As the Spanish usually don’t have dinner until 10pm, don't expect the nightlife to get under way until well after 11pm. If you arrive before that time, you’ll have the place all to yourself – that is, if you find it open at all. 

Before you hit the clubs, indulge in the best that Spain has to offer in terms of food – tapas bars. The Spanish way of having dinner is by embarking upon a tasca crawl, which means going from tavern to tavern and sampling a selection of house tapas and wine in each. The best locations for a tasca are the area of Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, with bar- and tavern-packed streets such as Cava Baja, Cava Alta and Cava de San Miguel. Another recommended area is the streets off Plaza de Isabel II and Plaza de Oriente.

Your experience of true Spanish nightlife won't be complete without a visit to several bars or pubs in the capital. Sample the excellent Spanish wine and beer, which often come with some free tapas. In fact, if you plan on having several drinks, visiting a bar that offers free snacks might be a good option for a filling dinner. When ordering mixed drinks, be prepared for a dash of alcohol considerably larger than anywhere else in Western Europe.

Recommendable spots include Hemingway's favourite, Cervecería Alemana (Plaza de Santa Ana 6), Museo Chicote (Gran Vía 12), which is famous for its cocktails, El Anciano Rey de los Vinos (Calle de Bailén 19), renowned for its collections of vintage wine, and Taberna Las Gabrieles (Calle Echegaray 17), serving excellent tapas. The energetic atmosphere of the bars in the Arguelles/Moncloa area is close to the university campus.

Generally, pubs are more intimate, cosy and quiet places than bars. They typically feature darker lighting, comfortable seating and background music, sometimes performed by a live band. Opening hours vary greatly; however, the general rule is that only establishments in residential areas close before midnight. Others might stay open as late as 3-4am.