Neighbourhood guide

Lavapiés

Markets, cinema and cultural centres

Lavapiés is the area around Plaza de Lavapiés and Calle de Embajadores, and mixes old taverns with cultural centres and a nightlife strip on Calle de Atocha.

La Casa Encendida on Ronda de Valencia is a cultural centre with free general access, open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00 and Sundays 10:00 to 16:00. The Mercado de San Fernando on Calle de Embajadores has stood since 1944 and stays open until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Sala Equis sits in the old Cine Alba and runs themed film cycles.

Taberna Antonio Sánchez on Calle del Mesón de Paredes is called the oldest tavern in Madrid by the tourism board, and Café Barbieri, beside Plaza de Lavapiés, was founded in 1902. Casa Pepe 1899 on Ronda de Valencia opens at 05:40 on weekdays.

Teatro Kapital on Calle de Atocha is the largest club in the city, open Wednesday to Sunday from 23:00.

Getting there

Lavapiés (L3) and Embajadores (L3, L5) are the Metro stops the tourism board lists for La Casa Encendida and the Mercado de San Fernando.

9 places

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What to see

Sin Tarima Libros on Calle del Conde de Romanones is a bookshop that opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00. Sastrería Palomeque on Calle del Duque de Alba is one of the few centenary tailors left.

Where to eat and drink

The Mercado de San Fernando has stalls open late on weekends. Casa Pepe 1899 is a bar-restaurant that the tourism board says was built over the old wall of Madrid.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Huertas and Barrio de las Letras, Madrid

Huertas and Barrio de las Letras Cervantes, Lope and flamenco 19 places · under 1 km away

La Latina Sunday market and tapas 21 places · under 1 km away

Sol and Centro Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía 41 places · under 1 km away

Paseo del Prado The Paseo del Arte 15 places · under 1 km away

The best of Lavapiés

Best culture stop La Casa Encendida Free access, open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00.

Best market Mercado de San Fernando Open since 1944, until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Best old tavern Taberna Antonio Sánchez The tourism board calls it the oldest tavern in Madrid.

Things to do in Lavapiés

The Neo-Mudéjar building of La Casa Encendida on its street corner

Museum · Free La Casa Encendida A social and cultural centre of the Fundación Montemadrid on Ronda de Valencia with exhibitions, a library, cinema and concerts.

Market · € Mercado de San Fernando A market on Calle de Embajadores that has stood since 1944, close to the former Escuelas Pías, the Corrala de Tribulete and the Casino de la Reina park.

Shopping · €€€ Sastrería Palomeque A tailor on Calle del Duque de Alba, one of the few centenary tailors left in Madrid. Primitivo Palomeque opened his first shop on Calle de Toledo in 1892 and moved here in 1901.

Shopping · € Sin Tarima Libros A bookshop in Lavapiés founded in 2008 through the merger of La Fugitiva and Con Tarima, near Puerta del Sol.

Food · €€ Casa Pepe 1899 A century-old bar-restaurant on Ronda de Valencia near La Casa Encendida, built over the old wall of Madrid, as a sign inside says. It serves home cooking and tapas.

Food · €€ Taberna Antonio Sánchez A tavern on Calle del Mesón de Paredes that the tourism board calls the oldest in Madrid. Its founding date is unknown, but its sale was advertised before February 1787.

Cafe · €€ Café Barbieri A cafe founded in 1902 beside Plaza de Lavapiés on Calle del Ave María, decorated in the style of the early 20th-century cafes.

Nightlife · €€ Sala Equis A leisure venue on Calle del Duque de Alba in the historic Cine Alba building, the last adult cinema in Madrid. It now focuses on film culture with themed cycles.

Nightlife · €€ Teatro Kapital A nightclub in a former theatre on Calle de Atocha, the largest in the city per the tourism board. It has made The World's 100 Best Clubs list.

Live music in Lavapiés

Sala Villanos 74 upcoming gigs

What's on in Lavapiés this week

From the blog

The white Palacio de Cibeles on Plaza de Cibeles with its clock tower and turrets

Things to Do in Madrid: Palace, Prado, Retiro and an Evening of Tapas Read

Stay in Lavapiés

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