Toni 2 peaked my curiosity the most, as everyone is vague about what this is. A lot of reviews (not just Yelp but many online sites) recommend "Just go! You won't regret it!!" I mean, what are you hiding!? Is it that good?
I'm going to be brutally honest but for a tourist, Toni 2 is pretty cool but once is enough. It's not "the best night ever" as people have claimed (lol I know right, what reviews am I reading?)
I researched this place because I knew I'm coming here alone and I wasn't sure if I can (especially as a short Chinese girl alone in Spain). In the end, my flatmate came with me but I ditched her eventually. Oops! Sorry flatmate!!
1) Yes you can come alone! Even as a girl. *more about this later
My second question was, what time am I supposed to arrive? The venue seems to open its door at 9pm but some people say it opens at 10, some people say to come after midnight, most say after 1am, the locals even say to come after 2am.
My plan was to come at 1:30-2am but my companion made me visit at 3am.
Here's why! People say to visit late because of this: the later it is, the drunker people are. And we want people to be drunk to have fun. Really? By 3am, people are VERY drunk. Even me, I was pretty drunk. I could still walk home though.
Before I continue, I need to tell you that I know how to drink (as a tiny girl). I am a beer drinker but I also know my limits for wine and all other liquor (well... most of the time). I also know how to behave around other drunk people. With that said, I wouldn't recommend girls UNLIKE ME to visit here alone. You need to be confident, you need to know how to behave around drunk people (there are a lot), and you need to know how to get home safe.
2) Yes I can confirm it gets better the later it is!
By 3am, everybody was so drunk and having so much fun, Toni 2 really was a crowded place of drunk people and a giant piano. It's Spanish songs, classic old English songs, and people who CAN sing are singing. No amateur singers, I can tell you :) And the pianist doesn't get tired all night long! That's how amazing he is!!
And "crowded" I really mean crowded! But it's crowded because the venue is so weirdly furnished. The tables and sofas take up half the venue and the giant piano takes up the other half. People stand obviously between the tables, sofas, and the piano... and these "standing" spaces are your walking space. To move through the crowd of drunk people, that's where you need to know what to do (as a girl). Remember you're in Spain and men love women.
3) drunk people, drunk people
are a lot of fun. They are!!
If that's what you're into.
In my lifetime, I had my share of drunk parties and good times surrounded by drunk people, both being sober and completely drunk. Toni 2 is like that. Everybody is nice and friendly, drinks are expensive, everybody is singing and enjoying themselves. Everyone isn't singing with the piano, they're singing with each other.
I knew none of the songs they played so I lip read some guy and we sang together.
If you're not into this, you're not going to enjoy Toni 2. My flatmate didn't enjoy the drunk people at all, she's also not a drinker. I think she wanted to meet people but nobody was sober enough to hold any intelligent conversation.
4) The procedure
The tickets are 10€ at the door and it includes a drink. Drinks are pricey! You line up at the door for your ticket and you come in. There's a tough bouncer guy, he takes no sh*t. Same with the staff here, they're no sh*t-taking people. The bartender is pretty rude too. That's when you know how many drunk people are in here ;)
We purchased our tickets at 2am (no line ups) and went to a different bar. At 3, we returned with our ticket and we skipped the line (yes there was a line at 3am!! with 8 people). The line at the door is to buy tickets from the bouncer, it's not because the venue is full. Remember that!
When you're standing near the piano (which is far from the bar because there are 30 people in front of you), the staff walks around fetching your drinks and your orders. This way you do not lose your spot at the piano.
5) Conclusion
Friendly friendly people here, really! You will (in fact) bump into the occasional drunk jerk, but you see them anywhere.
Now is it worth the trek and money? I think if you have a night to spend, why not spend it at Toni 2 with local Spanish people, lots of drinks, and a piano? There are sofas if you need to sit. If you're having fun, everyone is having fun. I didn't regret visiting here!! It was a good night.
But if your schedule is busy and you need to miss this, it's okay. I'm sure your drunk parties with your own friends are just as fun.
With some reviews I read, THIS is your best night in Madrid???? whaaaa... read more