This Madrid gay guide sets out to offer you all the information you need to have a fantastic time in Gay Madrid, whether you are looking for a gay Madrid Hotel or an apartment in Madrid, you can book directly from this site. We have put a lot of time into choosing some of the best accommodation partners so you get top quality and service.
Our Madrid apartment's partner offers some of the best apartments in Madrid, whether you're looking for a luxury penthouse Madrid apartment, overlooking the rooftops of gay Madrid or something more on a budget like a studio apartment in Madrid. We can offer you lots of Madrid apartments right in the heart of Madrid's gay district close to all the gay bars, clubs, restaurants, saunas and of course that amazing gay Madrid shopping.
Hotels in Madrid offer something for everyone, whether you are looking for a boutique hotel in Madrid or a Madrid hotel room close to all the action. Our Madrid hotel partner can offer you it all, Gay Madrid 4u has negotiated some amazing discounts on your behalf on Madrid hotels, discounts you can only get by booking your Madrid hotel from our site. We do all the work so you don't have too.
Now that we have hopefully helped you find a cool Madrid apartment or that Madrid hotel, it's time to help you plan whatyou are going to do when you arrive. There is so much to do in gay Madrid sometimes it's hard to know where to start, but don't worry we have sorted it all out for you. Why not star your morning with a coffee and croissant in one of the many gay cafe bars.
Feeling refreshed, Gay Madrid opens up to you, maybe you're in the mood just wander the narrow streets of Chueca.
Or if shopping is more your thing gay Madrid has some fantastic shops for you to spend your money in. Or put on your walking shoes, grab your camera and head off to see the sights of gay Madrid.
Remember before setting off it is advisable to book your restaurant for the evening, and we have worked hard to find you some of the best gay restaurants in Madrid the good restaurants in Madrid get booked up quickly so don't miss out and remember the that Spanish eat late about 9pm. Enjoy your day.
Now that you have had a fantastic day in gay Madrid lets plan your evening. To help you relax before dinner, why not head off to one of the Madrid gay saunas there are a lot to choose from and we have found some of the best for you to enjoy.
Refreshed and relaxed it time for a before dinner drink in one of the many Madrid gay bars and there are so many to choose from, Cocktail bars, Chill out bars, Trendy bars Cruise bars the list goes on.
What to do after dinner well it has to be back to the gay bars until about 2.30 am as the Madrid gay clubs don't open until then but that give you time to decide what kind of gay club you want to go to then its home to sleep you have a long day tomorrow.
First things first! Madrileños love to party. If New York is the city that doesn’t sleep, then Madrid is most certainly the European equivalent - except maybe for a leisurely disco nap in the afternoon that is! Considering the blazing hot late spring and summer afternoons you would also be well advised to join the Madrileños in seeking a cool place to pass the heat of the day with a little siesta.
The siesta is not just recommended here, it’s essential in a city whose desire for nightlife is relentless and doesn’t even begin until midnight. Nearly 2,000 bars and restaurants create outside terraces in the spring and summer where locals vie for space and the welcome cool night air. Passing the evenings until the early hours is a national past-time, discussing the day’s events over a cool beer and some tapas and watching the world go by.
This is one of Europe's most loved capitals, the third largest city in the European Union, and a welcome respite for gay travelers due to the staggering quantity and diversity of gay nightlife. The countless bars, disco bars (with a dance floor, but which don't charge on the door) and discos in Madrid open, close and change names with alarming frequency. At weekends the scene can still last the full 48 hours, depending on your stamina. Madrileños love to tour the bars and discos, so you might find yourself in a place that's semi-empty one moment, and packed to the gills the next
The city is fast becoming one of Europe’s coolest capitals with a distinctive atmosphere that is truly infectious. Together with a boundless energy, an unparalleled artistic inheritance, vibrant culture and some of the most exhilarating nightlife in Europe, Madrid has now emerged as a cosmopolitan and vivacious capital city in its own right on a par with London, Paris or Berlin.
