight from the dusty wooden barrels and none of the frenetic activity for which Huertas is famous. La Venencia is a barrio classic, with fine sherry from Sanlúcar and manzanilla from Jeréz, accompanied by a small selection of tapas with an Andalucian bent. Otherwise, there’s no music, no flashy decorations; it’s all about you, your fino (sherry) and your friends. As one reviewer put it, it's 'a classic among classics'.
reviewed
-
D
Barraval
With its designer looks, greys, black and subtle lighting, this is a hard-to-categorize, all-in-one evening-out location split over two floors. Mediterranean fusion dishes reign in the early evening as people crowd in for dinner. From 11pm, DJs fill the air with mixes of jazz, funk, R&B, soul and Latin sounds. Wednesday nights there is a free snack buffet for tipplers.
reviewed
-
E
Alfa
Aficionados of good old-fashioned rock love this unchanging bar-cum-minidisco, a Gràcia classic. Records hang from the ceiling as if to remind you that most of the music comes from the pre-CD era, ’60s to ’80s and the occasional later intruder. Take up a stool for a drink and chat or head for the no-frills dance area just beyond. There’s another bar right up the back.
reviewed
-
F
Bar Pastís
A French cabaret theme (with lots of Piaf in the background) dominates this tiny, cluttered classic. It’s been going, on and off, since the end of WWII. You’ll need to be in here before 9pm to have a hope of sitting, getting near the bar or anything much else. On some nights it features live acts, usually performing French chansons. Tuesday night is Tango night.
reviewed
-
G
Espacio Flamenco
Way down the bottom of the El Rastro hill, this little-known but nonetheless excellent tablao draws occasional big names, but most often showcases young performers before they make the big stage. There’s also a commitment here to authentic flamenco and its director, Mari Paz Lucena, is a leading flamenco bailaora, who often takes the stage.
reviewed
-
H
El Callejón
Tucked in between Viva Madrid and the Plaza de Santa Ana, the tiny El Callejón lives and breathes flamenco from the music coming from the sound system to the stars of cante jondo (deep flamenco song) who adorn the walls. The clientele is overwhelmingly local and even includes flamenco stars who recognise authentic flamenco when they hear it.
reviewed
-
I
Magister
This place caters to the more mature drinker, playing soporific background music and brewing beer on the spot to assure patrons the alcohol won't run out. The beer comes in five tasty varieties: blond rubia and tostada, the dark caramelizada and morenita, and the especial, which varies from season to season.
reviewed
-
J
Bocayma
Bocayma starts in quiet fashion with patrons gathered around its low tables lined up on one side of the rear bar area. Two backlit bars also keep the drinks coming to this low-lit honey pot of good-looking 20- and 30-somethings. After 1am the music takes off and punters rev up for an outing to nearby clubs. It often opens beyond its official hours.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
J&J Books & Coffee
If you’re new in town and keen to meet other members of Madrid’s (mostly English-speaking) expat community, J&J Books is a fun place to do so. In this agreeable bar atmosphere, it has international exchange nights from 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday and happy hour from 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday, as well as plenty of books for sale downstairs.
reviewed
-
L
Betty Ford
This enticing corner bar is one of several good stops along the student-jammed run of Carrer de Joaquín Costa. It does some nice cocktails and the place fills with an even mix of locals and foreigners, generally not much over 30. They cook up some decent burgers, too.
reviewed
-
M
La Ventura
One of many Lavapiés secrets hidden behind nondescript doors, La Ventura is a smoky, underground, alternative-cool bar with a cut-off-from-the-outside-world feel. It’s always filled with locals and don’t believe everything you read – we’ve been there long after closing time, but we didn’t tell you that.
reviewed
-
N
Plata Bar
A summer seat on the corner terrace of this wide-open bar attracts a lot of lads hopping the area’s gay bars in the course of an evening. Inside, metallic horse-saddle stools are lined up at the bar and high tables, the music drifts through modes of dance and trance and waiters whip up drinks from behind a couple of candelabra on the bar.
reviewed
-
Bigsurlife
Bigsur attracts a good-natured and beautiful Italian crowd. The daily event is drinks (huge glass steins of mojito) on the beach for sunset. About 20m before the turn-off for Platja de ses Illetes from the La Savina–Es Pujols road, a parking area is signposted to the left. Another 30m brings you to the beach and bar.
reviewed
-
O
El Bandido Doblemente Armado
Part cool cocktail bar and part bookshop, the ‘Double-armed Bandit’ is run by the writer Soledad Puértolas and is popular with an artsy crowd keen to keep abreast of the literary scene (it’s the focus for numerous literary events). They’re also drawn by the smoky, funky music (think Tom Waits and beyond).
reviewed
-
P
El Perro Andalúz
A bar dedicated to the eponymous surrealist film by Buñuel and Dalí, with suitably odd decor, such as stand-up hair dryers as lamps, chairs with a large eye printed across them (but, thankfully, without being sliced by a razor, like in the movie). Live music is on most nights, just ask in advance what they are staging.
reviewed
-
Q
Calle de la Infanta Isabel
Calle de la Infanta Isabel is one of those Spanish streets that you'd hate to live above and on a warm summer's evening, you'll definitely hear it before you see it; locals call it 'Calle de los Bares' (Street of the Bars) as it's the scene of serious carousing and general merriment, especially from Thursday to Saturday nights.
reviewed
-
R
Blondie
Long a dark little dive that had slowly sunk into oblivion, this Italian-run bar now has a strong local following who come for new wave hits from the 80s. There's also subtle, multicoloured lighting, black-and-white tile walls, Estrella Galicia beer (the country’s crispest lager) and something of a conspiratorial air.
reviewed
-
S
Dos Gardenias
When Huertas starts to overwhelm, this soothing little bar is the perfect antidote. The flamenco and other chill-out music ensures a down-tempo mood, while sofas, softly lit colours and some of the best mojitos (Cuban cocktail) in the barrio make this the perfect place to ease yourself into or out of the night.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Sala Tantra Buddha Bar
This place is worth taking a peep at even if you don't hang about. It's decorated with all the little details associated with Buddha - statues, silk screens etc. This type of décor replicates the Parisian prototype and is a fad in Spain at present - an odd theme for a drinking den! There's a small dance floor too.
reviewed
-
U
El Rincón de Michael Landon
In the midst of Granada's student life, this funny bar is dedicated to retro kitsch and the bizarrely cult star of The Little House on the Prairie. The hip bunch that hangs out here comes for the simple tapas (with names such as JR - Jamón & Roquefort), beer, and music blasting from the small stereo.
reviewed
-
V
El Divino
Another of eight Ibiza 'superclubs', El Divino rivals Pacha for longevity and size. Situated across the water from the centre of Ibiza City, El Divino is the only club besides Pacha that is open year-round - weekends only between October and April. It organises boats and will refund taxis for groups of three or more.
reviewed
-
W
London Bar
Open since 1909, this Modernista bar started as a hang-out for circus hands and was later frequented by the likes of Picasso, Miró and Hemingway. Today, it fills to the brim with punters at the long front bar and rickety old tables. On occasion, you can attend concerts at the small stage right up the back.
reviewed
-
X
Malaspina
Although it serves inviting tapas throughout the day, we like this cosy place with its wooden tables and semirustic décor as a mellow place for a quiet one as you head home for an early night. Many of the bars in this area lack character or have sold their soul to the god of tourism. This place is different.
reviewed