Café Central Madrid

Four decades of jazz

Andrea from Madrid

About Me I am a teacher and examiner who made a home in Madrid many years ago. I love live music, art, books, travel, food and dancing and am well served for all my interests in Madrid. I live on a special plane where I exist as an eternal tourist (check out Alain de Botton’s book The Art of Travel) who maintains a sense of wonder in a familiar place. I love showing people round my favourite...
""Café Central" in Madrid has had concerts every single day for more than 36 years. It's just legendary. Even the food's good: I recommend the menu del dia!"

Café Central has had jazz concerts every single day of the week for the last 40 years or so - it's an emblematic venue in Madrid. I've seen so many unforgettable performances in Central's beautiful mirrored interior over the years, and I plan to see many more!

What makes it unique for me is that you can see amazing jazz artists up close and intimate - during concerts, you can be sitting within metres of the performers. You don't need to be a massive jazz fan to be blown away by the experience. The programme changes every week; and there are 2 concerts a night; one starts at 20:00 and the second at 22:00. Ticket prices vary depending on who's playing.

During the day, you can have an excellent fixed-price lunch menu inside or on the terraza, which is a great spot for a spot of al fresco, right by Plaza de Santa Ana and the popular Calle Huertas.

Go on Friday for Madrid’s traditional dish of cocido!

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

Madrid Spotter Andrea

About Me I am a teacher and examiner who made a home in Madrid many years ago. I love live music, art, books, travel, food and dancing and am well served for all my interests in Madrid. I live on a special plane where I exist as an eternal tourist (check out Alain de Botton’s book The Art of Travel) who maintains a sense of wonder in a familiar place. I love showing people round my favourite spots in Madrid but am never happier than when I am discovering new gems. Why Madrid Madrid seduced me when I first visited, with its untamed and unapologetic Spanishness. We came ...

About this spot

Plaza del Ángel, 10

Menu del dia:

13

913694143

Sep 15, 2025

Our Madrid City Guide

Find your way with 266 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Madrid guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Madrid

La Pentola Mágica

Real Italian food

"La Pentola Mágica" in Madrid makes the best Italian food I ever had. The chef's a character, the food's amazing... I can't stress it enough. Just go.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Daniel

Ramirez-Escudero

Oct 29, 2025

Microteatro por dinero

More than short plays

"Microteatro por dinero" in Madrid is simple: 15m² - 15-minute plays - 15 spectators. It's a new way to to go the theater. What a thrilling experience!

002-building
Art & culture
028-beach-bar-1
Bars
019-lemonade-1
Theaters

by

Elena

Quintero

Oct 29, 2025

La Abuela Rockera

I Want to be Her

Madrid in the 1980s was certainly rocking and she became a fixture in the city’s music scene, always going out in her famous leather jacket and cap.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Catherine

Driver

Oct 26, 2025

Rebel Cafe

Let them eat cake

The apartment block this cafe sits under is an ugly beauty and I love it, not least for the exuberant planters that are an integral part of the building.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 23, 2025

Los Angeles

Want to try a real paella?

Although it’s a Galician restaurant, they do an excellent paella mixta (chicken and seafood) and arroz negro, flavoured and coloured with squid ink.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 23, 2025

Mazál Bagels and Café

Big Apple vibes in Madrid

I didn’t think Madrid was lacking anything but now I’ve found "Mazál Bagels and Café" I’m wondering how I survived without its bagels all these years!

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 23, 2025

El Campillo

Tapas in Madrid's Rastro

What sets this bar apart is its exceptional handling of ingredients, creating dishes that sing with Andalusian flair—a nod to Manu's roots.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Cesar

Gonzalez

Oct 22, 2025

Licores Cabello

Find your favourite tipple

They have a wide selection of wines to suit all pockets, and you can also discover some weirder flavours if your tastes run to the unique...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 21, 2025

MO de Movimiento

Innovative dining in Madrid

"Mo de Movimiento" in Madrid offers a new take on the restaurant business - sustainable organic ingredients, recycled materials and second opportunities!

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 21, 2025

Sala Canal Isabel II

Madrid's unique art space

Sala Canal Isabel II in Madrid used to be a water tower: now it's an uber-cool gallery used for media exhibitions. I love it, and not just because...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 21, 2025

VETA Galería

Fine art in Carabanchel

VETA is the biggest contemporary art gallery in the city, so once you’ve had your fill of the Old Masters at the Prado, why not get off the beaten track?

002-building
Art & culture

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 16, 2025

Kintaro

Loosen your belt!

Don’t worry about collecting and counting plates - there’s an “all you can eat” lunchtime menu, you can fill your boots for a very reasonable fixed price.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Andrea

Roberts

Oct 16, 2025

Heading to Madrid?

266 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Madrid app Home
Madrid app Home
Madrid app Map
Madrid app Home

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

266 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Bars

Our team loves Madrid

Get to know our other Spotters from Madrid

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
26
Made with the 💚 of 498 Spotters.
Filters