Madrid is a contrasting city of historic sites by day and a thriving, hedonistic venue by night. Don’t be surprised to find yourself in a traffic jam at 4am in the morning!
From the time you touch ground at the airport, Madrid feels like one big party - a party with an artist's soul. Perhaps nowhere else in the world will you find such a spirited harmony of contrasts. Grandeur and romanticism stroll hand in hand down winding 16th-cenutury streets. Beautiful parks nestle up to modern glass skyscrapers, and the River Manzanares flows through the heart of everything with a seductive, lazy arrogance.
A glass of local wine and a “Salud” to Madrid makes for a great tribute to both this incandescent city and the sublime Ava Gardner.
Gay Madrid features a number of lively, well-defined quarters -- and you'll want to find time to visit all of them. The old cafés at the bustling center attract residents of all ages and situations. In recent years, the Chueca quarter has become the capital's fashionable gay neighborhood or “barrio”. The Chueca is a pulsating neighborhood festooned with rainbow flags and filled with bars, clubs, and stores.
In the centre of the Chueca area, you’ll find the Plaza Chueca. There are plenty of bars and clubs in this area that cater to gay Madrid. Chueca is by no means exclusive to the gay community, and you’ll also find lots of people from other walks of life enjoying the ambiance of the area. The style in Chueca is cool, alternative and bohemian and the people are open-minded. No one bats an eye if you are straight and you walk into a ‘gay bar’.
There are bars and clubs that cater for both gay men and gay women. Also, a great theme of a few bars in Chueca is that you’ll find they are ‘Chill Out’ bars. The two main streets through Chueca are Calle Horteleza and Fuencarral. Both these streets run parallel to each other, up from Gran Via, making them easy to find, and contain gay bars that are easily recognisable from the gay flag that hangs outside.
The first stop on any gay traveler's shopping list is Librería Berkana (Calle Hortaleza, 64; +34-91-532-1393; www.libreriaberkana.com), the well-stocked and modern gay bookstore at the top of Plaza Chueca. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will tell you all you need to know about Madrid's gay life, and the selection of books (many in English), cards, and assorted ephemera is quite impressive. Another popular bookstore in the area is A Different Life (CallePelayo, 30; +33-91-532-9652; www.lifegay.com), a two-level bookstore with an annex down the street. The friendly owners will point you in the right direction. Be sure to pick up a gay map of the city, such as MENsual, and a copy of ShangayExpress to get in touch with the latest in the social scene.
To the west, poets and musicians frequent the "underground" bars, while the gilded youth of Brazil and more than a few straying Chueca denizens pulse to the beat in the charmingly rehabilitated Malasaña quarter
Madrid’s location in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula and high on the Castillian explains the extremes of climate it experiences, with steaming hot summers, cold winters and much more moderate spring and autumns.
Home to 3 million people, this is Europe’s highest capital city and the countries centre of government, business and home to Spain’s royal household.
Madrid has managed to preserve the look and feel of its historic areas, making the neighborhoods really worth a visit. Notable landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Teatro Real (Royal Theater), and the city center's Buen Retiro park, which was first established in the early 1600s as private gardens for royalty.
Madrid is a fascinating combination of the grand and brassy, yet on a human, sometimes intimate, scale. Take the Gran Via, a very busy avenue. This is Broadway or State Street, circa 1951. That is, you have these great art deco and beaux-arts buildings and streets teeming with human and auto traffic. It is a thriving urban metropolis without the glassy impersonal hi-rises. You have lots of cinema and theater to choose from.
Just a few blocks from the Gran Via, you are in “Old Madrid.” Narrow streets, with old buildings and old-fashioned shops selling anything from military costumes to religious articles seem to catapult you into an era three centuries back.
The metro is a quick and inexpensive way to get around. And taxis are handy. But by all means walk! Wander. The city is also a walker's paradise. Its main east-west street is the early 20th century Gran Vía, running from the Prado area to the modern Plaza de España. Roughly parallel, the c. Mayor leads through the city's medieval heart, from the Puerta del Sol, Spain's "kilometer zero" from which all of the country's destinations are measured, past charming Plaza Mayor, Madrid's prettiest square, to c. de Bailén, near the Royal Palace.
