Nightlife: Sol - Gran Vía
Right in the centre of the city, in the heart of Madrid's tourist and shopping districts, you can also go out on the town and enjoy some of the city's best nightlife.
Not far from the famous Kilometre Zero in the Puerta del Sol, you will find several of Madrid's most famous night spots. An emblematic hall is the Teatro Eslava, the former Joy Eslava, which emerged as a theatre in 1872, which now has a leisure and entertainment programme with live music and artists from all genres, clubbing sessions featuring today’s top DJs and a flamenco dinner-show, called OleOlá. Another legendary nightspot in Madrid is El Sol, famous for its concerts, featuring the best line-up of national and international acts. Also close to Puerta del Sol, at the start of Calle Alcalá, Sala Cocó offers electronic sessions to suit all tastes throughout the week.
In other areas close to Puerta de Sol you will find other legendary clubs and venues, such as Morocco, a renovated icon of Madrid's 'Movida' cultural scene; Stella, with its trademark industrial aesthetic; and Boite, which is very popular with the LGTBI collective.
Other fun options include Moondance, with several areas playing different styles of music.
The rooftop of the Thompson Madrid hotel is home to Hijos de Tomás, the fun and cool space run by La Ancha Family, which serves cocktails accompanied by live music.
On the Gran Vía, the historic artery of Madrid that never sleeps (recently remodelled with more vegetation, innovative urban furniture and important changes in the circulation) and in the surrounding area, we can also find numerous bars, pubs and discos for an unforgettable night. You should definitely try and make it to the legendary Museo Chicote, which has in the past welcomed the biggest stars of Hollywood's golden age, and also Ernest Hemingway. Now it continues to draw Madrid's coolest crowds.
For those who need to stay out late, an excellent option is the unconditional rock of the Wurlitzer Ballroom or the halls that have sprouted up in the vicinity of Callao, such as Marta, Cariño!, Café Berlín Club Madrid (pop, rock, funk, flamenco, jazz, soul, rhythm & blues, house music), Cool Stage (techno, house, electro music), Independance Club (Indie and pop-rock music), the old-fashioned cocktail bar, Josealfredo Bar, or the traditional Madrid tapas bar, La Ideal, specialised in squid sandwiches.
The Lula Club, a night-time space inspired by the legendary Studio 54 in New York, or the Glass by Sips cocktail bar, a modern establishment with nods to the city of the 1920s by Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, are also worth a visit.
Cadavra Club, located in the establishment that used to be home to the former Costello Club, offers Indie and rock, flamenco, electronic music concerts and clubbing sessions. Other options are La Negra Tomasa, which offers a select cocktail list and the best Cuban musicians, and La Fontana de Oro, a historic and emblematic tavern serving long drinks accompanied by live music.
Naturally, this area of Madrid is also a haven for fans of flamenco culture: Torres Bermejas, an unmissable flamenco ‘tablao’, highly acclaimed on the flamenco circuit. There is also the Tablao Flamenco Torero and the Tablao Flamenco La Carmela.
In the evening, the theatres that line the Gran Via boulevard become concert halls with the best live music. Teatro EDP Gran Vía and Teatro Rialto bring the very best music acts from Spain to get your evening off to an unforgettable start. Teatro Coliseum, which puts on various concerts as part of the popular Invervest festival, also offer a wide array of concerts showcasing a variety of musical styles.
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