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
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…
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…
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…