Must-see entertainment in Madrid

  • Jazz group playing in Cafe Central.

    Café Central

    Madrid

    In 2011 the respected jazz magazine Down Beat included this art-deco bar on the list of the world's best jazz clubs, the only place in Spain to earn the…

  • Sala El Sol venue in Madrid

    Sala El Sol

    Madrid

    Madrid institutions don’t come any more beloved than the terrific Sala El Sol. It opened in 1979, just in time for la movida madrileña (the Madrid scene),…

  • MADRID, SPAIN, OCTOBER 2018 - Aerial view of Santiago Bernabeu stadium
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Aerial view of Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid

    Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

    Madrid

    Watching Real Madrid play is one of football's greatest experiences, but tickets are difficult to find. They can be purchased online, by phone or in…

  • Details of an ornate retro mosaic facade of the restaurant called Villa Rosa famous for flamenco performance in Madrid, Spain

    Villa Rosa

    Madrid

    Villa Rosa has been going strong since 1914, and in that time it has seen many manifestations. It established itself as a flamenco venue and has recently…

  • Teatro Flamenco Madrid

    Teatro Flamenco Madrid

    Malasaña & Conde Duque

    This excellent new flamenco venue is a terrific deal. With a focus on quality flamenco (dance, song and guitar) rather than the more formal meal-and-floor…

  • Actors perform during the presentation of the opera LA ROSA DEL AZAFRAN at the Zarzuela Theater in Madrid. January 23, 2024 Spain.

    Teatro de la Zarzuela

    Madrid

    This theatre, built in 1856, is the premier place to see zarzuela (Spanish mix of theatre, music and dance). It also hosts a smattering of classical music…

  • Corral de la Morería

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    This is one of the most prestigious flamenco stages in Madrid, with 50 years of experience as a leading venue and top performers most nights. The stage…

  • Las Tablas

    Madrid

    Las Tablas has a reputation for quality flamenco and reasonable prices; it's among the best choices in town. Most nights you’ll see a classic flamenco…

  • El Junco, in the late afternoon before opening hours begin.

    El Junco Jazz Club

    Chueca

    El Junco has established itself on the Madrid nightlife scene by appealing as much to jazz aficionados as to clubbers. Its secret is high-quality live…

  • Thundercat's fierce presence on Calle de Campoamor.

    Thundercat

    Chueca

    They keep it simple at Thundercat – it's rock, as classic as they can find it, with live gigs beginning after midnight and rolling on through the night…

  • A TV in the entrance of Cardamomo gives passers-by a taste of what they can expert at a flamenco show.

    Cardamomo

    Madrid

    One of the better flamenco stages in town, Cardamomo draws more tourists than aficionados, but the flamenco is top-notch. The early show lasts just 50…

  • Sala Clamores

    Madrid

    Clamores is a one-time classic jazz cafe that has morphed into one of the most diverse live-music stages in Madrid. Jazz is still a staple, but flamenco,…

  • Wanda Metropolitano

    Madrid

    The state-of-the-art new home of Atlético de Madrid – they moved in in late 2017 – seats 67,703 people and has already become a firm favourite among fans,…

  • El Despertar

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    El Despertar is all about jazz down to its roots. Everything about this place harks back to the 1920s, with a commitment to old-style jazz and decor to…

  • Teatro Valle-Inclán

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    The stunning refurbishment of this theatre has brought new life (and quality plays) to the once run-down corner of Lavapiés. Located on the southern end…

  • Costello Café & Niteclub

    Madrid

    The very cool Costello Café & Niteclub weds smooth-as-silk ambience to an innovative mix of pop, rock and fusion in Warhol-esque surrounds. There’s live…

  • Fun House

    Madrid

    This tiny, intimate venue is quite the surprise – this is where a consistent program of well-known, middle-tier groups and musicians come to play at the…

  • Las Carboneras

    Madrid

    Like most of the tablaos (flamenco venues) around town, this place sees far more tourists than locals, but the quality is nonetheless excellent. It’s not…

  • Teatro Real

    Madrid

    After spending over €100 million on a long rebuilding project, the Teatro Real is as technologically advanced as any venue in Europe, and is the city’s…

