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Madrid’s legendary nightlife may have gone off the boil since the giddy days of the Movida, but it’s still among the best in Europe. The club scene is raging, with international DJs as well as plenty of homegrown ones, and there’s something for everyone. Over the past few years the city council have been attempting to stamp out the so-called ‘after hours’ clubs which carried on when the regular clubs were closing their doors at dawn, but it’s still possible to start dancing on Friday night and not stop until Monday morning. Most of the big clubs can be found along the Gran Vía and the Paseo Castellano, but Madrid also has hundreds of discobares, bars with DJs and small dance floors, spread all over the city. Most regular bars function as cafés during the day, opening in the morning until about midnight. Bares de copas, drinking bars, are usually open in the evenings only from about 2100. Clubs rarely open before midnight and get going from 0100 or 0200 onwards. Clubs charge anything from €5 and €15. To get the latest, visit http://www.clubbinginspain.com
Around the Paseo del Prado nightlife is pretty non-existent, although it’s close to the Salamanca and Santa Ana neighbour- hoods if you’re looking for some fun. Santa Ana and Huertas gets packed, especially on summer nights. There are hundreds of tapas bars and fewer cocktail bars, but plenty of clubs. It’s not an especially fashionable barrio, but you are guaranteed a good time. In the Plaza Mayor and Los Austrias area, the streets around Plaza de la Paja are packed with cool bars and fancy tapas bars and restaurants, but there’s also a healthy sprinkling of down-to-earth neighbourhood bars. There are some very funky bars tucked away in the formerly run-down neighbourhoods of La Latina and Lavapiés, which are starting to attract plenty of young artists. Gran Vía, Malasaña and Chueca is where to go to party. Chueca is the heart of the gay district and stuffed with some ultra-stylish bars and cafés. Malasaña is popular with students and younger people looking for a good time. Most of the big mega-clubs can be found along the Gran Vía. Salamanca is very upmarket. No trainers and skyhigh priced drinks. The Paseo Castellana comes into its own in summer when everyone heads for the vast outdoor terrazas.
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