North / Nuevos Ministerios, Madrid

A hangout of mainly madrileños and other Spaniards, the north of Madrid – whose main neighborhood is Nuevos Ministerios – is not quite as well known to the city’s international population and offers a different perspective on Spanish nightlife that attracts a glamorous and well-dressed clientele.

In this relatively new part of the capital, the cobblestone streets and historical architecture of the center give way to gleaming office buildings and immaculate government complexes that may seem a bit sterile at first glance. Upon closer inspection, however, Nuevos Ministerios reveals some of the city’s premier night clubs where the social elite gather to mingle and dance, as well as plenty of posh clubs and lounges perfect for more refined evenings on the town.

One of the area’s main attractions is the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium where loyal Real Madrid fans flock to cheer their team on to victory. But regardless of their proximity to the sports complex, the smattering of casual bars in the area do not typically draw crowds during or after matches, as most fans tend to swarm to the bars in the city center.

While the nightspots in Nuevos Ministerios definitely tend toward the pricey and upscale, the cosmopolitan crowd of professionals appreciates a good time and always leaves the snobbery at the door.