The Best Social Bars in Madrid

One of the best things about travelling is meeting new people, and Madrid is a city that makes it incredibly easy. Madrileños are naturally open and sociable, and the bar culture here is perfect for striking up conversations with strangers. Whether it's on a sunny terrace, on a pub crawl with fellow travellers or at a karaoke bar at 3 AM, in Madrid there's always a place to make new friends. Here are the best bars and spaces for socialising.

1. Craft beer taprooms — where great conversations begin

Madrid has experienced a craft beer boom in recent years and taprooms are perfect spots for socialising. La Tape Craft Beer on Calle San Bernardo has a rotating menu of national and international beers, communal bars and a relaxed atmosphere where it's natural to chat with whoever is next to you. Irreale on Calle Manuela Malasaña offers over 20 taps of Spanish craft beer in a small venue where you end up sharing a table with strangers. Fábrica Maravillas on Calle Valverde is a microbrewery that brews its own beer in the basement and serves it upstairs in a casual and friendly setting.

2. Terraces — Madrid's social living room

When the weather is nice (and in Madrid it's nice almost all the time), terraces become the city's natural meeting point. Plaza de Santa Ana in the Barrio de las Letras has some of the liveliest terraces in the centre, with beer halls and tapas bars where the tables are so close together you end up sharing conversation with the table next to you. Plaza del Dos de Mayo in Malasaña is the heart of the neighbourhood: families, students and travellers mix on the terraces of El Palentino and other bars surrounding the square. In summer, the terrace at Café del Río by the Manzanares river is an urban oasis with sun loungers and open-air concerts.

3. International bars and language exchange spots

Madrid has a huge international community and there are bars that have become meeting points for foreigners and locals who want to practise languages. Café de las Horas on Calle Postas hosts Spanish-English language exchange meetups on weekdays. El Tigre on Calle de las Infantas is famous for its enormous portions of free tapas with every drink, and it's always packed with Erasmus students, au pairs and travellers. It's almost impossible not to end up talking to someone. La Bicicleta Café on Plaza de San Ildefonso is half daytime coffee shop, half social bar at night, with cultural events and a young, international crowd.

4. Pub crawls — the classic backpacker option

If you're travelling solo or want to meet other travellers quickly, pub crawls are the most direct option. Several companies organise nightly bar tours through the centre, usually starting in the Sol or Huertas area. For around 12-15 euros you get entry to several bars, free shots and VIP entry to a club at the end. Madrid Pub Crawl and Cat's Hostel Pub Crawl are the most popular. It doesn't matter if you come alone: the format is designed so everyone talks to everyone. The guides break the ice with games and challenges, and by the third bar you've already got a group of friends.

5. Wine bars in La Latina — tapas and conversation

Madrid's wine culture invites you to sit down, chat and share. Cava Baja in La Latina is the street with the highest concentration of wine bars and tapas spots in all of Madrid. Taberna Tempranillo has an impressive list of Spanish wines with shareable tapas, and the high tables encourage conversation between groups. Juana la Loca on Plaza de la Puerta de Moros is famous for its tortilla de patatas with caramelised onion, and the atmosphere is so welcoming that it's common to end up sharing the bar with locals. Further up in Malasaña, BarCo on Calle Barco offers natural wines and creative dishes in a tiny space where everyone interacts.

6. Rooftop bars — views and drinks with a great atmosphere

Madrid's rooftop bars have multiplied in recent years and are ideal places to socialise in a more sophisticated setting. La Terraza del Hotel Óscar (Room Mate Óscar) on Plaza de Vázquez de Mella in Chueca has a pool in summer and a festive atmosphere where it's easy to meet people. Azotea del Círculo at the Círculo de Bellas Artes offers the most iconic views of Madrid for a 5-euro entry fee, with a bar and a mixed clientele of tourists and locals. Radio Rooftop Bar at the ME Madrid on Plaza de Santa Ana is more upscale but worth it for the views of the Teatro Español roof and the Hotel Palace dome.

7. Karaoke — break the ice by singing

Nothing brings a group of strangers together quite like singing (badly) together at 2 AM. Madrid has several karaoke bars where shared embarrassment turns into instant friendship. Bowie Bar on Calle Ave María in Lavapiés has private rooms and an open bar, perfect for groups. Garibaldi Café on Calle Echegaray has been the go-to karaoke spot in Huertas for years, with an open stage where anyone can get up and sing. If you prefer something more intimate, El Despertar in Malasaña has open mic nights where musicians, comedians and people who just want to have a good time all mix together.

8. Board game cafés and alternative plans

If drinking isn't your thing or you prefer quieter ways to socialise, Madrid has options for you too. La Mala Hierba on Calle de la Cruz is a bar with a collection of over 200 board games you can use for free while you order drinks. It's common to see groups of strangers join forces to finish a game of Catan or play Trivial Pursuit. Generación X Café on Calle de las Infantas combines comics, role-playing games and drinks in a geeky and welcoming atmosphere. For something different, food markets like Mercado de San Miguel or Mercado de San Ildefonso have shared bars and high tables where food becomes an excuse to chat with whoever is next to you.