Image by Nikko Hinderstein

If you need your fill of tasty burgers and sandwiches with specialties like really spicy chipotle pepper chicken or a tandoori-spiced burger all made from organic meats, this is your place.

Owned by a French Canadian Chef who has made Madrid his home, the upscale diner-themed restaurant has gained popularity as it’s the only place in Madrid to get an organic beef burger. It’s absolutely necessary to have a reservation to eat there most nights of the week. In good news however, they offer take-out and they’ve opened two other branches in the city center.

Don’t miss the variety of homemade desserts.

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Home Burger Bar | Snacks, Restaurants (Burgers) | Classic burger € 8.75
Calle Espiritu Santo 12 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915229728
Mon – Sat 13:30 – 16:00 & 23:00 – 00:00, Sun 14:00 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

While strolling around Malasaña, you can’t miss the colorful tile facade of the Juanse Pharmacy. Dating back to the early 1900s, the pharmacy and laboratory Juanse made their own concoctions and medicines (nowadays it’s a normal pharmacy).

The tile display has suffered some graffiti attacks in the recent years, but you can still enjoy their giant ads for toothache powder (the woman clutching her jaw with a handkerchief really looks like she’s in pain) and my favorite: the ad for diarrhea medicine showing a sad child hovering over a chamber pot.

Chances are we’ve all had embarrassing ailments, so here is beautiful tile-work to pay public homage.

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Juanse Pharmacy | Art & culture | Free
Calle San Andres / Calle San Vicente Ferrer | Chueca & Malasaña
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by TM

What’s good in this local spot? It’s fast, cheap and a good option if you’ve gone out and want to eat something quickly. Not a lot of places offer food later than midnight. You can eat fast food like burgers, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes…

What’s not so good? TM Burger & Fries was made mainly for taking away your meal, so eating in the local it isn’t a memorable experience. The tables are small and the decoration, reminding you of the american restaurants in the fifties, are quite cold and don’t invite to stay there.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
TM Burger & Fries | Snacks, Restaurants (Fast food) | Burger € 2.95
Espíritu Santo, 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915220372
Mon – Thur 13:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sun 13:00 – 02:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Teresa Juan López

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
El 51 | Bars | Mojito € 8.00
Calle Hortaleza, 51 | Chueca & Malasaña
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sun 16:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Teresa Juan López

As in Spain lots of people just download films and they hardly ever go to the cinema, today I would like to recommend Septimo, a very cool video club where you will find almost everything.

In Septimo there are more than 10.000 films (some of them authentic pieces of collectionists) and they offer you all kinds of advantages and discounts.

There is the posibility of renting on line or even receiving and delivering the films at home or at your office. Notice that there is more than one shop in Madrid. And you can exchange the films every time you want in any of the shops.

I recommend you to buy a voucher so you will get more discounts. Then, just enjoy the movie!!!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Septimo | Shopping | 10 credits € 35
Calle Hortaleza 69 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913103851
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by By: Teresa Juan López

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Teresa Juan

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid