Malasaña, Madrid
Photo: Nicolas Vigier / Flickr (CC0 1.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Malasaña

Movida bars and old churrerías

Malasaña is the area north of Gran Vía around Plaza del Dos de Mayo and Calle de Fuencarral. The Movida madrileña of the 1980s grew up here, and the music venues from that time still play.

The Museum of the History of Madrid on Calle de Fuencarral is free and open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00. Conde Duque is a large cultural centre where most activities are free. The Mercado de San Ildefonso is a street-food market that opens at 13:00 every day.

La Vía Láctea has promoted music since 1979, Siroco opened in 1989 and Café La Palma stays open until 06:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Churrería Madrid 1883 opens at 06:30 every day, and Café Comercial has served since 1887.

Bodega de La Ardosa on Calle de Colón keeps parts of its original 1892 decor. Café Manuela, in a former carpentry workshop, has been a film set more than 60 times.

Getting there

Tribunal (L1, L10) is the Metro stop the tourism board lists for the Museum of the History of Madrid.

15 places
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Cafes and shops

Federal Café sits on Plaza de las Comendadoras, close to Conde Duque. Antigua Casa Crespo on Calle del Divino Pastor has sold espadrilles since 1863.

Where to eat and drink

1862 Dry Bar on Calle del Pez is a cocktail bar open from 16:00 most days. Toma Café on Calle de la Palma serves specialty coffee.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Chueca, Madrid Chueca Markets, cocktails and a quiet palace 11 places · under 1 km away Sol and Centro, Madrid Sol and Centro Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía 41 places · 1.0 km away Chamberí, Madrid Chamberí Local markets and a ghost station 13 places · 1.1 km away Palacio and Ópera, Madrid Palacio and Ópera Royal Palace, cathedral and the Habsburg streets 28 places · 1.2 km away

The best of Malasaña

Best free museum Museum of the History of Madrid Free, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 20:00.
Best breakfast Madrid 1883 Open every day from 06:30 to 13:00.
Best live music La Vía Láctea A bar and concert room since 1979.

Things to do in Malasaña

The baroque entrance of the Conde Duque cultural centre across its brick courtyard
Museum · Free Conde Duque A large cultural centre on Calle del Conde Duque, with several exhibition rooms, an auditorium and a theatre for the performing arts.
Museum · Free Museum of the History of Madrid The city's history museum, in the former Hospicio de San Fernando on Calle de Fuencarral, a major Madrid Baroque building. The museum began as the Museo Municipal in 1929 and took its present name in 2007.
Market · €€ Mercado de San Ildefonso A street-food market on Calle de Fuencarral, set up as a place to meet after work or stop for an aperitif.
Shopping · € Antigua Casa Crespo A shop in Malasaña founded by Martín Garbayo in 1863. It first sold rope, cane and building supplies and black-and-white espadrilles.
Food · €€ Bodega de La Ardosa A tavern on Calle de Colón. In 1892 Rafael Fernández opened several taverns called La Ardosa, and this Malasaña one still has parts of its original decor, including the engraved glass sign.
Cafe · €€ Café Ajenjo A cafe of classic look near Plaza del Dos de Mayo, serving coffees, teas and cocktails in a room that recalls an earlier era.
Cafe · €€ Café Comercial The oldest of the Madrid cafes according to the tourism board, on Glorieta de Bilbao and open since 1887. Intellectuals, politicians and civil servants once held their gatherings here.
Cafe · €€ Café Manuela A cafe founded in 1979 in a former carpentry workshop on Calle de San Vicente Ferrer, styled on the literary cafes of the early 1900s. It has been a set for more than 60 films and adverts.
Cafe · €€ Federal Café A cafe on Plaza de las Comendadoras near the Conde Duque cultural centre, created by the Australians Tommy Tang and Crick King. The kitchen serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Cafe · € Madrid 1883 A churro shop in Malasaña that the tourism board calls the oldest in Madrid. It has an open kitchen where you can watch the churros being made.
Cafe · € Toma Café A Malasaña cafe on Calle de la Palma specialising in coffee, with different beans and methods, and courses on preparing it.
Nightlife · €€ 1862 Dry Bar A cocktail bar on Calle del Pez in Malasaña that revives classic mixology recipes and techniques. Its name recalls the year a landmark bartender's guide was published.
Nightlife · €€ Café La Palma A Malasaña venue on Calle de la Palma built around live music in all genres. Amparanoia, El Chojín and Vetusta Morla have played its stage.
Nightlife · €€ La Vía Láctea A bar and concert room on Calle de Velarde in a former coal shop, promoting music since 1979. It became an icon of the Movida madrileña.
Nightlife · €€ Sala Siroco A venue on Calle de San Dimas that has been a reference for live music and dance sessions since 1989.

Live music in Malasaña

What's on in Malasaña this week

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Stay in Malasaña

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