Hola Amigos! We are 4 traveling to Spain in March. I am planning this trip for us and would love to hear frompeople who have stayed in Mardrid, Barcelona and Alicante. We will be staying 2 nights in Madrid, we wish to have a nice, cheap hotel in good area? Also in Barcelona 2 nights, need same thing. Any suggestions. Thank you so much. We also need good hot spots, attractions, resturants and nite clubs in both area. We want to go to a club that offers foam parties? Adios Amigos [

HipChick,

I can recommend 2 hostals in Madrid. The prices are on their websites. If you decide to book, please do so through multimadrid.com since "the powers that may be" get a commission (accommodations section here)

One hotel that stands out in my mind is Hostal Pereda. They have an elevator, an ancient model, but nonetheless it is an elevator. This particular hotel is located near Puerta del Sol on Calle Valverde.
Rates are 31.85 for a single, 50.49 for a double, 63.11 for a triple. Breakfast is 2.40.

Another hotel, more expensive, is Hostal Persal. Also located near Plaza Mayor/Sol, rates are 65 for a single, 85 for a double, and 105 for a triple. Breakfast is included in the price.

Here is my list (much too long) of night clubs in the Madrid area. Jer, if this is too much feel free to delete it.

SURISTAN", right next door to Hostal Cantabrico at Calle Cruz #7.

Palacio Gaviria http://www.palaciogaviria.com next to the Puerta del Sol.
C/Arenal 9 (91 526 60 69/91 526 60 70)
Metro Sol/bus all routes to Puerta del Sol. Open 11pm-5.30am Mon-Sat; 9.30pm-2am Sun. Admission average 2,000ptas incl 1 drink.
Believe the hype, this place is a real nineteenth-century palace, a beautiful space that's open to anyone with a decent pair of shoes and a well-stocked wallet. A broad staircase leads you up to the first floor landing, and once there you have the run of a dozen or so rooms, all furnished in appropriately baroque style. Oriental rugs cover the oak floors, chandeliers hang from the frescoed ceilings and antique paintings line the walls, and most of the rooms indulge a different musical style. The club also hosts popular international nights on Thursdays, except in summer.


Kapital http://www.grupo-kapital.com

Paladium - C/Jes�s de San Antonio, 2, Coslada

Kathmandu

Pacha

Hit

Cool

Empire - is good on monday nights...on la castellana...very nice hot girls, dress well (not ridiculously well) but well if you want to get any of them

[re: : Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B Music in Madrid]
There is a new club called "STAFF" on the calle "Tres Cruces" #12 (used to be an Irish pub called the "Celtic Tiger" which only lasted a few months). The place is small, and although I have not been yet myself, I have heard it is pretty decent for House, Garage, R&B, etc...
You also have:
* "CAMP" on Calle Marqu�s de Valdeiglesias #6, it is a bar/restaurant that turns into a club after hours but is only open till 2am during the week and 4am on Saturdays. May be worth a shot though.
* "Babylon" - Calle Recoletos #11 (Metro: Banco de Espa�a or Col�n).
* "Sofa Club" - C/ Fuencarral #45, in the "Mercado de Fuencarral" (Metro: Tribunal).
* "Cocoon" - C/ Abd�n Terradas #5 (Metro: Moncloa).
* "Deep" - Ronda de Toledo #1 (Metro: Puerta de Toledo).
* "Cream" - C/ Mesoneros Romanos #13 (Metro: Callao).
* "La Ventura" - C/ Olmo #31 (Metro: Ant�n Mart�n).
* "Nasti Club" - C/ San Vicente Ferrer #35 (Metro Tribunal).
* "The Room" - C/ Arlab�n #7 (Metro: Sevilla).
* "Soma" - C/ Leganitos # 25 (Metro Plaza de Espa�a). Tecno Club.


