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The historic taverns of Madrid

Madrid has a history that dates back several centuries. This is not only clear from the buildings in the city, but also from the pub culture. In addition to all the modern and trendy places that shoot up like mushrooms (and disappear again equally as fast), there are many historic pubs that are immune to trends. These are the places where, for centuries, the people of Madrid have been drinking a cold ‘cerveza’, often accompanied by delicious tapas.

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Gijón: ambiance and quality

La Taberna del Gijón

Since Gijón opened in 1888, it has not lost one bit of its charm. Monday is poetry night and, consequently, it is one of Madrid’s most famous literary pubs. Throughout the ages, many an artist, writer, poet and even politician has sat down at a table here. The national library is just around the corner. The atmosphere and quality of the food have an excellent reputation.

The interior of Casa Alberto

Casa Alberto

Casa Alberto is one of the most intriguing taverns in Madrid. Its walls are adorned with oil paintings and a 70-year-old can often be found manning the bar. Casa Alberto, established in 1827, is housed in a building in which the famous Spanish writer Cervantes is said to have written one of his novels. The tavern has survived all these decades thanks to its fantastic tapas and vermouth on tap. Make sure to try the legendary oxtail stew.

Nightlife in Madrid

Casa Ciriaco

Since the very start, Casa Ciriaco has enjoyed numerous famous guests, including both bullfighters and members of the Spanish royal family. Smiling portraits of many of them hang on the walls of the dining area. This tavern was a meeting place for intellectuals before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. In other words, it offers a solid dose of history and delicious food (the specialty is suckling pig).

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‘Don Quixote’ by Miguel de Cervantes is one of the most famous books in the world. The best way to learn more about this legendary Spanish writer is to visit his birthplace: Alcalá de Henares. The most important square is named after him and the house where Cervantes was born is now a museum. A bronze statue portrays the errant knight and his brave servant seated on a bench.

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The Palacio Real is one of the most popular attractions in Madrid. The largest royal palace in Europe has 870 windows, 240 balconies, 44 staircases and 2,800 rooms – big enough to spend an entire day exploring. But there are even more grandiose witnesses of the unbridled indulgence of the Spanish royal family around the capital.

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'If you can still remember it, you weren’t actually there.' This Madrid expression can only refer to one event: the cultural revolution that erupted after the death of General Francisco Franco. After almost 4 decades of a ruthless dictatorship, Spain was finally free. The capital of Spain celebrated this freedom with spontaneous street parties that grew into a cultural movement. Madrid was changed forever by the ‘Movida Madrileña’ (literally ‘the Madrid movement’).

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It is one of the world’s most prestigious art museums, yet a lot less well-known than the Tate or Louvre. Perhaps it’s because of the long name or its proximity to the more famous Prado, but it’s definitely not due to the collection. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid is home to major names in the art world such as Picasso, Miró and Dalí.

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Public executions, bullfights and aristocratic duels: the rectangular Plaza Mayor has been the setting of almost every imaginable type of bloody ritual. Today it is a peaceful place, a square filled with shops and outdoor cafés. This is the beating heart of the oldest part of the city, the Madrid de los Austrias district, built in the 16th century by the Habsburgs.

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Barcelona, Paris and Vienna are renowned for their elegant grand cafés, where in days of yore the intelligentsia gathered to discuss literary masterpieces and current affairs over a good glass of wine. Madrid also had its fair share of grand cafés and some of these literary cafés have withstood the test of time in great style.

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Everybody knows that flamenco music and dance come from Spain, but the exact origin is unclear and even the name 'flamenco' is still a mystery. What we do know for a fact is that the ‘gitanos’ or gypsies played a role. In the Middle Ages, they imported flamenco from India. Later, the Moors, Jews, Africans, South Americans and Spaniards all left their mark on the dance.

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The Spanish Royal Palace in Madrid serves a function similar to that of the Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam: the Royal Family does not live there but the building is used for official public affairs. Part of it is open to the public. This Baroque giant on the west side of the city has 2,800 rooms, making it the largest palace in Europe.