Madrid Nightlife

Madrid by day is lyrical and elegant, with its museums, castles, boulevards and shops.

Madrid nightlife, on the other hand, is earthy, exhilarating, spontaneous-and just plain fun. It offers everything from tapas-bar trolling to discos to flamenco extravaganzas.

It also gives New York City a serious run for the money as "the city that never sleeps."

To take advantage of Madrid nightlife, most people have to reset their biological clocks. Madrilenos can party on until well after the next day's sun peeks over the skyline. Serious Madrid nightlife doesn't even begin until after the dinner hour of 9 or 10 p.m. Many bars, discothèques and pubs remain open until 3, 4 or even 6 a.m. the following morning.

Madrid nightlife is clustered around several metro districts, each with its own distinctive flavor and personality. Tourists often keep to the Plaza Mayor/Puerta del Sol or Plaza de Isabel II/Plaza de Oriente areas. These sectors are loaded with cafes, restaurants, taverns, tapas bars and other staples of Madrid nightlife. Because they cater to the tourist trade, the eateries and pubs are a little pricier than those found in other sectors and off the beaten paths.

If you want to take in a movie or see a play, head for the Gran Via. This is the theater district for Madrid nightlife. (Be prepared for everything to be presented in Spanish, however.)

Just north of the Gran Via sits Chueca, hub of Madrid nightlife for the gay community. Straights and gays alike are welcome here. The entertainment can get a little raunchy-think Bourbon Street in New Orleans B.K. (before Hurricane Katrina). Still, there are plenty of clubs to check out and the restaurants tend to be cheaper in price. There's usually a visible police presence in this district, too.

Malasana is also a good bet if you're looking for more moderately priced entertainment. This district spreads out from the Plaza de Dos de Mayo. It's known for its live-music clubs and casual dining restaurants. If you want to pursue Madrid nightlife the way the locals do, Malasana is for you.

If you're young, hip, and twentysomething (or feel like you are), head for Arguelles and Moncloa. These neighborhoods have their own metro stops in Madrid's university zone. The dance clubs and bars here offer everything from dance to techno to jazz, which is what keeps university students coming back again and again.

And though flamenco was born and thrives in Andalusia, Madrid nightlife is replete with flamenco clubs and bars. Sometimes they are coffee-house places that feature solitary musicians playing flamenco music. Other times, they offer dinner-and-a-show entertainment cards. The Corral de la Moreria, situated in the Opera/ La Latina district, offers dinner programs that include music and dancing. It's very highly regarded, so much so that the New York Times included it in its list of "1,000 Places to See Before You Die."

Unlike entertainment sections in many cities, Madrid nightlife welcomes children. There are even discoteca light clubs for teenagers. They are generally open between 7 and 10 p.m.

Madrid nightlife has so many clubs, discos, taverns and restaurants to beckon night owls that space does not permit them to be listed. If you stay in a Madrid hotel, check with the concierge for recommendations. If you are renting an apartment or staying with a local family, ask for family members and neighbors' opinions. These in-the-know sources can direct you to popular spots in well-policed neighborhoods.

Above all, bring a spirit of adventure with you as you sample Madrid nightlife. To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, who once lived here, Madrid at night is truly a moveable feast.