Soma
C/Leganitos 25 (no phone)
Metro Plaza de Espa�a/bus all routes to Plaza de Espa�a. Open 11pm-5.30am Tue-Sat.
Soma is a word that means much to local techno fans. Minimalistic electronica coelesces with more acidic numbers to form a tapestry of techno unrivalled elsewhere in Madrid. Downstairs dimly lit tunnels wind between the two chill out bunkers, where DJ Coc� spins down-tempo techno. It's a unique place, eschewing musical fads to focus on sounds that attract a dedicated alternative following. It used to be pretty much a sauna, but has recently acquired air-conditioning.

Joy Eslava
C/Arenal 11 (91 366 37 33)
Metro Opera, Sol/bus all routes to Puerta del Sol. Open 11.30pm-5am Mon-Thur; 11.30pm-6am Fri, Sat. Admission 1,500ptas Mon-Thur; 2,000ptas Fri, Sat, incl 1 drink.
Is this a disco or what? In an 1850s theatre in the centre of Madrid, this is probably the city's most famous nightspot: the music changes slightly, but otherwise it remains the same ostentatiously glitzy disco, decked out in velvet and gold and attracting an untrendy crowd - men in smart suits and jewelled ladies out on the town. Flamenco shows and salsa act as brief interludes amid commercial dance music. Careful where you sit - some tables are reserved for important folk.


Kathmand�
C/Se�ores de Luz�n 3 (91 541 52 53)
Metro Sol/bus all routes to Puerta del Sol. Open 11pm-5am Thur; 11pm-6am Fri, Sat. Admission average 600ptas incl 1 drink.
Distinctive orange lights signal one of Madrid's most consistently reliable venues for good dance music and a young, hip crowd. For a small fee you can savour an imaginative mix of acid jazz and deep house, career around the dancefloor (cleverly cooled by an overhead stream of cold air), or relax in its sweaty back room, awash with conversation and resinous smoke. Still the club to beat.

El Sol
C/Jardines 3 (91 532 64 90)
Metro Gran V�a/bus all routes to Gran V�a. Open 1.30-5.30am Tue-Sat. Admission 1,000ptas.
The elder statesman of Madrid's clubs. On weekend nights it's a funk phenomenon that warms up late but, once hot, radiates an infectious party atmosphere. By 3.30 it's packed with sexy young things losing it to a varied mix of funk, acid jazz and hip hop. Solar powered fun - if you're beginning to tire, it could be just the alternative energy source you're looking for. El Sol also hosts a varied mix of live music, often before the club sessions.

Davai
C/Flor Baja 1, corner Gran V�a 59 (91 547 57 11)
Metro Plaza de Espa�a/bus all routes to Plaza de Espa�a. Open 11pm-5am daily; after hours 9am-2pm Sun. Admission average 700ptas.
A landmark on the Madrid club scene when it opened in 1997, Davai began as home to the Jazzin' Club, one of the more progressive DJ crews in the city, but lately has moved away from their drum'n'bass agenda to a more populist house message. Even so, it still attracts a crowd up for a night of hedonistic abandon, under the tutelage of DJs Tribe and Joker. They describe their musical proclivities as tech-house and techno-soul, but are not averse to other sounds as well. If the killer tunes get too much there's a chill out space, and a balcony with strategic views of the dance floor.

Moby Dick
Avda de Brasil 5 (91 555 72 81)
Metro Santiago Bernab�u/bus 5, 43, 126, 149, N20. Open 10pm-5am Mon-Sat.
During the week this is a venue for live music, but at weekends it often hosts DJ sessions leaning to reggae and rap. It's a cross between a bar and a club, dark, packed and very hot inside, with a guiri and Spanish clientele.

Arena
C/Princesa 1 (91 547 66 85)
Metro Plaza de Espa�a/bus all routes to Plaza de Espa�a. Open 6am-noon Sat, Sun. Admission 1,000ptas incl 1 drink.

Bar de la Comedia
C/Pr�ncipe 16 (91 521 51 64)
Metro Sevilla, Sol/bus all routes to Puerta del Sol. Open 7pm-4am Mon-Thur, Sun; 7pm-5am Fri, Sat; after hours 5am-9am Sun. Admission 1,000ptas incl 1 drink.

