Madrid is people, culture, leisure, art, fun and music. A lot of music. The biggest names come here to fill stadiums, and this is where the best of national musical creation comes from.

This is the place to come and the place to come back to, and everyone in the music world knows it. So if you’re a musician, singer, aspiring musician or music fan, check out our favourite live music venues.

Here you’ll find a selection of bars and venues where music is the real star and you’ll find everything from rock to jazz to singer-songwriters to 80s.

Best live music venues in Madrid

El búho real

Calle de Regueros, 5

Real music, singer-songwriters, close music in intimate sessions with a cosy atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to have a relaxed drink and enjoy music with an open mind.

They’ve been going at it since 1984, they never close the doors to new talents, so ‘Owl Night’ with open mike, anyone who wants to start their musical career is more than welcome.

Café La Palma

Calle de la Palma, 62

Of course, these people are the best when it comes to live music. This live music venue is one of the most popular and legendary in the capital. First for its experience, then for the quality of its music and then for its location. Who doesn’t want to listen to live music, shows and DJ sessions in the Malasaña neighbourhood?

Blackbird

Calle de Huertas, 22

We change the tone but not the quality. Let’s go to a relaxed venue, with an atmosphere so close that you might end up having a beer with the drummer of the band playing that night. This is the Blackbird, which brings you the best blues and rock music.

The décor is in keeping with the vibe, the concerts are very intimate and the sound quality is excellent. One of the best places to listen to live music in Madrid.

Cocodrilo Rock Bar

Calle de los Cebreros, 101

We continue with the rock vibe, you’ve caught us in the mood for the best music, and this genre is revered here, especially the national one. And if we’ve talked about a style of bar called garito before, maybe this is the graphic and real definition of a five-star garito. Play darts, have a beer and listen to quality live music.

Although it’s best to leave playing darts for before or after the concert, we recommend that you put your five senses to the best national rock music on the Madrid scene.

Sala Honky Tonk Bar

Calle de Covarrubias, 24

From midnight onwards it gets really interesting here. With high quality live music, ranging from pop to rock to blues, from Tuesday to Saturday. If the concerts start at this time, you can imagine the atmosphere before and after. You can stay until 5am, 6am if it’s Friday or Saturday, with one of the most highly rated venues among musicians and music lovers in Madrid.

Café Central Madrid

Plaza del Ángel, 10

For almost 40 years, it has been going strong and offering one of the most complete services in the capital. Complete because here you can do almost anything; from enjoying a beer on the terrace to having a cocktail at one of the nightly shows inside.

They bring you the best and most promising jazz, their strong point, soul and blues. The atmosphere is impressive and you can tell me what you think about going to a place where you can combine jazz with homemade local dishes.

Siroco

Calle San Dimas, 3

This intimate venue is charged with an energy like few others in Madrid, both because of the proximity of the audience to the artist in the basement and because of the great atmosphere upstairs, where the bar is located. What you hear here is mainly electronic music. Although we recommend you take a look at their website so you don’t miss any of the gems that pass through their stage.

Sala El Sol

Calle de los Jardines, 3

We finish with a big name, with a big name in the Madrid music scene, who has been playing for more than 45 years, which is an understatement to say the least. This is one of the fundamental venues for understanding the movida madrileña.

It has a unique eighties-style atmosphere, and you can choose how your night is going to go; whether it’s a live concert in the club until 10pm, or you can go to the disco from 1am and let yourself be carried away by the best DJ sessions in the capital.