If anyone feels like having a pleasant evening with candlelight and intimate ambiance, try 1917 Blinis & Vodkas. They have a good assortment of smoked fish (salmon, tuna, herring, etc) on top of freshly baked blinis and a choice of 30 different kinds of vodka from Estonia, Russia, Poland, France, Argentina, etc. And the location is perfect: next to the Teatro Real (Madrid's Opera House).

Calle de la Independencia 1, 911 429 800, Opera metro station, bar1917.com

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You can laze around feeling really decadent in this place. A chilled bar experience awaits you as you are served contemporary modern European food as you stretch out and your weary limbs recover from a day pounding the streets of the Spanish capital.

www.laydown.es

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There are plenty of sidrerias (cider bars) in Madrid, but this one in the gay-friendly Chueca district is a huge stand-out for the quality and, especially, the quantity of the complimentary tapas. 1.50 a 'caña' isn't cheap, but you'll get a steaming pile of piggy, bready delights along with it, and that's every time you take a drink.

Also a great place for vast filled 'bocadillos' (baguette sandwiches), and various other tasty 'raciones'. Just watch out for complimentary paella - myself and others have been laid low by food poisoning for some time after a visit. The fact that I'm still recommending the place tells you just how good it is.

One final thing - get there early if you have any kind of designs on a table.

c/ Infantas, metro Chueca

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Ignore the photo of Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock they've got hanging from the wall and wedge yourself into this small bar/restaurant for some fine, fine food.

Pedro Almodovar is said to love the place. After a few raciones it's hard to disagree. They deserve recognition for their liberal use of olive oil if nothing else.

Calle de la Libertad 4-6;
Tel: 91 532 12 19;
Metro: Chueca

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Art work hangs from the lime green painted walls and exposed pipes at this trendiest of hang-outs in Chueca. It's laid-back and an ideal escape from the nearby mania of Gran Vía. The staff are sound enough to knock off any euro cents you might be missing for your cafe con leche.

11 Calle Colón, Tel. 91 522 9107, Metro Gran Vía

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A friendly bar dedicated to making the perfect caipirinha. The music policy plays homage to Miles Davis and all trumpet players of his ilk. Don't expect to find any chocolate con churros here.

Calle Huertas 55, Tel: 91 429 78 61, www.trochabar.com

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A traditional tapas bar in a funny old corner shop.They serve good ham and gulas (funny little eels). It's a cool place to visit because it is on the edge of the red light district and run by a very camp couple. They serve drinks, bitch with customers and chase out drunks and undesirables whilst neatly arranging your ham and goats cheese tapas. We felt welcomed and entertained. Check out the wig shop down the road.

Calle Hortaleza, Chueca

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Near to the Paseo del Prado there are narrow streets with lots of bars and tapas bars. This one was fab. It is full of groups of young people. The decor is scruffy-glass beads dangling in the window, green splodges on the walls and menus on pretend paint palettes. It says "pulperia" on the window and octopus is definitely the best thing to choose. We also had razor clams and green chillies. The service was really friendly and the wine was cheap and good. It didn't seem super happening at 1 on a Sunday morning, but a great place to chill out.

Calle Jesus, Centro

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Chueca is recognised as a gay neighbourhood in Madrid city centre, popular for its bars and discos of the same description. During the daytime there's a very tranquil, liberal vibe to the area. Then at night, especially on the weekends, it comes alive and everybody, gay or otherwise, mix together and have a great time. A perfect place for gay couples, free of prejudice.

Metro: Chueca

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This is an awesome place in Madrid to drink a coffee or beer, or to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They have great salads an desserts (my girlfriend ate more than 4 cakes). I love this restaurant and I love Madrid.

Isaac peral 4 (Moncloa); tel: 34 91 543 2009; www.vangoghcafe.com

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Wonderful wine and tapas bar that is small enough to get to know the owners well and who may even treat you to a glass of cava gratis! The tapas are amazing and the design of the bar is intimate yet light and airy unlike many tapas bars. Very reasonably priced (for a student!).

