Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Experience the sheer joy and queer energy of Spain’s capital, Gay Madrid, where art, gastronomy, nightlife, and beauty effortlessly combine to create a destination like no other on earth.
More elegant than Barcelona, with dignified boulevards and medieval mansions, Madrid is an architecture aficionado’s dream. Lovers of art will also find plenty to feast their eyes on in the many art galleries, and don’t even get us started on the food.
Then there’s the nightlife – gay or straight, there are enough bars and clubs to keep you busy until dawn. It’s a tolerant and welcoming city that just wants everyone to have a good time. While the traditional gayborhood is in Chueca and has the highest number of gay bars and clubs, every neighborhood has plenty to offer gay visitors.
Areas like Malasaña, La Latina and Lavapies all boast a range of gay-friendly places to drink and party, with new things popping up all the time. Clubs are open until so late that it’s early again, and the vibrancy means you just won’t want to go home.
Aside from hosting the biggest Pride Parade in Europe, attracting more than one and a half million visitors each year and being one of the best Gay Pride festivals in the world, Madrid also has a GayDays at the local theme park, WE Festivals around gay pride week and New Year and an LGBT film festival.
Plus, there is an outpost of the fabulously queer Axel Gay Hotel chain and one of the world’s only gay hostels where you know you’ll receive a warm welcome and a place to lay your head after 12 hours of dancing.
Spain is undoubtedly one of the world’s most gay-friendly countries, and while the Catholic Church still holds a lot of ways here, LGBT acceptance in Madrid (and other urban centers like Valencia, Seville, Barcelona, Sitges, and Salamanca) is very high.
As big as it already is, the gay scene in Madrid is still growing as word continues to spread and more bars, clubs, hotels, saunas, and cafes battle it out for the almighty Pink Dollar. Yes, we all know the gays all love a good trend, and in Madrid, everything has snowballed so that today it is all gay, all the time!
While the gay nightlife in Madrid is about as celebrated as it gets, there is also this warm Spanish soul, laid-back outdoor lifestyle and absolutely welcoming to all attitude to draw in LGBT travelers from all walks of life. Whatever you are looking for, we are sure you can find it in Gay Madrid.
In this article we will cover...
Attractions in Gay Madrid
Being gay does not define which attraction most of us will want to see in each city, and most queer tourists will simply want to check out the top things to see in Madrid during the day!
Madrid is a very safe city, but still, all travelers should take caution with valuables. Gay people in Madrid do not need to make any precautions at all regarding public displays of affection in this very progressive city, and we encourage you to experience what true freedom feels like.
There are so few places in the world as uninhibited and liberating for gay couples as Madrid, and this is something every one of us should be able to experience every day!
Madrid has so many things to do it can be overwhelming, but most gay travelers simply head for the Chueca gaybourhood or to the world-class museums during the day. We, however, also enjoyed investigating local food markets, fabulous architecture, art galleries, and the quaint surrounding towns.
On other days, relaxing by our luxe hotel pool – cocktail in hand – was the only thing on our agenda. If you are not sure where to go, take a peek at our gay map of Madrid at the end to get an idea of where all the gay bars, clubs, saunas, cafes and stores are.
Having said that, here are just a few of our favorite things to do in Madrid to get you started!
Top Highlights Of Gay Madrid
Mercado de San Miguel
A gorgeous covered market, one of the most popular in Madrid and easily accessible close to Plaza Mayor. The market is not a traditional grocery market but a gourmet tapas market, with over 30 different vendors selling a wide variety of freshly prepared tapas, hams, olives, baked goods, and other foods. Beer, wine, and champagne are also available.
Flamenco Show at Corral de la Morería
Experience the fever of flamenco dancing during a show in one of Spain’s most esteemed ‘tablaos’ (flamenco venues) in Madrid. Select a show time convenient for you, then venture to the beating heart of Madrid’s Old Town to experience an evening of music and dance.
Enjoy a welcome drink or upgrade to include a 3-, 4-, or 5-course feast of Spanish specialties. Then take in a passionate performance from some of Spain’s top dancers.
A gay-popular and beautifully renovated café, one of the most emblematic in Chueca. The cute staff serves simple breakfasts, pastries, snacks, and drinks.
A pioneer in Madrid (and the fetish world ) with over 15 years of experience creating high-quality products for fetishists & BDSM lovers. Using traditional leather-working processes and the best cow leather, stop by and pick yourself up something nice to show off later in the sleazy side of Madrid.
Explore Madrid on a double-decker bus and discover the best sights, districts, and landmarks of the Spanish capital. Hop on and hop off on any bus for the duration of your bus passport to plan your day with flexibility.
Step back in time at Madrid’s Playa Mayor, Plaza Neptuno, Plaza de la Villa, and Puerta de Alcalá or fast forward to contemporary Spain with visits to the hotspots of Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza de Castilla, and the Parque del Oeste
Admire some of Europe’s greatest artworks at leisure with admission to the Prado Museum in Madrid. Spain’s leading art museum, the Prado, houses an acclaimed European art collection dating from the the1300s to the 1900s.
Walk through the halls to view masterpieces by Titian, Bosch, Rubens, Velázquez, Goya, and others, including Velázquez’s ‘Les Meninas and Bosch’s ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights.’ Choose a regular or mobile ticket for the day of your choice in advance to avoid the insane lines.