The Plaza Mayor dates from the 1600s and was once the scene of royal pageantry. Today, there is a real “meat market” here to say nothing of dozens of tapas places, cafes, and assorted distractions from the 21st century. If you are in need of a “royalty fix,” visit the Palacio Real, which is a European palace almost on a par with Versailles and Windsor Castle: royal banquet halls, throne room, and even a royal smoking room.
Madrid- Top Visitor Attractions
Madrid..museums..masterpieces and more....
Madrid is home to one of the larges art collections in the world...at the Prado Museum. In fact, there are so many historical and cultural things to do here...that a top 10 list would not even scratch the surface.
So we will be adding to this list continually, however here are just a few of our favourite selections. Some are essential...some are just fun. We tried to put something on the list that will appeal to everyone, from the cluture vultures to those with a big-inner-child.
If you do nothing else, spend at least half a day just walking around the old quarters of Madrid and take in the architecture and romance that this splendid city has to offer.
Top Attractions & Our RecommendationsA Night Out in Madrid
Don't even think about going clubbing without first visiting a few of the city's tapas bars, where well-to-do Madrid can be seen sipping aperitifs and nibbling choice morsels, talking and laughing enthusiastically. Local custom requires an aperitif or appetizer before dinner, and then a coffee afterwards - but no one says that everything has to be consumed in the same establishment.
Madrid locals’ bar- and café-hop with a vengeance, and you should, too! Los Gabrieles is worth checking out for its décor alone; this classy, friendly joint boasts some of the most gorgeous azulejos in town. Also worth a look is El Espejo, with its Art Nouveau decoration. A bit of wandering will turn up plenty of other inviting options.
One good anytime address in Chueca is La Sastreria, a stylish, high-design (orange and blue!) bar, whose offering includes a selection of excellent coffees and teas for those not in the mood for anything stronger. This place has it all, including higher prices if you take a table.
XXX Bar (c. San Marcos, 8) is a popular meeting spot in the heart of the Chueca. Locals gather here to reconnoiter before heading off to dinner and their late-evening plans. Despite its provocative name, it's just a pleasant neighborhood bar.
Baires Café (Calle Gravina, 4; +34-91- 532-9879; ), back in the Chueca, is a café/bar, with a slick, modern interior bathed in blue light and a hip crowd. It's popular both for pre-dinner drinks and late-night lounging. On Sunday nights, visit the Shangay Tea Dance (+34-91-308-4539), sponsored by the local gay paper and drawing a young, mixed crowd. Only in Madrid would a tea dance begin at 9 p.m. -- and it doesn't start to get crowded until just before 10:30 p.m. when the free passes available around town expire.
Liquid is a video bar (similar to Sidetrack), and located at Baroquely, 8. and Cool is a great dance club at Isabel La Catolica, 6. Strong Center is the largest dark room in Europe at Veneras Trujillos, 7.
Pop in for a drink at Why Not? (c. San Bartolomé 7); it opens around 10:30 p.m., but things don't get going until much later at this funky, subterranean bar that features good music and a mixed, friendly crowd. If you've still got the stamina to go dancing, Refugio (Calle Doctor Cortezo 1; +34-91-369-4038; 7 EUR), in its cave-like setting, is hottest on Friday nights. And remember, if you're in bed before sunrise, you're not getting the full Madrid nightlife experience.
Most of the bars and clubs revolve around Calles Infantes and San Marco. A couple of good addresses are the old and very classic Figueroa Café, whose great originality lies in the fact that it isn't a bit cool or crazy. Go there to play a game of billiards, to chat, and to chill out. Montero 33 is another interesting place. Its steely metal interior attracts a young, hip crowd and, because it's so totally mixto (gay and straight), it would be difficult to identify as a gay niche at all if you didn't know better.
