Nightlife: Austrias

Classic cafés, restaurants, cocktail bars, legendary nightclubs, a former market turned into a gastronomic space, and the grand Teatro Real - Opera House. All in Madrid de los Austrias, one of the areas with the greatest architectural heritage in the city.

Surrounded by Calle Segovia and Calle Bailén, the Cuesta de San Vicente, the Plaza de Ópera, Calle Arenal, the Plaza Mayor and the Plaza de la Villa, the district of Austrias is another good example of how classical Madrid sits harmoniously alongside the city's more avant-garde persona.

The area's nightlife is largely based around bel canto music and the operas performed at the Teatro Real - Opera House, which has its own restaurant, including a novel proposal for an express menu for the intervals. However, the area known as Madrid de los Austrias offers much more.

The refurbished Café de Oriente has a broad programme of live music at the weekends, as well as many highly original proposals for pairing dinners.

The night-life establishments in the area include the Teatro Eslava, which hosts concerts by national and international artists of all styles and clubbing sessions aimed at a heterogeneous public; and the Tablao de la Villa, where the most authentic and traditional flamenco can be enjoyed performed by established and emerging artists.

María Pandora has a quiet, candlelit atmosphere which serves fine champagne and cocktails; and the Ginkgo Sky Bar on the 12th floor of the Hotel VP Plaza de España, is a spectacular terrace with magnificent panoramic views of Madrid.

Just a stone's throw from the Plaza de Oriente you will find La Bola famous for its traditional stew and one of the best restaurants to enjoy traditional Castilian fare. In the surrounding area, you can visit the Taberna del Alabardero, a charming place located in Madrid de los Austrias. Flamenco lovers can visit the Tablao Flamenco La Quimera Plaza Mayor, where they will be able to watch flamenco shows as well as dining on typical dishes from Spanish cuisine.

The former San Miguel Market, dating back to the early 20th Century, was converted in 2009 into a modern gastronomic space that is highly popular with tourists on account of the conservation of its period glass and iron structure and the variety of stalls selling select products, bars, tastings, and events hosted daily, until midnight during the week and until 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A market where you can enjoy gourmet products from several Michelin starred chefs such as Joan Roca's handmade and natural ice creams, Rodrigo de la Calle's rice dishes or Roberto Ruiz's Mexican margaritas.

The terraces of the cafés and restaurants – where you simply must try the famous calamari sandwich - are located under the archways of the Plaza Mayor where, day and night, crowds of urban artists congregate, forming huddles of curious onlookers. It is worth mentioning the restaurant with terrace Puertalsol by chef Alberto Chicote, located on a rooftop in Puerta del Sol where it is possible to taste the flavors of the Spanish territory.

Going underground, Madrid is home to many vaulted basement venues, where you can on occasions enjoy flamenco shows and dinners, for example in Las Carboneras, a flamenco 'tablao' venue in the Plaza Conde de Miranda. Very close by you will also find Botín, which lays claim to being the oldest restaurant in the world.

More flamenco, but also jazz and dj sets until the early hours of the morning await us in Café Berlín Club Madrid (Costanilla de los Ángeles, 20). Another option if you are looking to dance until 6 in the morning is El Amante (C/ Santiago, 3), a very popular place among the over 30s. Located right by the Teatro Real is La Coquette, one of the last temples of blues music in the city, with live performances every week.

The latest trends in the city's nightlife are defined by exquisitely decorated bars and tearooms, such as Yambala on Calle Coloreros, an Arabic style tearoom. Between Cuesta de la Vega and Madrid Río, at the feet of the Viaduct, visit Terraza Atenas, which serves cocktails and quality gins in a privileged and relaxed setting, surrounded by nature. 

After a night out, a good option is to have breakfast at the famous Chocolatería de San Ginés located in Pasadizo de San Ginés, just a few metres from Puerta del Sol, which offers its traditional chocolate with churros, as well as soft drinks, coffees and other types of pastries.

With Plaza de Oriente and the Royal Palace as the backdrop, along with the new Mirador de la Cornisa observation deck, night-life in Habsburg Madrid is as versatile and varied as the opera arias that are performed at the theatre. Ocean Drive Madrid hotel is in Plaza de Isabel II, in front of the Teatro Real, whose rooftop is home to the OD Sky Bar with a swimming pool and terrace where you can have an aperitif or a fantastic range of cocktails at any time of the day whilst admiring the views over the Teatro Real. The Teatro Real boasts the Papagena restaurant with impressive views over the Plaza de Oriente and the Palacio Real.