But
C/Barcel� 11 (91 446 42 31/91 448 06 98)
Metro Tribunal/bus 3, 40, 149, N19. Open 10.30pm-5am Mon, Tue, Thur; 7pm-5am Wed & Sun; midnight-5am Fri, Sat. after hours 5-10am Sat, Sun. Admission 1,000-1,500ptas incl 1 drink.

Davai
C/Flor Baja 1, corner Gran V�a 59 (91 547 57 11)
Metro Plaza de Espa�a/bus all routes to Plaza de Espa�a. Open 11pm-5am daily; after hours 9am-2pm Sun. Admission average 700ptas.

Goa
C/Mesonero Romanos 13 (91 532 15 24)
Metro Callao, Gran V�a/bus all routes to Callao.
GOA, Soul Kitchen, c/Mesonero Romanos, 13 (Metro: Callao). Tel: 91 532 15 24. Fri and Sat: 6am-10am. High energy techno.


Midday
C/Amaniel 13 (91 547 25 25)
Metro Noviciado, Plaza de Espa�a/bus 147, N16, N17, 18.

Space of Sound
Estaci�n de Chamart�n (91 733 35 05/902 104 028)
Metro Chamart�n/bus 5, 80, N20. Open 7am-noon Sat, Sun.


ANYWAY PUB, c/Viriato, 64 (Metro: Iglesia). A cozy, down-at-heel pub, ideal for hanging out, having a pint and reading the paper. Small and friendly, with pub quizzes, and satellite football and rugby.

BAR LA HUERTA, corner of c/Lavapi�s and c/Calvario (Metro: Tirso de Molina or Lavapi�s). Renovated beyond recognition, this locale now serves a great selection of wines and beautiful ham canap�s in super trendy surroundings.

CAFE DEL BARRIO, c/San Pedro, 22 (Metro: Atocha). Perfect place for a pre-marcha glass of wine or cocktail and some top tapas. Check out the exhibitions and occasional tertulia.

CAFE DE LA PALMA, c/de la Palma, 62 (Metro: Noviciado). An interesting mix of people. If it gets too hot in the bar, you can always cool off in the cushion-filled chill-out room.

CAFE DEL MERCADO, c/Fuencarral, 43 (Metro: Tribunal). An obligatory hangout for the hip, cool and studiously trendy. Also serves food and hosts parties and DJ nights.

CAFE LIBERTAD, c/Libertad, 8 (Metro: Chueca). Sample some culture at a poetry recital or storytelling night in this bohemian hangout. Or just chilll out in the comfy lounge area out back.

LA COCTELERIA, c/Minas, 1 (Metro: Noviciado). Open 6pm-2am. Dead stylish, junkstore-chic type lounge bar. Recline and sip a mojito to the laid-back vibes. The perfect chill-out.

HAGA, c/Ave Mar�a, 8 (Metro: Lavapi�s or Ant�n Mart�n). Closed Mon. Look out for the barber shop tiling outside because you won�t see the name. Aside from serving alcohol, teas, coffee and cakes, the former peluquer�a has a secondhand clothes stall at the rear, and displays local artwork, all in a chill atmosphere.

LA IDA, c/Col�n, 11 (Metro: Tribunal). Popular midweek and Sunday bar round the corner from the Mercado Fuencarral. The crew that love it rave about the mellow sounds, food and art. Good for drinking large flagons of ale outside in the summer.

KAPPA, c/Olmo, 26 (Metro: Ant�n Mart�n). Relax over a drink and mellow out in this snug bar with cool music. Those who haven�t been in a while will be amazed by the brand-new, minimalist look.

MAD CAFE CLUB, c/Virgen de los Peligros, 4 (Metro: Sevilla). Tel: 91 532 62 28. Ultra-modern interior warms up on weekends with DJs. Cool place the rest of the week to hang out, dine or simply be seen. Check out cabarets.

