The question is obvious: standing in the usually crowded calle de las Huertas, where bars and clubs almost pile up on top of each other, why go into La Trocha as opposed to the others? It’s not the only place that offers up jazz and caipirinhas—the mob of bar promoters and drink offer hander outers that spot you, like army recruiters spot high school dropouts, will make that abundantly clear. It’s a safe bet that going to La Trocha once will answer that question: one visit is all you need to sense the quality, dependability and good vibes that come out of this popular bar. Open daily from 16:30 p.m. to around 1:30 a.m. (it closes around 3:00 a.m. on weekends) the place is a great blend of jazz and tropical flavor. Somewhat like a long passageway, the wooden bar stretches along most of the local and faces a line of chairs and small wooden tables, while there is a small area in the back with a wider room. The walls are covered with framed posters of jazz legends as well as pictures from places like India and Tibet, and the colors that fill the walls are mellow and old fashioned.
These spots are ideal and comfortable for drinking and chatting while listening to music that is not too loud for conversing or too faint to enjoy. Remember though, if you want seats during weekends try to come before 12 o’clock, otherwise you will have to stand like the rest of the crowd that barges in as the night progresses. What you find at those hours is a lively but not savage crowd of mostly older people—it is more common to see a group of 30 or 40 something’s than a group of teenagers. This does not necessarily describe the bar’s youthful staff, who are undoubtedly one of the reasons this is an enjoyable place. It seems that they follow the philosophy that the best way to keep customers is to treat them nicely and with familiarity. They don’t mind offering you a shot or, ah screw it, taking that last drink out of the tab, if that means you’ll want to come back. And that is the kind of place La Trocha is: one to come back to instead of being “that crazy spot” that you try out once.
Going back to the question of why go to this specific bar and not the others in the same area, the short answer simply is: the caipirinhas. Yes, the bar has rums, vodkas and whiskeys, just like any other in Huertas. But their incredible caipirinhas are really the main product and cornerstone of the place. I won’t say they are the best in Madrid: I haven’t been to all its bars and besides, just as with tapas, beer and sangria a lot of folks know places they will swear serves the best caipirinhas in the city. But I will mention they do serve the best ones I’ve had in Madrid or any other place. The sugar cane rum, lime and lemon drink is mixed thoroughly in balanced amounts, thrown into ice and then crushed to create a mouthwatering cocktail. Traditional caipirinhas made from cachaca or “flor de Caña” (both sugar cane variations) and ones made with rum and vodka are either 6 or 7 euros each, the same price range goes for other liquors. Wine prices range between 4 and 18 euros. If you’re looking for tapas or food though, there are none offered here.
La Trocha
Calle de las Huertas 55
91 429 78 61
Metro: Anton Martin
Open daily from 16:30 p.m. to approximately 2:00 a.m.
By Daniel Sznajderman
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The Chivas Studio is a a cultural meeting point for art, music, film, fashion and cuisine. The space is open until December 3rd, and the hours of operation are Wednesday – Friday from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. The website, which is temporarily unavailable, is www.chivasstudio.es.
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Ex Killer Barbies star, Silvia Superstar, has opened a new bar in Madrid that is a hotspot for underground celebrities. The new cocktail bar exploits the fetishes of it’s owner. “I wanted to set up something for my friends in Madrid, a meeting point for the whole music scene, film, and art underground that was a place I like to go in the city.” Located on Calle Estrella, 3; the ground floor has recreated a room one might find in a house during the 50s, with a small stage where you’ll see live acoustic performances. The upper floor is filled with 50s style tables, and a beautiful bar. Open everyday from 7 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. and Friday and Saturday to 3:30 a.m.
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The Hotel de Los Líos continues Fuse Puerta de América this fall with live acts, food, cocktails, and fashion shows. The best is to arrive early and have a champagne or cocktail at at the 8 meter long Fuse Marmo Bar. On the 13th floor you’ll find the Fuse Sky Night terraza that is open until 4 a.m., has live music, comedic acts, and runway shows. Just next to the terraza is the Attico Club that offers some of the most spectacular views of the city. Open Monday to Sunday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., this is perfect place to spend an evening!.
