Madrid
If you’ve only got time to stop at one bar on Plaza de Santa Ana, let it be this classic cervecería (beer bar), renowned for its cold, frothy beers and a…
Must-see nightlife in Madrid
Madrid
Old bottles and beer mugs line the shelves behind the bar at this Madrid institution (1908), known for its blue-and-white-tiled exterior and a 30…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
A niche market of the Madrid night is that of bares clandestinos (clandestine bars). While it may sound vaguely illicit, it’s all above board – shops by…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
A Malasaña stalwart and prime candidate for the bar that best catches the enduring rockero (rocker) spirit of the neighbourhood, Tupperware draws a 30…
Chueca
Underground, narrow and packed with bodies, gay-friendly Why Not? is the sort of place where nothing’s left to the imagination (the gay and straight crowd…
Chueca
With a name like this, Bar Cock could go either way, but it’s definitely cock as in ‘rooster’. The decor evokes an old gentlemen’s club and the feeling is…
Madrid
Bar, live music venue, restaurant and magnet for all things Cuban, La Negra Tomasa is a boisterous meeting place for the Havana set, with waitresses…
Madrid
The outdoor tables of this distinguished old cafe are among the most sought-after in central Madrid, providing as they do a front-row seat for the…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Tucked away in the quiet-by-day laneways of Conde Duque, this tiny unprepossessing place is covered in blue and yellow tiles and has an antique bar that's…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
A living, breathing and delightfully grungy relic of la movida madrileña (the Madrid scene), La Vía Láctea remains a Malasaña favourite for a mixed,…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
With its walls plastered with old concert flyers and the odd art-house movie poster (eg A Clockwork Orange), Moloko remains an excellent middle-of-the…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Stumbling into this graciously restored throwback to the 1950s along one of Malasaña’s grittier streets is akin to discovering hidden treasure. There’s a…
Salamanca
If flamenco has captured your soul but you’re keen to do more than watch, head to Almonte. Live acts kick off the night, paying homage to the flamenco…
La Latina & Lavapiés
One of our favourite barrio bars, La Inquilina has a cool-and-casual feel and deep roots in the Lavapiés soil. Contemporary artworks by budding local…
Chueca
A few steps up the hill from Plaza de Chueca, this longtime centrepiece of gay Madrid – a huge statue of a nude male angel guards the doorway – is an…
Madrid
High above the Plaza de Santa Ana, this sybaritic open-air cocktail bar has terrific views over Madrid’s rooftops. It’s a place for sophisticates, with…
La Latina & Lavapiés
The undoubted highlight of this landmark of La Latina nights is the rooftop terraza, which boasts fine views. When the weather’s warm, it’s nigh on…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
‘The Secret Garden’ is intimate and romantic in a barrio that’s one of Madrid’s best-kept secrets. Lit by Spanish designer candles, draped in organza from…
Madrid
There can be a certain sameness about the bars between Sol and Huertas, which is why this fine old taberna stands out. The striking facade and exquisite…
Madrid
Jazz aficionados will love this place for its endless jazz soundtrack and discreet leather booths (at last, a bar that has gone for privacy instead of…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Little has changed at Casa Camacho since it opened in 1929. It’s tiny: a short bench in a corner is the only seating, and the rest is standing room for a…
Madrid
Overlooking one of the most famous football fields on earth, this trendy cocktail bar will appeal to those who live and breathe football or those who…
La Latina & Lavapiés
This barrio classic is Lavapiés’ grandest old cafe, the sort of place for quiet conversation amid the columns and marble-topped tables right on Plaza de…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
If we had to choose our favourite slice of Malasaña life, this engaging little cafe, with outdoor tables that watch over Plaza del Dos de Mayo, would be a…
La Latina & Lavapiés
Café del Nuncio straggles down a laneway to Calle de Segovia. You can drink on one of several cosy levels inside or, better still in summer, enjoy the…
Madrid
Opposite the Teatro Real, this classic before-performance cafe has opera singers who double as waiters. They break into song from around 1.45pm and 9.30pm…
Salamanca
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…
Chueca
A gay meeting place, this cafe-bar has a laid-back ambience by day and a romantic (never sleazy) air by night. You can get breakfast, yummy pastries and…
Chueca
Del Diego is one of the city’s most celebrated cocktail bars. The decor blends old-world cafe with New York style, and it’s the sort of place where the…
La Latina & Lavapiés
If much of Madrid’s nightlife starts too late for your liking, Bonanno could be for you. It made its name as a cocktail bar, but many people also come…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
It's not that long ago that you entered any Madrid bar and ordered una cerveza (a beer). There was only one kind. But craft beers have now taken hold and…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
This intimate Conde Duque haunt is known for its good food, but we like it more for its passion for that old Madrid favourite, vermut (vermouth). Here it…
Madrid
A cafe and cocktail bar in equal parts, this intimate little place serves up creative coffees and a few cocktails (the mojitos are excellent) to the…
Madrid
Its name notwithstanding, the ‘Imperfect One’ is our ideal Huertas bar, with occasional live jazz and a drinks menu as long as a saxophone, ranging from…
La Latina & Lavapiés
Most of those who come to this narrow little bar are after one of two things: the famous Santa Teresa rum that comes served in an extra-large mug, or some…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Lolina Vintage Café seems to have captured the essence of the barrio in one small space, with its studied retro look (comfy old-style chairs and sofas,…
Salamanca
With its upmarket crowd that invariably includes a few famosos (famous people), Gabana 1800 is very Salamanca. That this place has lasted the distance…
Chueca
Just back from Gran Vía, Angelita has one of the best wine lists of any bar in Madrid, with more than 20 choices by the glass and nearly 500 different…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
They long openly and unashamedly for the beach at this white-wood and brightly coloured Malasaña bar in the decor. Cocktails (including three different…
Madrid
A strong contender for best rooftop bar in Madrid, this indulgent terrace sits atop the five-star Urban Hotel and has five-star views with five-star…