Entertainment in Madrid
-
A
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
-
B
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
-
C
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
-
D
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. The 1930s-era interior only adds to the cachet of this place.
reviewed
-
E
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
-
F
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
-
G
La Vía Láctea
This living, breathing and somewhat grungy relic of la movida, La Vía Láctea remains a Malasaña favourite for a mixed, informal crowd who seems to live for the 1980s, and the music here 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
-
H
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
-
I
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.
reviewed
-
J
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
Advertisement
-
K
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
-
L
Cines Princesa
Screens all kinds of original-version films, from Hollywood blockbusters to arty flicks.
reviewed
-
M
-
Adraba
This nightclub has history. It was one of the most famous nightclubs of la movida madrileña until it burned down (killing 81 revellers in the process) in 1983. It finally reopened to much fanfare in 2010 and has rapidly re-established itself as one of the city’s best. The designer decor is stunning, the safety provisions second to none and there’s five nights of dancing with a sophisticated crowd. Thursday night is ‘Vanité’ (which comes with the attached subtitle of ‘The Most Fashion Night’ and is devoted to glamour and lounge-bar sounds), while Friday and Saturday take you through the last three decades of dance tunes. Bookends to the rather long Adraba weekend are prov…
reviewed
-
N
Nasti Club
It’s hard to think of a more off-putting entrance with Nasti Club’s graffiti and abandoned-building look. Its staple, appropriately, is a faithfully grungy approach to the 1970s (pop, rock and punk), both in terms of music and decor. But it’s not as nasty as it sounds and the crowd can span the full range of 1970s throwbacks from a Who’s Who of Madrid’s underground to some surprisingly respectable types. Above all it’s a place with attitude, and as its own publicity says, it’s not from Barcelona, it doesn’t play electronica, people who come here are cool and no one’s ever heard of the live acts who appear here until they become famous two years later. Says…
reviewed
-
O
Café Central
This art-deco bar has consistently been voted one of the best jazz venues in the world by leading jazz magazines, and with almost 9000 gigs under its belt, it rarely misses a beat. Big international names like Chano Domínguez, Tal Farlow and Wynton Marsalis have all played here, and there’s everything from Latin jazz and fusion to tango and classic jazz. Performers usually play here for a week and then move on, so getting tickets shouldn’t be a problem, except on weekends; shows start at 10pm and tickets go on sale an hour before the set starts.
reviewed
-
P
El Café de la Ópera
Opposite the Teatro Real, this classic before-performance café has one unusual requirement for would-be waiters – they have to be able to sing opera. If you pass by here at most hours, it’s a quite, classic café and your attention will be caught by the décor (floral wallpaper and stainless-steel tables) as it’s rare that the waiters break into song until dinner time – then you’ll pay around €55 for a meal, which is not bad value if you don’t have tickets for the show across the road.
reviewed
-
Q
Cool
Cool by name, cool by nature. One of the hottest clubs in the city, the Phillipe Starck–designed curvy white lines, discreet lounge chairs in dark corners and pulsating dance floor are decked by gorgeous people, gorgeous clothes and a strict entry policy. Thursday is given over to ‘Sunflower Dance Sessions’ (house music and a fashionista crowd), Friday is ‘Stardust’ (electronica and techno), while Saturdays are called ‘Royal’ with new house music and a predominantly gay clientele. Things don’t really get going until 3am.
reviewed
-
R
La Boca del Lobo
Known for offering mostly rock and alternative concerts, La Boca del Lobo (The Wolf’s Mouth) is as dark as its name suggests and has broadened its horizons to include just about anything – roots, reggae, jazz, soul, ska, flamenco, funk and fusion. Amid all the variety are some mainstays – Wednesdays at 11pm is set aside for a roots and groove jam session, while Sunday nights are dedicated to soul music. Concerts start between 9.30pm and 11pm (check the website) most nights, and DJs take over until closing time.
reviewed
-
S
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
Advertisement
-
T
Sala Flamingo
One of the most ‘in’ places in Madrid for many years, Sala Flamingo is famous above all for its Friday night ‘OchoyMedia’ session, which seamlessly blends indie rock with electronica to create its own genre, rockotrónica – this is the night when local celebrities flood through the doors. For a complete change of pace and clientele, ‘Darkhole’ on Saturday is all black and Gothic, while Thursday kicks it all off with ‘Playback’, where dressing down seems to be the only requirement.
reviewed
-
U
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
-
V
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
-
W
Corral de la Morería
This is one of the most prestigious flamenco stages in Madrid, with 50 years 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 (€43), but the performances have a far higher price-quality ratio. This is where international celebrities (eg Marlene Dietrich, Marlon Brando, Muhammad Ali, Omar Sharif) have always gone for their flamenco fix when in town.
reviewed
-
X
Stella
If you arrive here after 3am, there simply won’t be room and those inside have no intention of leaving until dawn. The DJs here are some of Madrid’s best, and the great visuals will leave you cross-eyed if you weren’t already from the music in this heady place. Thursday and Saturday nights (‘Mondo’, for electronica) rely on resident and invited DJs, while Friday nights (‘The Room’) is usually the preserve of Ángel García, one of the celebrated stalwart DJs of the Madrid night.
reviewed
