Fun and entertainment Madrid

He is called the Café de la Luna, which perhaps explains why we spend a very good time, especially in the basement. There is a glass of wine or special teas on the map, accompanied by a piece of pie.

Created in 1880, this association has found refuge in an Art Deco building, the work of the architect Antonio Palacios Ramilo, which alone is worth a visit. In addition to the exhibition rooms, the cultural centre has a theatre, where new plays on contemporary subjects are performed, as well as a cinema-studio where films of different origins and genres are shown. After a nice visit, the best thing to do is to enjoy a coffee at l'Azotea while taking in the panoramic view of the whole of Madrid from the roof of the building.

Located inside the Teatro Alfil in the Malasaña district, welcome to the world's very first flamenco theater! Under the expert direction of two leading figures in flamenco, dancer Ursula Moreno and guitarist Antonio Andrade, the dancers, singers and guitarists put on an intimate, top-class show. Styles such as dancing in drag, flamenco couples, singing and guitar solos, not forgetting farewells to the audience and the party, are all part of an intense daily program.

One of Madrid's oldest taverns, as the dusty, century-old bottles in the window indicate. Inside, azulejos, authentic paintings, eight oak barrels, a pewter counter with taps dating back to 1917, and constantly refilling glasses of vermouth, the house specialty, give the place a unique atmosphere. Try the delicious white anchovies in vinegar. An ideal place to start the evening, especially when you've found a seat on the small terrace on the charming plaza de Chueca.

La Ardosa, named after the village of origin of its founder Rafael Fernández (in 1892 anyway!) on the outskirts of Toledo, cultivates its ancient and authentic appearance, with its ancestral barrels, its collection of old bottles, its glass sign above the door and its beautiful azulejos. This wonderful tavern prides itself on being the first to serve Guinness. Specialities: cod or goat cheese croquetas, or onions stuffed with tuna... A perfect way to start the evening!

This elegant national theatre built in the 19th century (it was inaugurated in 1856) belongs to the Ministry of Culture and devotes almost all of its repertoire to zarzuela, a genre of operetta highly prized by the people of Madrid. Since its creation, the Théâtre de la Zarzuela, like the Opéra-Comique de Paris and the Volksoper de Vienne, has been the meeting point for different generations of audiences and all lovers of Hispanic culture. You will discover all the programming on the theatre's website.

This venue is located in one of Madrid's most elegant neighborhoods. Exhibitions and conferences are regularly held here, but it's the superb flamenco shows that attract everyone. In 2022, this tablao entered a new phase under the direction of Lisiane Sfair and Pedro Córdoba, who aim to offer a show of the highest quality. Here, there are no microphones, dishes or drinks... Pure acoustic sound awaits you! Don't forget to book.

The Marula Cafe? Cañas, hard liquor and chupitos in a mess, a beautiful terrace as soon as the sunny days arrive, live concerts and DJs until the early morning (and every day) and a high quality programming, devoted in particular to black, soul and funk music... This is the recipe for this multi-faceted club, which also operates in Barcelona and has been a fixture in Madrid for decades. This den of thirty-year-olds partying in the capital also offers excellent mojitos. A must in La Latina.

Designed by the architect José María García de Paredes, this modern auditorium was inaugurated in 1988. Since then, it has been the headquarters of the National Orchestra of Spain and mainly offers classical music concerts (of high quality). It has a room for symphonic music and a semi-circular room for chamber music (with a capacity of 2,324 and 692 spaces respectively). Complete programming on the website.

Definitely seventies, this vintage café serves smoothies, cocktails and beers (there's even a gluten-free one) on formica tables. Comfortably seated in armchairs, you can listen to retro music while enjoying the trendy and boozy atmosphere and take advantage of the wifi. In the evening, a thirty-year-old clientele invades the premises to have a drink (or more) in the downstairs room, while at the end of the morning they come to enjoy the excellent brunch (eggs Bénédicte, salmon, fruit, yoghurt with muesli, etc.).

Here is a resolutely brilliant and very famous establishment of the capital! Behind the heavy armoured door and the thick red velvet curtains is a club unlike any other, where the atmosphere of 1930s Berlin cabarets comes alive every night of the week. On weekends, we come to drink a very good cocktail and to dance in good company. This somewhat secret and clandestine atmosphere makes it an original place to discover at least once during your stay. Numerous theme evenings are also on the programme.

For a warm and informal aperitif with friends, the "corner" is the ideal address. A well-known address in the whole neighbourhood. It is therefore very often crowded, and that's a good sign! One crosses there the youth of Malasaña, taking a caña while eating some tacos on one of the small tables or outside on the terrace, one always makes one or two sympathetic meetings while waiting for his order at the bar and one leaves inevitably with the smile to continue his evening. In short, the ideal address to warm up, we tell you!

Drinking of panther milk directly to the udder? You don't dream, the Tiger's dévergondés clients are doing this in a nutty and buzzing atmosphere. The udder is false of course, and the panther milk gets closer to an alcoholic beverage whose recipe is kept secret, but the idea alone is a challenge! You will feel in the hunter's lair, stared with wild boar heads. We love this bar to warm up before the Madrid noche! Crowded, you will have trouble having a place… But stay close to the bar to enjoy free tapas!

A room located in the heart of Malasaña that generally fills up from 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning to turn into a club at a time when the other bars in the neighbourhood are starting to lower the curtain. In the first part of the evening, around 10pm, the BarCo welcomes rock and jazz groups, excellent flamenco shows (Sara Nieto's dance) and on Sundays, jam sessions. You can also enjoy excellent cocktails between thirty-year-olds from Malasaña. An excellent place to go with your eyes closed.

The Costello is a bar, club and concert hall during the week, but the basement quickly turns into a nightclub on weekends, mixing rock, pop and fusion. In this vaulted room with exposed stones, looking like a cave, you can listen to good sound with a rather innovative programming for the neighborhood. After starting the night in the chill area, with a cocktail in hand, you can wiggle your hips in the middle of a rather Madrid clientele.

Right in the heart of Huertas, people flock to Lamucca for a good glass of wine, a tapas or two, to enjoy the trendy atmosphere and to pray for a Real Madrid player to walk through the door... And yes, it does happen from time to time! Especially after the final whistle, when a DJ sets the decks alight after midnight on weekends... And yet, in this stylish venue with its industrial touches and exposed stone walls, the atmosphere is anything but stuffy. And you can enjoy it all day long.