We had a fun evening out at Madrid's La Coquette Blues Bar…read more Got there at around 7:30 pm - doors open at 8, and a line forms outside the relatively small place, so that timing was perfect. Settled into the very cool cavern-like subterranean space with rough stone walls, vintage blues show posters and a terrific Chicago blues soundtrack. A waiter who spoke English took drink orders, and everybody got bowls of sunflower seeds in the shell. It got crowded, but not ridiculously so, because they limit admission, letting a few new people in when others leave. They feature a rotating roster of blues bands who each do a three-night run. Check out their web site (it's their Facebook page) for who's playing. As usual when I see a music listing somewhere, I looked the group up on YouTube, to check out what they actually sound like. The combo we caught - The Maria Avilas Quartet - came on at 9 pm. It was a good-time Chicago-style blues band with guitar, standup bass, drums and a female singer, and we stayed for most of the second set as well. The crowd was really upbeat and friendly, and the beer was cold. Later in the evening, the waiter offered selected people (lucky us!) free mini-shots. Bottom line: we really enjoyed the place, and highly recommend it for a fun evening out.

Good, divey Blues Bar (live band) we found and jumped into after dinner. Got there around 11'ish…read more Had some beers, drinks, and listened to the live Blues Band which was pretty good. Good selection of beers and liquor... the bartender makes a very good Mojito (almost every table had one). Generous pours on all drinks. Decent beer selection. Seating is a little tight but it's not a big place. Looks like an old bomb shelter (cool look).

What an amazing find and a fun night in Madrid!…read more Tapas y Fotos is in an up and coming artist neighborhood in Madrid that is similar to what is happening on the LES in NYC. It is a small wonderfully decorated bar with pictures that the owner has taken over the years of various musicians. The menu, gotta love this! All dishes are prepared byMiguel Pérez Pardo, the owner, bartender, photographer and all around great guy! We met wonderful people at this restaurant/tapas bar especially a woman name Teresa who lives next door. She is an absolute angel and is a wonderful representation of the warmth of the Madrellanos. We had wonderful beer on tap, and several dishes: Carmelita peas, hortelano chicken, delicious salmorejo, papas and bacon quiche. You can order Tapa size or a full size portion. I recommend ful size on the chicken and the quiche is only one size. Our first night in Madrid and Tapas y Fotos provided a warm, fun, delicious evening off the usual touristy traps, I highly recommend you give it a try but remember to bring a Spanish/English dictionary as Miguel speaks no English.

I went here on my first night in Madrid. It was empty, but I did go relatively early for Madrid…read more(9pm). The food was great and I had great conversation with the owner. He does not speak English, but the menu was in English, as well.

Great place to hang out with friends. I liked the authentic vintage vibes.read more

One of my favorite places in town. Pop in, have a Yayo, and some wonderful tapas. Be sure to read…read morethrough the signs on the walls while having a drink.

Hipsters, I call ye forth to come patronize this hipster mecca. Are you a hipster? You like ratty,…read morecut-off jean shorts? You like ironic tattoos, empty glasses frames and bikes a little too much? Got a girlfriend in a t-shirt with its sleeves cut off and half her head shaved? Pitchfork not fresh enough so you turned to the Hype Machine? Your people have commandeered Casa Camacho. Went in there on a Saturday night, was shown this place by a friend, and it was wall-to-wall hipsters. Amazing, like they were exhibited in all their glory in their natural habitat. Casa Camacho is indeed a dive I'd fondly refer to as a "s**thole", at least on Saturday night past midnight. It's got a long, narrow foyer where all the patrons stand, lean and drink. A long, dingy bar bisects the area and the candy-striped bartenders race back and forth on a platform, pulling Mahou into little glasses. The specialty of the house is the Yayo, which I had to explain to my Spanish friends is a Cuban slang for "cocaine". The drink is half vermuth and half gin, and goes for like 1.50. My instinct is to be snarky about it, but it's actually kind of tasty. Hipsters, I liked this place. I'll go back. You, however, will LOVE this place. It will jibe with your aesthetic and social sensibilities. Oh, and a tidbit of history while you're thinking of further gentrifying Madrid's old red-light district: there's a certificate on the wall in this place, tar-stained as the cornices, that says Casa Camacho was recognized as "classic Madrileño"...in 1974. Like you and your friends, it doesn't get much more original than this.