Famed American novelist and hardcore barfly Ernest Hemingway once said: Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.And who could argue with the wisdom of a man who has lived his life on the bar stools of Madrid?
Since Hemingway’s time, Madrid has kept its spot as one of Europe’s best places to party. The city’s nightlife -as anyone who has survived it will tell you - is the stuff of legends.
No one in Madrid makes only one plan for the night. Madrileños enjoy socializing and would often make at least three plans on how they’ll spend their evening before hitting the city.
An app like Madrid Travel Guide and Offline City Map which has alerts for the latest events as well as an offline map, can help you decide your route to cover more of the scene.
Before the debauchery – eat.
To survive Madrid’s nightlife, there are only two things you have to remember – it starts late and it goes on all night.
You need your stamina, so make sure to fill up your tank with local favorites such as oreja a la plancha, seared pig’s ear for starters, followed by a healthy serving of huevos rotos which is typically served with bread, fried potatoes, chorizo, and topped off with an over-easy egg, and rounded off with a classic, callos with slices of morcilla.
In a city where there is one bar for every 192 people, there will be no craving left unsatisfied in Madrid’s gastro scene.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Once you’ve had dinner, choose from which of Madrid’s three distinct nightlife scenes you’d like to start your night in.
Chueca is considered as Madrid’s gay district. Majority of the bars here cater to the gay community. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the nightlife here if you’re not waving the rainbow flag. There’s also a good selection of restaurants, cafes, and art galleries around Plaza de Chueca and Mercado de San Antón to choose from.
Calle Huertas is for those that want a taste of the city’s more traditional nightlife. Music lovers will enjoy the district’s wide assortment of jazz clubs, theater cafes, and bars that offer flamenco music located around Plaza del Ángel, Café Central, and Calle Echegaray.
Malasaña is the center of Madrid’s hipster culture. The neighborhood is filled with shops and boutiques that cater to the city’s younger generation. Because of its selection of quirky-themed bars and restaurants that draw in the eclectic crowd, it has been likened to similar communities like the East Village.
Now that you have an idea of Madrid’s unique nightlife, forget about sleep and check out eTips for suggestions on bars, restaurants, and events Spain’s most cosmopolitan city has to offer.