BestTime
Quick answer
We analysed 272 Madrid bars and clubs. Saturday is the busiest night, peaking at 10 PM and 11 PM, and Thursday is the busiest weeknight. Monday is the quietest night. On Friday and Saturday the average venue peaks before midnight, earlier than the after-midnight rush many guides describe.
- Sat
- the big night out, busiest around 10 PM and 11 PM
- Thursday
- liveliest weeknight
- 272
- bars and clubs compared
When Madrid nightlife gets busy, night by night. BestTime forecasts.
Night by night
Busyness is a percentage of each venue's own busiest hour of the week (100%), not a head count, and the peak hour shows when the average venue is fullest.
| Night | Average busyness (% of weekly peak, 6 PM to 4 AM) | Peak hour | Share of venues lively (70%+ of their peak) | Share of venues whose busiest night it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15% | 7 PM to 10 PM (25%) | 10% | 1% |
| Tuesday | 20% | 8 PM and 9 PM (35%) | 17% | 1% |
| Wednesday | 25% | 9 PM and 10 PM (40%) | 18% | 2% |
| Thursday | 30% | 9 PM to 11 PM (45%) | 26% | 3% |
| Friday | 45% | 10 PM and 11 PM (70%) | 86% | 29% |
| Saturday | 50% | 10 PM and 11 PM (75%) | 88% | 64% |
| Sunday | 20% | 7 PM to 10 PM (30%) | 18% | 0% |
Madrid's weekend builds steadily through the evening. On Saturday the average venue is at 50% at 7 PM, 70% at 9 PM and 75% at 10 PM and 11 PM. By midnight it is at 55%, by 1 AM at 35% and by 2 AM at 20%.
Friday and Saturday share the same peak hours. Saturday holds a little more: 75% at its peak against 70% on Friday. Still, 29% of venues have their busiest night on Friday, so Friday is a strong choice too.
The weekend gap is large. Lively venues jump from 26% on Thursday to 86% on Friday. Sunday ends early: its peak runs from 7 PM to 10 PM at 30%, and no venue has Sunday as its busiest night.
Neighborhoods
Malasaña
Malasaña, the alternative and indie district around Plaza del Dos de Mayo, has 55 venues in our set. Saturday is its busiest night and Monday its quietest. Friday and Saturday both peak at 11 PM. On Saturday 95% of its venues are lively, and 80% have Saturday as their busiest night.
La Vía Láctea, a rock bar on Calle de Velarde linked to the Movida Madrileña era, peaks on Saturday at 11 PM and is at 95% at 11 PM on Friday. MACERA TALLER BAR also peaks on Saturday at 11 PM. La Chocita Sueca peaks later, on Saturday at 12 AM.
La Vía Láctea:
Quietest: Monday 7 PM (5%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
MACERA TALLER BAR:
Quietest: Tuesday 1 AM (10%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
Huertas
Huertas, around Plaza de Santa Ana, is full of traditional bars and pubs popular with visitors. Its 38 venues are busiest on Saturday and equally quiet on Monday and Tuesday. Friday peaks at 10 PM and 11 PM, Saturday at 11 PM. 97% of venues are lively on Saturday.
Salmon Guru, the cocktail bar on Calle de Echegaray run by Diego Cabrera, peaks on Saturday at 10 PM. La Venencia also peaks on Saturday at 10 PM. Café Central, a jazz club and café open since 1982, peaks earlier, on Saturday at 9 PM.
Salmon Guru - A CONTRACORRIENTE:
Quietest: Monday 4 PM (10%)Busiest: Saturday 10 PM (100%)
Café Central:
Quietest: Monday 12 AM (10%)Busiest: Saturday 9 PM (100%)
Chueca
Chueca is the city's LGBTQ+ neighbourhood. Its 25 venues are busiest on Saturday and quietest on Monday. Friday and Saturday both peak at 10 PM and 11 PM. Thursday stands out: 32% of Chueca venues are lively that night.
Angelita Madrid, a wine bar with a cocktail bar downstairs on Calle de la Reina, peaks on Friday at 10 PM. Del Diego Cocktail Bar, founded by former Museo Chicote bartender Fernando del Diego, peaks on Saturday at 10 PM.
Angelita Madrid:
Quietest: Tuesday 5 PM (10%)Busiest: Friday 10 PM (100%)
Sol
Sol's 22 venues are busiest on Saturday and quietest on Monday. Friday peaks at 10 PM and 11 PM, Saturday at 10 PM. Every Sol venue in our set is lively on Saturday, and 91% have Saturday as their busiest night.
Discoteca El Son, a salsa and Latin dance club on Calle de la Victoria, peaks on Saturday at 11 PM. La Fontana de Oro, an Irish pub near Puerta del Sol, also peaks on Saturday at 11 PM. Cervecería Sol Mayor peaks on Saturday at 9 PM.
La Fontana de Oro:
Quietest: Monday 1 PM (10%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
La Latina
La Latina, known for tapas bar-hopping along Cava Baja, has 13 venues here. Saturday is its busiest night. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are equally quiet. Friday peaks at 10 PM and 11 PM, Saturday at 10 PM.
SALA EQUIS, a cinema, bar and cultural space near Tirso de Molina, peaks on Saturday at 10 PM. La Cabra en el Tejado peaks on Friday at 10 PM. Beer Joint Madrid peaks on Friday at 10 PM and is at 95% at 11 PM on Saturday.
