La Vía Láctea

A dive bar that's been running since the 1980s heyday of La Movida Madrileña, walls plastered with band flyers and vintage graffiti, pool table in the back, indie and rock on the speakers. As close as it gets to Malasaña's countercultural roots still functioning unchanged.

The crowd skews mixed-age — original Movida regulars alongside a new generation discovering the same bar — and the vibe is unpretentious in a neighbourhood that can otherwise feel curated. It gets loud and packed after midnight on weekends; earlier evening is calmer for actually talking over a beer. Cash is appreciated, though cards are generally accepted.