Madrid
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’ll be open (it claims…
Must-see nightlife in Madrid
Malasaña & Conde Duque
The city’s oldest cafe has a special place in the hearts of many madrileños. Open for more than a century, it’s still pulsing with life. Any day of the…
Chueca
This place is a Madrid landmark, complete with its 1930s-era interior, and its founder is said to have invented more than 100 cocktails, which the likes…
Madrid
This breezy little Chamberí bar has many calling cards – among them, great music and a sense of being a real old-style Madrid neighbourhood bar. But we…
Chueca
One of the most important hubs of barrio life in Chueca, this cafe-bar has become to modern Chueca what the grand literary cafes were to another age. It’s…
Madrid
One of the grand icons of the Madrid night, this chocolate con churros (Spanish doughnuts with chocolate) cafe sees a sprinkling of tourists throughout…
Chueca
Café Belén is cool in all the right places – lounge and chill-out music, dim lighting, a great range of drinks and a low…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Great cocktails, muted early-20th-century decor and a refined air make this one of our favourite bars down Malasaña's southern end. Prices are reasonable,…
La Latina & Lavapiés
We could go on for hours about this long-standing cafe-bar, but we’ll reduce it to its most basic elements: nursing an exceptionally good mojito or three…
Madrid
La Venencia is a barrio classic, with manzanilla (chamomile-coloured sherry) from Sanlúcar and sherry from Jeréz poured straight from the dusty wooden…
La Latina & Lavapiés
You could come here for the tapas, but we recommend Taberna El Tempranillo especially for its wines, of which it has a selection that puts numerous…
Madrid
Killer cakes backed by killer cocktails served in a subterranean cavern frequented by in-the-know locals – Plaza Menor is a fab place for an intimate…
Chueca
This bar defies labels – literally. Macera’s crew distils all of their own spirits, which makes for both an impressive cocktail list and a striking…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
This rooftop bar occupying the top floor of Dear Hotel has a spectacular view of Plaza España and Malasaña. Come any time of day to sit down with a…
Madrid
When Sergi Arola's empire collapsed and the celebrated Le Cabrera cocktail bar went with it, Madrid lost one of its best cocktail maestros, Diego Cabrera…
Chueca
This graceful old cafe has been serving coffee and meals since 1888 and has long been favoured by Madrid’s literati for a drink or a meal – all of Spain’s…
Madrid
Javier and Zoë, a Spanish-Australian couple, named their cafe after St Georges Road in Zoë's native Melbourne, and the Aussie legacy doesn't end there…
Madrid
Out in the otherwise sedate streets east of El Retiro, this fine neighbourhood bar is one of the best places in Madrid to try vermut (vermouth), from the…
Chueca
Once a haunt of writers and intellectuals, this architectural gem blends Modernista and art-deco styles, and its interior could well overwhelm you with…
La Latina & Lavapiés
Close attention to every detail makes Boconó special – coffee is roasted on-site and fanatics have a choice of styles: espresso, AeroPress and Chemex,…
Madrid
Yes, the tapas here are outstanding, but they play second fiddle to the vermouths – the selection of one of Madrid's favourite tipples from across Spain…
La Latina & Lavapiés
This fine little bar is devoted to all things Cuban – from the music to the clientele and the Caribbean cocktails (including nonalcoholic), it’s a sexy,…
Madrid
In a lovely bar flooded with natural light, Chipén serves up more types of vermouths than you knew existed, as well as cavas, champagne and spirits. It's…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Long before craft or artisan beers took hold in Madrid, La Tape was onto it. The menu has dozens of Spanish and international beers, as well as a…
Chueca
A happy Madrid crowd packs this place out on weekends. The food's good, but it's the designer cocktails that make the bar stand out. If you get here any…
Madrid
We like a cocktailier who mixes things up a bit. Among the more than 30 cocktails he produces, Carlos Moreno here does some really cool stuff – try the …
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Taking a modern slant on the idea of an old Madrid taberna (tavern), Malpica has white walls, strategically placed greenery and wood furniture. Great…
Madrid
Order a cocktail, then lie down on the cushions and admire the vista from this fabulous rooftop terrace. It's a brilliant place to chill out, with the…
Madrid
Craft beers from around Spain and elsewhere, some on tap, make this place stand out, although the tapas also caught our attention – a fine combination if…
Madrid
This tiny bar boasts a mighty wine list, with over 400 wines from nearly every region in Spain. Chalkboards highlight recommended sips by type, including…
Chueca
This historic old taberna (tavern) is the antithesis of modern Chueca chic – it has hardly changed since it opened in 1917. As Spaniards like to say, the…
Madrid
Bodegas Ricla is so tiny you might be rubbing haunches with other customers as you sip your wine. For more than 100 years, it's been serving tasty…
Madrid
It may be Madrid tradition to indulge in chocolate con churros around sunrise on your way home from a nightclub, but for those who prefer a more…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Combining a slew of hipster passions – bicycles, urban art and good coffee – this trendy place has become one of the hottest places in Malasaña. It…
Madrid
Coffee & Kicks is the place for aficionados. You can get your flat white on or try one of the pastries while perching on a stool and flipping through a…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
With a list of craft beers on tap that changes weekly, Stuyck Co is one of the best places in town for connoisseurs to sip a pint or two. The bare brick…
Chueca
The ultimate lounge bar by day (cushions, chill-out music and dark secluded corners where you can hear yourself talk or even snog quietly), this place is…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
Gorila is one of those multipurpose Malasaña bars that's as good for breakfast as for a night-time beer or cocktail. The split-level space is watched over…
Madrid
Bohemian kitsch at its best is the prevailing theme here and it runs right through the decor and regular cultural events (poetry readings and concerts)…
Madrid
One of the most famous megaclubs in Madrid, this seven-storey venue has something for everyone, from cocktail bars and dance music to karaoke, salsa, hip…