It is just a great place where you can find different kind of people. Actually it is quite eclectic, great for weekends; you can spend hours in the terrace (even in winter!) reading the newspaper enjoying breakfast if you consider breakfast as Spaniards do (usually coffee or tea with whatever “tapa” you can find) until late in the afternoon if you find a table because it is usually quite crowded!

There are concerts the last Thursdays of every month and DJ’s sessions the first Sundays of the month. Sometimes there are photo exhibits as well as paintings exhibits. The food is good and drinks are good and the cocktails are great. You can have the typical “pomada” of the Balearic Islands (popular drink made out of gin and lemon), but also “mojito” or caipirinha.

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Café Mahón | Bars, Music, Snacks | Meal € 15.00
Plaza Dos de Mayo, 4 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915324756
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sun 12:00 – 03:00

Just the place to go to have great cocktails and cool music! You can find many different types of people, from Cirque du Soleil actors to writers.

You can grab a bite while listening how the DJ Jaimote puts a record on… The “croquetas” are really yummy, you can have meals or grab a bite if you want.

The place is great to have an after work or after dinner drink, especially a mojito or a glass of champagne, and to enjoy a relaxing conversation with good music.

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La Turba | Bars, Music, Snacks | Menu € 14.00
C/ del Conde de Xiquena, 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915221813
Mon – Fri 13:00 – 02:00, Sat 19:00 – 02:30

Breakfasts, meals, snacks, dinner, dance…… you can almost spend the day at Lolina’s….just in front of Home Burger (check the Home Burger Bar article).

The place has WIFI and you can spend hours surfing the net with a great cup of a wide variety of teas and an AMAZING cheesecake…. You are allowed to take your dog, which is not very common in Madrid (the city is not very dog friendly!). The place is decorated with vintage furniture and it is very cosy. You have also WIFI.

Downstairs you can celebrate the “guateques” (common Spanish word for a 60s and 70s party). 

The place has become quite popular and is packed on weekends.

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Lolina | Bars, Music | Breakfast € 4.00
C/ Espíritu Santo, 9 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34667201169
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 01:00, Sat 10:00 – 02:00

This historical place, founded in 1917, is one of the most traditional bars in the city. Their specialties go from pickled anchovies to any type of preserved food; vinegars and delicious tapas. You can also try the best handmade vermut from Reus, the genuine specialty of the bar.

Antigua Casa Ángel Sierra is located in the heart of the gay neighborhood, just in the main square, so it is impossible to miss it.

Most probably, when you get there, there will be a lot of people standing outside. It is part of the tradition. The bar is so small that people prefer to stand in the pavement with their drinks and food over a chat.

At the beginning it could be a little shocking, as you would think this is the entrance of a concert or that something big is going on. I am just warning you!!

There are no seats available but I think this is part of the beauty of the venue. So get ready for tasting new flavours and traditional specialties for a good price.

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Antigua Casa Ángel Sierra | Bars | Double beer € 1.90
Gravina 11 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915310126
12:30 – 01:00 daily

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

If you need to talk, this is the perfect spot! It is a quiet bar located in the heart of the city where you can order very good juices and also eat things like humus, tortillas or quiches for a reasonable price.

It is something special because there are not a lot of venues like this around, so it is worth to visit. Perfect after a shopping day!

And, if you go there at night, you will find a great atmosphere for drinking a mojito or caipirina. People say you can also find famous people there, but I have gone there just for a chat in the afternoon. I cannot tell.

Inspired in the Northern European bars, I find it very exotic in a city like Madrid.

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La sueca | Bars | Humus € 6
Calle Hortaleza, 67 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913190487
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 02:00; Fri 08:00 – 03:00, Sat 18:00 – 03:00, Sun 18:00 – 02:00

I have to admit that this is not the cheapest cocktail bar in the city, but a good option for a night out. The difference is that, in other places, they think a cocktail is just a mojito or a caipirinha; El51 is much more and has a great variety of options. (Do not miss the Cosmopolitan and Sour Apple Martini!).

El 51 has Spanish music from the 70´s, 80´s and 90´s in the background, a very posh decoration and always a good atmosphere make El51 a recommended spot.

I would suggest to go there also on Sundays, as there is a free afternoon snack. They also have interesting 2X1 promotions and the cocktail of the month, so maybe it is a good start for next time… Cheers!

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El 51 | Bars | Mojito € 8.00
Calle Hortaleza, 51 | Chueca & Malasaña
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sun 16:00 – 03:00

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 19:00 – 01:30, Sat 12:00 – 02:30, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Just off of busy Fuencarral, La Ardosa always has a pleasant jazzy atmosphere filled with typical Spanish scents.

The bar is packed with paraphernalia dating back to 1892 when it was founded – a picture of the owner’s family, famous people who have stopped in over the years, a board showing the results of their Guinness drinking contest (can you top 14 pints?!) and reprints of Goya’s “Caprichos” prints (silly, sometimes vulgar whimsical images). Check out this video of Chef Anthony Bourdain at La Ardosa!

They serve some of my favorite tapas; sliced ham from pigs who have only eaten acorns (Jamon de bellota), dried tuna (Mojama – tuna jerky!), and a thick version of gazpacho called Salmorejo. The “raciones” are big here, so you can ask for a “media-ración” instead of a full plate.

If the bar looks full from the street, push through the crowd, duck under the bar, and try the back room which is not accessible any other way.

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La Ardosa | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Tapas) | Salmorejo € 3.75
Calle Colon 13 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915214979
08:30 – 02:30 daily, August 11:30 – 02:30 daily

Taking a page from the success of the Mercado de San Miguel, this newly remodelled old market, el Mercado de San Anton, now has a traditional market on the ground floor, restaurant stands and shops on the middle floor, and a restaurant and lounging terrace on the top floor. There is also an art exhibition area, but the real plus is the variety of food: you can get anything from mini burgers (offered in a range of different meats – try the “buey” – ox meat!) to sushi, enjoy a tea on the terrace, or shop for fresh produce or meat. It’s a lovely feeling to see everything displayed with so much colour and freshness.

The restaurant gets overwhelmed at lunchtime on the weekends, so you might want to grab a bite from the second level and enjoy it on the terrace. We enjoyed some tapas from La Casa de Bacaloa stand, but those mini burgers keep calling me back!

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El Mercado de San Anton | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.) | Mini burger € 2.00
Augusto Figueroa 24 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913300730
Market Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:00 | Shops, restaurant 10:00 – 00:00 daily