If it was good enough for Spanish royalty in its heyday, then we can totally roll with it. Plus, George Clooney drinks here when he’ s in town, nuff said - right?

Located just a block away from Gran Via, Le Cock is a piece of Madrid history with a shortlist of classic cocktails to match. Opened in 1921, everything here looks like it's from the beginning of the last century, starting with the man who greets you at the entrance. A Spanish take on an old English pub expect embossed wallpaper, leather banquettes, lots of timber, stained glass and a relaxed vibe. It's popular with an older media crowd and, depending on the time of day, can have more staff than people, so it’s easy to get the wrong impression of this place, but don’t fear: it has a naughty, rowdy side too. We’ve got a few stories we could tell…

And yes, we totally giggled at the name too. When we quizzed the barman on its background, we learnt our fact of the day: apparently, you don't change the name of bars or boats as it’s believed to bring bad luck...even if you have to carry on with Cock...ahem.