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Doña Antonia
Address: Calle de las Huertas, 4
Neighborhood: Anton Martin
Metro: Anton Martin, Tirso de Molina, Sol
Telephone: 911 568 208
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Saturday-Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Closed Monday
Light and laughter spill out from a row of taverns onto the narrow, pub-filled Calle de las Huertas; yet it is the bar on the first corner where the street begins that initially lures passersby with gentle jazz and soft candlelight. Enticement grows with the inviting ambience: elegant black and cream checkered floors, wicker lounge chairs and plush cushions, bright artwork, and lush green palm trees. The final element of satisfaction is a full and mouthwatering menu, completely revamped in September of this year to include an array of teas, wine and cocktails, tapas, entrées, and—certainly not to be missed—the world’s best chocolate tart. Speaking to all levels of contentment, Doña Antonia allures people beginning a casual stroll down Huertas, as well as a regular neighborhood crowd that has come to appreciate delicious food, a good drink, and the juxtaposition of sophisticated elegance with pleasant coziness.
Stepping inside this bar and restaurant is akin to entering a private, tastefully decorated beach residence. Soft lighting from low-hanging wicker lamps falls on the elegant checkered floors, colorful paintings, and plush palm trees and ferns that adorn the space. Simple, whitewashed walls are decorated with painted gold palms and ornate silver mirrors, while small windows near the ceiling are nearly fully covered by winding vines. Although elegant, the space of the bar also evokes a comfortable, homey ambience. A red-cherry wooden cabinet rests in a corner, hosting a large vase bursting with snowy blossoms. Wicker armchairs and thick cushions surround casual wooden tables, which hold berry stems and dancing flames in flower-shaped candles. Several high booths, nestled in quiet nooks, offer cozy lounging spots, while shelves around these booths and on the walls provide an eclectic collection of books, ideal for passing a rainy day over a cup of steaming tea.
It is here, in these cozy and secluded booths or lounging in wicker armchairs, that many locals come to enjoy a pleasant afternoon, which carelessly drifts into evening. Calm during the afternoons and early evenings, the larger crowd sweeps in at night and on weekends. Doña Antonia generally sees sophisticated groups, content to relax and discuss the theatre, art, and culture scenes in Madrid over a bottle of wine or cocktails. The friendliness of the small staff also adds to the local feel. With two or three waiters, clients are warmly greeted and carefully attended to.
Beyond a unique ambience, Doña Antonia also offers a diverse and sophisticated menu, improved last month to include new delectable options. For quieter evenings, the bar offers a colorful array of hot teas (2.50 euros). Flavors include black cherry, green tea, apple with spiced cinnamon, or black truffle tea—a warm, sweet mixture that captures that melt-in-your-mouth quality of rich chocolate, without overpowering the taste buds. For those seeking a buzz, alcoholic options range from cañas (1 to 4 euros) to a jar of sangria (12 euros), to more dangerous mojitos and capirinhas (7.50, or 5 euro specialty until 3 a.m. on the weekends). Of course an assortment of flavorful Spanish wines are also available (9-16 euros per bottle). For a bite, the menu presents several tapas—including croquettes, Portuguese codfish, and potatoes a la Doña (3-10 euros). Or make it a complete, and deluxe, meal. The fancy entrées include pasta, pork with pepper sauce, and beef with blue cheese (13-17.50 euros).
To round out a meal or accompany drinks, try one of Doña Antonia’s homemade tarts (4.50 euros). A variety of flavors are available, yet the bar is particularly known for one—“The best chocolate tart in the world.” This Portuguese recipe, born in Lisbon 20 years ago, combines the concept of a rich and crunchy tart mixed with a brownie. Incorporating 70 percent cocoa, the tart has a crisp interior complimented by suave cream, and is dressed in pure and decadent chocolate. Chocolate lovers, beware: the risk of becoming an addicted is high, especially among those who, like the neighborhood locals, are drawn to this charming and homey bar with increased frequency.
