Bar entertainment in Madrid
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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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Djénné
Styling itself as a bar with a passion for travel, this bar could be a real find. The wall-sized mural of Mali’s Djenné market and photos from around the world give it something special, but the music is of a fairly standard, late-night bar variety – if only they’d play a few world music tunes, the cocktails would go down a treat. We wouldn’t travel all across town to get here, but if you’re on your way to or from Galileo Galilei, it’s worth a stop.
reviewed
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Sandset Chill-Out Lounge
Whether for your morning coffee or a weekend copa after midnight, Sandset is a welcome recent addition to Conde Duque’s emerging cachet. Upstairs is a lazy café with a sense of light and space (it serves great cakes and breakfasts to accompany your coffee), but it’s downstairs that wins prizes for imagination with tinkling water, sand on the floor, cushions, wicker beach furniture and sheeshas (€4) to smoke. It’s an eclectic mix, but it works.
reviewed
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El 44 Bar
An intimate bar experience tucked away on a quiet street that leads down towards the opera house, El 44 Bar ranks among our favourite little bars in the centre. The cocktails are well priced (€5 to €7) and original (including caipipretas, a Lisbon staple that riffs on the caipirinha with black rum). The music includes ’70s and ’80s and detours into lounge (Gotan Project seems a particular favourite), Brazilian jazz and deep house, picking up speed as the night wears on.
reviewed
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La Soléa
This long-standing flamenco bar has live flamenco of a much more improvised kind and which bears little resemblance to the tablao floor shows. Usually from around midnight, a knowledgeable crowd of flamenco insiders provides the closest flamenco comes to a jam session. Like any such session, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but when it does it has a soulful authenticity that more formal tablaos can’t quite match.
reviewed
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El Refugio de Madrid
Styling itself as a bastion of classic rock, this brick-lined bar keeps it simple with beer on tap, posters on the walls of its heroes (among them Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top) and video clips running around the clock in the background. Unlike some Malasaña rock bars you won’t find too many heavy rockers here; it’s more filled with young, professional punters who love their rock.
reviewed
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La Inquilina
This could just be our favourite bar in Lavapiés. It’s partly about the cool-and-casual vibe and partly its community spirit with 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.
reviewed
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Candela
Although not quite what it was, Candela draws a foreign crowd upstairs for fairly formal flamenco, while many of Madrid’s young performers hang out downstairs in an informal bar where spontaneous music often breaks out late in the evening. To see Candela at its best, come after 1am and respect the atmosphere.
reviewed
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El Viajero
This upstairs bar requires the patience of a saint – it’s busy and near-on impossible to get a table unless you’re prepared to wait. But wait you should, because El Viajero is always buzzing (has been for years) and the rooftop terrace on a summer’s night is pure bliss.
reviewed
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Geographic Club
With its elaborate stained-glass windows, ethno-chic from all over the world and laid-back atmosphere, the Geographic Club is an excellent choice in Salamanca for an early-evening drink. We like the table built around an old hot-air balloon basket almost as much as the cavernlike pub downstairs.
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Lola Bar
If you like your music chilled-out, Lola Bar is a great place to start your night. On weekends the DJ ups the tempo a little, but it’s more lounge than House and you may find yourself staying longer than you planned. Our only complaint is that mojitos are a steep €8.50.
reviewed
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La Vaca Austera
Old habits die hard at this veteran bar that once played host to some of the best bands of la movida in the 1980s. Its warehouse feel won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a local icon and a totally unpretentious place to hear alternative rock music.
reviewed
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La Taberna Chica
Most of those who come to this narrow little bar are after one thing – the famous Santa Teresa rum that comes served in an extra-large mug. The music is chill-out with a nod to lounge, which makes it an ideal pit stop if you’re hoping for conversation.
reviewed
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Centro Cubano de España
Cubans from all over Madrid come here for mojitos (Cuban cocktails that taste just like they do back home), son-inflected (a Cuban music style) beats that transport them back to Havana and a dance floor welcoming anyone who has Latin rhythms in their soul.
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Le Cock
The décor that resembles an old gentleman’s club notwithstanding, the Cock gets lively on weekends when the tables all seem to be reserved. That’s probably because it’s a popular weekend haunt of A-listers and a refined 30-something crowd.
reviewed
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Libertad 8
Here’s a novelty you won’t find elsewhere – at 9pm many nights a storyteller does his or her stuff, often role-playing into the bargain. The audience in this tiled old Spanish bar love to get involved and usually stay on for drinks afterwards.
reviewed
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Viva Madrid
The tiled facade of Viva Madrid is one of Madrid’s most recognisable and it’s an essential landmark on the Huertas nightlife scene. It’s packed to the rafters on weekends and you come here in part for fine mojitos and also for the casual, friendly atmosphere.
reviewed
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Real Café Bernabéu
Overlooking one of the most famous football fields on earth, this place will appeal to those who live and breathe football. Views are exceptional, although it closes two hours before a game and doesn’t open until an hour after. There’s also a good restaurant.
reviewed
