Viva Madrid Bar

Sol (El Centro), Madrid –

A staple of the city’s nightlife scene for decades, Viva Madrid is an authentic Spanish bar that still manages to pack in a youthful, flirtatious crowd of laid-back locals, travelers, and students. Located just outside of Plaza de Santa Ana, this place has been a hotspot for everyone from Louis Armstrong to Ava Gardner and her matador lover. The main bar occupies the front of the space, though most people prefer the back room, a spacious den whose antique blue ceramic walls, Brassai-esque artwork, and ornate crown moldings enhance the classic feel of the bar. Two other bars in this room are popular hangouts for the regulars, while couples and groups tend to gravitate toward the cozier corners, or to the charming patio on the quaint side street. Despite a somewhat mellow vibe, Viva Madrid can definitely get loud, and features a mix of music from hip-hop and samba to rock and Cuban beats that often inspires impromptu dancing among the cheerful patrons. Though Viva Madrid is a casual, no-frills bar, its character and jovial ambiance is so inviting that guests are bound to go just for drinks and wind up staying for dinner.