Plaza Menor Bar: Best Spot To Start Your Night

A short walk from the famous Plaza Mayor is 10-year-old Plaza Menor, a laid-back bar that prides itself on its variety and quality of drinks and snacks.  As I walk in, Pedro, the owner, stands behind the bar squeezing limes and fiddling with the lighting.  He took over the bar 5 years ago, keeping the name and altering the decor to include sleek black leather chairs, round tile tables and the kind of soft lighting that makes you feel particularly attractive.  The bar has a cool, cave-like feeling, similar to that of the bars and restaurants situated beneath Plaza Mayor, and it is truly a perfect place to come and “chill”.

“We’ve really tried to create a place where people come for their “primera copa” (first drink).  Especially on weekends now, lots of people come in and have a tosta or a tarta and then have their first Mojito.”  Their specialty, Pedro tells me, are their Caipirinhas and Mojitos and, after tasting them, I fully concur.  As somewhat of a self-proclaimed connoisseur, I have to say that Plaza Menor’s Mojito is one of the best I have found in Madrid.  Try the delicious traditional ones or, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, Pedro will mix up one of their famous Raspberry Mojitos for you to sip on.

Besides the vast selection of cocktails, Plaza Menor also has a huge array of teas, brought to you in dainty little silver teapots, and also serves various types of coffee.  Their “tostas” include items such as the traditional salmorejo as well as the more modern caramelized onion with goat cheese, Brie, and ham.  For those looking for something sweet, their delicious-looking “tartas” feature treats such as carrot and chocolate cake.

Designed for those looking for a quieter start to the night, Plaza Menor is not somewhere to come ready to dance, but is an ideal stop to rest from the fast-paced nightlife surrounding it. Located in La Latina, the bar’s immediate location is on a quiet pedestrian street but only blocks away from some of the most popular nightspots in town.  Soft jazz and blues music plays in the background, making it a great place to actually engage in conversation with the people you’ve presumably chosen to go out with.  The cozy hole-in-the-wall feeling also makes it quite romantic and the small sofas are perfect for fitting two.

As I prepare to leave, Pedro stops to tell me about his gin collection.  He takes great pride in having not only the normal brands, but also some rare labels, including Hendricks, Bulldog, London #1 and Pink 47.  “Other places either don’t have these types,” he explains, “or they charge between 18 and 20 euros a drink.  I charge much less, only 9 euros a drink.”  Apparently his specialty is matching each gin with a complementary slice of fruit, usually apple, strawberry or fresh ginger, depending on the type and flavor of the gin.  Though the gin selection is impressive, the bar has much more to offer, so whether you’re a gin-connoisseur or not, Plaza Menor is the perfect place to go for that “primera copa”.

Brand new terrace seating is available for those who want to sit outside.

Bar Plaza Menor
Address :  Calle Gomez de Mora, 3
Hours :    Monday – Thursday : 6 pm – 1:30 am
Friday and Saturday : 6 pm – 2:30 am
Sunday : 4 pm – midnight
Telephone :  665 813 821
Price range : 2-10
Metro : La Latina, Tirso de Molina, Sol

By Chloe Rousseau

La Divina Comedia: A Funky Furnished Bar

Walking into La Divina Comedia is like walking into an old friend’s house. Funky furniture, dim lighting and the sound of people chatting complements the music playing at a level one actually enjoys listening to. In the center of it all stand the hosts, Jimmy and Andrew. Brought up in Burgos by a Spanish father and a New-Zealander mother, these two brothers designed, and set up La Divina Comedia as a place where people could come and appreciate music. You may be imagining a grungy basement “chill” scene but, quite the contrary, La Divina Comedia exudes casual class, without even bordering on snobby. As I start chatting with the brothers, Jimmy tells me all the furniture was bought separately, at flea markets and small shops. Like their drinks, the whole layout is made completely from scratch, an assortment of personal and very carefully chosen décor. Comfortable (and rather elegant) couches, leather chairs, coffee tables and drapes create spaces for groups and couples to claim. “We wanted it to feel like a house,” says Jimmy, “somewhere where people can hang out.” The brothers bustle back and forth, making drinks, serving snacks, changing songs and greeting the odd regular with rather dashing smiles.

