The Brooklyn
of Madrid is
Malasaña.

See the 24 venues →Where to stay
The case for Malasaña

Malasaña keeps its own clock. Coffee at noon, vermouth at 2, dinner at 10, out until 5am. The streets around Plaza del Dos de Mayo smell like fresh tortilla and spilled cañas. Every door on Calle del Pez leads somewhere good. It's Madrid's permanent counterculture, aged into something comfortable but never boring.

Packed into under 1 square kilometer, Malasaña has more bars per block than almost any neighbourhood in Europe - many of them open since the 1980s Movida and still going strong past 4am.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Madrid.

Lavapiés

Lavapiés is rawer, louder, more interesting at street level. South Asian restaurants next to flamenco tablaos next to community gardens. The real multicultural heart of the city.

Chueca

Chueca is Madrid's LGBTQ+ epicenter with better restaurants than it gets credit for. The Mercado de San Antón rooftop at sunset is a move.

Carabanchel

Carabanchel is where Madrid's working-class soul meets new energy. Warehouse studios and cheap menú del día spots. Give it five years.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Malasaña.

01
Stay

Malasaña keeps its own clock and you should too, which means staying close enough to walk.
02
Eat & Drink

The correct order in Malasaña: a yayo at Casa Camacho before 8pm, the best tortilla española in Madrid at Pez Tortilla, serious cocktails at 1862 Dry Bar on Calle del Pez, and whatever the night decides after that.
03
Do & Shop

Plaza del Dos de Mayo is the neighborhood's living room - grab a couple cañas from a nearby bar and sit under the trees like everyone else does on warm evenings.
All 24 spots mapped out

Malasaña, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 24 top picks

The Malasaña guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyEUR
LanguageSpanish
Cost level $$$Moderate to expensive
Best monthsMay and October, also June
Local time UTC+2
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency112
Local tip
Order a yayo at Casa Camacho before 8pm, then walk Calle del Pez end to end. That's your whole night sorted.
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Common questions

Things to know about Malasaña.

What is the Brooklyn of Madrid?
The Brooklyn of Madrid is Malasaña. Malasaña keeps its own clock. Packed into under 1 square kilometer, Malasaña has more bars per block than almost any neighbourhood in Europe - many of them open since the 1980s Movida and still going strong past 4am.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Madrid?
Malasaña is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Madrid. Malasaña keeps its own clock. Coffee at noon, vermouth at 2, dinner at 10, out until 5am. The streets around Plaza del Dos de Mayo smell like fresh tortilla and spilled cañas. Every door on Calle del Pez leads somewhere good. It's Madrid's permanent counterculture, aged into something comfortable but never boring.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Madrid?
Malasaña is the hippest neighborhood in Madrid. Coffee at noon, vermouth at two, dinner at ten, and a counterculture that aged into something comfortable around the tortilla-scented air of Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Madrid?
Malasaña is Madrid's trendiest neighborhood right now. Calle del Pez keeps adding third-wave coffee bars, vintage shops, and tiny live-music rooms behind doors that look like nothing from the street.
Where do creatives live in Madrid?
Malasaña is where Madrid's creatives cluster. Packed into under a square kilometer, it carries the city's permanent counterculture from the 1980s Movida into the present. Designers and musicians work the walkable streets around Calle del Pez, where doors keep opening onto somewhere good and labels carry actual point of view.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Madrid?
Malasaña is Madrid's most bohemian neighborhood, and it keeps its own clock - coffee at noon, vermouth at 2, dinner at 10, out until 5am. Streets smell like fresh tortilla and spilled cañas. Indie bands and DJ sets run late, the bars stay open past 4, and the counterculture has aged comfortable but never boring.
Where should I stay in Malasaña, Madrid?
The best boutique hotels in Malasaña include URSO Hotel & Spa, Hotel du Temps, and 7 Islas Hotel. Skip the flashy palace hotels and book here instead.
Is Malasaña in Madrid safe at night?
Malasaña is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Madrid expensive?
Madrid rates $$$ on a global travel scale. Moderate to expensive, but Malasaña's independent spots offer better value than tourist areas.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
Aim for May or October, when highs sit around 20-25°C, humidity is low, and the evenings stretch out. June is warm but still pleasant. Skip July and August, when the heat climbs to 35-38°C and many locals clear out - terraces stay open but midday is punishing. April can be unpredictably wet, and winter evenings drop near freezing despite the sunshine.

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