Mercado de San Miguel
Market · Sol / Plaza Mayor
A glass-and-iron market hall turned tapas hall. Touristy and not cheap, but easy and beautiful.
Best for: trying lots of tapas fast, a first evening
Best time: early evening
Where to actually go in Madrid
Where to eat, drink and go out in Madrid: 22 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Madrid
Chocolatería San Ginés
Dessert · Sol
The famous churros-and-thick-chocolate café, open very late, where the night often ends.
Best for: churros after a night out, a sweet breakfast
Best time: late night or morning
La Latina — Cava Baja
Area · La Latina
Streets of tapas bars where the night starts with vermouth and small plates, moving bar to bar.
Best for: a tapas crawl, Sunday after the Rastro market
Best time: 9 PM onward, or Sunday afternoon
Casa Labra
Restaurant · Sol
A historic bar famous for fried cod (tajada de bacalao) and croquettes at the counter.
Best for: cheap classic tapas near Sol
Best time: lunch or early evening
Sidrería El Tigre
Bar · Chueca
Order a drink and get a heaping free plate of tapas. Packed and chaotic.
Best for: the cheapest way to eat and drink
Best time: evening
Bodega de la Ardosa
Bar · Malasaña
A tiny, tiled old tavern famous for its tortilla and vermouth.
Best for: tortilla and vermouth
Best time: evening
La Campana
Restaurant · Plaza Mayor
The classic stop for a bocadillo de calamares, the fried-squid sandwich.
Best for: a cheap Madrid sandwich
Best time: lunch
Museo del Jamón
Restaurant · Sol and around
A chain of ham bars with legs hanging from the ceiling; cheapest standing at the bar.
Best for: a quick cheap ham sandwich
Best time: any time
Sobrino de Botín
Restaurant · Plaza Mayor
Called the world's oldest restaurant by Guinness, roasting suckling pig since 1725.
Best for: a special dinner, parents visiting
Booking: Reserve ahead.
Best time: dinner
El Rastro
Market · La Latina
The huge Sunday flea market, then tapas in La Latina after.
Best for: a Sunday morning
Best time: Sunday morning
Heads up: Pickpockets work the crowds.
Sights & days out in Madrid
Museo del Prado
Museum · Paseo del Prado
One of the great art museums: Velázquez, Goya, Bosch. Go for a few rooms, not all of it.
Best for: the big museum, a free evening visit
Price: $ — roughly $17; students with ID often free; free entry Mon–Sat 6–8 PM and Sun 5–7 PM
Booking: Book a timed slot online, including for the free hours.
Best time: evening free hours, or morning
Royal Palace of Madrid
Sight · Ópera
The enormous royal palace: state rooms, the armoury and the plaza in front.
Best for: a big-ticket sight, photos from the Plaza de Oriente
Price: $ — roughly $21, or about $10 for students up to 25
Best time: morning
Parque del Retiro
Garden · Retiro
Madrid's big central park: rowing boats on the lake, shady paths and people everywhere on a weekend.
Best for: a free slow afternoon, a hangover walk, rowing a boat
Best time: afternoon
Templo de Debod
Viewpoint · Moncloa / Príncipe Pío
A real ancient Egyptian temple on a hill in a park, where Madrid watches the sunset.
Best for: a free sunset
Best time: sunset
Museo Reina Sofía
Museum · Atocha
Modern art museum; Picasso's Guernica is the reason to go.
Best for: seeing Guernica
Best time: evening free hours
Nights out in Madrid
Malasaña
Area · Malasaña
The alternative bar district around Plaza del Dos de Mayo: vintage bars, indie music, cheap drinks.
Best for: a student bar night, indie music
Best time: from about 11 PM
Teatro Kapital
Club · Atocha
A seven-floor club in an old theatre, each floor a different style of music. Big and mainstream.
Best for: a big group night out, variety of music
Price: $ — roughly $12–23 entry
Best time: after 2 AM
Salmon Guru
Cocktail bar · Barrio de las Letras
Diego Cabrera's neon-lit cocktail bar, long on lists of the world's best bars.
Best for: a famous cocktail
Price: $$ — roughly $14–21 a cocktail
Best time: evening
1862 Dry Bar
Cocktail bar · Malasaña
A classic cocktail bar with a vaulted cellar, named after Jerry Thomas's 1862 bartending book.
Best for: a classic cocktail in Malasaña
Best time: evening
Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes
Rooftop · Gran Vía / Sevilla
A rooftop terrace with one of the best views over Gran Vía and the Metropolis dome; small entry fee.
Best for: a sunset view of Madrid
Best time: sunset
La Terraza del Urban
Rooftop · Barrio de las Letras
A hotel rooftop with views over the old centre.
Best for: a dressier sunset drink
Best time: sunset (seasonal)
Medias Puri
Club · Tirso de Molina
A big, theatrical club with shows and several rooms.
Best for: a big night out
Best time: after 2 AM