Fun and entertainment Madrid

This famous fountain, a meeting place for artists and politicians of the 19th and 20th centuries, is a hybrid address that opens in the early afternoon to offer a menu with pub classics, broadcasts soccer matches in the early evening and really gets the atmosphere going as the night progresses. Live music or DJ sessions, with the latest Latin hits, keep locals and tourists moving every night of the week in an original setting with many objects hanging on the walls. A historical spot that delights its world!

Mondo Disko may have moved from Huertas to Sol, but the recipe (always the same) still works. With top-quality sessions and DJs from all over the world, renowned electronic music nights several times a week and a sound system that spits just right, Mondo is always a sell-out. In short, a not-to-be-missed Mecca for techno fans! See the full program on the website.

This foundation was created in 1955 by Juan March Ordinas, the richest man in Spain before the civil war. In addition to exhibitions of contemporary art, it organizes excellent classical music concerts. They are programmed in cycles (Neapolitan baroque, Beethoven...). If you are late, you are made to wait in a room where the concert is broadcast on a screen. During one of the breaks, you will be allowed to enter the concert hall if there are still seats available. There is also a library dedicated to Spanish music and theatre.

A symbol of freedom and a haven for journalists and writers during Franco's dictatorship, all the great singers of Spanish song once took to the stage at Libertad 8 before becoming stars throughout the country. The Libertad 8 carries this story on its walls and permeates the atmosphere. When there is no concert, storytellers and poetry tellers occupy the stage and there are painting and photography exhibitions. A bar club that reflects Malasaña's soul.

This is an excellent cocktail bar on the outskirts of Gran Vía, somewhat hidden in Calle Reina, and one of the best known in the capital, where all the local and international stars, including actors and models in high heels, have already gone. And not for nothing: more than fifty compositions are offered à la carte. For around ten euros, you can sip perfectly executed cocktails. A piece of advice: sit at the bar to observe the talent of the house's bartenders. A good address.

This is a small place out of the ordinary and somewhat out of time. In the room next to the café, there are concerts, poetry, book presentations and small cultural events that are so representative of Lavapiés. On the menu, you have a variety of coffees and teas of all kinds. To be enjoyed with a small welcome home-made pie. And when it's time for an aperitif, cocktails replace coffee, but the good atmosphere, bohemian and baroque, always remains the order of the day. A little more expensive than the other bars in the neighborhood.

The building, home of the National Dramatic Centre, is an example of 19th century Madrid metal architecture. Behind the classic facade of this María Guerrero theatre is a neo-Mudejar style interior decoration. Its programme is open to contemporary trends, particularly Spanish, among others. Its quiet and relatively inexpensive cafeteria is often visited by the actors who perform at the Drama Centre.

Here is a very pleasant address, in particular thanks to its small terrace, which makes it possible to benefit from the agitation of this animated district. We go there to have a drink with the few locals of the corner and to put ourselves in the atmosphere to begin the evening well. To nibble, you can always choose between some raciones and other tapas. If it is not exceptional, it is rather good, especially the paella and the empanadas... In short, a small and unpretentious establishment which is a nice stopover during a long night in Sol.

It is worth a visit to the small room of the excellent tablao Cardomomo for the atmosphere, the quality of the music and dance, the good mood of the waiters and customers. A moment of relaxation guaranteed with good flamenco in the background during a beautiful hour of performance. If tourists are the main part of the Cardomomo's clientele (and the food is not really unforgettable), the shows on the program are really of high quality and the evening, as a couple or with friends, promises to be a success.

Installed in an old cinema for more than three decades, Galilei Galileo is generally compared to the Café Gijón of the early 20th century. As soon as we have entered the interior, the atmosphere speaks for itself with its tables all facing the stage. It is a classic concert hall with uniformed waiters; you come here to listen to music over a drink (drinks are quite expensive). When you buy your ticket in advance, you have the option of booking one of the tables near the stage.

La Palma café is a multi-dimensional space, a veritable indoor maze where you can start by tasting a mojito in the bar section or sitting on a pouffe in the oriental lounge (the café area always hosts an exhibition of photos or paintings). Then, go to the disco part to dance to the music of a DJ or to listen to a band live (it happens every week, from Thursday to Sunday), sometimes in open mic. A definitely hybrid place and a real actor of the culture of the district.

On the way back to the centre after a visit to the Prado Museum, how could we not stop at Casa Alberto? This is one of the capital's historic addresses, an old house that opened its doors in 1827 and that has kept its faithful cohort, whatever the era. If you can also come and sit at the table at Alberto's, what a pleasure to sip a drink with a worker on his break or a nerd passing by to read. The place's speciality: vermut with a twist of orange. Not to be missed.

The Café Colón, with its superb Art Deco style and uncluttered decor, is a great place to stop for a drink before or after a visit to the city's Fernán Gómez cultural center, just a few yards away. A menu of sweet treats and a fine selection of wines are on offer. And if you like the setting, you can go on to enjoy some Mediterranean-inspired dishes. On sunny days, you can also sit out on the terrace overlooking Plaza Colón.