An LGBT bookshop with, well, books on all kinds of matters related to homosexual culture. Most are in Spanish, but they are open every day of the week and do have a range of English titles, including some of our gay romance novels; plus, this is a great place to bump into people!
Walk around Madrid while tasting the city’s best tapas and wine. An excellent food tour where you can taste a variety of tapas and enjoy delicious treats that are locally produced in Madrid, like Manchego sheep cheese, Iberian ham, and more!
Taste various kinds of wine from wine-exporting countries from all over the world – all while wandering through vibrant streets to quiet corners and learning about Madrid’s interesting history
Deffort
A gay-popular clothing shop with a wide selection of clothes from leading brands in the international market, both urban, casual and sports. Fred Perry, Moschino, Versace, Franklin & Marshall, Ice, Bristol and more, you will find them all here.
Discover the grandiose Royal Palace of Madrid with special early access and a 1.5-hour guided tour. For a glimpse of the palace at its most spectacular, you’ll arrive before the doors open to the public, then learn the secrets of the enormous palace, whose 2,800 rooms overflow with masterpiece artwork, period décor, and architectural detail.
This 1.5-hour Royal Palace tour includes skip-the-line early admission tickets to the Royal Palace.
Different Life
A small gay lifestyle store in the heart of Chueca with a selection of adult toys, DVDs, novelty products and more to provide a little something for everyone – including some great rainbow pride clothing options if you have left yours at home.
Escape the big city of Madrid and hike the trails around La Pedriza, located in a mountainous nature preserve just 45 min from the Spanish capital. Catch some of the best views surrounding Madrid and spot the skyscrapers of the city on clear days, then enjoy a traditional Spanish lunch at a local restaurant to recharge after hiking
Visit 3 wineries and taste more than 10 wines in Madrid Wine Region (D.O Vinos de Madrid). Escape the metropolitan mayhem of Madrid in favor of the verdant vineyards of Vinos de Madrid on a full-day Spanish wine tour.
Accompanied by an accomplished guide, explore the beautiful wine-making region and learn about complex production processes in atmospheric wine cellars, known as bodegas. Sample signature wines that are grown in the area and gain a fascinating insight into the culinary heritage of Spain’s capital city on this enriching epicurean tour.
ES Collection
The Madrid location store of this gay-popular clothing brand that produces swimwear, underwear, athletic and casual wear. Arguably come with the best underwear for gay men. All made and designed with love in Barcelona, so why not stop by and pick up something nice to show off in the clubs at night?
Boxer
Another rubber and fetish gay store in Madrid. There are far too many to list here, but Boxer is a beloved Barcelona institution, and their Madrid location offers the very best in modern fetish club wear.
The only shop selling jewelry exclusively for men in Madrid, with a very elegant concept store located on Pelayo Street in Chueca. Their jewelry is fashion-oriented, made in Europe, and mainly 99% made of precious metals, natural stones, and genuine leather.
Originally opened in Sitges in 2014, Eleven Men’s Jewelry has become well-known and respected in the local LGBT community – and is the go-to spot for an iconic piece of jewelry, perfect as a memento from a fabulous trip or simply making any outfit pop before a night out. Welcoming and friendly, there is absolutely no reason not to stop in and see their latest collection…
The best value way to see the city! Visit top attractions in and around Madrid, including restaurants, museums, Toledo day trips, Madrid hop on, hop off and more. Skip the line at popular attractions and choose from two options: 3 or 5 attraction passes – perfect for any kind of traveler.
Madrid’s most popular drag dinner show. A comical and musical cabaret show with songs and monologue speeches. The show will be in Spanish, except some of the songs will be originally in English and be fuelled by music, light, fantasy, and color with some of the most famous Drag Queens in Spain. Goold old-fashioned camp and queer fun!
Gay Events In Madrid
Madrid is where We Party, one of the biggest names in gay clubbing worldwide, was formed and is home to two of their flagship events held around Pride and New Year.
Sleazy Madrid and Madrid Gay Pride are the two biggest events of the year, so if you plan to attend – or visit during this time – book your hotel far, far in advance. There are many, many, many more events held annually, which have also been listed later on, but these are the big ones you should know:
One of the biggest leather-fetish electronic music festivals in Europe, up there with those in Amsterdam and Berlin. A firmly established 19-year-old event that holds a prominent position in the international circuit, now so popular it has been expanded to take place 3 times per year.
Into the Tank is the flagship gay party, but you can expect many of the gay bars and clubs in Madrid to host sleazy events to co-inside with this weekend of complete and utter debauchery.
Madrid’s annual international meeting for the friendly bears, burly men, and their admirers. Five days of intense partying culminating in a weekend bash filled with fiestas, club nights, sauna trips, movies, dinners, culture, and Mr. Bear Spain.
Madrid has one of the biggest gay bear scenes in the world – so you just know this weekend is going to be mind-blowingly crazy.
The biggest Gay Pride in Spain and holding the record in 2017 for the biggest LGBT event of all time with 3.5 million people (2007 Madrid Pride is second, followed by New York and San Fran). Everybody says,s LOVE! Not only a celebration of love and diversity but a continued fight for the freedom, dignity, and respect of LGTBI people in Spain and around the world.
