Café Belén

Malasaña / Chueca, Madrid –

Tucked away on a tiny street near the main square of Chueca, Café Belén is a snug but suave little bar where young and trendy locals gather to chat softly over cocktails, especially the venue's very popular mojitos.

The candlelit, marble-topped tables in the front of the single split-level room attract their fair share of whispering couples, but the space is by no means doomed to be merely a first-date destination. Those not engaged in a romantic rendezvous can head to the upper section near the bar where overhead black lights illuminate pearly white smiles, and a selection of fresh European trip-hop with sexy bass lines and jazzy vocals adds to the chill atmosphere.

Café Belén frequently uses its wall space to showcase (and sometimes sell) modern art and photography by up-and-coming artists, so patrons can grab a drink and settle in to discuss the works with the sophisticated Chueca clientele.