Corazón Negro (CalleColmenares, 5) is the comfiest spot in Chueca, with a scattering of sofas, offbeat art that changes before your eyes (watch your waiter arrange a bizarre creation in between your drink orders), and a cozy but chic feel.
After, Ohm (Plaza Callao 4; +34-91-531-0132; Entrance fee from 12 EUR) is a classic gay dance party held at Salsa Bash every Friday and Saturday night, though the crowd is increasingly more mixed these days. If you enjoy house music, go-go dancers and good ambience, this is the place to be. Royal Dance Coolture (CalleIsabel la Catolica, 6; +34-91-542-3439; ) is held at the event venue/ballroom known as Cool, and is just a five-minute walk from Ohm. It is one of Madrid's nicest with two floors, sleek décor and retro lighting. The entrance and stairway alone will grab your attention as you come in. The crowd is somewhat mixed, with the greater majority being gay men on Saturdays. Don't stop there if the sun isn't up yet, go instead to Pasapoga (Gran Vía, 37; +34-91-532-1642).
A couple of fun Chueca-area possibilities are La Bodega de Roberta el Pirata -- a bar enlivened by passionate conversation and debate around the pirate ship that serves as the counter -- and Houdini, an intriguing place where magic shows and collective hypnosis séances play out in a truly fantastic decor.
If you haven't done so already, spend some time just admiring the city, appreciating the myriad fountains and ostentatious, Baroque architecture. After dark, the fountains are spectacularly lit. If you're feeling particularly classy, stop in for a sherry under the stunning rotunda at the Westin Palace . Restaurante Botin (Cuchilleros, 17; +34-91-366-4217; www.botin.es; 40 EUR) is the place to go for those who can't resist a Hemingway haunt. Both the food and service are excellent. Open since 1725, it's one of the oldest restaurants in the world.
Madrid gay nightlife is a pretty serious phenomenon. This is one of the few cities in Europe where you can get caught in traffic jams at 4am, when the clubbers are either going home or moving on to the dance-past-dawn discos.
As with everything madrileño , there is a bewildering variety of nightlife venues - all of which are covered, to some degree, in the area reviews following. Most common are the discobares - bars of all musical and sexual persuasion, whose unifying feature is background (occasionally live) rock, dance or salsa music. These get going from around 11pm and will stay open routinely to 2am or 3am, as will the few quieter cocktail bars and pubs .
Discotecas - which we've separated in the listings - are rarely worth investigating until around 1am (the madrugada - early morning). Most of them pick their clientele through a dress code exclusivity and you may at times need to ingratiate yourself with the doorman. Being foreign, oddly enough, seems to make it easier to get in. Entry charges are quite common and quite hefty (€3.50-18) at discotecas (and some of the more disco-like discobares ) but tend to cover you for a first drink. Free entries can sometimes be picked up from touts in the streets, in tourist offices or bars. Be aware that many discotecas in Spain are fairly ephemeral institutions and frequently only last a season before opening up somewhere else under a different name, so it's a good idea to consult La Guía del Ocio or Metrópoli for the very latest information.
Boite (Tetuan 27) is the new place in town and is proving popular. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are full and are hosted by club promoters Victor Pallas and Jose Lupe. This duo also host the popular Prive.
Griffin's Dance Club (Mqués de Valdeiglesias 6) is a longtime favorite with shows Sundays through Wednesdays and disco party ambiance Thursdays through Saturdays.
Two big parties from the Trip Family Group have kept Madrid dancing for years: Ohm Dance Club (Plaza del Callao 4) takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from midnight, and "Goa" at Fabrik (Avda. de la Industria 82, Humanes de Madrid) has electronic sessions every Sunday from noon to midnight. It is a classic gay dance party held at Salsa Bash every Friday and Saturday night, though the crowd is increasingly more mixed these days. If you enjoy house music, go-go dancers and good ambience, this is the place to be. There are shuttle buses from Plaza de España.
