Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Plastered with Ramones souvenirs, you get both visual and audio blitz of the Ramones in Nueva Visión. The actual band members have all been there at least once (the whole band was there in 1992).

Pronounced /ra-mon-Es/ in Spanish, the Ramones are dearly loved and daresay, worshipped here. The bar is small and loud, but a total anomaly with its strong and selective theme.

If you’re a rocker or a closet rocker like some of us, you’ll have a blast dancing to “I wanna be Sedated” and other punk rock hits (it’s not ALL Ramones). And finally, if you are a really big fan of the Ramones, you can buy your Madrid fan club paraphernalia at the bar.

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Nueva Visión | Bars, Music | T-shirt € 12.00
Calle Velarde 5 | Chueca & Malasaña
Wed – Sat 21:00 – 03:30

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Just down from the Mercado de San Miguel (check the San Miguel article), the Mesón del Champiñon is a cave with fungi-esque decor.

They specialize in fantastic mushrooms drenched in olive oil, garlic and adorned with bits of chorizo, but in addition to the tapas, you get entertainment. There is a guy playing the electric piano for tips and you can make song requests (his repertoire is vast, but random) and then sing along group-style.

The last time I was there a microphone was taken out for a few customers who reminded me of characters from an Almodóvar film; they sang Spanish ballads, danced and we applauded.

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Mesón del Champiñon | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Tapas) | Mushroom tapas € 6.00
Cava de San Miguel 17 | Sol | +34915596790
Spring – Summer Sun – Thu 18:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 02:30, Winter lunch 12:00 – 16:00

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Hidden just off the busy shopping street, Fuencarral, Jhambala is a secret trove of food, teas and chill-out lounging. Pulling their inspiration from Buddhism, the decor is tranquil, the food tasty and the music relaxing.

During the day it’s nice to stop and have a tea from their extensive menu, a salad or one of their exquisite desserts. On a nice day, enjoy the terrace outside. At night the mood turns more festive with exotic cocktails and eclectic dishes.

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Jhambala | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish/Arabic)
Pérez Galdós 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915222061
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 02:00

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Just off San Bernardo, this new spot has great prices and fantastic food. Instead of offering a huge menu-del-día that you can’t finish, they have several dishes per day depending on the season and the Chef’s mood. On the regular menu, try the Tuscon burger that has avocado and goat cheese.

The tapas are great too, I’ve tried the spicy sliders (little hamburgers) that were great, and at brunch on Saturday AND NOW SUNDAY, they have the regular favorites like french toast and eggs benedict.

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Carmencita Bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish-American) | Breakfast burrito € 6.50
San Vicente Ferrer, 51 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915238073
Tue – Fri 13:00 -16:30 & 19:00 – 01:00, Sat 12:00 – 02:30, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Image by Teresa Juan

This is one of my favourite cafes for going out during the week. It gets crowded, lets you meet very different people from all cultures, and it´s located in the heart of the city. Just a few meters behind Café del Real (see the Café del Real article), Café Madrid is also near Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. They serve an assortment of beers and wines in a pleasant atmosphere.

The reason why I usually go there is that, since 2000, every Wednesday there is what is called an International Evening. So either if you´re a local and you´d like to practise other languages, or you´re just visiting the city and you don´t know anyone, this is the place!!

In Café Madrid I find people from different countries, languages and cultures. Actually, language exchanges are getting popular in the city. We call them “intercambios” and they offer people the chance to practice their language skills with “native” speakers.

The madrileño´s guy who came up with the idea of these meetings at Café Madrid also acts as the host of the evening and helps with introductions. So don´t worry if you´re shy, as he´ll give you a little stick with the language you want to practice, for everybody to know. It´s pretty similar as what they do at O´Neills (see the O’Neills article) but in a different day of the week.

Trust me, it is the cheapest way to practice a foreign language!

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Café Madrid | Bars
Escalinata s/n | Sol
Language exchanges Wed 21:00 – till late