Nightlife---or la marcha, as the Spanish fondly call it---reaches legendary heights in Spain's capital. It has been said that Madrileños rarely sleep, and that's largely because they spend so much time in tapas bars---not drunk, but socializing in the easy, sophisticated way that is unique to this city. (The practice of spending the evening wandering from bar to bar and eating tapas is so popular that the Spanish have a verb to describe it: tapear.) As the city's reputation as a vibrant and contemporary arts center has grown, artists and performers of all stripes have arrived in droves.

The best way to stay abreast of events is through the weekly Guía de Ocio (published Monday) or daily listings in the leading newspaper, El País. English-speaking performances are a rarity, and when they do come to town, they play on any of a dozen Madrid stages; check local newspapers. Keep in mind that event tickets are usually best purchased at the performance hall itself. Nearly a dozen theaters regularly show undubbed foreign films, the majority of them in English. These are listed in newspapers and in the Guía de Ocio under "V.O."---meaning original version.

Nightlife Bars

1. Cafe Gijón
   Paseo de Recoletos 21, Madrid, 91 - 5215425
2. Cervantes
   León 8, Madrid, 91 - 4296093
3. El Clandestino
   Barquillo 34, Madrid, 91 – 5215563
4. Hard Rock Cafe
   Paseo Castellana 2, Madrid, 91 – 4350200
5. La Champañería Gala
   Moratín 24, Madrid, 91 - 4292562
6. La Dolores
   Plaza de Jesús 4, Madrid, 91 - 4292243
7. Los Gabrieles
   Echegaray 17, Madrid, 91 - 4296261
8. Mesón Gallego
   León 4, Madrid, 91 - 4298997
10. Oliver
    Almirante 12, Madrid, 91 - 5217379
11. Palacio de Gaviria
    Arenal 9, Madrid, 91 – 5268089
12. Soho
    Jorge Juan 50, Madrid, 91 – 5778973
13. Viva Madrid
    Manuel Fernández y González 7, Madrid, 91 - 4293640

1. Berlin Cabaret
   Costanilla de San Pedro 11, Madrid, 91 – 3662034

1. Archy's
   Marqués de Riscal 11, Madrid, 91 - 3105008
2. Azucar Paseo Reina Cristina 7, Madrid, 91 – 5016107
3. El Sol
   Calle Jardines 3, Madrid, 91 – 5326490
4. Fortuny
   Fortuny 34, Madrid, 91 - 3190588
5. Joy Eslava
   Arenal 11, Madrid, 91 - 3663733
6. Pacha
   Barceló 11, Madrid, 91 - 4470128

1. Amadis
   Covarrubias 42, underneath the Luchana Cinema, Madrid, 91 - 4460036
2. Café Central
   Plaza de Ángel 10, Madrid, 91 - 3694143
3. Café Jazz Populart
   Huertas 22, Madrid, 91 - 4298407
4. Cafe del Foro
   San Andrés 38, Madrid, 91 - 4453752
5. Clamores
   Albuquerque 14, Madrid, 91 – 4457938
6. Negra Tomasa
   C. Espoz y Mina and C. Cadiz, Madrid
7. Siroco
   San Dimas 3, Madrid, 91 - 5933070
8. Suristan
   La Cruz 7, Madrid, 91 - 5323909
9. Torero
   Cruz 26, Madrid, 91 - 5231129

1. Alhambra
   Victoria 9, Madrid, 91 – 5210708
2. Bocaíto
   Libertad 6, Madrid, 91 - 5321219
3. El Abuelo
   Victoria 12, Madrid, 91 – 5212319
4. El Rey de Pimiento
   Plaza Puerta Cerrada, Madrid
5. El Rincon de la Alpujara
   Puerto Rico 35, Madrid, 91 - 3599000
6. El Ventorrillo
   Bailén 14, Madrid, 91 - 3663578
7. La Trucha
   Manuel Fernandez y Gonzalez 3, Madrid, 91 – 4295833
8. Museo del Jamón
   Carrera de San Jeronimo 6, Madrid, 91 - 4580163
9. Reporter
   Fúcar 6, Madrid, 91 - 4293922
10. Taberna de Antonio Sanchez
    Mesón de Paredes 13, Madrid, 91 – 5397826
11. Taberna de Cien Vinos
    Nuncio 17, Madrid, 91 - 3654704