Design armchairs mixed with the building's old exposed bricks, the D'Mystic is banking on a trendy decoration in the image of the Chueca district. Here, gays and straights meet to have a drink while watching offbeat and libertine spots: Madonna clips, half-naked men parading on a podium and other clips. This bar seems to be a good introduction to the general atmosphere of the district: mixed and above all without complex! Ideal to warm up before going to a club, in Chueca or elsewhere, and to extend the evening late into the night.

In the busy Calle de la Cruz, where young tourists flock every night to party all night long, La Cartuja is halfway between the night bar and the club (but beware, most people arrive after one in the morning). For decades, all the ingredients of the district have been gathered here: decibels (rather commercial, it must be said), chupitos, lots of chupitos, messy meetings and often... complicated tomorrows! In short, a great classic of Sol.

Be careful, don't rely on the chic sound you think you can guess when you get to the Tempo. Because if the ground floor, the Tempo Lounge, keeps a slightly stuck atmosphere, it is quite different in the basement in the Tempo Club. Moreover, the clients on both floors rarely mix. In this concert hall, the dance floor is often stormed for concerts and DJ sessions from Thursday to Sunday. The Tempo jam sessions are well known and of good quality. Complete programming on the website.

At the top of Calle Hortaleza, Areia offers an intimate atmosphere that invites hedonism. We wallow happily in deep sofas covered with cushions in red and purple tones while admiring the ceiling studded with stars projected by the lights. Unless one chooses to have a good time on a swing with a drink in hand. The cocktails are divine, sometimes aphrodisiacs depending on the menu, and the perfect atmosphere for a smooth start to the evening. It is also possible to smoke a chicha.

The Taboó is a mythical venue in Malasaña, well representative of the neighbourhood where young Spanish rock talents and DJs pass through and where one often sees quality and often original musical performances. You don't usually come out of it disappointed. Apart from the musical programme of these good early evening concerts (concerts from 8.30, 9.30 or 10pm), it is also a nightclub full to bursting at the seams from Thursday night after midnight or one o'clock in the morning. A not-to-be-missed outing for music lovers and other rock fans.

Contrary to its name, the Teatro Real is in fact Madrid's opera house. The program is superb, the atmosphere very chic and the salons and restaurant sumptuous. At affordable prices, it's a real bargain. Teatro Real also offers backstage tours. Self-guided or guided tours, tailor-made experiences... You'll have the chance to wander through the capstan room, discover the make-up studios, wig-making or costume design. Information at the ticket office or on the website.

This artisanal (and committed) micro-brewery is run by Christophe, a 27-year-old Frenchman. The idea behind his concept is unique: the beers are made with bread salvaged from the "Alma" bakery. Named after the French chemist Lavoisier, the brewery fully embraces his philosophy of "Rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, tout se transforme" ("Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed"). This philosophy of transformation is reflected in every aspect of the establishment, from the reclaimed furniture to the lighting fixtures, right down to the beer, of course. Over 10 different types of beer are on offer.

The Sala Triangulo is located in one of the most typical neighborhoods of Madrid, Lavapiés. A lot of movement in this room that can accommodate a hundred people. Theater of all styles. The theater opened its doors in 1988 to give young creators the opportunity to perform their work. The plays tackle in a frontal and rather provocative way contemporary problematic themes: daily life, sex, the couple..

Welcome to the A'Barra restaurant reception desk! The bar area of this fine gourmet address is the ideal place to sip an aperitif or digestif at mealtimes. To relax, head for the oval bar in polished terrazzo and quartz (weighing in at a whopping 13 tons, after all!), a real meeting place and the perfect place to enjoy a few tapas informally or savor a delicious Joselito Vintage ham accompanied by a glass of Jerez wine. Before we get down to business in the restaurant...

In the heart of Habsburg Madrid, the tablao Las Carboneras offers traditional flamenco shows in a large modern space. The dance shows are of very good quality, even if the audience is mainly made up of tourists. Las Carboneras is probably less famous and attractive than the Corral de la Morería, but it has established a solid reputation in the area. The tablao hosts renowned guest artists such as José Mercé, Belén Fernandez or Rafael Amargo. And the cocktails are very good!

The Goya Social Club is without doubt one of the best nightclubs in the Spanish capital for listening and dancing to house and deep house music. Worthy of the most famous clubs in Europe's party capitals, such as Berlin, Paris or London, this rather chic nightclub is located in the heart of the Salamanca district, and is a favourite with trendy party-goers visiting Madrid. Big names from the electro scene perform here regularly, and it's one of Madrid's must-visit nightspots.

This small pub, well known in the neighbourhood, offers a wide choice of beers and about forty gins in a good-natured atmosphere that rises as the evening progresses. Less touristic than the other addresses of Huertas, you are welcomed with a smile and you can listen to good rock and pop music from the 80s and 90s. If you don't spend the whole evening here, it's a good option for a little drink during a long night of partying in one of the most festive districts of the capital. Pirates of the Madrid night!

Tablao Flamenco Las Tablas is a flamenco theater located in Madrid. The Tablao Flamenco Las Tablas showcases great flamenco artists, offering a quality show with careful staging. In addition to the shows, Tablao Flamenco Las Tablas also offers a refined gastronomic program, allowing visitors to sample culinary specialties while enjoying the show. The theater is also open to groups and offers cultural initiatives around flamenco, emphasizing art and pedagogy.