Night Spot: The Literary Quarter

Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras (meaning: Literary Quarter) was once home to Spain’s illustrious writers of the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the Barrio de las Letras is a popular night area teeming with interesting bars and cafes like Café Central and Guau.

Café Central is an old-style live jazz bar that regularly draws top jazz artists. However, the place’s reputation is larger than the size of the venue.

A New York meets Madrid sort of place, Guau is a cocktail bar that gets pretty packed, but has cocktails that are worth the wait.

The Barrio de las Letras’s literary heritage lives on in the pavement though: literary quotes can be found in gold lettering scattered throughout the streets.

[Photo: Paula Ortiz Lopez]