More than just a cafe, this old staple of Madrid is a music and poetry venue. Almost every famous songwriter, musician, and poet has passed through this decadent and charming hangout.

It´s actually one of my favourites because every time I go, it reminds me all its history. The building started as a cow house, then it changed into a wine house and used to be the place where Journalists and writers gathered.

From 1975, it is a cafe. It has an “L” shape so when you first enter there´s a bar and, if you walk further, you´ll find a small stage for the shows. On this stage there is still a real “pianola” dated from the beginning of the last century. And it works!

Most of the very popular Spanish singer-songwriters as Pedro Guerra, Rosana, Tontxu or Kiko Tovar started here. Nowadays, it´s a very well known cafe in Spain and Latin America. Not only that: right now you can enjoy storytelling for adults, photography and painting exhibitions or poetry reading, as the selection varies depending on the day. Its owner, Ricardo del Olmo, is promoting new talents and wants to consider this place as a cultural reference. I think he´s doing a great job!

Café Libertad 8 is located close to a lot of bars, in the Chueca district, so it could be the beginning of a long night out in the city! Enjoy!

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Libertad 8 | Art & culture, Bars, Music
C/ Libertad 8 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915321150
Mon – Fri 17:00 – 02:30, Sat 18:00 – 03:00, Sun 15:00 – 00:30

La Rochella Café is a central, warm and bright Colombian café. Here you can find specialities from that country, from a beer (3 euros) to edible stuff like Sancocho, Tamales or Arepas (14 euros) and, of course, coffees with a tropical touch (4 euros).

The place has two different rooms. The entrance, dominated by a long bar; and the space at the back, separated by a wall with arches. It’s full of little tables with candles on them at night. I never have dinner in La Rochela, because I’ve always gone to see and listen to the storytellers (many of them are South-American people) while having a drink.

All the Thursdays there is a session at the back. It’s very familiar and friendly, because there is no stage and the room is quite small, so the storytellers are very near and let the spectators participate.

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La Rochela Café | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Colombian) | Dishes € 14
Manuela Malasaña, 31 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34914464138
Tue – Fri 17:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 02:00