Into the Tank at de Nombre Público (Garcia Molinas 11) is a pervy dance bash with a strict dress code of leather, rubber, military, uniform, jockstraps, or naked with boots... the last one was in July for Gay Pride. Keep an eye on the blog for details of the next event.
Royal Dance Coolture (CalleIsabel la Catolica, 6; +34-91-542-3439; ) is held at the event venue/ballroom known as Cool, and is just a five-minute walk from Ohm. The venue is glamorous. It is one of Madrid's nicest with two floors (a huge main dance floor and smaller rooms), sleek décor and retro lighting. Upstairs it's pop music and trashy sounds; downstairs the glamorous go-go's strut their bodies to hard house. The entrance and stairway alone will grab your attention as you come in. The crowd is somewhat mixed, with the greater majority being gay men on Saturdays. Don't stop there if the sun isn't up yet, go instead to Pasapoga (Gran Vía, 37; +34-91-532-1642).
Manzanares River
Gay Madrid has plenty of cruising spots... from shopping centres to train stations... you can find hot guys checking eachother out all over town! However there are some main areas where cruising is pretty obvious...and you can find what you are looking for, if you are in the right place.
As you stroll from one end of the river to the other, you will find guys running, rollerblading and, you guessed it, cruising. Grab a seat and sit back if someone catches your eye... the rest is up to you!
Parque del Oeste
Parks are always popular.... The Parque del Oeste is busy throughout the day, especially by the Romantic Gardens.
Parque del Campo de las Naciones
Check out the young guys curising by the bridge leading to the auditorium... and you will see plenty of action.... be careful though, especially when there are large events taking place...
Parque Casa de Campo
At night the road leading from the lake to the top of the hills is quite cruisy, once you pass the straight prostitutes, head for the top of the hill, where you will find parked cars with guys waiting to have fun!
As you stroll from one end of the river to the other, you will find guys running, rollerblading and, you guessed it, cruising. Grab a seat and sit back if someone catches your eye... the rest is up to you!
Parque del Retiro
When you see the Fallen Angel Fountain, just watch the amount of times a guy walks around it.... you know whats going on!
Plaza de toros de la venta
Bullfighting isn't the only thing that goes on here.... at night if you see a car pass by a couple of times, then they are probably curising for fun...
Hot Boys, Hot Gay Madrid Saunas... Hook Up, Get Lucky
So, you've been to the clubs, the bars and you still haven't found what you're looking for?
Or you fancy a steamy encounter with some hot latin guy in a hot tub? Well then Mardid has a gay sauna for you.
There are a dozen or so Gay Saunas in Madrid, each catering to a different audience, some for younger guys, some for rentboys... here's our lowdown on the most popular.
Sauna Paraiso (Calle Norte 15) is one of the oldest Gay Saunas in Mardid and is quite popular. It has an underground pool a large space with two hot tubs and a sauna and steam room. There is a small bar with drinks and a television. There are also cabins and a dungeon room with a sling.
Sauna Adan on San Bernardo 39 is full of hunky South Americans in their skimpy towels. These boys are not afraid to show off what's on offer! All will approach you and ask if you want a massage... but be prepared to pay! If thats fo you, ten you are in heaven.
Sauna Octopus is one of the newest Gay Saunas in Madrid. Just minutes from Chueca (nearest Tube is Tribunal), the club is split into two. Upstairs offers private rooms whilst downstairs has a bar with a glass roof where you can watch naked men in the swimming pool as you relax and sip a cocktail. All of the showers also have glass dividers.
Sauna Adán (San Bernardo 38) is a busy place from late afternoon; it's full of gorgeous South Americans wearing mini- white towels and showing off their manhood. Most ask if you want a massage, so if you like to buy, this place is a paradise.
Sauna Principle is popular with Bears and their admirers. Most of the Gay Saunas have a cover charge which vary depending on the day and time you visit. Prices vary between EUR 11 and EUR 15.