PRICES:
Juices-2.50 euros
Teas-2.50 euros
Coffee-1.20-1.50 euros
Beer-1-4 euros
Wine (glass)-1.50-2 euros
Wine (bottle)-9-16 euros
Sangria (jug)-12 euros
Tinto de Verano-3 euros
Liquors-3 euros
Mixed drinks-6-8 euros
Mojito or Capirinha-7.50 euros
Tapas-3-10 euros
Dishes-13-17.50 euros
Cakes and Tarts-4.50 euros
By Jane Caffrey
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The new Churchill Lounge at Bristol Bar is dedicated to none other than the great Winston Churchill. There’s food, appetizers, and, of course, gin! If Churchill was around today he most likely would’ve stopped in to the lounge to sip one of their tasty gin and tonics. For more click here.
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Looking for a bar to rock out in? If so, Barracudas is the place for you. The small space hosts rock concerts and is open on weekends until 5:30 a.m. For more information click here.
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Zombie Bar is the newest addition to the nightlife scene in Malasana. The space is super modern and draws all types of people, from fashionistas to locals. The establishment offers breakfast, lunch, and drinks galore. In the back of the bar there is the Zombie Burger, which is almost like an American diner. Here you can eat hamburgers and sushi while surrounded by urban art and an enormous video wall. For the address click here. The bar is open Monday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday until 2:30am.
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Café Manuela
San Vicente Ferrer, 29
Neighborhood: Malasaña
Metro: Tribunal
Telephone: 91 531 70 37
Hours: 6:00 p.m.—12:30 a.m. daily
The Jazz Age was defined by decadence, and today Café Manuela, located just a block off of the Plaza Dos de Mayo in Malasaña, stands as a relic of this stylish era. Modern Madrileños stop by the fashionable bar and café to enjoy an array of imaginative cocktails and coffee drinks and the cozy, neighborhood café ambience.
Walking up to Café Manuela, you are greeted by a bright red exterior that is adorned with two, old-fashioned street lamps. Beneath this awning, a row of full-length French doors open onto an elegant scene. White marble floors and cream walls contrast with the plush, burgundy velvet cushions of the booths. Round marble tables are set in the center of the café, surround by ornate mirrors that enlarge the space and reach up towards coved ceilings. Gold based lamps with glass flower bud shades hang on the walls, casting a soft, yellow light against interesting photographs and the pleasant scene below. The palm plants looming next to the 1920s-style bar add an additional touch of luxury.
Although the stylish ambience marks Café Manuela as an old-fashioned gem in the city, the specialty cocktails, coffees, and other creative beverages also scream extravagance. Cocktails and coffees are mixed with top-shelf liquors, and many of the drinks are capped with natural whipped cream. On the extensive and adventurous menu, choose between a sumptuous Kir Royal (cassis and cava, 4 euros), the lavish Alexandra Brandy (brandy, chocolate liquor, and whipped cream, 6 euros), or an ice cold lemon sorbet with cava (5 euros). Don´t over look the coffees; the Malasaña sweetens up the hot beverage with whisky and vanilla ice cream (4.50 euros). Old reliables—wine, beer, and tapas—are also available, as well as coffees and cocktails without alcohol, natural juices, and ice cream.
Keeping with the Age of Decadence, 1920s jazz plays softly in the backdrop, yet these notes are often overpowered by the raucous laughter and cheerful chatting of Madrileños. A young to middle-aged crowd frequents this neighborhood café; sophisticated yet casual, it is a group that appreciates the weekly poetry recitals (Fridays) and live piano concerts. Further entertainment is provided by an unparalleled collection of board games that fill an enormous bookshelf—everything from Clue to Rummy to Trivial Pursuit. Partake in a healthy round of competition on a lazy weekend afternoon, or come to Café Manuela during the evening for a classy alternative to a night out.
PRICES:
Cocktails- 4-6 euros
Specialty coffees- 4-5 euros
Coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets- 1.50-3.50 euros
Natural juices, shakes, tea- 2.50-4 euros
Ice cream- 3.50-6 euros
Tapas- 2.50-7 euros
Whisky and Brandy- 2.50-8.50 euros
Wine and beer- 2.50-5 euros per glass, 15.50-22 euros per bottle
By Jane Caffrey
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An Irish Pub with something for everyone. At O’Neill’s you’ll find authentic Irish beer and liquor, pool tables, language exchanges, and a new live band every week. Football fanatics, rejoice; here games are shown on two big-screen TVs with surround sound, bringing the action closer than ever. For more information click here.
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