Celebrating a birthday in Madrid can be an ordeal if you’re not sure what to do. And if you decide to have a party at home, chances are your house will end up a mess and your relationship with your neighbors will be even worse. So, exploring all the possibilities for an event to celebrate that you’re still alive seems like the most sensible option, especially in a city with so many options.
Rent a space
One of the first options that comes to mind is to move the party to a venue, and within this there are two other alternatives: renting a space by the hour where you are responsible for the music, food, drinks, and so on, or exploring the option of some bars and restaurants that already have a modus operandi with prices, space, and even set menus for celebrating birthdays in Madrid.
1. Café del Rey
Image courtesy of Café del Rey
With a capacity of up to 100 people (we don’t know how long your friends list is), the terrace at Café del Rey is perfect for good weather. It’s actually a tiki bar with hammocks and surfboards, more typical of a Caribbean beach bar than the center of the capital. Daiquiris and other exotic cocktails go down a treat with the chill-out music and white sand covering the patio. Its cocktail menu for events with a two-hour open bar is one of the most comprehensive in the city.
📍Paseo del Rey, 22 (Principe Pío)
💸 From €40
2. Espacio Off Latina
Image courtesy of Off Latina
Yes, it’s also a theater, but Off Latina has two rooms and a bar that can be rented for all kinds of events, including birthdays, perfect for avoiding making a racket in your building. If you also want to forget about the preparations, you can hire the catering and/or beverage service at the bar.
📍Calle de los Mancebos, 4 (La Latina)
💸 €150 per hour. Minimum of three hours.
With brunch
If there is one hedonistic plan par excellence in the millennial imagination, it is a morning of brunch. What for previous generations was an aperitif of vermouth and tapas is now replaced by a hybrid of breakfast and lunch with a cocktail to top it off, which has conquered the weekend menus of many restaurants and cafes in the capital. There is no better way to start a day of celebration.
3. Brunch at Casa Suecia
Editorial credit: Casa Suecia
Since its renovation, the Hotel Casa Suecia has become a gastronomichot spot in the capital. The Casa Suecia restaurant has its own bakery, so you can imagine how delicious and freshly made its pastries are. As if that weren’t enough, they also make their own yogurt: could this be the most artisanal brunch in Madrid? Perhaps. Go, order it, and top it off with a good cocktail, because it’s a special day.
📍Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 4 (Sol-Chueca)
4. Carmencita Brunch
Image courtesy of La Carmencita Bar
Although there are many places offering brunch in Madrid, there are few that specialize in it. Carmencita Bar is one of them. A meeting point for hipsters, foodies, and lovers of eggs Benedict (theirs are some of the best we’ve ever tasted). Their brunch has several options to choose from, although there is also a set menu that’s perfect for those who prefer to let themselves be guided.
📍Calle de San Vicente Ferrer, 51 and 57 (Malasaña); Calle Sombrerería, 6 (Lavapiés) and Calle de la Cava Alta, 32 (La Latina)
💸 From €15.50
A special dinner
Let’s say your birthday falls on a weekday and you have to work. What better way to save the day than by having a nice dinner? If we’re being fancy, it’s the perfect excuse to try one of the capital’s Michelin-starred restaurants. But if you want to discover your next favorite restaurant, one that’s versatile and unpretentious, here are some suggestions:
5. Yugo The Bunker: Michelin-starred Japanese cuisine
Photo: Yugo The Bunker
Yugo the Bunker is the symbiosis of experience and product quality that can only lead to one thing: one of the best gastronomic evenings, whatever your culinary background. This Michelin-starred restaurant replicates the experience of eating in a Japanese bunker and brings together some of the best cuts of fish to be found in Spain in its sea bass belly nigiri or Ora King salmon usuzukuri.
📍Calle San Blas, 4 (Las Letras)
💸 Tasting menu from €145
6. Yeca Estrit Fud
Image courtesy of Yeca Estrit Fud
It’s difficult to compare Yeca Estrit Fud, so it’s best to let the menu speak for itself. Among its strengths is the green chicken curry with pumpkin—the level of spiciness is suitable for all palates and perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the pumpkin. Or the Thai beef, lime, and herb salad. Another Vietnamese-inspired dish, Banh Xeo (crispy crepes with bacon, shrimp, sprouts, and herbs), deserves a special mention.