Campaigning, concerts of international and national artists, parties, the March, sports competitions and offers for everyone – this inclusive event has something for absolutely every possible interest. Of course, there are also some of the biggest club parties of the year held in conjunction with Pride – so many queer people you might well wonder if anyone is actually straight anymore!
An annual event in September dedicated exclusively to screening gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer films. LesGaiCineMad is one of the most critical international forums for Spanish-speaking LGBT film/video, and if your dates coincide if a way to experience a more sophisticated level of gay life in Spain.
An epic international gay winter circuit party and one of the most important gay parties annually in Europe. Let yourself be seduced by the gogos and entertainment staff, the huge LED screens, and the latest sound and lighting systems, in the best clubs of the Spanish capital, with the most wanted DJs.
Much like La Demence in Brussels, the White Party in Bangkok, Angel’s NYE in Shanghai or the Vienna LoveBall, this is an epic, unforgettable party to ring in the New Year surrounded by queers and in utter ecstasy.
Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Madrid Spain
While basically every hotel in Madrid is friendly and welcoming to the LGBT community, there are some that make an exceptional effort to be part of gay Madrid.
No hotels are exclusively for gay men anymore – a sign of the liberal times, we guess – but others are still a crucial part of the gay scene because of their location and history and some hotels are just known for being exceptionally welcoming of gay guests.
The following gay hotels in Madrid can all be relied on for an extraordinary stay in Madrid, though one of these is the ‘hetero-friendly’ gay hotel Axel which is almost guaranteed to only have gay guests staying.
In all of the below options, you’ll find sheer decadent luxury, contemporary design, and delicious in-house restaurants – along with plenty of other gay guests. If Madrid wasn’t so amazing, we’d never leave some of these hotels!
There are hundreds of other good hotel options in Madrid if you don’t find what you are looking for, but we are confident you’ll find something here for you whether you want a fun and social hostel, a cheap place to crash after a night of partying or a chic designer option to sip cocktails and surround yourself with fabulous people – Gay Madrid as something for everyone!
Gay-Friendly Luxury Hotels in Madrid
Maybe you’ve already experienced the glamour of Gay Barcelona, in which case it’s time to enjoy the sheer energy and joy of Madrid’s capital. There’s no better base than the Axel Hotel, a four-star gay hotel in a converted 19th-century palace.
The design and concept are imaginatively worked to recreate the spirit of the Movida Madrileña – the boom of creativity and debauchery that burst out with the death of Franco at the end of the 1970s. There are bright colors, neon slogans, and gold-tiled showers; it’s gloriously decadent, one of the most avant-garde showpieces of the already design-focussed Axel Hotels chain.
This hotel wants their guests – gay or straight since they are hetero-friendly – to have a good time and are fully equipped for that. Another rooftop pool with a bar is a summertime hangout, and there is a funky bar and restaurant space on the ground floor with more Movida references.
In a brick-vaulted basement, the Bala Perdida Club offers all the indulgent partying you could wish for. If only it wasn’t a 15-minute walk to the gay scene in Chueca…
A luxury boutique hotel in Madrid Centre close to the gay scene with 76 exclusive rooms and a spectacular terrace offering some of the best views in town. A hotel where you can travel back in time, a place where every corner exudes the essence of Madrid, this hotel offers a sense of timelessness and character like no other.
With elegant rooms, a hip eatery, a gym, a rooftop cocktail bar with a summer terrace and a sundeck – it’s no wonder the Principal is so popular with every – gay, straight or unicorn!
Located in a privileged enclave close to the gay area Chueca, URSO Hotel is an old palace that integrates the stately character of the bourgeois architecture of the XX Century Madrid, with the modernity and comfort of a modern luxury hotel.
The building, which in its origins was the headquarters of the old Biscayan company Papelera Española, retains neoclassical elegance with its towers, corner chamfers or the classic viewpoints that support the noble balcony.
Its history can also be felt in the interior spaces, with original elements such as the central patio, the unusual stained glass windows, the decorative tiles, the library, the marble floors, and the wooden walls. A perfect option for gay adventurers less interested in all-night circuit parties and who appreciate a break with history in Madrid.
Located in the heart of Gran Vía in Madrid is a contemporary hotel with a dash of luxury that offers guests an innovative and cutting-edge concept created by the famous interior designer Jaime Beriestain who, while respecting the essence of the building, bestows it with his own particular style.
Its originality will surprise you and can be perceived as soon as you enter the hotel. The traditional front desk has no place at the Vincci The Mint, where the experience all starts when you check in at the hip bar.
Once you check in, why not take a break in their dreamy rooms with sensational views or enjoy the relaxed rooftop with live DJs on Thursdays and a food truck? In the morning, start with a gourmet a la carte breakfast, then explore everything Madrid has to offer – right on your doorstep!
Iberostar Las Letras Gran Via ☆☆☆☆
Literature can be found in every corner of the Iberostar Las Letras Gran Vía, and, just like your favorite book, it will whisk you away from the moment you arrive. Literary quotes adorn the walls of its rooms, and famous writers have used its library to write and present their stories and novels. A hundred-year-old hotel.
The Iberostar Las Letras Gran Vía was built over a hundred years ago. As you wander through this age-old building, keep an eye out for details such as its grand antique staircase and the Sevillian tiles that decorate several of its walls. Imagine the stories they could tell! There is a lot to love here, but we particularly enjoyed the sixth-floor pool, 24-hour fitness center, whirlpool baths, and utterly glamorous vibes.
