What are the most appealing streets and areas in Madrid? (sights, restaurants, clubs)?

Question

What are the most appealing streets and areas in Madrid? (sights, restaurants, clubs)?

Answer 1

I agree with the answer above.  I was in Madrid a couple of years ago and the answer above is accurate.   You will enjoy Madrid quite a bit. It's wonderful.  I love it.

Answer 2

The Gran Vía district: Contains one of Madrid's most important avenues, the Gran Vía, First and foremost it is a shopping street, but it also contains a number of tourist accommodations, plenty of nightlife and most of Madrid's largest movie theaters. It is also a hub for Madrid's red-light district, especially the side streets. One of those streets, Fuencarral has become a link between the old shopping areas of the center of the city, the Bohemian Malasaña and the hip Chueca, making of it one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city.

Malasaña is a vibrant neighborhood full of lively bars and clubs overflowing with young people. Its streets are currently being renovated, making it a much more attractive quarter (the streetworks are almost finished). It's one of the classic areas for partying the night away. The area's center is the Plaza del Dos de Mayo (in commemoration of the Madrilenian popular uprising on May 2, 1808, brutally and effectivey repressed by the French troops and which started the Spanish Independence War).

Chueca is among the most authentic and cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the downtown city center. This district was the site of major urban decay during the early 80s. However, later on during the decade it became one of the most active centers of the so-called 'La Movida', largely due to its new-found status as a popular g*y village. It is still quite attractive and has many good and interesting places to eat, as well as some of Madrid's most avant garde fashion and shoe shops.

Atocha includes a rather large area which is bordered by the Huertas and Lavapiés districts. The two important sites located in this area are the Reina Sofía Museum and the beautiful Atocha Railway Station, one of the two main train stations in Madrid (the other one is Chamartín). The area also contains a number of art galleries and restaurants serving traditional food. This district also contains the main bus terminal as it is a central point of the city.

Opera Theatre is the Teatro Real (Royal theatre). In front of the theatre is the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace is no longer used as a residence, but it has been kept intact since it last functioned as home to the King, primarily serving as a tourist attraction. The entire palace is not open to the public, but most of the more important rooms can be visited. The palace is interesting in its own right, in particular its architecture and gardens (there are two, the Jardines del Moro and the Sabattini gardens). There are also some excellent frescos inside the palace.

The Plaza Mayor is one of the most beautiful and emblematic urban areas in what is known as the Madrid of the House of Austria. It is located in the historical and commercial heart of the city. The Plaza is rectangular in shape and is surrounded by three-floored residential buildings. It has a total of nine entranceways.

Few cities in the world have the frenetic activity you can find in Madrid any day of the year, any time round the clock. It's quite common to be in a traffic jam at 5AM any Tuesday, wondering where all of the people are going, or if they have to work the next day.

Central Madrid district is rammed with night clubs, discos, late-night restaurants, bars and pubs. 'Street life' is also very popular due to the safety the city inspires to anyone who wants to walk at night.

So you want a little party, huh? The best start for this is to dine out. Madrid has excellent restaurants that can set the bases for a very memorable night out. Remember, Spaniards love to have dinner late at night. A normal time for this would be 10PM on winters and even 11PM on summers. The dining ceremony extends well until 1 AM, good time to have the "primera" (the first drink).

In Chueca district you can find hundreds of trendy, but not neccessarily expensive, dinner restaurants. If "spanish tapas" is what you fancy, La Latina and C/Segovia districts have very interesting wineries specialized on tapas. La Latina is really famous on Sunday Mornings, but for a Saturday dinner is good as well.

So let us recommend you for the beginning a night walk around Chueca or Latina area, until you find a restaurant that fancies you. They are relatively small and pedestrian areas so it is nice to walk around mixing with the locals.

After the dinner it is a good idea to have a drink around, or head for other districts, depending on what you want.

Alonso Martinez is rammed with youngsters. All kinds of music here.

Avenida De Brasil and nearbies is for beautiful people. Nice pubs and clubs. Also nice restaurants.

Chueca is more headed towards trendy people. The pubs and clubs around host a mixed and open-minded clientele. The music heard is frequently cheesy house and commercial stuff.

Bilbao is also an option. This area has a little bit of everything: Bars, pubs, restaurants, clubs.

La Latina is frequented by artists. Hosts a big number of wineries and tapas bars. A must on sunday mornings.

Malasaña is the district for rock and roll, and independent music. Nice terraces on summer.

This list is by no means complete. It has a trendy and young flavour so it may not suit everybodies' tastes. But just in case you happen to be lost in madrid and want some party and good atmosphere here are some places to look for:

Bars

Areia: Chueca. Colonial Chill Out, nice bar with cushions where to chill and enjoy a cocktail while laying down with friends. Can book a bed in advance !!

Capote: Alonso Martinez.

Clubs

8 y medio: Gran Via. Small and nice. Trendy house. Mixed. 12-6AM

Coppelia: Castellana/Recoletos. Big. Uplifting house and electro 12-6AM.

Divino: Ermita Del Santo. Big. Commercial House. 12-6AM.

Ohm: Callao. Commercial House. g*y/Mixed. 12-6AM. Fri, Sat, Sun

One / Gheiza: Gran Via/Pza España. Plays Techno, hard house, Drum And Bass and even Trance, depending on the day of week. 12-6AM.

Specka: Orense. Hard House. 12-6AM.

After Hours

Space Of Sound: Chamartin. Huge. Legend in Madrid. Opens Suns 8AM-Late afternoon. Mixed, ravey atmosphere. Hard House.