They tell me that the bar’s name came from a double inspiration: firstly, from Dante’s famous trilogy and secondly (and I suspect, perhaps more-importantly), from a Mexican heavy metal band of the same name. “We wanted to create a place where people could come and actually listen to music”, says Andrew, “not just have it playing in the background.” That being said, if you are looking for somewhere to jump around head-banging, this is not the place to come. The lounge-like atmosphere is very relaxed—friendly, even—and though the music is a central feature, conversation remains very possible. In fact, after a couple of their delicious Mojitos, it may be inevitable. The brothers claim that Mojitos and Caipirinhas are their specialty but, judging by their vast bar selection, it seems they are well equipped for most anything.

Another of the bar’s strong points is its location in the historic quarter of La Latina, surrounded by great eats, beautiful streets and places to go afterwards if you do feel like some crazy dancing. A useful tip for my fellow directionally-challenged: the address of the bar is a bit misleading, as it is actually to your left on Calle Segovia if you walk just out of Plaza de Puerta Cerrada. If you’re looking to go out for a slightly alternative locale, great drinks, and a lively but comfortable atmosphere where you won’t have to shout and mime your drink choices, then this is the place to go tonight. Grab some friends, a Mojito (ask for brown sugar!) and an obscenely comfortable armchair and enjoy.

La Divina Comedia
Puerta Cerrada, 7 (Calle de Segovia)
Phone: 636 664 823
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 18:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Saturday-Sunday: 15:00 p.m. – close
Average drink price: 6-7 euros
Neighborhood: La Latina
Metro: La Latina, Tirso de Molina

By Chloe Rousseau

La Botica: Mix it up at this Buzzing Mezcalería

So in the land of a million bars, how do you choose where to stop off next on your night out in Madrid? Simple, they all tell you, head to Malasaña. But anyone who has been in this chic and shabby neighbourhood will know that the endless cobbled streets hold so many possible sitios that even Christopher Columbus would find it hard to discover the good and avoid the average. Well here’s one place to add to your list of ‘must drop by’ bars. La Botica on C/Palma is the only European satellite of the chain of Mezcalería bars in Mexico, specialising in the alternative to tequila, Mezcal. Made from the agave plant it’s definitely a chupito to get your chops around, and as served in La Botica you enjoy it slowly with slices of spiced fresh orange. This house speciality comes in a variety of forms and strengths, from the ‘weak’ Añejo at 40% up to the more Tyson-esque Pechuga de Pollo or Pechuga de Ángel at 52%. For those of you bandits who’ve not tried mescal before, it’s got a smoky flavour and offers a smoother taste than the majority of eye-squinting tequilas out there.

With the charm and joviality of the barmen, along with the buzz of the crowd all out to have a good night, I’d certainly recommend this place a pit stop for a chupito and cerveza. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy the weird and wonderful array of juguetes at the bar. Filling the space where you would usually find the display of tapas you can instead admire a whole host of plastic toy figures, hand-written notes and general marvellous Mexican tackery. The decoration in general is an interesting affair with a mix of a colourful wall mural that your eyes might want to avoid after a few shots of mescal, but it certainly adds to the fun and vibrant atmosphere inside. It’s one of those popular ‘stand up’ bars with a couple of tables but mainly space for being en pie rather than lounging on furniture.

The music is a bipolar juxtaposition of sonidos if ever I heard one, ranging from 80s dance through some Spanish love songs to pop tunes of the here and now, all to be heard within the same half-an-hour. But somehow it works and keeps the mood changing along with the crowd. So whether you’re up for a quick chupito or fancy staying a little longer then La Botica should be featured on your next night out in the neighbourhood.