A brand new lifestyle hotel offering everything one needs for either an important business trip or simply a pleasure escape to the most liveable city of Spain. If an “individual lifestyle” is something you’re seeking when traveling, this is the right spot for you.
Artistic design and funky decorations are the main emphases of the hotel. NYX Hotel Madrid features several art concepts, such as the Secret Art Garden, exhibiting Urban Artwork in the corridor as well as displaying local art-works throughout the hotel.
After a night of partying, rest it all off their luxe-but-modern rooms, then come morning, cure your hangover with an expansive breakfast buffet – or just relax at the rooftop pool with its spectacular skyline views. In the evening, head to the cocktail bar to start the process all over again, because, in Madrid, the party never stops!
Gay-Friendly Budget Accommodation in Madrid
Just a step away from Gran Vía in Madrid, the Hotel Petit Palace Chueca is located in the ultra-modern area of town. Chueca is a gaybourhood full of gastronomic, cultural and leisure offerings, which you will not want to miss.
Affordable, well located and budget-chic, this Petit Palace still has rooms that include everything you need, like iPads, WiFi, bicycles, high-pressure showers … and much more! Plus, there are rooms for two, four and even five guests, depending on who you are traveling with.
Want to experience what it’s like to stay at a boutique design hotel in Madrid? Room Mate Oscar at the edge of the Gran Via, between Fuencarral and Barquillo streets, in one of the most luminous plazas of Madrid’s downtown. The hotel is located in a building in the rationalist style reminiscent of the Bauhaus movement we loved in Gay Tel Aviv.
Room Mate Oscar offers 74 rooms from which you can enjoy spectacular views of downtown Madrid. Offering stunning designs and affordable prices, this is one of the best-rated hotels in Madrid – and it’s easy to see why! Plus, it has a privileged location close to all the gay highlights of Madrid.
Located close to Paseo del Prado, this budget-design hotel is themed around wine production from grape to bottle – so what’s not to love? With 48 modern rooms, wonderful service, very affordable prices, and your buffet breakfast and WIFI included, there is a reason it is frequently sold out weeks in advance.
A quaint hotel dedicated to guest comfort and satisfaction located in the heart of the city and only 150 meters from the world-famous Gran Via. Its thirty charming rooms, of which several rooms have private terraces, offer elegantly Italian-designed accommodations.
It’s the funky design of this unique hostel, hidden behind a traditional Madrid building front, which makes it one of the more fabulous almost-gay hostels in Madrid. The outside might say traditional, but the inside is modern and fun. Perfect if you don’t mind spending a few extra euros on getting a quality hostel to rest your head in!
Really, is there a better way to enjoy the gay scene of a city than by staying in a fabulous gay hostel? Don’t worry about not being able to find Puerto del Sol; you’ll spot it by the enormous rainbow flag unfurling from the roof down the front of the building.
We love it already! It’s right in the middle of Madrid with lots of the most popular city landmarks less than a mile away, so there is no need to negotiate public transport.
The rooms range from en-suite private rooms to dorms with shared bathrooms if you’re on a budget (or just want to save those pennies for your party!). If you’re lucky, get a room with a balcony overlooking the square so you can sip a beer and watch the world go by.
Of course, the main appeal of Puerto del Sol is the communal atmosphere – it is, after all, the only exclusively gay hostel in Madrid, so you know you’re going to meet a lot of like-minded and wonderful gays out to have a good time. Luckily, all the nightlife is not far away, so after some getting-to-know-you drinks in the recreation room, you can all head out for some tapas and a dance!
Gay Nightlife in Madrid
We are not even sure where to start as the gay nightlife in Madrid is amongst the best in the world.
If you are as overwhelmed as we are, the only thing you need to know is the main gay area for nightlife is the Chueca area, just a few steps from Gran Via. This gaybourhood contains more gay spirit than anywhere else in the city – but is by no means the only place to spend the night with your global queer family.
Gay club parties in Madrid are all the rage, with different events taking place across the city every evening, but we have only listed the most popular and fabulous here, as there are almost too many to count!
Use our Gay Madrid Map at the end if you’re lost, but there is plenty of bars, cocktail lounges, bearded glitter queens, bear dens and hardcore masculine-fetish parties littered across Madrid to satisfy even the most discerning of gay travelers.
Many restaurants here don’t get busy till around 10 pm, which bars filled from around 1 am and clubs getting going around 2.30am. The insanely-epic weekend events like Kluster are the exception to this, however, and they full up fast!
Cash is king here, and pickpockets are sadly rife throughout almost venue we visited – just be careful, leave your non-essentials at home and just take what you are actually going to use on the night. Take special care at bars and in dark rooms as – well, easy targets are those literally with their pants down.
We have only focussed on explicitly gay venues here in Madrid, but the city and country are so liberal that it doesn’t feel like you can’t make out with your partner in most bars or clubs here!
Refreshing and freeing, men in Madrid take their partying seriously, and you can rest assured – the gay nightlife in Madrid has something for everyone!
Madrid Gays Bars In Chueca Area
A dark and divey gay dance bar spread across two floors with a wonderful indie vibe. The music is a bit different here, including mean underground mixes, darkwave, and industrial rock, with a bit of Fleetwood Mac and Grace Jones, tossed in for good measure. There is a 2-4- 1 Happy Hour with tokens to get your second drink later on, and Saturday nights are busiest for dancing.
