Live music

La Fontana De Oro is Spanish for the golden fountain. I don't know if they are hinting at leprechauns and their pots of gold because it's a strange name for an Irish bar. It's situated between Plaza Del Sol and Plaza Santa Ana, an area of many bars of this ilk where you can easily meet and mingle with drunk foreigners. Although an irish bar, La Fontana De Oro is not a traditional pub but a place you really feel at home being plastered, dancing and making a fool of yourself. It's open til 6pm every night of the week, so there's plenty time for it.

The upstairs is a very large room on split levels with two separate bars. The bar on the right has seats whereas the lower one has high tables for resting your beer. At the entrance there's a dance floor
and a stage for live music raised a couple of meters above. Check out their website for the latest bands.

Downstairs you'll find a strange medieval look. There are wooden tables with large throne like seats. It's a great place to go for a more civilised chat away from the rowdiness above. Down here you'll also find a little private room with a pool table. It can be a little difficult to get game because it's one of the few bars that has a pool table in Madrid.

Maria Pandora is located in the quiet area of La Latina, away from the crowded party streets so famous on a Sunday afternoon. It is a self proclaimed library come champagne bar and it succeeds in being as much a place for romantics as intellectuals.

For the romantics it offers large windows overlooking park Vistillas and of course the champagne. With candle lit tables and peaceful music this is a great place to take a date around sunset. For the intellectuals the bar is decorated with frequently changing photo and painting exhibitions and there is a section filled with books which you can read while sipping your champagne seated on vintage furniture. There are many events such as live music or poetry readings so be sure to check out the website to see what’s coming up.

Normally I wouldn’t dream of recommending a Karaoke bar but I was convinced to go in and I have to say it’s worth a mention. It was set up in the 80’s and I don’t think it has changed one bit. When you first walk in you spot a vintage sofa that’s dressed up like the back of a 50’s Chevrolet. Next you turn round and there’s a life size statue of some fly looking dude.

They have a pretty good selection of Karaoke even a lot in English. When it’s your turn to sing they just hand you a pair of radio mikes so you can sing from wherever you are in the bar. What more can I say, just get drunk and have a good time.