Hoteles recomendados
Maria Elena Palace
Aduana, 19, Madrid
Este elegante hotel de estilo continental goza de una fantástica ubicación en pleno centro de Madrid, por lo que es perfecto sea cual sea el motivo de su visita. más información…
Husa Moncloa
Serrano Jover, 1, Madrid
Situado en el distrito financiero, este moderno hotel ofrece habitaciones amplias y elegantes para su visita a la capital. más información…
Petit Palace Arenal Sol
Arenal, 16, Madrid
Ubicado en una de las prestigiosas calles que conducen a la Puerta del Sol de Madrid, este hotel ofrece una magnífica ubicación para explorar esta capital cultural. más información…
Eurostars Madrid Tower
Castellana, 259B, Madrid
Este magnífico y moderno hotel está emplazado en la torre SyV de 235 metros de altura. Ofrece habitaciones equipadas con la última tecnología para pasar unos días de lujo en la capital. más información…
Jardín Metropolitano
Reina Victoria, 12, Madrid
Este hotel se encuentra al lado de la plaza Cuatro Caminos. Destacan las plantas que decoran su interior. Alberga un bonito restaurante situado en un invernadero. más información…
Medium Cortezo
Doctor Cortezo, 3, Madrid
Situado en una calle céntrica y tranquila del Rastro, el hotel Medium Cortezo goza de una ubicación privilegiada cerca de la Puerta del Sol y a poca distancia de la Plaza Mayor, el Museo del Prado y... más información…
Dining out In Gay Madrid
A City that eats out... Late!
You must be forewarned that Madrileños like their supper late. By late, we mean dinners that often begin at 11 p.m. or even midnight. Then, after, the Madrileños go out and paint the town.
Food is such an important pleasure in this sensual city, it's really hard to go wrong. In fact, you could easily pass an entire visit living entirely off tapas, knocking around from café to bar and watching the little plates pile up on your table. And you can dine out on these while you enjoy fine Spanish wine almost any time. Gay restaurants in Madrid are of a high quality and get very busy.
While that option certainly has its charm, any number of good restaurants merit a detour should you find yourself in the mood for something a bit more substantial.
Gay Madrid Restaurants Review
Carmencita in the Chueca quarter is a restored tavern dating from 1850. Stylishly redecorated, it features excellent meat and fish dishes. If you've overdone the shopping a bit, it's good to know that the lunch menu is cheaper than that at dinner - for the same good food and the same vintage zinc bar.
Quesadillas, guacamole and killer margaritas are on tap at the nearby which boasts an Aztec calendar painted on the ceiling, and portraits of Frieda Kahlo and other Mexican artists on the walls. The friendly waiters recite the menu, the chairs don't match the tables, and, in short, the place is charming (if not "Spanish" enough to appeal to purists). If you've got a hankering for paella, you're in luck.
The gay-owned and gay-staffed Arroceria Gala (Moratin, 22; +34-91-429-2562; from 20 EUR) has a lovely atmosphere with a covered courtyard, which gives the impression of being outdoors, but is heated in winter. All shades of the Spanish rice specialty are served on an inexpensive fixed-price menu.
Or you could head over to the Puerta del Sol and the specialty restaurant Paelleria Vallenciana, which has the dual appeal of being very reasonably priced and catering to single diners (most paella restaurants have a two-person minimum). A word of warning: Paellerina Vallenciana is rightly popular, and you just may have to wait for a table.
Acarela is a lovely coffee shop at Gravina, 10, and Divina la Cocina is a great gay restaurant at Comenares, 13. We can also recommend La’an, a delightful café in which to enjoy an espresso right near A Different Life Book Store.
For a meal that nourishes the soul as well as the body, hit up Gula Gula (c. Gran Via, 1; +34-91-522-87-64; www.gulagula.net; 30 EUR); it has an outrageous salad bar/buffet, but only half as outrageous as the nightly drag shows and the hunky, punky waiters. The crowd can skew more straight than gay, but it's a guaranteed wild night regardless.