No surprises here at this men-only bar that attracts Bears, chubs, daddies, and all their admirers. The seat of MAD BEAR (Bears Club Madrid), Bears Bar is an international and friendly place where you can find friends in Madrid and around the world. Very chilled, with cheap drinks and welcoming patrons.
This lively gay cocktail bar is known for its massive drinks, including an excellent mojito and muscular shirtless staff. Positively pumping later at night, this high-energy venue can get very crowded later at night and on weekends, but earlier in the evening, it is also a great place for a coffee or pre-gaming.
There is a lot of competition for the most beautiful staff in Madrid, but this chic place has our vote. They were also surprisingly friendly – especially unusual given that in this country, beautiful people so often go hand-and-hand with egotism.
Hot and friendly staff, good drinks, fun music and plenty of dancing later in the evening. The sister bar of LaKama but with different music, but still cute guys.
A gay disco celebrated for its chiseled shirtless bartenders, weekend crowds and strong drinks. A beautiful disco with great music and excellent service – and seriously, those bartenders.
Kavu Next
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Just down the road from its companion bar, Kavu Next is a more low-key gay tapas bar perfect for conversation, cocktails, and food. Perfect for meeting new people over pre-drinks, a quick caffeine hit during the day or even breakfast after a long night at the clubs.
A chic pre-club gay bar with a Moroccan-style interior and “old school” music. Inspired by the film “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart’s memorabilia dotted around, though we recommend going for the upscale atmosphere and fun dance floor.
One of the original gay bear bars in Spain, with pop DJs and a busy darkroom in the basement. You know what to expect here, furry-friendly fun in the simple surrounding – though we did really love the 2-4-1 drink deals, available most nights. Older guys and the occasional younger chaser.
A fabulous gay cocktail bar welcoming everyone from across the LGBT community. Friendly bar staff and 2-4-1 drinks before midnight.
A cocktail bar for the modern day, where being LGBT-friendly is just not enough. Here you can also find wonderful craft cocktails, attentive staff, good coffee, and a relaxed atmosphere.
A gay pub attracts an older crowd with low prices, good music, and friendly service. Small but well located with plenty of the bigger gay clubs nearby for when you want to move on.
A new gay cocktail bar in the center of Chueca with good prices, good drinks, fun music, and a no-attitude atmosphere. Low-key trendy, perfect for starting a night of partying in Gay Madrid.
Another new gay bar in Madrid opened with the intention of bringing to the gayborhood a pink alternative choice for drinks and fun nightlife, without division or labels. Located in the old premises of Fuel, we loved the fashionable decor, handsome crowds, and friendly staff.
Thick is setting the tone for Gay Madrid, adding to the growing competition for the pink dollar with a fresh and innovative venue. Basement bars with cheap drinks and Top 40 pop, just don’t cut it anymore!
Why Not?
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One of the few locations in Gay Madrid that get packed early on in the night. A hip, underground bar with a speak-easy vibe filled with funky retro decor and loud pop music. Drinks are a bit more expensive – and there is a cover charge on weekends, including one drink – but everyone inside is super-friendly, and we found it really easy to make friends.
One of the best gay bars in Madrid and a hotspot we will return to time and time again… Because Why Not?
Continuously offering fun and smiles in Gay Madrid for over 24 years, this glittery, camp hub of queerness is renowned for its daily drag queen and stripper performances that are sure to leave you gagging.
Combining the best of the 80s with modern décor and brilliant service, LL Bar is our go-to spot when we are at a loss of what to do since they have a bit of everything – including a second darker and more cruisey bar upstairs.
Usually playing a multicultural selection of music in various languages, LL Bar helped put Madrid’s gay nightlife on the map – and, after all, is still pulling in the crowds.
Another popular ben dean, though we have trouble distinguishing between them at some point. Perhaps just use our Gay Madrid map to find the location nearest you – or try them all out to find your favorite? Fun and friendly, they all are popular stops before heading on to the gay dance clubs…
A bar for the modern gay bar, adding more avant-garde décor and music to the otherwise very same-same gay scene in the city. The alternative DJ spins all styles from Brit-pop to the soul and electro español, attracting to this fashionable den younger, hipster bears. Run by the HOT group, Enfrente, we still loved the laid-back attitude and that everyone was welcome here.
Rimmel Pub
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A popular gay dance bar and club, if a little run down. However, cheap drinks, neon lights, a small dark room, and pop music do significantly add to the appeal.
A simple bar that attracts a variety of gay men, but particularly bears. There are video screens playing trashy pop, a fully stocked bar with 2-for-1 drinks before midnight and a small dark room out back – what’s not to like?
At over 100 years old, this is one of the oldest taverns in Madrid, renowned not just for its age and its spectacular decoration, LGBT-friendly service and good vermouth on tap, currently officially recognized as the best in Madrid.
Enjoy relaxed preserves and canapés as you are transported back to another time, before being flung back to the 21st in the gay clubs of Madrid after ways. Trust us; it’s a uniquely contrasting experience you won’t soon forget.
Other Gays Bars In Madrid
Located in front of San Fernando Market in Lavapiés, this cute neighborhood gay café served affordable food and drinks all day – though it is a substantial ‘gayer’ at night. Cheap and cheerful, it is scruffy, to say the least, but worth a stop in if you are in the area.
