The best of the barrios: Malasaña

The pleasant and didactic owner of this restaurant, Yorgos Ioainnidis, will tell you all about the advantages of raw veganism. The dishes here contain not a trace of eggs or flour and cooking temperatures never exceed 41 degrees in order to preserve the properties of the ingredients. The result is fresh, tasty and healthy dishes. Newcomers will be surprised at the moussakas, pasta and pizzas. And there are also some excellent juices.       

Located on one side of the bustling Plaza de San Ildefonso, this friendly place serves hamburgers and sandwiches to the neighbourhood’s modern set, who use it as a meeting place. Vintage decor and a pleasant atmosphere where you can sample a Mexican dish or just have a drink.    

Located in the heart of Madrid’s trendiest neighbourhoods, this restaurant, which balances sophistication and vintage looks, serves dishes that combine flavour and creative touches. Two convincing examples are their tuna teriyaki with textures of mango and their butter fish couscous. There’s also a lower floor where you can have an after-dinner drink.      

A comfortable place to come with your laptop and work a little over your morning coffee. Breakfasts are served and there’s always something to snack on during the day. In the evening, smoothies give way to mojitos and daiquiris. As well as samples of street art on the walls, temporary exhibitions are held here.  

A favourite for aperitifs and early afternoons, lined with old dusty beer bottles. Draught beer on tap to wash down a small dish from the attractive menu – the Spanish omelette is justly famous. Ducking under the counter you’ll find an intimate bar-room.  

Caipirinhas, mai tais, 'romantic' or 'daring' natural fruit cocktails, Bombay Sapphire gin & tonics… This spot beating in the chest of Malasaña fills up at weekends with Madrid locals longing for the beach. Its walls are covered with pictures of idyllic summer scenes you can get lost in while sipping on something exotic at their wooden tables or sitting on a colorful chair. The floor, the poufs and the pieces of cloth have an ethnic touch that goes well with the Nordic and sober style of the light wood shelves. The modern and fresh ambience is enhanced by a young clientele.

Amid an atmosphere of modernity and creativity you’ll find this urban market, an iconic of alternative groundbreaking fashion in Madrid. Built in 1998, the building has three floors with shops in which young designers show off their latest creations. Its more than 45 shops are an explosion of design, imagination and creativity. A must if you want to keep up with the latest trends.  

Books and wine are the stars at Tipos Infames, a bookshop specialising in independent literary novels. Here the traditional concept of a bookshop has adapted to changing times, bringing together an interesting selection of books in a dynamic space that’s open to culture through its café, wine bar and exhibition room. Watch out for the transparent floors on the second floor.  

A large variety of vinyl records covering all styles, books, clothes and accessories by brands like Cheap Monday, Dr. Denim and Monkee Genes stand out in the shop window of Cuervo Store, one of the top music shops in Malasaña. Open since 2010, the shop is part of the Holy Cuervo project, an independent group of music agents dedicated signing and managing musical artists, labels and events. There are frequent free exhibitions and concerts on the premises.  

Ocho y Medio is the perfect stop on your hedonistic tour of the town if you're looking for an alcohol-fuelled mass of party energy. DJ Smart makes it all sound very '80s and '90s, thrashing out an eclectic mix of indie, electro-clash, electro-pop, new wave and New York rock. It takes a master to meld Blur and Depeche Mode. On arriving here you’ll be met by a sea of flannel shirts and horn-rimmed glasses since this is Madrid’s hipster haven. You’ll also find interesting concerts by local and international bands like La Habitación Roja.

The fact that this is one of the best-known nightclubs in Madrid means that you’ll often find queues at weekends. But the wait is worth it. The great acoustics, variety of styles, two ambiences and great music make Barco the go-to venue in Malasaña. It’s the perfect place to finish off your night out in the centre. They schedule frequent concerts, and the Friday and Saturday DJ sessions are always popular.

This is something of an old glory on the Madrid nightclub scene, which shot to fame in the 1980s on the back of the Movida Madrileña and is still wearing a certain nostalgic halo. Its graffiti filled walls are run down and give it a louche, rock and roll touch. It’s divided into four different areas so it doesn’t tend to get too full and you’ll usually have room to move around (and breathe). The clientele is a very diverse mix of thirty year olds, but you can find everything from veteran rockers to youngsters looking for music from another time. There’s also a pool table, though it’s fallen into disuse.