Pop in for lunch at Restaurante Miau (Plaza Santa Ana, 6; +34-91-429-22-72; 30 EUR, but with a lunch menu available from 10 EUR), a charmingly designed restaurant that serves some of the finest Madrileño cuisine. It's also great for tapas in the evening, or dinner in the dining room downstairs. After eating and a few of the local sangrias you'll be ready for your daily siesta and you know you'll need it for the night.
At Vinoteca Barbechera (Gravina 6) wine bottles line the walls, and the tapas will amaze you with unexpected taste combinations (salmon with honey, slices of rump roast in a fig sauce, hazelnut bisque).
Tepic Urban Mex Restaurant (Pelayo 4) sits in the gay street of Pelayo. Its modern and bright design is sparse and decorated in crisp pinks and whites. They have an extensive Mexican menu and also cater to vegetarians.
El Rincon de Pelayo (Pelayo 19) is not a tapas bar but an excellent restaurant with a small terrace out front. The menu del dèa is a great way to have a three course meal with wine or coffee for around 10 euros.
Con Mucho Amor (San Marcos 1) is a small boutique of a Moroccan restaurant serving a selection of hot and cold food to eat in or take away. Homemade hummus with whole chick peas and warm bread are four Euros, and a range of tagines -- couscous with natural herbs, flavoring, meats, and vegetables -- can be had for around five.
Gay Restaurant Sama Sama (San Bartolome 23) has a simple yet gorgeous decor, done in the rich earth tones of the high plains. This describes their cuisine as well. Don't miss their wild boar entree, served by some of the friendliest, cutest waiters in town.
Mama Inez (Hortaleza 22) is busy all day with locals and tourists. They serve beers and snacks as well as teas and coffees. Salads have huge portions of veggies and start at six euros. This is more of a coffeeshop with food available.
El Estragón (Plaza de la Paja 10) is a vegetarian restaurant that aims to impress even non-vegetarians. Believe us...even the meat lovers amongst us were suprised.
Other recommendations are the excellent Botin at Cuchilleros, 17, near the Plaza Mayor, was a favorite of Hemingway’s as it is of many present-day tourists. We also enjoyed the Cafeteria-Restaurante Europa, at Calle del Carmen, 4, fairly close to the Puerta del Sol (Madrid’s answer to Times Square).
At some point you will find yourself in one of the tourist zones, just looking for a quick bite to eat. You don't really care whether the restaurant is gay or straight... you are just looking for some a good quality, authentic meal.
Over the past years, central Madrid, particularly the area around Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza Mayor, has become a major tourist trap where prices have sky-rocketed and quality has generally dropped. Plaza Mayor and the surrounding streets are particularly notorious for high prices and low quality. If you want to spend a sunny afternoon in Mayor don't purchase any foods there, just drinks, and usually just beer since mixed drinks are watered down or cheaply made.
A much better option is the La Latina neighborhood just south of Plaza Mayor, especially along the Cava Baja street. If you want to find a restaurant on your own you should try wandering through the area bounded by the Alonso Martinez, San Bernardo, Noviciado and Chueca metro stops. There are a number of tasty, reasonably priced restaurants in this area along with a lively nightlife. One can also eat well and relatively inexpensively at a number of Madrid's local bars, especially in the city center. At bars one generally orders various sized plates, a ración meaning a full dish, a media ración a half dish or a smaller version which would be a tapa, a pinxto or a pincho
Jamon and Meat Produce
Visiting Madrid or Spain in general without trying Jamon Iberico (ham) would be considered a crime by most Spaniards. Spaniards treat their ham very seriously and types and qualities of ham vary in a similar way to wine. Try it with some tomato and garlic bread... delicious!
Seafood
It is ironic that Madrid, located right in the center of Spain is known in the country as the "Best port in Spain" having higher quality seafood than most coastal regions. This can be explained by Spaniard's obsession with seafood and the historical need to supply the capital's wealthy with a constant stream of fresh produce. You will be hard pressed to find better quality seafood in any city in Europe than in Madrid. This quality comes at a price, and most Spaniards will rarely embark on the luxury of a mariscada (Spanish for "seafood fest"). Experiencing Madrid's seafood may be, for the visitor, an experience which will be worth the cost.
