BarCo
Fodor's choice
One of Malasaña's most popular nightclubs, for both its live shows (funk, jazz, and more) and late-night DJ sets, BarCo is a guaranteed good time. Acoustics here are a rung above the competition's.
12 Best Nightlife in Madrid, Spain
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Madrid right now.
Nightlife, or la marcha, is often drawn out past 6 am in Madrid, and visitors always wonder how locals can get by on (what appears to be) so little shut-eye. Unlike in other European cities, where partying is a pastime geared only toward the young, there are plenty of bars and discotecas with mixed-age crowds, and it's not uncommon for children to play on the sidewalks past midnight while multigenerational families and friends convene over coffee or cocktails at an outdoor café. For those in their thirties, forties, and up who don't plan on staying out until sunrise, the best options are the bars along the Cava Alta and Cava Baja, Calle Huertas near Plaza de Santa Ana, and Calle Moratín near Antón Martín. Those who want to stay out till the wee hours have more options: Calle Príncipe and Calle De la Cruz, lined with sardine-can bars lined with locals, and the scruffier streets that snake down toward Plaza de Lavapiés. But the neighborhood most synonymous with la vida nocturna is Malasaña, which has plenty of trendy hangouts along Calle San Vicente Ferrer, Calle La Palma, and all around Plaza de Dos de Mayo. Another major nightlife contender is is Chueca, where tattoo parlors and street-chic boutiques sit between LGBT+ (yet hetero-friendly) bars bars, dance clubs, and after-hours clubs.
In general, cafés in Madrid can be classified into two groups: those that have been around for many years (La Pecera del Círculo, Café de Oriente), where writers, singers, poets, and discussion groups still meet and where conversations are usually more important than the coffee itself, and Nordic-style third-wave venues (Hanso, Toma Café, Hola Coffee, Federal Café) tailored to hip and hurried urbanites that tend to have a wider product selection, modern interiors, and Wi-Fi.
1862 Dry Bar
One of Madrid's swankiest and most skilled coctelerías, 1862 Dry Bar shakes and stirs immaculately prepared cocktails that incorporate sherries and unconventional aromatics. The only snag? On busy nights, drinks take forever to arrive.
Café la Palma
Malasaña
There are four different spaces in this divey local favorite: a bar in front, a music venue for intimate concerts (pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop), a chill-out room in the back, and a café in the center room.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Café La Palma
This feel-good nightclub with a bar, chill-out area, and medium-size dance floor draws a mixed-age, LGBTQ+-friendly crowd with live performances and DJ sets that rage until 6 am.
Casa Camacho
An essential Malasaña experience is gulping down a few ice-cold "yayos"—vermouth, gin, seltzer, lemon slice—at the tin bar alongside free no-nonsense tapas like olives and stewed chickpeas.
Cazador
You may as well be in Williamsburg or Kreuzberg at this popular and un-campy (mostly) gay bar where an artsy clientele sips cañas (half-pints) and dangerously cheap cocktails before heading out to the discoteca.
De Vinos
A snug, casual wine bar in the quieter Conde Duque area of Malasaña, De Vinos pours hard-to-find wines from regions like Bierzo, Somontano, and—of course—Madrid. Cured sausages and Spanish cheeses make fine accompaniments.
Fábrica Maravillas
At Madrid's only city-center brewpub, you can taste fun and funky beers that a zany French brewmaster ferments in his “beer lab” a few feet from your barstool.
Ocho y Medio
Not for the faint of heart, the booze-fueled pop and techno parties here are a favorite of the younger set and peak at 4 am. Arrive before 1 am to avoid slow, snaking lines.
Santamaría Coctelería
This cocktail bar mixes vintage design with artsy touches and caters to a laid-back bohemian crowd. Choose from a variety of not-too-fussy cocktails including one bearing the club's name, made with mixed-berry juice and vodka or gin.
Siroco
A small, under-the-radar club that brings in local electronic DJs and a mostly Madrileño crowd, Siroco is a fun place to end a night of Malasaña mischief.
Tupper Ware
Throw on a graphic tee and a pair of ripped jeans and fist-pump the night away at this alternative rock and indie bar that blasts throwback cult classics till 3 am daily.