One advantage is that you won’t waste time choosing between dishes, as the menu is small (just eight dishes and one dessert). Another advantage is that you’ll spend around €20 per person to eat what other restaurants would sell you for a much higher price. It’s a small place (literally four tables, and they do two seatings for lunch and dinner), so it’s best to make a reservation.
Paseo de la Chopera, 33 (Arganzuela)
Around €20 per person.
Spa
If we continue our ode to the most superficial pleasures, the path leads us only here. No need for explanations, it’s your birthday, it’s time to enjoy yourself.
7. Four Seasons
Image courtesy of Hotel Four Seasons
A treat is a treat, and this one is top notch. It’s the largest urban spa, in Spain’s first Four Seasons hotel, and undoubtedly one of the best options for celebrating a birthday in Madrid. It’s all extravagance and luxury. Its four floors cover a total of 1,400 square meters, including an indoor pool with the best views, a solarium overlooking Plaza de Canalejas, rooms for the most exclusive treatments, and a 24-hour gym.
Calle de Sevilla, 3 (downtown)
Treatments from €95
A getaway
Sometimes the best thing is to be able to spend as much time as you want with someone, and there’s nothing like a getaway near Madrid to focus on just that, on being.
8. La Bodega del Quintín
If, in addition to sharing an experience, you can take something away from it, even better. That’s why an evening of wine tasting, cheese tasting, dinner, and breakfast is an ideal plan for celebrating a birthday near Madrid without having to think about every detail. All you have to do is make a reservation and let yourself be carried away by the tannins in the wine.
Calle Toril, 2 (Villarejo de Salvanés)
Basic package for two people €140
9. El Toril Glamping
Image courtesy of El Toril
At El Toril, you can forget about light pollution and sleep under a sky full of real stars, and you’ll only be an hour and a quarter from the center of Madrid. Its bubble rooms, with transparent ceilings and walls, are equipped with a telescope and have a private jacuzzi. It’s the perfect opportunity to go on a nice hike and then return to the tent for a relaxing bath, or even a spa session.
📍Velada, Toledo
Bed and breakfast for two people €275
Courses for pleasure
In a world where almost everything we do has a practical purpose, sometimes we need to do things for knowledge and pleasure. If you imagine a parallel life in which you would do many things for no other reason than this, it’s time to take advantage of your birthday to learn what you really want.
10. Espositivo Academy
Image courtesy of Academia Espositivo
Espositivo is a painting workshop and exhibition gallery that brings together painting enthusiasts aged 8 to 64. There are intensive courses, others that last all year, and even a master’s degree. They are open to everyone from beginners to people who want to improve and explore their skills. Sculpture, drawing in motion, and watercolor are some of the options you can find at this highly sought-after academy.
📍Calle Palafox, 5 (Chamberí)
Depends on the course.
11. Marta Cerámica
Image courtesy of Marta Cerámica
And in this trend of using our hands again to create something tangible and beautiful, or at least try to, there are workshops such as Marta Cerámica. Their courses are very flexible, ranging from two hours to year-long courses. They also offer a firing service and private lessons.
📍 Calle San Anastasio, 2 (Arganzuela)
Pottery experience from €240
Picnic
If you are lucky enough to have your birthday in spring or early autumn, this is a very enjoyable and economical option.
12. The Lake at Casa de Campo
Editorial credit: Shutterstock
The area around the lake is ideal for picnics, where you can sit and enjoy the sun, food, and flowers, and you can also see the iconic Edificio España building from some spots. If it’s too crowded and you want to have a peaceful party, there’s an area behind the tennis courts with tables and a viewpoint, which is sure to be less crowded and much greener. You may come across a rabbit burrow along the way, as the area is full of them, but you have to be careful.
📍 Casa de Campo
13. El Pardo picnic area
Editorial credit: Shutterstock.com
If you prefer a picnic area so you don’t have to lay your birthday feast on the ground, one of the best is in El Pardo. Follow the Manzanares River Trail to reach this forest. Cross the Capuchinos Bridge and skirt this magnificent mountain,one of the best-preserved Mediterranean forests in Europe. Once you reach the dam near Mingorrubio, you will find an area with tables designed for outdoor dining.