Paella
Many of the restaurants and cervecerías in the Sol and Plaza Mayor area have "generic" poster board advertisements on the sidewalks with pictures advertising various paella dishes (you will recognize them when you see them). These paellas are usually not the best quality to be found and should generally be avoided. If you are looking for good, authentic Spanish paella it is usually better to find a more expensive, "sit-down" type of restaurant that offers a variety of paella dishes and try your first paella dish there. Look for restaurants that specialize in the cuisine of Valencia. It's not a complete guarantee that the paella will be good but the odds are that it will be better than what you find in some of these "pre-packaged" paellas that many of the smaller restaurants sell.
Tapas
Tapeo has existed as a pleasant and healthy custom in Spain since the 13th century, when the Castillian King Alphonse X ("the Wise") forced bartenders to serve something to eat when customers ordered wine in order to prevent the harmful effects of alcohol on an empty stomach. His intention was to protect the people who could not afford to order food when they had wine in a bar.
Any area in Madrid has these bars offering tapas, but there are some neighborhoods whose bars and taverns are known for their tapas with a Madrid flavor.
Tourists and Madrileños usually choose the Cava Baja and Latina as their favourite destinations to eat tapas. Besides tapas, specialties of each bar and larger side-dishes to share may be ordered.
Around the Santa Ana Square, the Paseo del Prado, Fuencarral Street, the multicultural neighborhood of Lavapiés, or the elegant neighborhood of Salamanca, you can find many people in the bars at around 11 a.m. ("la hora del aperitivo" or "the snack hour").
The Latest Gay Events And Festivals in Gay Madrid
Madrid... From Culture to Sleaze and Pride inbetween....
Madrid is home to the biggest gay community in Spain. And as the country's capital, it is no suprise then that when the Madridlenos party, they do so on a gigantic scale.
From the huge pride parades in June and July to the Infinitea Festival which draws over 20,000 circuit boys to the city in July, Madrid is one big party town. There's a party for every type of persuasion... from Sleaze (Sleazy Madrid) to fetish (Intothetank.com) right through to Bears (they have a Summer retreat and a Winter Mr Bears competition), the events themselves are well organised and very well attended.
For those of you looking for something a little bit more authentic, then the Fiesta de San Isidro is the main festival in Madrid. Originally a religious holiday, it has now become a more mainstream event, however traditional parades and dances do take place. Huge firewoks displays take place in the evening as well as spectacular light shows as palaces and fountains come to life!
There are hundreds of festivals and events in Madrid, however we have listed the key ones below, with a specific emphasis on Gay Events in particular.
Photo | Event Details |
---|---|
Sleazy Madrid - 29th April to 3rd May 2009 The ultimate fetish party in Madrid.. now in its second year... | |
San Isidro Madrid - 15th May San Isidro takes place on May15th and is Madrid's main annual festival marking the start of the city's bullfighting season | |
Madrid GAy Pride /End June/First week July Madrid plays host to Spain's biggest Pride celebration. The main event is the carnival-style parade through the city on the second Saturday. | |
Infinita Gay One of the biggest gay circuit parties in Europe with over 20,000 attendees... | |
Madrid Bears Summer Retreat - Mid July The Madrid Bears annual retreat to the countryside.... | |
Veranos de la Villa - Summer Culture Festival The Madrid Bears annual retreat to the countryside.... | |
La Noche en Blanco Madrid - September With no respect to safety.. which is half the fun... watch the bonfires and fireworks as you celebrate Barcelona's most famous day. | |
Madrid Gay and Lesbian Film Festival The highlight of the Gay Cultural Calendar at the International Gay Film Festival. | |
International Bears Meeting - Madrid -Dec The annual International Bears Meeting including Mr Bear Madrid |
GAY MADRID BANNERS
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