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

We though it was never going to open again, but it finally did in the center of Chueca…..the “Mercado de San Antón” where you can shop for groceries get a bite to eat too. It is similar to the one in San Miguel Square (check the Mercado San Miguel article) but with a terrace and free parking!!

On the first floor you can buy organic food and various groceries (the burgers from Nostra are spectacular!), whereas the second and third ones are reserved to eat and grab a bite. It is nice to see they have taken sustainability seriously during the renovation, by adding solar panels.

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San Anton Market | Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Augusto Figueroa 24 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913300299
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Even though I am not very fan of take away shops, I have to recognize that I love this place! It’s a piece of Mexico in Madrid. You can choose among their chicken wings, nuggets or guacamole with jalapenos. There are delicious burritos and tacos for just 1,50 euros each. Really cheap!

The place is very small but it is quite tempting if you are wondering around and start being hungry. Do not miss it!

Take Mexico home and keep enjoying Madrid!

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La rancherita | Snacks | Burrito & drink € 5.00
Calle Hortaleza, 47 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34649494564
Mon – Wed 12:30 – 01:00, Thu – Sun 12:30 – 02:00

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

Café Manuela is a very nice place, whatever the weather conditions are. I especially like it when there is no chance to sit outside, because there is a great collection of board games waiting for you inside! Trivial, Sodokus, Cluedo, Risk and so on.

They have originals natural juices (I recommend the one with apple and strawberry) for 3,50 euros, milkshakes (4 euros), cakes (4 euros) chocolates, special coffees, ice creams and cocktails. I always order a croissant filling with jam, cheese, natural tomato and oregano.

Café Manuela has an intellectual air, like old cafes where men of letters met. The cream color of the walls, the antique-style bar, chairs, lamps, mirrors, as well as the high ceilings make it very attractive. Some plants make it even more comfortable.

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Café Manuela | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cocktails € 4.00
San Vicente Ferrer 29 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915317037
16:00 – 02:00 daily

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

This cosy crêperie reminds me of a Parisien rue and the decoration of the Amelie Poulain film with its bright walls and antique objects. The crêpes, made while you’re waiting, can be sweet or salty and all are between 3 and 5 euros.

There’s the delicious nutella speciality, to other more original ones such as morcilla (a kind of black Spanish sausage), apple compote and egg. The one with salmon, tartare sauce and chives are a bit salty in my opinion. They have natural juices and milkshakes for drinks.

La Rue is a good option for eating something on the go. You can choose taking away the crêpes or consume them inside, although it is usually full because there is only room for two tables and two or three stools.

Despite the lack of meters, the local has shelves full of French products as macarons, foie, cheese or wine for sale!

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La Rue | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Crêperie) | Crêpes from € 3
Espiritu Santo 18 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34911897087
Sun – Thu 13:30 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 13:30 – 01:00

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 isn’t a memorable experience. The tables are small and the decoration, reminding you of the American restaurants in the fifties, is quite cold and doesn’t invite you to stay there for a long time.

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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