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Madrid likes to party, but perhaps without quite the same level of enthusiasm that it partied in the 1980s during the movida madrileña (the period after 35 years of dictatorship when artistic, intellectual, and social life exploded with new-found freedom). The weekend starts on Thursday evening when people head for their favorite bars. On weekends, crowds from the suburbs and surrounding towns join the party. Madrileños don't tend to go out on the town until after midnight and rarely arrive at clubs before 3a. However, even if your entertainment tastes are more sedate, you won't be disappointed (unless you were planning on having dinner at half past six!).
The best way to discover Madrid's nightlife is to explore the neighborhoods. There are people on the streets all weekend long. Moncloa tends to attract students; Malasaña sees many teenagers and the 18-30 crowd; Huertas is normally full of people in their 20s and 30s; Bilbao and Alonso Martínez cater to all age groups; Chueca is the most progressive area, home to the gay community; and the neighborhood around Salamanca has lots of quiet (and expensive) bars for the yuppies.
Discos & Clubs
Discos and clubs stay open very late, many of them past 6a. After a night out at Joy Madrid, for example, it’s a Madrid tradition to go for early morning fritters and hot chocolate next door at Chocolatería San Ginés. Other clubs worth visiting are Palacio de Gaviria and Kapital. The Malasaña district is full of bars and clubs and tends to attract the younger folk. It’s easy to party all night in any of the places around the plaza del 2 de Mayo. Black & White is one of the best-known gay discos in the city.
Galleries & Museums
The city is brimming with art galleries of every taste. For example, Galería Capa Esculturas specializes in sculpture, presenting the hottest new artists. Galería Estiarte shows promising new graphic artists, and for international flavor, Galería del Cisne features contemporary Catalan artists. The tony Salamanca district and Alonso Martínez also contain a number of galleries.
There are museums devoted to every subject from famous painters to famous motorcyclists. The three most important collections of art in Spain are all within walking distance of each other in what’s known as Madrid's "Golden Triangle." The museo del Prado is the most famous and exhibits Spanish masters El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. The Thyssen Bornemizsa shows Van Dyck, Van Gogh, Dégas, Dalí, Carpaccio, and Kandinsky. The Centro de Arte Reina Sofía specializes in contemporary Spanish art, such as Picasso's Guernica and works by Miró and Dalí. You’re sure to find something of interest among the many smaller, quirkier museums such as the Museo de los Bomberos (Firemen's Museum).
Cinemas
The cinemas are concentrated along the Gran Vía east of the Plaza de España. Movies tend to be dubbed into Spanish so if you want to see them in the original language, make sure it specifies V.O. (versión original) in the listing.
Dance Performances
Lots of bars and clubs put on a traditional tablao where you can watch flamenco dancing in its different forms. Mainstream venues like the teatro de la Zarzuela and the Centro Cultural de la Villa (under the waterfall in the center of the plaza de Colón) host national and international companies performing ballet and contemporary dance. Although flamenco comes from the south of Spain, Madrid attracts many top acts. Try Casa Patas or Candela, or just wander through the gates of the Plaza Mayor until you hear something you like coming from within (but be prepared to pay heftily for it).
Live Music
As for music, jazz aficionados can choose from a number of clubs in the Huertas district including the local favorite, Populart.
Or for Rock/Indie music you can go to larger venues like La Riviera, which hosts many major international superstars.
The lovely teatro de la Zarzuela and the Teatro Real are good places to hear classical music and opera.
Theater
There are dozens of "mainstream" theaters, often showing works by famous Spanish dramatists, many of whom have metro stops named after them (Quevedo, Tirso de Molina). The Nuevo Apolo, the Abadía and the Comedia are just a few. Or for way-out Spanish fringe try Sala Cuarta Pared or Sala El Canto de la Cabra. Be sure to check out Madrid's English-language what's-on guide for a listing of English productions.
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