Madrid is an excellent tourist destination overall, as it is one of the most visited cities in Europe, and is the capital of Spain, one of the world’s most attractive countries for tourism purposes. And who would’ve thought something different, when Madrid has the perfect combination between tradition and modernity? While parts of its architecture are reminiscent of past times and a completely different period, the city has embraced modernity through its attitude, always moving forward and being at the forefront. Once you arrive in Madrid, you’ll immediately feel welcomed by the city and its people.
And since we’re in the middle of Pride Month, we thought that it would be a great idea to talk about Madrid, because it is one of the best destinations for LGBTQ+ people in Europe, thanks to its openness and vast local community, which has created a massive hub of places for LBGTQ+ people to feel welcomed, seen and free. Remember that we talked about the cultural, artistic and theater scene of Berlin for the LGBTQ+ community not long ago? Well, today it is Madrid's turn, so we'll focus on Chueca, its LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
Getting to know Chueca:
In recent decades, Chueca has built its reputation as the LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Madrid, a lively place where everyone is welcome and the streets are always filled with people enjoying its electric atmosphere. But it wasn’t always like that. During the 70s, this was a very problematic area of the city due to issues such as drugs and poverty, which resulted in several businesses closing up and Chueca becoming deserted. Given this, what makes the story of the neighborhood so special, is that it was the people’s idea to get back the area and revitalize it, creating a vibrant neighborhood with lots of businesses, clubs, bars and restaurants. On the surface, Chueca is like any other neighborhood in Madrid, with its classic architecture and structure, but once you dive deeper, you’ll see that Chueca’s spirit is completely different, always striving for tolerance, love and a sense of community that you won’t find anywhere else. Also, there’s no other place in Madrid where you’ll see so many rainbow flags!
Of course, Chueca becomes a tourist hot-spot every Pride Month because it is the epicenter of all of Madrid’s celebrations and events, but throughout the year, you’ll find plenty of things to be entertained and to enjoy there. Clearly, most of the shops, boutiques and other businesses of the area have been designed by and for the LGBTQ+ community, so visiting Chueca becomes a great opportunity to support queer owned and operated spots. In all honesty, just wandering around the neighborhood is an adventure in itself, but spending the whole day there and waiting for the night to fall and all of the clubs to open is one of the best ways to make the most of what Chueca has to offer.
Chueca is a great destination, not only during Pride Month, but year-round!
Wandering around the neighborhood:
Chueca is filled with surprises. At the heart of the neighborhood, you’ll find Plaza de Chueca, the square that will give you a small preview of everything that awaits in the numerous alleyways that make up the neighborhood. You can grab some coffee at a café and gather the energy necessary to explore… then, the tour begins. For example, if you’re a culture aficionado, we think that you will appreciate a pair of libraries specialized in LGBTQ+ literature and cinema called “Berkana Librería” and “A Different Life”. For art lovers, there’s also plenty to do, because Chueca is home to some avant-garde galleries, with interesting concepts and breathtaking pieces of art. First of all, we have the Galería Échale Guindas, a project which aims to bring art and art lovers closer through innovative exhibitions, unique pieces and a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques. On the other hand, we have Mad is Mad, a gallery that opened in 2005 with a certain vision: to bring Madrid’s madness and its beauty to one place, and capture its essence through the works of up-and-coming and already established artists, with diverse concepts and formats.
You’re in Madrid, which means that eating is a key part of your visit. Thus, you cannot escape from the Mercado San Antón, one of the busiest spots in Chueca, and the perfect place to get a little taste of Madrid. This market started in the 19th century, but the Mercado San Antón that we know nowadays, is the result of years of remodeling, in order to make the market a reflection of the changing times and the modernization process of the whole neighborhood. The final upgrade of the market began in 2020, and thanks to it, it has turned into a gastronomic and artistic hub, with stalls for fresh products, restaurants and its bar with a terrace, as well as an art gallery that reflects the historic connection between San Antón and Chueca.
The Mercado San Antón is a great place to taste a little bit of Spain right at the heart of Chueca.
A night you won’t forget in Chueca:
Clearly, we cannot end our blog on Chueca without mentioning its amazing nightlife, especially tailored for the LGBTQ+ community. Think about your night divided into two parts: first, you grab something to eat and brace yourself for what’s to come; then, you head to one of the famous clubs that give Chueca its reputation. We think that a great way to start the night would be by going to Diurno, a restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere and a double nature, because during the day, it is peaceful and calm, and during the night, it is energetic and upbeat, which will be perfect to prepare yourself for a club. The restaurant’s menu is the perfect blend between Spanish and international gastronomy, and it is ideal to go with friends or your partner, because the dishes are designed to be shared. You can drink some cocktails and move to the beat of the music, and then… off you go!
Delirio (or DLRO Live), is one of Madrid’s most iconic nightclubs, and the perfect place for the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy an unforgettable night. Each day until sunrise, this club is open for anyone looking for the best drag artists and DJs of Madrid. Additionally, Delirio has known how to keep things interesting, because aside from dancing until your feet hurt, you’ll be able to experience all kinds of shows, live music, exhibitions and different types of performances. Another very important thing to know about the club, is that its compromise to the LGBTQ+ community isn’t exclusively to provide them with great entertainment, but more importantly, to support the causes of several organizations lead by members of the community and give a platform to LGBTQ+ artists, oftentimes overlooked and underrepresented.
Diurno is a great restaurant that will allow you to kick off an incredible night full of exquisite food, delicious cocktails and lots of dancing.
With this we say goodbye to Madrid (for now!). We hope that this blog was helpful in getting to know Chueca better, and understand that it is a great destination in Madrid, not only during Pride Month, but throughout the year, because its compromise with the LGBTQ+ community and its open-minded and progressive nature is permanent. While you can have a quiet day of sightseeing and shopping, your night can be wild and lively in any of the clubs or bars that abound in Chueca. There’s a reason why the neighborhood is so popular in Madrid, discover it for yourself.
Enjoyed this article?