An alternative venue in what is quickly becoming the second gay district of Madrid, La Latina, aka Little Chueca. This locals-only gay dive bar is cute, with good drinks offered and music that always know how to set the tone – especially on a lively Sunday afternoon.
Definitely worth a visit, if you’re nearby, though it is just meters away from La Latina metro station, so it is also easy to reach from anywhere in town.
Another quirk is that the gay bar in La Latina is popular with both lesbians and gays. Filled with kitschy décor, pop tunes and beautiful people, Sixta is a gay dive bar that meets dance hits – again, especially on Sunday afternoons when this narrow bar gets very crowded.
Weekly Gay Dance Parties and Night Clubs In Madrid
Attempting to evoke the opulence of the celebrated New York club, this grand club’ with a capacity for approximately 300 people, is accessed by an illuminated glass walkway and has a giant video wall and a god-like DJ booth.
The extraordinary interior was designed by designer Tomas Alia and inspires you to dance, dance, and dance the night away. Prepare to come late and stay out even later with high-energy Pop Music and Latín hits adding to the feverish atmosphere.
A small but modern dance club attracts a mixed crowd of the young and hip, though it’s open to all. Most guys here are gay (and cute!). A great way to start the party in Chueca.
A hyper-masculine gay dance party takes place every Saturday night. Similar to the gay cruise club Strong, but a bit more vanilla, prepare to lose your shirts and show off those glorious muscles and all vying to be alpha male.
Kluster is a hot, sweaty mess with a long wait at 2.30 am, so arrive early to avoid waiting – you can often find flyer discounts at different gay bars around town. Don’t shave and leave those fashionista outfits at home; this is one party for men who like their men rough around the edges.
A retro gay disco with young crowds, sexy go-go boys, a busy dance floor and DJs pumping out disco music. A classic haunt for young gays and their allies who just want to dance!
Kubrick
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A new creative gay club focussed less on cruising and more on special events, modern performances, and multidisciplinary artists. An alternative gay venue, the likes of which we have seen cropping up in Manchester, Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Hanoi, opts for something between glam-Twitterific realness and muscular, testosterone-driven men.
A gay pop/house party takes place every Thursday night. Halfway between the Chueca gaybourhood and the city center, though they occasionally host parties at the gay sauna Paraiso and in Lisbon.
A small gay club is most popular on Thursday when a lot of other venues are closer. Providing the ubiquitous go-go boys and drag shows Thursday thru Saturday, with karaoke on Monday and Traffic Light parties on Tuesday.
Its style is modern and sophisticated, yet very cozy, with two floors including a more relaxed upstairs bar and lower floor, which is normally more high-energy.
A bear club party every Friday and Saturday night where a furry collective of bearded faces and smiles come out for a trashy party of 80s pop, drag acts and plenty of laughs. You might find the odd twink-chaser or pretty Ken-doll boys in there, but for the most part, it’s about silver foxes, chubs and friendly beers looking for camp fun!
MalaMala @ COOL
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A relatively new gay dance party takes place every Saturday. Drawing in a range of young dancers looking for a good time, with a little something for everyone, including drag queens, sexy go-go dancers and funky music under a glittering disco bar.
Less Frequent Gay Parties In Madrid
A monthly electronic dance music experience only for gay fetish men into masculine attitudes and outfits.The suggested dress codes: leather, rubber, urban, clubbing, sports kit, army, naked, jockstraps, masters & slaves, pup handlers, uniforms, shirtless. Hot and heavy music perfectly compliments the hot and heavy cruise action going down here.
Come without fear and be ready to be looked at, to be touched, to find pleasure. A dark underground electro-fetish party where freedom, diversity, respect, privacy and a passion for music are core. An event full of sensations, deep experiences and surprising moments – especially if you are one of the chosen by their hunters to be part of the show.
The Hunter barge through the crowd, between the steamy bodies, making their way with a determined step, penetrating eyes and well-trained sense of smell to find the victorious prey that, stealthily and daring, will offer submissively themselves to be snatched from the dance floor…
The hunters are arriving… and the preys turn on… Savage. Dark. Dense.Desirable. And like nothing else we have ever experienced with parties taking place every few months…
One of the hottest fetish parties in Madrid – for men only, of course. Expect pumping techno-house / electronic music, half-naked crowds, strippers, and a busy cruising area + playroom. An all fetish dress-codes meaning anything from leather and rubber to jockstraps, sports, uniform, and pup are allowed.
An explosive fusion of energetic tech-house, powerful groove, and strong jackin´ house in a gay masculine fetish atmosphere. An official event party for Sleazy Madrid, generally held three times a year at Zenith Club.
A large gay party with crazy stages, insane visuals and out-of-these-world crowds. Madrid is the home city for these amazing circuit parties, one of the world’s best-known gay clubbing brands, is known for its army of gorgeous dancers + electronic and house DJs.
We Party is the organizer of two of Madrid’s big annual gay events – the New Year Festival and the Gay Pride Festival, + the more frequent Macho Party… Their gay festival also tours the world timed with big queer events in places like Taipei, Los Angeles, London and more – check their website for details.
Officially one of the world’s best gay circuit parties, hosting frequent parties in Ibiza and Madrid, and occasionally on tour in destinations like Girona, Rome, and Mexico City. Complete with costumes, dancers, and international DJs, this spectacular stage-focused show offers plenty to look at – not least of all of the beautifully tanned bodies!
