Noisy Madrid Nightlife Makes Neighborhoods ‘Uninhabitable’

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is a true saying in Spain’s late-night culture. While Madrid party-goers enjoy the city’s post-pandemic nightlife, residents can’t tolerate the noise nuisance that tags along with it. 

Spain’s inhibited partying – which translates into venues closing no earlier than 6 AM – has long caused friction with those hoping to get a good night’s sleep. But tensions between revelers and those living in Madrid’s nightlife districts have reached a boiling point. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 era, the hospitality sector boomed, increasing people’s appetite for midnight tapas and late-night clubbing. 

According to The Guardian, noise is the main complaint when it comes to Spain’s city life. Every year the country’s ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, receives hundreds of complaints about noise disruption and nuisance from nightlife establishments. 

In his annual report, Gabilondo noted that “noise pollution can also violate other constitutional rights: the right to health, to an adequate environment and decent housing.” He further added that urban areas like Barcelona and Madrid could become “uninhabitable” if the nightlife noise issue persists. 

But in a living cost crisis era where nightlife venues’ futures depend on how many people pass through their doors, hospitality establishments display vehement resistance when turning the volume down. 

“In Madrid there are thousands and thousands of streets and dozens of neighborhoods and in the majority of places, there have been no problems,” Emilio Gallego of the Spanish Hospitality Industry Association told The Guardian.

When he gave his opinion about why tensions had sparked in certain areas, he cites “the way Spaniards speak.” “We’re loud, we have a high tone of voice. Obviously this doesn’t help.”