El Sol

Just a few metres off Gran Vía lies Sala Sol. This club attracts a varied crowd from Spanish fiesteros to tourists, and is perfect for those looking to escape repetitive dance anthems and over-enthusiastic young clubbers. The unique atmosphere gives you the impression of drinking and partying off the beaten tourist trail, despite the central location. The music is a trendy mixture of 70s funk mixed with hip hop, which will keep you dancing until right through to morning. The club tends to fill up by 3 am, reflecting the type of clubbers who go here; rather than the hardcore crowd, Sala Sol draws the chilled-out partygoer who likes to make the most of Madrid’s varied bar scene before hitting la discoteca. After paying the €10 entry, you descend a spiral staircase that leads you into the club itself. The room is L-shaped and fairly well lit for a club, giving the setting a different air to the Star Wars vibe of smoky, laser-lit venues. The mood is at once lively and relaxed. For those wishing to drink and chat there is seating along one side of the L, while the dance floor offers plenty of space to throw some shapes. There is even a stage for those happy to show off any particularly impressive moves. Sala Sol has plenty of character and history, and offers an unpretentious style. The location takes the stress out of the journey home with taxis and metros all within five minutes of the dance floor. On the downside, the music can suffer from a lack of variation and those returning on a regular basis can find the DJ’s playlist a little repetitive. But then most nights out see the current chart played to death, so what’s wrong with getting the most out of 70s funk? €10 entry includes a free drink and prices are what you’d expect from a Madrid venue, at around €8 for a copa.

To me, a club is a club. i'm not a big club person so I can't really comment on how good this was at a club. I had a good time there, but I usually have a good time wherever I go. The club itself was pretty packed and most of the people were on the dance floor. It was kind of nice to be in a club that didn't have a bunch of smoke machines and laser lights. It was pretty expensive to buy drinks there but that was to be expected at a Madrid club. If you like clubs, you will probably like it here at Sol.