Expect risqué choreography, high energy, and extreme visual effects during the marvelous live shows on stage with beautiful and crazy fashion shows, celebrity appearances and, of course, some great club tunes to keep you moving on the huge dancefloor.
Always in theme and always on an extreme scale, every SuperMartXé night is themed differently, with no expense spared to transform the venue into whichever fantastic fantasy world that particular party promises. Some events are mixed, others exclusively gay; look out for events on their website and book tickets far in advance.
Gay Saunas in Madrid
Had enough of gay cruising in Madrid – either in the bars or elsewhere?
For those who want a bit more guaranteed action, there are eight steamy gay saunas in Madrid that shouldn’t leave you disappointed (unlikely all those faceless accounts on Grindr or the other hookup apps…).
If you want to explore your kinky side without a humid sauna, there is also the gay Madrid cruise club scene which is as sensually self-indulgent as you will find anywhere on Earth.
Foreigners are happily welcome in all gay sex clubs and saunas in Madrid, and although many speak English, you’ll still need to be good at reading non-verbal cues. Luckily we have our gay sauna guide to help you out!
Most saunas here are open 24/7. While not the cleanest in Europe, they still offer plenty of fun – though watch out for rent boys at some locations.
In Gay Madrid, you will quickly discover saunas are not mixed – but rather attract one type of gay client, and if you don’t fit the desired audience, you won’t have that much fun. We don’t make the rules, but broadly we recommend Sauna Octopus for bears and middle ages guys, Sauna Paraiso for young twinks and jocks, and Sauna Principe for guys over 50.
Does this division hurt our community and allow for discrimination? Sure, but if you want to actually have fun, then you need to follow their rulebook.
A busy 24/7 sauna popular with the younger crowd, even though it is a few metros stops away from the center (closer to Anton Martin Metro Station than Lavapiés). Spread over three floors, inside, you can find open showers, a dry+ steam sauna, a large Jacuzzi, a fully-stocked bar, a busy, dark room, private cabins and a basement with slings and chairs. They also offer male massages if booked in advance.
Well, hello, boys! This may be one of the oldest gay saunas in Madrid, but it almost exclusively attracted the youngest and most beautiful men. Imagine a Bel Ami production video, and this is what you will basically find here, with as much peacocking and attitude as you would also expect.
One of the large saunas in Madrid, in this1400 m2 complex, you will find a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, heated pool, large jacuzzi, color therapy showers, 30 private cabins, 3 darkrooms, cinema room, glory hole and – if you are up for it – a rather hardcore BDSM area with cell, colt, the cross of San Andrés and swing bondage.
If you are older than 30 or not in the best shape, you probably won’t have much fun here, unless you simply enjoy watching.
A small, local sauna popular with the after-work cruising crowd and middle age guys. Sure, there is no bar here, but the guys are friendly, the atmosphere social, and the facilities spotless. There is no bar, but there is a sauna, private cabins, and a darkroom, + a fun male massage from rather cute guys.
A 24-hour gay sauna in the center of Madrid, very close to Chueca. One of the largest gay saunas in Europe, with around 100 cabins, a Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna, a gym, a bar, and a Jacuzzi. As all of us, gays know, however, bigger isn’t always better, and everything is rather dirty and outdated when not that busy; it can feel like you are walking miles just to find any action…
A popular bear sauna in Madrid with over 1,000 square meters for you to get away, relax and indulge. Inside, you will find a Finnish Sauna, Turkish Baths, a heated pool with water jets and cascades, 20 private rooms, 2 darkrooms, a XXX movie theatre and a kinky bondage area with a cell and swings. Open 365 days a year and not closing over the weekend.
A gay sauna in central Madrid near the Chueca gay district with Turkish baths, a Finnish sauna, and sixty double and private cabins equipped with a bed, dark room, bar, and Jacuzzi. They also offer a very popular gay body-to-body massage.
Sauna Adán
(Temporarily or permanently closed. If you know something, please suggest an edit.)
Dirty, disgusting and very seedy, this is a hustler sauna filled with rent boys from Brazil and Latin America. We do not recommend going here since there are so many fabulous (and free) experiences to be had in the other gay sauna in Madrid, but we have chosen to include them, so you do not end up here by mistake.
A fun sauna for older, mature men offering two stories loaded with fun: dark labyrinths, 20 private rooms, dark rooms, XXX movie theatre, and a recently renovated bar. Of course, there is also a Finnish Sauna, Turkish Baths and a large Jacuzzi complete with two hydromassage modes.
Owned by the same team as Octopus and Paraiso, this outlet is very much for guys 50+ and is busiest between 2-6 in the afternoon, though they are open 24 hours on the weekend.
Gay Cruising and Fetish Clubs in Madrid
If the bars, gay parties or saunas in Madrid are too vanilla for you, perhaps these fetish clubs and cruise lounges are a better fit.
We have to warn you; however, Madrid has one of the most intense fetish scenes we have ever come across – up there with Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Prague and it is definitely not for everyone. We have tried to identify places for the more ‘initiated,’ but there is nothing vanilla here.
Most of these ultra-hardcore cruising venues / gay sex clubs in Madrid are centrally located and easy to find, but you can use our Gay Madrid map at the end to find the closest to you.
