Madrid Neighbourhoods: La Latina – Madrid at its Most Happening

Bars and Cafes, La Latina

by Katie Goldstein

La Latina

You can think of La Latina as Lavapiés’ more stylish older sister. The neighborhood is one of the most lively in Madrid thanks to the combination of a high concentration of good tapas bars and a young, modern crowd. And it’s happening at about any time of the week. Sundays may be La Latina’s busiest day, with the morning Rastro and the afternoon spillover into the bars and plazas of the barrio. Enter any bar at about 6 p.m. and it’ll feel like Saturday night all over again.

Ben has already made a fantastic map with some of his favorite bars, but here are a few more suggestions for Sundays and beyond:

Drink: Taberna Salamanca is a tiny, old timey place on the famed Cava Baja good for a drink before heading elsewhere—the food is apparently worth it as well. Barrio Alto is a stylish yet laid-back bar that boasts cocktails and reasonably priced light meals set to jazz, funk, and more.

Eat: Taberna El Almendro deserves the first mention for the outstanding price-quality ratio and ambience to boot. Txakoli is an excellent Basque pintxos bar with two locations. Juana La Loca offers innovative pintxos in a sit-down setting. Some complain it’s overpriced, but it’s worth trying the tortilla de patata with caramelized onions.

Picnic: Grab a bocadillo from the Cervecería San Andrés and join the multitudes sitting in the adjacent plaza on a sunny day at any time of year (see photo above!). You can also head down to the lovely Plaza de la Paja to hit up the brand new second location of Viva la Vida, the vegetarian take-away buffet, and eat outside.

Debauch: One word: Contraclub. Copas and great music: funk, soul, rock, etc. No 40 Principales to be found here. Friday and Saturday it’s open ‘til 6 a.m., with free entry until 2 a.m.

What are your favorite spots in La Latina?

See map below for all places mentioned above as well as opening hours:


View Larger Map

Comments

Comment from Gary
Date: February 22, 2008, 3:43 pm

Il second Taberna Almendro – huevos roros and the roscas are great

Comment from Gary
Date: February 22, 2008, 3:44 pm

… err thats huevos rotos

Comment from Katie
Date: February 23, 2008, 10:23 am

Yes, Gary–both are absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. And then you’ve got the claras with mosto (grape juice) to wash it all down!