centroUntil 01:00
Casa Mingo on Paseo de la Florida in Madrid is the 1888 Asturian sidreria serving roast chicken and natural cider through 01:00 daily; the post-theatre crowd still piles in for the late-lunch order.
Try: Roast chicken plus sidra
Tip: Walk-in only. The 22:00 to 24:00 slot is the calmest; whole roast chicken 12 euros, bottle of sidra 6.
centroUntil 23:00Cash only
Bar La Ideal off Plaza Mayor in Madrid serves the bocadillo de calamares until 23:00 nightly; the standing-room counter crowd that takes it after the theatre or before a long bar crawl.
Try: Bocadillo de calamares
Tip: Walk-in only; cash strongly preferred. The bar fills up after 22:00 with the post-theatre crowd. Bocadillo 5.50 euros.
malasanaUntil 23:30Cash only
Casa Julio in Madrid's Malasana fries the croquetas until 23:30 nightly, with the queue snaking onto Calle de la Madera through the late-night Malasana bar crawl until last orders.
Try: Croquetas de jamon
Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only. The 22:30 to 23:30 slot is the second-busiest after the lunch queue.
malasanaUntil 02:30 (Thu-Sat)
Mercado de San Ildefonso on Calle Fuencarral in Madrid's Malasana stays open until 02:30 on Thursday to Saturday, with 18 counters of street food, cocktails and the rooftop bar that runs until last orders.
Try: Street food counter mix
Tip: Walk-in. The terrace floor with the bar is the headline late-night zone; cocktails 8 to 12 euros.
centroUntil 23:30
Casa Revuelta off Plaza Mayor in Madrid serves the bacalao rebozado until 23:00 nightly Tuesday to Sunday; the post-Plaza-Mayor crowd still piles in for the 4 euro pincho and cana at 22:30.
Try: Bacalao rebozado
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Closed Mondays. Cod sells out by 21:30 on weekend evenings; arrive earlier on Friday-Saturday.
chuecaUntil 01:30Cash only
El Tigre in Madrid's Chueca pours jarras of cana with free plates of patatas bravas, croquetas and jamon until 01:30; the late-night Chueca pre-club crowd takes over after 23:00.
Try: Free tapas with jarra
Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar. The 22:00 to 01:00 slot is the bar's late-night peak.