Museo Chicote

Museo Chicote is the most famous cocktail bar in Madrid and, by its own account, the first cocktail bar in Spain. It was opened in 1931 by the legendary barman Perico Chicote on the Gran Vía, the grand avenue that was then the most modern street in the city. Chicote commissioned the architect Luis Gutiérrez Soto to design the interior, and the Art Deco style he created has been preserved, so its sofas and chrome chairs still set the scene for an evening out.

During the middle of the 20th century, Chicote became a meeting place for writers, film stars and anyone passing through Madrid with a taste for nightlife. Ernest Hemingway drank here, and the bar's guests included Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly, while historical photographs show visits by Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren. Today the bar trades on that history but is very much a working venue, with lighting effects and a DJ adding a modern layer to the classic room.

The cocktail list mixes the classics with house creations, and it is a fine place for a dry martini or a gin and tonic in surroundings that feel unchanged since the 1930s. Early evening is calmer and better for conversation; after midnight the mood shifts towards a lively bar with music. At weekends the bar also serves brunch from early afternoon with music, which must be booked in advance and is only for adults.

Chicote opens from mid-afternoon on weekdays and from early afternoon at weekends, and stays open until around 3:00 or later. It suits couples, groups of friends and anyone who wants a drink with a sense of history before or after a show on Gran Vía. Prices reflect the location and the name, but a single cocktail here is part of the Madrid experience. Smart casual dress fits the setting.

The bar is at Gran Vía 12, in the stretch between the Metrópolis Building and the Plaza del Callao. Gran Vía metro station on lines 1 and 5 is a few minutes' walk away, and Sevilla and Banco de España stations are also close. The theatres of Gran Vía and the bars of Chueca, just to the north, are within easy walking distance for a longer night out.