Madrid Local's Guide: Best Areas to Stay

38 places in this vlog

In the order they appear. Tap a time to play it here, or ↗ to open YouTube at that second.

1. 1:28

   Puerta del Sol

   🏢 Landmark · Sol

   Good base for solo travellers who want an area that stays busy at night; watch for scammers.

2. 1:28

   Madrid de los Austrias

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Centro

   Gets pretty quiet at night, unlike the nearby Puerta del Sol.

3. 1:46

   Plaza Mayor

   🏛️ Historic site · Centro · brief mention

4. 3:09

   Mercado de San Miguel

   🛒 Market · Centro · brief mention

   A fun first stop for tapas.

5. 3:15

   Casa Toni

   🍺 Bar · Sol

   Recommended as an authentic alternative to the touristy spots.

6. 3:40

   La Latina

   🏘️ Neighborhood · La Latina

   Book an interior or high-floor room to avoid evening street noise; main metro is La Latina on line 5.

7. 4:51

   Calle de la Cava Baja

   🏘️ Neighborhood · La Latina · brief mention

   Recommended as the must-do tapas stroll in La Latina.

8. 5:01

   Casa Gerardo

   🍺 Bar · La Latina

   Called probably the best of the low-key tapas bars on La Latina's quieter side.

9. 5:30

   Malasaña

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Malasaña

   Main metro is Tribunal on line 1; some alcohol-fuelled rowdiness late at night but otherwise safe.

10. 6:28

    Casa Macareno

    🍴 Restaurant · Malasaña · brief mention

11. 6:32

    Chuan Yu

    🍴 Restaurant · Malasaña · brief mention

12. 6:34

    Plaza del Dos de Mayo

    🏢 Landmark · Malasaña

    Hosts a local flea market on weekend mornings.

13. 7:06

    Chueca

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Chueca

    Focal point of the city's Pride festival every summer; metro Chueca on line 5.

14. 7:41

    Las Salesas

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Justicia

    Handy for being near Chueca without staying in the midst of the action.

15. 8:16

    Angelita

    🍴 Restaurant · Chueca · brief mention

16. 8:19

    Mercado de San Antón

    🛒 Market · Chueca · brief mention

17. 8:47

    Barrio de las Letras

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Barrio de las Letras

    Easy walking distance to the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía; a frequently recommended place to stay.

18. 9:24

    Mercado de Antón Martín

    🛒 Market · Lavapiés · brief mention

19. 9:54

    Mercado de las Ranas

    🛒 Market · Barrio de las Letras

    Held on the first Saturday of every month.

20. 10:06

    Casa González

    🍺 Bar · Barrio de las Letras · brief mention

21. 10:10

    Taberna Elisa

    🍺 Bar · Barrio de las Letras · brief mention

22. 10:12

    Calle de Jesús

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Barrio de las Letras · brief mention

23. 10:18

    Casa Museo Lope de Vega

    🏛️ Museum · Barrio de las Letras · brief mention

24. 10:40

    Lavapiés

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Lavapiés

    Thefts happen here, so mind belongings at night; much of the area is on a slope.

25. 11:04

    Calle de Argumosa

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Lavapiés · brief mention

26. 11:09

    Plaza de Agustín Lara

    🏢 Landmark · Lavapiés · brief mention

27. 11:56

    La Fisna

    🍺 Bar · Lavapiés · brief mention

28. 12:00

    Los Chuchis

    🍴 Restaurant · Lavapiés · brief mention

29. 12:08

    Taberna de Antonio Sánchez

    🍺 Bar · Lavapiés

    Go for a vermouth.

30. 12:28

    Barrio de Salamanca

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Salamanca

    About a 45-minute walk to Sol and 35-40 minutes to the Prado; quiet at night.

31. 13:21

    Mercado de la Paz

    🛒 Market · Salamanca

    Good for gourmet gifts or jamón and wine at the outdoor tables.

32. 13:35

    Bar Casa Dani

    🍺 Bar · Salamanca

    Also does a pretty good fixed-price menú del día.

33. 13:44

    Calle de Serrano

    🛍️ Shopping · Salamanca · brief mention

34. 13:50

    Calle de Claudio Coello

    🛍️ Shopping · Salamanca · brief mention

35. 14:14

    Chamberí

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Chamberí

    Stay in the southern part, near metro Bilbao and Iglesia, to be closer to the action.

36. 15:13

    Museo Sorolla

    🏛️ Museum · Chamberí

37. 15:22

    Mercado de Vallehermoso

    🛒 Market · Chamberí

    Always humming on the weekend.

38. 15:32

    Plaza de Olavide

    🏢 Landmark · Chamberí

    Best on warm evenings.