La Latina When Dinner Becomes a Migration

Madrid's nightlife is a ritual: dinner at 10 PM, drinks at midnight, club at 2 AM, home at 6. Calle de la Cava Baja in La Latina is where it starts -- a street of tapas bars where each stop is one drink and two bites before moving to the next. Juana la Loca serves a tortilla with caramelized onion that people queue for. Txirimiri does Basque pintxos on toothpicks.

Insider tip: Madrid's Metro runs until 1:30 AM and reopens at 6 AM. The gap is designed to keep you out. Arriving at a club before 1:30 AM marks you as a tourist.