You might have heard of the Malasaña neighbourhood in Madrid for its arty, inventive nightlife, but there are trendy bars all over the capital of Spain. Chueca, Huertas and La Latina are all buzzing areas once the sun goes down, thereby proving Ernest Hemingway right in his claim that “Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.” Here are some of the best trendy bars, laid-back lounges and debonair dives in Madrid.
Taking hipster cool to a whole new level, factory-like Macera has bare, roughly plastered walls and a bank of nondescript bottles that’s backlit against one of those walls and kept behind chicken wire. These contain Macera’s own artisanal cocktails, which are made all the more potent by soaking the key ingredients (mostly fruit) in alcohol. Oh, and one of those bare walls is not quite so bare; if you’re in any way inclined to jump on a trend, put some lipstick on and plant a big red lippy mark on the wall alongside all the others.
Another round of brontosaurus milk, anyone? This is a legitimate thing you can say at Diplodocus without drawing concerned looks in your general direction. If you’re a fan of dinosaurs (and who in their right mind isn’t?), then this light-hearted rock bar is the place to be. Look out for the poster of a diplodocus dressed as the Terminator – oh, and the brontosaurus milk is a drink, if you were wondering. One of the bizarre, and humongous, house cocktails. Brontosaurus milk contains rum, gin, strawberries, milk, Cointreau and triple sec.
If the key to being trendy is not being too try-hard, then Blackbird is certainly a cool bar. Singing well into the dead of night, you can check out live music for free on weeknights. Although it’s branded as a rock bar, the genres are much more fluid than that, often turning into jam sessions that probe the recesses of folk, blues and jazz. There’s beer on tap, and good gin and tonics are served in goblet glasses.
For more teeming nightlife, check out the best bars and nightclubs in Madrid. For some activities to enjoy during the day, be sure to check out the best experiences in the city, alongside how to make the most of Madrid in the summer. Also, our guide will tell you the best places to stay, including the most luxurious hotels in Madrid, which are all bookable with Culture Trip.
This is an updated rewrite of an article originally written by Jessica Jones.
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