Still charming after all these years, this is Madrid's definitive literary café, open since 1888. It still holds poetry tertulias on Monday nights, and publishes a magazine...

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...

A perennial favourite with seemingly everybody; from those looking for a peaceful morning coffee on the leafy Plaza de la Paja to those meeting up for a few bolstering...

Just down from the Palacio Real, this terraza offers the finest sunsets in Madrid, with a magnificent location looking out over the Casa del Campo and all the way to the...

A cool and relaxing tapas bar with gently revolving ceiling fans and terracotta floors. Tapas include smoked cod, trout and salmon, or there are wooden tablas spread with...

Copla is a form of Spanish ballad, as sung by those depicted here in the dozens of crumbling photos. Tapas are named for famous coplas - Juanita Reina is ham with tomato;...

Named after a late, great, Persian cat, this is a tiny, welcoming bar, whose croquetas are legendary. The other favourite is the patatas con mojo picón (baked new potatoes with...

It's smack on the Plaza Mayor, so don't expect any bargains, especially if you sit out in the square, but this Andalucían bar is the real deal, with bullfighting memorabilia...