Chueca, Calle Pelayo 24
Metro: Chueca. Turn left off Plaza Chueca and Pelayo runs parallel.
Tel:+34 915228441

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After a visit to the fabulous Palacio Real a rest and a drink might be needed and the ideal place for this is just a stroll across the road to the Cafe de Oriente situated in the beautiful Plaza Oriente next door to the Opera. In summer you can sit outside on the terrace, admire the view of the Palace and its gardens and watch the Madrilenos walk their dogs, collect their children from school or meet up with their friends at the next table. Despite being next to one of the main tourist attractions the cafe is mainly patronised by the locals and is a brilliant place to people watch especially during the opera season when it is fun to watch the fashionable Madrilenos meet for their pre-opera drinks. The elegant mirrored interior in the style of the Belle Epoque is inviting on a chilly winter evening and is the perfect place to enjoy a drink and a tapas before heading off to one of the many traditional restaurants in the area.

Cafe de Oriente
2 Plaza de Oriente; metro Opera
Open daily 8.30am-1.30am
Fri, Sat. 8.30am-2.30am

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This is a bar on the popular road Calle Hortaleza. This road is full of fun bars, but this one is by far the best. They serve amazing cocktails, AMAZING and the bar has a slightly Morrocan feeling to it with lots of cushions on the floor and even a big double bed to sit on, but you will be very lucky if you actually get it!! There is a great vibe in the bar - very laid back! But get there early as it can get very busy, some nights you will find people actually queueing outside!
A definate must, by far my favourite bar! Also they have amazing food, especially the Samosas!!!

Calle Hortaleza, nearest tube - Alonso Martinez or Gran Vía.

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A bar which serves only sherry. Try all five varieties - in small quantities! - and you will be pleasantly surprised how different they are outside Spain. The bar also does a great beef tapas.

Calle de Echegaray 7

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Malasaña is a street and an area well known by all true 16-30 Madrileños. In the day time you can shop for some retro treasures in the two 'Popland' boutiques (one for bags, badges and tee-shirts, the other for sixties home decorations and posters). Then, well after dark, you can return and be part of the Madrid sub-culture night life. Go into some bars off Plaza Dos de Mayo and you'll think you've stepped onto the set of Austin Powers (without the irony!) There are all types of bars and clubs round here, but they all have one thing in common: the cool factor. The music is cool, the people dress cool, but most importantly, the attitude is cool, that is to say, laid back.

Malasaña district. Nearest tube: Tribunal.

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Situated in the heart of Chueca, Madrid's vibrant and welcoming gay district, Aquarella is a bar you'll want to go back to. Tucked away on Calle Gravina, you will notice the flickering lights and luxurious interiour of this quiet bar. Take a seat on one of their antique chairs and you will be waited on by a friendly, handsome waiter. An intimate hide away, you can go with friends, a lover or alone. If you do go alone, be sure to brouse through Aquarella's small but always interesting collection of second hand fiction. Order a cocktail and keep your voice down. If you become a regular, the waiters will invite you to a drink. Que disfrutes.

Turn left down calle Gravina, just out of Chueca tube station. It's a 30 second walk from the metro, next to a funky hairdresser's.

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Calle Fuencarral is where the cool is in Madrid. All the "in" shops are there, from global brands like Levi's to national or local ones, you'll find stuff cool enough to impress your mates over here. Once on Calle Fuencarral, go to Mercado Fuencarral, a gathering of shops of all kinds. The area is called Chueca and it's the gay quarter.

I recommend walking up Fuencarral towards Malasaña and walk the pueblo-like narrow streets finding your way to Plaza Dos de Mayo, then choose a bar or cafe and you might be lucky enough to see director Alejandro Amenábar, who lives in the area.

Metro Gran Vía or Noviciado

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Smokey blues bar which gets impossibly packed on the free gig nights on Tuesday-Thursday - get there early to get a seat. Top quality musicians squeeze onto the minuscule stage.

Between Sol and Opera on the top part of c/Hileras, just down from Plaza de las Descalzas

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A dark and dingy jazz bar near Plaza de Santa Ana. Gets busy on weekends but has great atmosphere and good music.

www.populart.es

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Typical local bar - great selection of European beers and the best Patatas Bravas in Madrid! Head down at dusk on a warm summer's evening to soak up the traditional Madrid atmosphere. There are dozens of tapas bars lining the street facing the park, and often buskers providing a bit of live music.

On the corner of Calle de Valmojado and Calle Illescas (Parque de Aluche), Aluche; nearest metro: Aluche/ Campamento

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