LA MANCHA, c/Miguel Servet, 13 (Metro: Lavapi�s). Cheap beer or local wine and nice mix of canapes in a hospitable atmos-phere. The bohemian crowd makes it worth a visit. Especially good post-Rastro on Sunday.

EL MARGA, c/Echegaray, 10 (Metro: Sevilla). Cool tunes, funky, international atmosphere, and cocktails made like they should be in this cozy bar just off Santa Ana.

OESTE CELESTE, c/Escuadra, 2, corner of Torrecilla del Leal (Metro: Lavapi�s or Ant�n Mart�n). Looks like someone�s kitchen as you walk in, but go down the stairs into a teter�a-style subterrania. Try the variety of sweet and savory �crapes� (how do they make a business with that spelling?). If you�re lucky you�ll catch the owners playing some red hot Latin percussion.

EL SON, c/Fernando VI, 21 (Metro: Alonso Mart�nez). Stylish, simple and brightly lit. Sup on a mojito or daquiri to a background of Cuban music.

STAR�S CAFE, c/Marqu�s de Valdeiglesias, 5 (Metro: Chueca). Tel: 91 522 27 12. Stylish caf� bar with a lively, mixed crowd. At weekends, resident DJ Miguel Underground rocks the house.

TABERNA CHICA, c/Costanilla de San Pedro, 7 (Metro: La Latina). Friendliy bar with great tapas. There are free Spanish classes on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9-11pm, all you have to do is buy a drink.

TUPPERWARE, c/Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 26 (Metro: Tribunal). Has two music sessions on weekend evenings with different DJs. Spins a wide range of sounds, including grunge, hard core, hip hop, trash, sixties pop and rock, Brit pop, mod, new wave and punk.

LA VIA LACTEA, c/Velarde, 18 (Metro: Tribunal). Tel: 91 446 75 81. A Madrid rock �n� roll institution. You can also pick up concert tickets, singles, and underground comics here.

EL VIAJERO, Plaza de la Cebada, 11 (Metro: La Latina). Tel: 91 366 90 64. Closed Mon. This three-story locale has a restaurant on the first floor, a bar with pool table and funky mixes on the second and a terraza with great views on the third during the summer.

ARENA, c/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza Espa�a). Huge converted theater of a club where you can see anything from Asian Dub Foundation to the cheesiest of euro-techno. You used to be able to lift drinks from the upstairs bar until they wised up, shame. Currently doing a hardbag after-hours from 6am.

EL BARBU, c/Santiago, 3 (Metro: Sol or Opera). Tel: 91 542 56 98. Closed Mon. Multi-roomed venue with cool artwork and a mixed, highly cosmopolitan crowd.

BIG BAMBOO, c/Barquillo, 42 (Metro: Alonso Mart�nez). Tel: 91 562 88 38. If you enjoy reggae, this is the place to be. Great cocktails and the DJ plays requests. Sometimes a cover charge.

BLACK JACK, c/Pr�ncipe, 11 (Metro: Sevilla). Large, labyrinthine, cellar-like disco downstairs playing funky dance music. The upstairs bar plays Spanish pop and old favorites. No cover charge.

LA BOCA DEL LOBO, c/Echegaray, 11 (Metro: Sevilla). Tel: 91 429 70 13. Stylish music club spinning everything from rock �n� roll to acid jazz and rumba. Offers lots of special events including film screenings and themed promotions.

CAMP, c/Marqu�s de Valdeiglesias, 6 (Metro: Banco de Espa�a). A little of everything: a little gay, a little straight, a little trendy and a little kitsch. Though it�s open from breakfast on, it really hots up at night with a seriously fashionable crowd. Check out the manga porno cartoons and Airport 75 departure lounge chairs.

DEEP, Mercado de Puerta de Toledo, entrance via Ronda de Toledo (Metro: Puerta de Toledo). Open Fri and Sat, 12-6:30am. Macro club with prices to match. Deep gets rammed every weekend with a young housey crowd out there for the mitsubishis, big dance floor and handbag house played by resident DJ Magoya (a Madrid institution). Get a free-B4-2:00 pass and get queuing by 1am if you want to use it. Otherwise 1,500pts to get in mate.