  • Café de Chinitas

    Madrid

    One of the most distinguished tablaos (flamenco venues) in Madrid, drawing in everyone from the Spanish royal family to Bill Clinton, Café de Chinitas has…

  • Café Ziryab

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    For a fine, well-priced flamenco show that draws as many locals as tourists, Café Ziryab is a bit out of the city centre but worth the excursion. At 11pm…

  • Café Berlin

    Madrid

    Café Berlín has been something of a Madrid jazz stalwart since the 1950s, although a makeover has brought flamenco, R&B, soul, funk and fusion into the…

  • ContraClub

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    ContraClub is a crossover live-music venue and nightclub, with an eclectic mix of live music (pop, rock, indie, singer-songwriter, blues etc). After the…

  • BarCo

    Malasaña & Conde Duque

    Just before Malasaña spills over into the seedy back end of Gran Vía, BarCo is an outstanding live venue with jazz, flamenco, Latin music, funk, rock and…

  • Auditorio Nacional de Música

    Madrid

    When it’s not playing at the Teatro Real, Madrid’s Orquesta Sinfónica performs at this modern venue, which also attracts famous conductors from across the…

  • Torres Bermejas

    Madrid

    For decades this was the Madrid stage for flamenco legend Camarón de la Isla, and after a drop in quality for a few years, it's once again a good place to…

  • Centro Cultural de Flamenco

    Chueca

    One of Madrid's newer flamenco stages, this 'Flamenco Cultural Centre' has a small shop, very reasonable prices, and hour-long shows that (unlike other…

  • Ballet Nacional de España

    Madrid

    A classical company that's known for its unique mix of ballet and traditional Spanish styles, such as flamenco and zarzuela. When in Madrid, it's usually…

  • La Coquette Blues

    Madrid

    Madrid's best blues bar in a cosy, subterranean brick cavern has been around since the 1980s and its Sunday jam session is legendary. Live acts perform…

  • Wurlitzer Ballroom

    Madrid

    Live-music fans in the city always check to see what's coming up at Wurlitzer Ballroom, a small but consistently good venue just off Gran Vía. Its…

  • Café La Palma

    Malasaña & Conde Duque

    It’s amazing how much variety Café La Palma has packed into its labyrinth of rooms. Live shows featuring hot local bands are held at the back, while DJs…

  • Teatro Español, as seen from Plaza Santa Ana.

    Teatro Español

    Madrid

    Fronting onto Plaza de Santa Ana, this theatre (formerly the Teatro del Príncipe) has been here in one form or another since the 16th century and is still…

  • La Escalera de Jacob

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    As much a cocktail bar as a live-music venue or theatre, ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ is one of Madrid’s more original stages. Magicians, storytellers, live jazz,…

  • El Rincón del Arte Nuevo

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    With nearly 40 years in the business, this small venue knows what its punters like and serves up a nightly feast of singer-songwriters, blues, rock and …

  • Honky Tonk

    Madrid

    Despite the name, this is a great place to see blues or local rock, though many acts have a little country, jazz or R&B thrown into the mix too. It’s a…

  • Galileo Galilei

    Madrid

    There’s no telling what will be staged here next, but it’s usually good; past performers include Jackson Browne, El Cigala, Kiko Veneno, Niña Pastori and…

  • El Búho Real

    Chueca

    It looks like your average Madrid bar de copas (bar serving spirits and mixed drinks), but El Búho Real (The Royal Owl) is all about acoustic music. It…

  • Marula Café

    La Latina & Lavapiés

    The music here is all about funk, soul, jazz, the American South, Afrobeat and even a little hip-hop. It’s a club with attitude and always has a great…

  • Bogui Jazz

    Chueca

    One of Madrid's best-loved jazz clubs has finally reopened its doors after years of being closed (it fell foul of a council crackdown on licensing laws)…

  • Moby Dick

    Madrid

    In a corner of Madrid that works hard by day and parties even harder on weekends, Moby Dick is an institution on the live-music circuit, mostly hosting…