📍 Calle San Anastasio, 2 (El Pardo)
14. El Parque de las Siete Tetas
Editorial credit: Sergio Pinilla / Shutterstock.com
Originally called Parque del Cerro del Tío Pío, the Parque de las Siete Tetas is a must-see viewpoint for anyone who loves good views and picnics at sunset. Its seven hills (hence the nickname) overlook the cityskyline. And if bringing snacks and towels to lie down on is already worth it, imagine blowing out the candles as the afternoon draws to a close and the sky turns the color it turns in Madrid… there’s no better way to romanticize life (or better time than on your birthday).
📍 Calle de Jazmín Palencia, 2 (Puente de Vallecas)
15. Quinta de la Fuente del Berro Park
Editorial credit: Ludaro | shutterstock.com
Ponds, fountains, a small palace… a (literal) oasis of greenery without leaving Madrid (and without referring to the Retiro). With more than 13 hectares,Fuente del Berro is a historic garden perfect for a picnic. We especially recommend the area around the Bécquer Monument (quieter than the main lawn) and near the waterfall (a steeper area, but there are grassy areas just above the waterfall where you can sit and listen to the sound of the water).
📍 Calle de Enrique D’Almonte, 1 (Salamanca)
Treat yourself
Getting gifts is great, but buying yourself what you want most is the perfect reward for another year on earth.
16. Wow
Wow Concept is located on Gran Vía and is the evolution of the concept store into a luxury shopping center. It has a selection of beauty and fashion brands that are hard to find in Spain; they are daring, closely linked to design, and high-priced. They also have a floor dedicated to decoration and another dedicated to technology and video games. Here you don’t buy necessities, but treats.
📍Calle Gran Vía, 18 (Downtown)
17. Taschen
Having a Taschen bookstore in Madrid is a privilege that should be taken advantage of from time to time, and treating yourself to a book is the best way to do so. This publisher focuses on publications on art, design, architecture, photography, and cinema. Many of its editions are collector’s items. Examples of the latter include Dalí’sTarotbook and one of the most popular,The Personal Archivesof Stanley Kubrick. So it’s the perfect place to buy a gift for that ascetic friend who shows off hiscoffee table books.
Calle de Barquillo, 30 (Chueca)
An experience in the dark
18.BuzzAttack: only the studio spotlights light you up
BuzzAttack is an immersive game show on a TV set lit only by spotlights, with more tension and laughter with each round. Teams of 4 to 12 people compete in tests of wit, memory, music, and speed at the pace of the show. For birthdays, it can be customized with questions and challenges about the group: who knows more about the birthday boy or girl? How much does the birthday boy or girl know about the others? Also ideal for bachelor parties and celebrations.
C. de Raimundo Lulio, 9 (Chamberí)
🎟️ Tickets from €20 per person.
19. Candlelight
If you want a forgettable birthday that’s a bit boring, this isn’t the option for you. But if you want one that you’ll remember and will most likely want to repeat the following year, going to a Candlelight concert is the best way to achieve this.
With tributes to artists ranging from Serrat to Taylor Swift and Sinatra, these concerts feature music from a wide variety of genres in their most classic form. And all in iconic venues in Madrid that, just for that night, are covered with thousands (yes, thousands) of candles. There are special concerts, and then there are these.
20. Neon Brush
You know those experiences you always want to do but wait for an important day? This is the important day, and Neon Brush is the perfect experience. Spend an hour and a half painting with your friends, family, partner, or accompanied by your inner Picasso? Definitely yes. A carefully curated atmosphere with black light, fluorescent paint, music, and drinks available on site. The perfect birthday (self) gift.
Calle de Fernández de la Hoz, 52 (Chamberí)
21. A private movie theater
Image courtesy of Artistic Metropol
Artistic Metropol is one of the cheapest cinemas you can go to in Madrid, but you can also rent a room for you and your friends for your birthday. The price per person is €5 and you have to get a minimum of 10 people together, who can enjoy the movie of your choice for two hours. If you want, they can even show a short personal video that you have prepared for the occasion.
22. The Jury Experience
You probably hadn’t thought of being a judge for a day as the perfect plan for your birthday, but let’s be honest: it is. The Jury Experience is an immersive trial (no real drama) based on moral dilemmas in which the audience decides the final verdict. Yes, you. From cases involving million-dollar thefts, badly handled love triangles, or AI errors with fatal consequences, you are the one who delivers justice (or not) in this show.
📍 Palacio de la Prensa, Plaza del Callao, 4 (Downtown), Espacio Madriz, Calle de Cabello Lapiedra, 4 (Latina), and Cines Callao, Plaza del Callao, 3 (Downtown)