LA FLORINDA, c/San Pedro, 9 (Metro: Atocha). Chill to the sounds of dub, funk, trip hop and drum�n�bass.

BAR FRAGOLA, c/Buenavista, 42 (Metro: Lavapi�s). A slightly strange mix of Brazilian caipirinhas and the latest Britpop sounds in this cozy hangout in Madrid�s most castizo barrio.

FREEDOM, c/Infantas, 12 (Metro: Gran V�a). Closed Mon. One of the few bars that boasts a sound-system tuff enough to cope with the sub-bass that frequently bursts out of the woofers. Chill-out and pool at the rear, break-beats of all dimensions at the front.

HEIDI & PETER CLUB, c/Apodaca, 6 (Metro: Tribunal). Mix with an international crowd in the �alpine hut� and shake your tailfeather to house, electronica, drum�n�bass and pop.

KATHMANDU, c/Se�ores de Luz�n, 3 (Metro: Sol). A mainstay for acid jazz fans, but often too crowded for comfort. The 800pt cover charge includes a beer or soft drink.

KINGSTON�S, c/Barquillo, 29 (Metro: Alonso Mart�nez). Tel: 91 521 15 68. A great reggae place, Kingston�s picks up after midnight. It also spins rap and soul. A diverse, multi-cultural hangout with lots of cool dancers and Jamaican hipsters.

MIDNIGHT, c/Amaniel, 13 (Metro: Noviciado). Despite the name above the door, this venue is now no longer home to Midnight or Nature or the classic Sunday after-hours, Midday. Instead, wave your hands in the air like you just don�t care to top techno on Friday and Saturday nights at Cocoon.

MOROCCO, c/Marqu�s de Leganes, 7 (Metro: Santo Domingo). Techno disco with a fast-paced clientele who help maintain the club�s reputation for high energy levels.

MOSQUITO, c/Torrecilla del Leal (Metro: Ant�n Mart�n) Friendly staff serve reasonably priced beverages against a backdrop of wicked (mostly electronic) music, and inventive lighting.

OUI, c/Cervantes, 7 (Metro: Ant�n Mart�n). The Kasbah lads have done it again. Spacious u-shaped bar with a wide variety of sounds and recycled decor. Nice to see Madrid�s myriad skips and roadworks put to good use.

SIROCO, c/San Dimas, 3 (Metro: Noviciado). Tel: 91 593 30 70. Open Thurs-Sat. Well-worn, sixties decor houses top local bands and a happening after-midnight dance scene. Eighties rock to nineties acid jazz and jungle, but you won�t find any techno here.

SOMA, c/Leganitas, 25 (Metro: Pl de Espa�a). A dark, labyrinthine place with aggressive techno. Popular with the �alternative� party crowd.

STELLA, c/Arlab�n, 7 (Metro: Sevilla). Converted bowling alley. Pity the lanes down-stairs are closed off for safety reasons. People have been talking about the new visuals, it�s about time there was something more to look at than one�s jaw-grinding fellow clubbers.

TRANVIA, c/Caballero, 20 (Metro: Gran V�a). This place has loads of promise. Upstairs a tasteful bar looks onto the street giving no clue to the basement club downstairs.

LA VENTURA, c/Olmo, 31 (Metro: Ant�n Mart�n). Tel: 91 468 04 54. The place to hear Madrid�s top DJs spin drum�n�bass, trip hop and electr�nica. Cosmopolitan atmosphere and funky decor. Brazen the bold beats in the bar or linger in the laidback lounge to the rear.

YA�STA, c/Valverde, 10 (Metro: Gran V�a). Living proof that it�s not the club but the night that counts. One of the reasons is the geezer behind the visuals and the open music policy: hip hop, techno, jungle, etc, depending on the night.
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After Hours (Early Morning) Night Life

ALIEN, c/Marqu�s de Cuba, 2 (Metro: Banco de Espa�a). Opens Fri-Sun as an afterhours from 6am onwards and over-fills due to the popular ubiquitous house. Saturday mornings are less rammed and more hetero-gay mixed, Sunday mornings are given over to the greased-up muscle-rippling boys.


