Known as Jazzanova until recently, Castellana 8 remains a supremely smooth bar-restaurant-club, its black walls softened by clever uplighting, orange velvet cushions and a...

The flyers let you know what you're in for - an elegant figure reclines against a backdrop of flock wallpaper in a juxtaposition of the übertrendy and the super-cheesy. This...

Epitomising Lavapiés - a bohemian, cool and laidback hangout for those who like the tempo of their evening to be energetic but not too frenetic. The bare red brick and chrome...

Spacious, friendly and soothingly decorated, this is an oasis of calm in the desert storm of Madrid's nightlife. With a café-style air, the easygoing crowd partake of whatever...

To call this music joint and club 'no-frills' is an understatement - as its faded yellow walls and middle-aged bar staff attest. However, as anyone knows, it's the music and...

An unprepossessing and easily missed little hideaway, Kappa is amiable and intimate and, despite its complete lack of decor, somehow cosy. This chameleon of locales has built...

Now with a sister bar in C/Hortaleza, La Lupe is a microcosm of everything that makes Madrid the city it is. The signs on the walls say it all, from the notice that welcomes...

You might not know the place's name, but if you've been in Madrid a while, you're sure to have been here at least once. Lounge on full-length floor cushions while soaking up...

A cool, happening place in which to see and be seen, with a contemporary, minimalist interior, lit up with megascreens showing the latest dance music videos. It can seem a...

The decor at Olivia is nothing to write home about but this small and chatty den is chock-a-block with lipstick lesbians. Members of staff are approachable and the music is fun.

Catering for the overflow from nearby Why Not?, this big, brash, fun discobar gets packed with a young, mixed crowd who dance the night away to an eclectic mix of bouncy hi-NRG...

Smoke? More like the whiff of diesel. This is not one for the lipstick lesbian. Nonetheless, it's a really friendly, relaxed crowd, amid the faded glamour of an old Chueca taberna.

A very cool little lounge that's perfect for a mid-week drink or as a stop on your weekend tour of the town. Very much part of the hip scene around C/Hortaleza and...

The sister venue of El No.1. Pay careful attention to the names: if you visit them in that suggested order, you'll find yourself nicely warmed up and all ready to dance by the...