Every summer the wandering of those who stay in Madrid has a common direction: to find a shelter in the city where to take refuge from the heat. Doing so without being forced to consume in a city of hard squares and parks that close when the mercury gets hot is a challenge, but there are more and more alternatives: among them Juegatorio, a new free space that has been launched this summer.
Located in the Citizen Laboratory of La Casa Encendida (Ronda de Valencia, 2), this “climatic oasis”, as it has been baptized, is available to citizens to spend time playing board games under the air conditioning.
There are games for all ages -from 3 to 99 years- and of all kinds: to play alone, in pairs or in groups. So you can go alone, with family, friends or willing to meet new people: here the games are understood as a tool for entertainment, but also creative and social.
What games are there in Juegatorio?
The variety ranges from classics such as chess, parcheesi, dominoes or mus to Terraforming Mars, Catán, Dixit, 7 Wonders, Survive The Island, Jungle Speed, Carcassonne, Exploding Kittens, Virus, Código Secreto or Hellapagos.
The list, however, can be as long as everyone wants to make it, since they also offer the option of taking any of the games you have at home to play there.
Juegatorio Rules
Like any good game, this space also has its rules. They are as follows:
- Ask for the game you want to play inside the space.
- Treat the games with affection.
- When you finish, pick it up carefully and return it to the staff.
- You can bring your games from home.
- Take care of the furniture.
- Keep the playground clean and tidy.
- Watch your voice volume. It is important to create a calm and pleasant atmosphere.
Dates and schedule
Juegatorio will be open until August 2 from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11:00h to 15:00h and from 16:00h to 20:00h.
Climatic shelters in Madrid
As a consequence of the increasingly frequent extreme heat due to the climate crisis, in recent years initiatives have been emerging that transform spaces in the capital into shelters that guarantee thermal comfort in the face of high temperatures.
The Círculo de Bellas Artes repeats this 2025 with its own, and this summer, in addition to Juegatorio, the following will join it:
- Refugio vegetal, at CentroCentro. At the Gloria Fuertes Hall until August 24.
- Un cuarto de estar para la ciudad (A living room for the city), at Matadero.. At Nave Una until July 31.
Other activities at La Casa Encendida in summer.
Summer at La Casa Encendida will be extended until August 3 with classic summer programs such as the Magnetic Terrace: films and concerts outdoors while the sun sets on the rooftop.
The Nest Space also opens its doors , designed for children from 0 to 3 years old, with four large pieces of furniture “that encourage movement, play and early exploration”.
Both the Patio and the Terrace open Cafetería Refugio, a social project promoted by Lakook to promote inclusion and awareness through gastronomy. You can check its schedule at this link. In addition to all this, there are other options such as free exhibitions.