If you have any other questions, please contact me.

Ben
pbchamp@intercom.net

Man Ben, that post just spun my head. Killer info, want a job on my site? I am always looking for good forum monitors. I may be able to get you a gig with the folks at InMadrid as well

By the way, a post can NEVER be too long.

HipChik, I think Ben has covered it all. One thing, the topic title fo this thread is one hell of an attention grabber You sure knw how to post.

Those hostels (Pereda and Persal) are both nice but the huge price difference between the 2 (the Persal is almost 2x as expensive as the Pereda :eek is not that justified.

The Hostal Cantabrico briefly mentioned by Ben (the one on C/ Cruz next to Surist�n) is nice and cheap as well. For lack of a website on the place, check out the great thread on it at www.multimadrid.com/cgi-bin/jersbbucgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=000009 (photos, prices, reviews, etc...).

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. Oh yeah, the only club I know in Madrid with Foam parties is Pach�.

Jer,
I agree, Ben's(zero262quick) post was great!

How about some Jazz recommendations?
I enjoy jazz, but am not a real-late-night-owl. Does anything fill the bill?

Jer,

At first I thought you were serious about helping out on the forum and I was about to take you up on your offer

Anyway, I agree about Persal and Pereda. I don't know why Persal is so expensive. When I stayed there, we didn't have any air conditioning in our room. The room itself was on the very top floor, the elevator wouldn't even go up that high. You had to get off and go up 2 flights of stairs. I would just much rather stay at Pereda (although it didn't have AC either).

Ben
pbchamp@intercom.net

Dude! Great post. Im gonna print it out and do some checkin' up on on those places. Sounds good. I really liked all the descriptions of the places. www.guiadelocio.com doesnt even come close! Thanks for being so generous in your post.

Peace.

jaimemiguel, here is the Madrid Jazz scoop:

* Cafe Central
Pza. del Angel, 10
Tel: 91 369 41 43
Metro: Sol

* Caf� Populart
C/ Huertas, 22
Tel: 91 529 84 07
Metro: Ant�n Mart�n
web: www.populart.es

* Caf� del C�saco
Alfonso VI, 4
Tel: 91 365 27 18

* Clamores
C/ Alburquerque, 14
Tel: 91 445 79 38
Metro: Bilbao
Web: www.salaclamores.com

* La Coquette
C/ Hileras, 14
Metro: Opera

* Segundo Jazz
Comandante Zorita, 8
Tel: 91 554 94 37

* El Despertar
Torrecilla del Leal, 18
Tel: 91 530 80 95

* Club de M�sica y Jazz San Juan Evangelista
Web: www.cmusanjuan.com/club/

I recommend the "Caf� Central or Populart if you are not a Vampire, good Jazz, great coffee and drinks, cool atmosphere and not too expensive.

BEN, I was pretty serious about the offer on the moderator thang but ya gonna have to get more than 25 posts under your belt . Obviously it is not a paid position but lets have a caf� one day and chat about it. Always looking for well informed Madrid nuts to moderate forums in their field of expertise and you seem to have this "painting the town rojo" thing down.

As for the AC in the hostels (or better put the lack thereof), hostels here in Spain are very unlikely to have Air Conditioning. If they did, they would not be simple hostels but would rather go for the full hotel rating.

Hey LA, hmmmm... www.guiadelocio.com is not bad but for Spain entertainment, dining, etc... www.lanetro.com blows it away and their "callejero" ("street map") system at http://callejero.lanetro.com/apps/lanetro/index.asp?cod_prov=28 is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Nothing online can compete for Entertainment and such in Spain (too bad the site is only in Spanish).

Saludos,
jer...

Jer,

you

da

man

Gracias and see you in a couple days!

Jer,

Checked out www.lanetro.com and it kicks guiadelocio's butt. You be right AGAIN!

Peace.