Cool Neighborhoods

The Castellana
This street forms the backbone of the city. In the summer it is dotted with terrazas and chiringuitos. All year round it takes you north to a haven of smart, popular clubs and bars around Santiago Bernabeu stadium and Avenida de Brasil.

Chueca
Once a drug and crime haven, this is now Madrid's slickest neighborhood, and the heart of gay Madrid. It gets packed with hunky men in tight shorts during June's Gay Pride festival. With swanky bars and cafes, this barrio is a sophisticated departure from other Madrid nightlife.

Huertas
This area heading down towards Paseo del Prado from Plaza Santa Ana is chock-full of theaters, restaurants and bars. On the weekends, the streets overflow with tourists and Madrileños alike.

La Latina
Home of some of Madrid's best summertime terrazas, caña-slinging bars and slick restaurants, La Latina is in the crossroads of traditional and contemporary Madrid. Many a Sunday has slipped (and been sipped) away in the post-Rastro gatherings in Plaza de la Cebada and San Andres.

Lavapies
Home to many of Madrid's alternative theaters and some of its best bars, Lavapies is a diverse, funky neighborhood that's equally good by day or by night. In the summer, terrazas buzz and the streets are teeming. One thing about Lavapies: try not to look like a tourist. Pick-pocketing and mugging are very common here.

Malasaña
This less-touristy part of Madrid is home to many of the bars of the movida, the post-Franco fiesta frenzy that launched some of Spain's most famous musicians and artists. A few alternative theaters serve up mostly comedy and some bars here feature live music.