A gay fetish sex bar located in the heart of Madrid, in the Gay Chueca neighborhood. Recently remodeled with a carnal-industrial style but still completely focused on its gay fetish audience and its desire to provide a safe and fun space for uncomplicated sex.
The Cage offers all its customers a wide variety of facilities so they can enjoy the most of the bar, including a wardrobe to store clothes and valuables, cabins, glory holes, sling, Cross of Saint Andrews, film projections and free condoms and lubricant.
An infamous cruising disco with a busy, dark room, one of the largest in Europe. The inauguration of Strong Center was a revolution back in 1993 for Madrid. For the first time, a place existed that allowed the gay public to interact with absolute freedom.
Today still, one of the most famous cruising clubs in Gay Chueca still offers the same atmosphere as when it was founded. A place where freedom and sexuality merge and sleazy, testosterone-fuelled clients are given free rein to realize their fantasies.
Leather Club
Despite its name, this small cruise venue doesn’t have a dress code and actually has surprisingly little leather. We were a bit disappointed, to be honest. Mostly frequented by older guys, there is a large bar and two floors offering dark rooms, private cabins, and glory holes.
A gay private club located in the very center of Madrid, between Las Letras and Lavapies. Embracing sexual diversity though mainly attracting fetish fans and leather guys, there is a range of themed nights every week worth checking out. Cute bartenders; however, we found the atmosphere a bit lackluster and didn’t stay long.
A popular gay hook-up location close to the Chueca subway with a strict dress code of naked or underwear. There is often a line late at night with three floors – with guys having sex on the top floor or in the dark basement – and a bar/reception on the ground floor. There are cheaper prices for under 28 guys, roughly half-price, lockers, cabins, showers, and glory holes.
We loved this gay sex club in Barcelona, so we absolutely had to come to their Madrid venue. Suffice it to say; we were not disappointed. A new-concept space where music, hot bodies, and an outgoing atmosphere combine to create a paradise where you can make all of your spicy daydreams come true.
One of Spain’s best gay sex club venues provides a safe place to explore a wide variety of different guys.
Hosting frequent themed parties, there is a lot of raunchy fun to be had here in the dark rooms and cabins, most with glory holes and spy holes so you can keep in touch with your neighbor. Or simply relax and recharge in the chilled-out café then take a look in the onsite adult toys shop.
Free lockers are available to store your valuables before heading in, and the ticket is valid all day, so you can jump in and out.
Formerly known as the substation, this is a private gay club for anyone with a sexy masculine attitude and strict rules dictating complete respect for others. Situated in the heart of Madrid, only a short fifteen minutes walk from Gay Chueca, here you will find everything you desire for anonymous, no-strings-attached fun.
Found in a huge space in an underground garage, there is a large changing area, coat check, chill out zone, labyrinths, water sports area, open and closed cabins, smoking area, slings, cages, sports playroom, and mood-setting music to maintain the illusion.
Rather pricey entrance fee, but considering the drinks are affordable and the range of facilities we think it is worth it. Very intense and not for the uninitiated.
Take off your clothes, leave your reserves behind and enjoy an intense and passion-fuelled experience without taboos or restrictions The Ring is a private nudist meeting club for gay men who like to interact with others freely and out limitations other than respect for others.
In this club, you can enjoy 500 square meters of slings, wet areas, glory holes, cages, dungeons, whips, handcuffs, and dark labyrinths. This is not for the faint of heart, and even we found almost too much-naked flesh and writhing bodies, but thanks to the cheap drinks, we could be tempted again. Membership is available at the door.
A gay cruising club that is more vanilla than most of the sex clubs in Madrid, perfect for first-time explorers. There is a modern bar, a small play area, dark rooms, booths and a lack of guys with attitudes. Look out for their regular theme parties if you have something, in particular, you are curious to try. And if you think some of the spaces look familiar, during the day, many gay porn companies from Spain shoot here…
A brand new fetish sex club in Madrid exclusively for gay men, embracing individual preferences and sexual freedom. Firewood Bar Madrid has totally new facilities, including a shop, lockers, dark room, bunk beds, sling and toilets with adaptation for intimate hygiene. There is a dress code of naked, underwear or fetish gear enforced.
The name says it all, really…A bar only for gay people to have sex. Naked is a meeting point based on freedom of expression limited only by respect for others and the locals with brand new facilities and two rooms spread over two floors, including a large dark room, Saint Andrew’s Cross, Sling, film screening, and secure lockers.
There is a dress code or naked/underwear/jockstrap every day, as you would expect, given it’s in the name.
A dark gay sex club catering to masculine men, bears, and daddies of different tastes and tendencies. Leather, bears, rubber, sport, nudists, and BDSM more are all welcome here, and you have the freedom to come dressed as you want – except for theme parties which have strict dress codes.
More of a bar with a small dark room space, in our opinion, but given there is generally no cover charge and reasonably priced drinks we were not complaining. Cultivating an atmosphere of freedom, curiosity, sympathy, and respect, this is a nice ‘starter option’ for entering the Madrid gay cruising scene.
Gay Map Of Madrid
Finding it hard to envisage where everything is Gay Madrid? Hopefully, this queer-centric map helps where we have marked all the bars, clubs, parties, hotels, saunas, massages and more will help you stay in the spot best suited to you!