Madrid is famous for having some of the liveliest nightlife in Europe. Evenings start late and end even later, and bars are full even on weekdays.
The Movida madrileña
Movida generally means night-time buzz, but the Movida madrileña, with capitals, was the cultural movement born in Madrid between the late 1970s and mid-1980s, after Franco's death. It was an explosion of freedom in music, fashion, photography, comics and film: bands such as Alaska y los Pegamoides, Radio Futura and Nacha Pop, venues like Rock-Ola, the photographer Alberto García-Alix, the painter Ceesepe and above all the young Pedro Almodóvar (see Spanish cinema). Mayor Enrique Tierno Galván became its institutional symbol. Malasaña was its heart.
Night-time neighbourhoods
- Malasaña: alternative bars, vintage, indie and rock music around Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
- Chueca: the LGBT quarter, with bars, terraces and huge Pride celebrations in late June.
- Huertas and the Barrio de las Letras: historic bars, beer halls and live music around Plaza de Santa Ana.
- La Latina: kingdom of Sunday vermouth and tapas.
- Lavapiés: multicultural, with cheap bars and art-house cinemas.
- Salamanca and Castellana: smart bars and fashionable clubs.
Live music
Madrid has historic jazz clubs such as Café Central and Clamores, flamenco tablaos such as Corral de la Morería and Cardamomo, concert venues like La Riviera and the WiZink Center, and summer festivals such as Mad Cool. The most famous clubs, such as Joy Eslava and Teatro Kapital, occupy old theatres.
Hours and tips
- Dinner is between 9 and 11 pm, then you go de copas in bars, and only after 1 or 2 am do people head to clubs, which close at six.
- In summer the rooftop terraces, such as the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and the August verbenas are not to be missed.
- End the night with churros and chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés (see churros).
- The metro closes around 1:30 am; after that there are night buses, búhos, and taxis.
See also eating and drinking in Madrid and our Madrid guide.