La Botica,
Calle Palma, 2
Beverage: Chupito / Caña / Vino – 2,50 euros, Cocktails – 6 euros
Opening: Tuesday-Saturday 13:30 p.m. – 02:30 a.m.
Metro: Tribunal

By Tom Burgess

Fotomaton Bar: Live Music, Hip DJs, and Great People

We all know that finding new places around the city can be a rush, which is why when I stumbled upon Fotomaton bar in Plaza de Espana I was delighted. Truth be told, I walked by this hip bar and underground music venue multiple times before I realized the name was vertically engraved on the outside wall.

Open the heavy door and enter into a red painted paradise. Walk passed the bar and there’s a small stage where live music plays on the weekends. Over the last couple years the stage has supported groups like Tulsa, Madison Cano, Underwater Tea Party, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, and many more alternative /indie / and up and coming artists in the city. Every group that has passed through the space signs their names on the wall in the green room. And when the live music isn’t bringing in the crowds the regular djs are, playing anything from Beastie Boys to Blondie, Abba to Wilco,  MIA to Spanish rock groups from the eighties, and anything from the sixties and seventies.

Since the establishment embodies all that is hipster – you’re likely to find a truly interesting and creative crowd. One minute you’re talking to a magazine editor and the next to Charlie Bautista. You’ll notice right away that there’s a community feel in this establishment, and the bartenders and clientele are open and chatty. Thursdays are the best nights to hit up the place and the cost won’t really set you back for the weekend. Beers are 3 euros and copas are 6 euros.

One other must to mention here is to check out the sink in the bathroom, it almost resembles a waterfall you’d find tucked away in a far off forest.

Fotomaton Bar
Plaza Conde de Toreno, 2
Hours: Thursday – Saturday 23:00 p.m. – 3:30 a.m.

Café de la Luz: The Friendliest Find in Town

Situated on the corner of two back streets in Malasaña (Calle Barco and Calle Puebla) you’ll find one of the most pleasant café experiences in the whole of the city. Café de la Luz captured my attention (and love) the first time I went there, sat at one of the high tables and noticed from my bar stool a child-size rocking chair occupied by a very full-size adult. I looked around and realized this was completely normal.

The eclectic mix of furniture is both endearing and comfortable, though fans of large sink-in sofas will have to trade for slightly more dainty seating for the most part. The white wooden panelled walls give the place an almost beach-house feel during the day and by night the space is bright and clean. Up until early evening it’s a great place to have a quiet drink and enjoy one of the great house wines or a chilled caña. And if you come later in the evening, on whatever night of the week you choose, you’ll find a great buzz with a fun and friendly crowd enjoying one of the many delicious cocktails or copas. My personal, though rather potent, favourites come from the ‘alcoholic smoothie’ menu from which you can enjoy fresh fruit smoothies served with a kick of rum, vodka, gin or whiskey that even Amy Winehouse would be proud of.

Not only is Café de la Luz a great place to come drinking, by both day and night, but it also has some tasty food items to savour. Their tostas are simple but delicious: a pretty cheap snack with a decent enough selection to cater for most palates. But if I had to make one recommendation it would have to be the crêpes served with Nutella – absolutely awesome. And wash it down with a Piña Colada and you are set for the day! Or for those of you who want to keep a clear head then there’s also a great selection of teas and coffees on offer.

But despite the great drinks, food and furniture, none of these are the reason that I love Café de la Luz, nor the reason that I keep returning there. The main reason that I am drawn back time-and-time again is the relentlessly friendly nature of all the bar staff. In a city where good customer service is almost frowned upon by servers themselves, I have found a haven of helpful, smiling and attentive service from each and every member of their team. Even when the bar gets busy in the evening I have always encountered service with a smile, a wink or even a chiste or two. So next time you are in the neighbourhood, I would definitely recommend heading to the light…

Café de la Luz
Calle de La Puebla 8 (on the corner with Calle del Barco)
Tel: 915 231 199
Metro: Gran Vía / Noviciado / Tribunal
Hours: Mon-Thurs 15:00 p.m.- 2:00 a.m., Fri & Sat 13:00 p.m.- 2.30 a.m., Sun 15:00 p.m- 1:00 a.m.
Beverage: Vino (copita) / caña 1.50 euros, copa 6 euros

By Tom Burgess