Barely 24 hours had passed since Lieutenant Colonel Tejero had stormed into the Congress of Deputies to stage his failed coup when, on Madrid's Arenal street, a short distance from the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, the Teatro Eslava was inaugurated, destined to become one of the main nightclubs in the capital of Spain and a landmark for lovers of music, dance and nightlife in Madrid.
The nightclub, which opened on February 24, 1981, called Joy Eslava , which would later be called Teatro Joy Eslava and which, currently, is called Teatro Eslava , was installed in the premises that had been occupied until then by the famous theater of the same name, which had been inaugurated as a Salon in September 1871 and in which revue performances, cabaret, género chico (a kind of zarzuela but of shorter duration) and theatrical works by authors such as Valle Inclán, García Lorca or Antonio Gala had been performed.
Joy can be considered the pioneer of Madrid's mega-discos . Under the management of businessman Pedro Trapote, the famous nightclub became a meeting place for many artists of the so-called Movida Madrileña (Madrid Scene) and also a television studio for a legendary music program on Spanish Television (TVE), Aplauso . The story of Aplauso is the story of a music program with stratospheric ratings (typical of a time when there were only two television channels). Some of the most important figures in national and international pop and rock music graced the stage of this program, an excellent showcase for musicians in Spain at that time.
In this article, we'll tell you about this symbol of Madrid's nightlife, the ideal place to go with a good escort. We'll highlight its design and decor features and focus on its wide and versatile entertainment offerings. When you finish reading this post, you'll undoubtedly want to head to number 11 Arenal Street to immerse yourself in the fantastic atmosphere of nightlife and fun at this historic venue.
Architectural history of the Slavic Theatre
The space that now houses the Teatro Eslava has undergone numerous transformations since its inauguration as a hall in the late 19th century. Fortuitous circumstances (such as the fire that ravaged the building in 1998, affecting two of the original four floors, destroying the frescoes on the historic vault, and forcing the evacuation of 1,200 people) and various design decisions throughout its history have resulted in this Madrid nightclub exhibiting an eclectic architectural style that blends neoclassical and modernist elements with much more contemporary ones. The former predominate in the building's exterior appearance, while the latter are evident in its interior decoration.
The rich aesthetic of the era in which the building at Arenal, 11 was constructed is evident in its façade, made of exposed brick and adorned with stone. The balconies and windows, as well as the moldings that embellish the building, giving it an elegant and distinguished touch, are particularly striking on this façade.
Inside, functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand. The main hall remains the ideal venue for concerts and live music. Designed to offer excellent acoustics and sightlines, it retains its original structure and maintains the classic style of the old theater. The seats, for example, exemplify this.
The fact that Teatro Joy Eslava maintains its classic ambiance doesn't prevent it from offering everything a modern nightclub requires. Thus, the lighting and sound equipment are state-of-the-art, and the stage design, which has hosted some of the biggest names in music and DJs, allows for a close and intimate interaction between performers and audience, enabling Joy Eslava's patrons to enjoy a unique experience in this legendary Madrid nightlife venue .
The current design of the premises is the work of Philippe Starck , a French industrial designer recognized worldwide for his way of combining aesthetics and functionality.
When planning his renovation of the venue, Starck wanted to capture the raw emotion and passion of one of his great loves: flamenco. Thus, the designer sought to transform the historic space into a kind of cave or grotto of red earth illuminated by a thousand modern candles. To achieve this, Starck's first step was to eliminate the various divisions and layers that had resulted from previous renovations.
The French designer, who carried out this renovation in 2022, dispensed with some decorative elements, but preserved the original architectural structure, as well as some wooden medallions, moldings, railings, romantic-inspired boxes and the vaulted ceiling, while also building an acoustic shell inside the theater to improve the sound insulation of the famous hall.
With his design, Philippe Starck brought to fruition the renovation of the Joy Eslava Theatre, a project initiated by the financial group GBS Finance, which had taken over the venue in 2019 with the aim of transforming it into a welcoming space for creativity and entertainment. Following the French designer's renovation, what had been the Joy Eslava Theatre until 2019 reopened its doors, now as the Eslava Theatre. We will discuss the varied and diverse leisure offerings of this centrally located and easily accessible Madrid venue in the next section.
The leisure offerings of Teatro Joy Eslava
Teatro Eslava is, without a doubt, one of the best nightclubs in Madrid. Proof of this is that it is very common to see the most famous escorts in the city there. But what for many years was Joy , a place frequented (as customers) by such renowned figures as Lola Flores, Tina Turner, Diego Armando Maradona, Richard Gere or even the then Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbón (all these figures appear on the Teatro Eslava website), is something more than a nightclub: it is a multifunctional space that offers various leisure options.
The venue hosts numerous events, including parties perfect for those accompanied by an escort , special nights out, and concerts. It also offers itself as an ideal location for corporate events, which can include live entertainment. After all, what better way to reinforce a brand's message and connect with its audience than by enjoying a performance or live music ?
The venue's team provides clients booking corporate events with all the necessary technical infrastructure to ensure a smooth event, from LED screens to sound systems. The venue also offers customized catering services tailored to each brand's style, format, and target audience.
The variety of genres and styles (and their sheer number) is the defining characteristic of concerts at the Teatro Eslava . Listing all the groups and solo artists who have graced its stage since it opened in 1981 would be an endless task. If we only consider more recent, well-known artists who have performed there, we could mention names like Amaral, David Bisbal, Carolina Durante, Lori Meyers, Aitana, Coti, and many more. Anyone wishing to check the venue's schedule simply needs to visit www.teatroeslava.com or check their social media pages for the Teatro Eslava concert calendar .
Joy Eslava achieved its status as a landmark of Madrid's nightlife thanks to its clubbing scene. None of that has changed since the venue's redesign, decor, and name. Pop, reggaeton, dancehall, dembow, and other urban rhythms continue to fill the air almost every night in this club, which also hosts some of Madrid's best LGBTQ+ parties .
The opening hours and prices at this Madrid nightclub vary depending on the performing artist or the specific clubbing event taking place that day. The final price of admission is also influenced by factors such as whether or not you opt for a VIP area or if you purchase your ticket in advance. Therefore, to find out about Teatro Eslava's opening hours and prices, we recommend visiting their website.