SALA EQUIS:
Quietest: Monday 12 AM (15%)Busiest: Saturday 10 PM (100%)
Lavapiés
Lavapiés, the multicultural local bar scene south of Huertas, has 9 venues in our set. Friday and Saturday are equally busy, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are equally quiet. Both weekend nights peak at 11 PM. More venues are lively on Friday (78%) than on Saturday (67%).
La Huelga de Lavapiés peaks on Saturday at 11 PM. Vinicola Mentridana (MIRI) is a weeknight spot: its busiest hour is Monday at 8 PM.
Vinicola Mentridana (MIRI):
Quietest: Sunday 12 PM (15%)Busiest: Monday 8 PM (100%)
Lively on a weeknight
These venues get closest to their own peak late on Monday to Thursday. The number is how close a venue gets to its own peak between 9 PM and 2 AM on those four nights, on average.
BAR PADRAO TAPAS leads with 90%. It peaks on Saturday at 9 PM.
Quietest: Monday 5 PM (40%)Busiest: Saturday 9 PM (100%)
The Room Madrid reaches 80%. It peaks on Friday at 11 PM and is at 100% at 11 PM on Saturday too.
Quietest: Tuesday 5 PM (10%)Busiest: Friday 11 PM (100%)
The beer temple, The Jungle Jazz Club, The Pel Place and Taberna Mozárabe also reach 80%. Taberna Mozárabe has its busiest hour on Tuesday at 9 PM. The Jungle Jazz Club peaks late, at 2 AM on Saturday night.
Taberna Mozárabe:
Quietest: Wednesday 1 AM (10%)Busiest: Tuesday 9 PM (100%)
The Jungle Jazz Club:
Quietest: Sunday 8 PM (25%)Busiest: Saturday 2 AM (100%)
Busiest at 11 PM on a Friday
Five venues are at 100% of their own peak at 11 PM on a Friday: The Irish Rover, The Room Madrid, Hopper, Museo Chicote and La Casa de La Cerveza.
Museo Chicote, the Gran Vía cocktail bar open since 1931, peaks on Friday at 11 PM.
Quietest: Monday 1 AM (10%)Busiest: Friday 11 PM (100%)
The Irish Rover is at 100% at 11 PM on Saturday as well.
Quietest: Monday 12 AM (15%)Busiest: Friday 11 PM (100%)
La Casa de La Cerveza is a Friday venue: it drops to 70% at 11 PM on Saturday.
Clubs
We analysed 36 venues listed as clubs. They peak at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Saturday averages 45% with 92% of them lively, against 40% and 72% on Friday. Monday, Tuesday and Sunday are equally quiet, each averaging 10%. Saturday is the busiest night for 75% of clubs and Friday for 22%.
Calle 365 Discoteca y cócteles Madrid peaks on Saturday at 11 PM and reaches 55% late on weeknights.
Quietest: Monday 6 PM (10%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
Kapital, the multi-floor nightclub near Atocha, peaks on Saturday at 11 PM. At the same hour on Friday it is at 65%, and on weeknights it reaches only 15%.
Kapital:
Quietest: Wednesday 5 AM (5%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
El Chapandaz is at 95% at 11 PM on Friday and 100% at 11 PM on Saturday.
El Chapandaz:
Quietest: Monday 3 AM (5%)Busiest: Saturday 11 PM (100%)
Tips
- After midnight at the weekend the average venue drops quickly, to 35% by 1 AM.
- Want space on a weekend? Go at 7 PM on Friday, when the average venue is at 45%.
- For a weeknight out in Chueca, pick Thursday, when 32% of its venues are lively. In Sol, 36% of venues are lively on Thursday.
- Start in Sol or La Latina, which peak at 10 PM on Saturday, then move to Malasaña, which peaks at 11 PM.
- In Lavapiés, choose Friday. More of its venues are lively on Friday than on Saturday.
- On Sunday, go early. The average venue peaks from 7 PM to 10 PM and is at 15% by midnight.
How we measured
These numbers are BestTime forecasts, built from anonymized, aggregated phone location data combined with real-world signals such as weather, events and holidays. Busyness is a percentage of each venue's own busiest hour of the week (100%), not a head count or a capacity figure. Nights run from 6 AM to 5 AM, so 1 AM on Saturday morning counts as Friday night. The forecasts describe a typical week and do not cover seasons, holidays, special events, ticketed nights or door queues. Read more about how the forecasts work.
Next steps
- Find busy bars tonight in the free Madrid bar guide.
- Check when clubs fill up in the free Madrid nightclub guide.
- Learn how to see if a bar or club is busy before you go.
- Browse all busy times guides.
Questions
What day to go out in Madrid?
Saturday. It averages 50% of each venue's weekly peak, 88% of venues are lively and 64% have it as their busiest night. Thursday is the best weeknight, peaking at 45% from 9 PM to 11 PM.
What time do bars get busy in Madrid?
On Friday and Saturday the average venue peaks at 10 PM and 11 PM. By 1 AM it is down to 35% on both nights.
What is the best weeknight to go out in Madrid?
Thursday. It averages 30%, peaks at 45% from 9 PM to 11 PM, and 26% of venues are lively.
When do clubs get busy in Madrid?
Venues listed as clubs peak at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Saturday is their main night, with 92% of them lively and 75% having it as their busiest night.
Is Madrid nightlife busy on a Tuesday?
Not very. Tuesday averages 20% and peaks at 35% at 8 PM and 9 PM. Only 17% of venues are lively, and 1% have Tuesday as their busiest night.
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