Madrid’s Best Public Bathrooms When You Gotta Go

‘Where do you go to the bathroom in Madrid?’ is one of those important questions that’s not often talked about. Of course you can go into any bar you wish, but we’re focusing on those easy and clean bathrooms, where you don’t have to ask for permission to enter and you know there will always be toilet paper.

While this list of Madrid’s best public bathrooms should be useful for tourists, it will be particularly handy for Madrid’s language teaching community who are out all day travelling to their students’ private houses and it’s just plain awkward to ask if you can use their toilet.

So here’s a list of Madrid’s best public toilets!!

1. El Corte Inglés

Madrid’s major department store, El Corte Inglés, is a true godsend when you’re out in the city and nature calls. I can’t think of any neighbourhood in Madrid that doesn’t have a Corte Inglés, especially in the center. So just look for those green letters and know you’re in good hands!

2. Markets and city shopping malls

Most neighbourhoods have indoor markets and shopping malls such as ABC Serrano in Salamanca and Mercado de Fuencarral in Malasaña, the latter being the favorite of my friend, Sarah, who actually gave me the idea for this article. She said their bathrooms are perfect for English teachers who are constantly on the move. I used to frequent Moda Shopping near Santiago Bernabeu along the Castellana. Here’s a link to all 7 Madrid shopping malls so hopefully you will find one near your classes!

3. Museums and Cultural Centers 

pristine toilets at Espacio Telefónica on each floor of this free cultural center on calle Fuencarral, right off the Gran Vía

Madrid is full of museums and cultural centres which have large and clean public bathrooms conveniently located in their entrances and cafés.  Fundación Telefónica on calle Fuencarral, right off the Gran Vía, has pristine bathrooms and free entrance. Just walk in, take the elevator to any floor and find the restrooms to your right. The Reina Sofia museum on calle Atocha has a beautiful café with entrance on street level, where you will also find the bathrooms. Here are some other similar places, Conde Duque, Caixa Forum, El Matadero, Palacio de Cibeles, just to name a few.

The Reina Sofia Museum’s café on calle Atocha. Great public bathroom.

4. FNAC

Madrid’s huge technology store near Callao and Sol has a newly renovated bathroom on the fifth floor. It’s so clean, so easy and so convenient. They have a nice café too, by the way.

5. Casa del Libro

Can’t go wrong with a bookstore! Casa del Libro has plenty of locations around Madrid as well and people don’t usually think to go here, so I’ve hardly ever seen a queue. I used to go to one near Goya, but there is also one right on the Gran Vía (restrooms on the second floor).

6. McDonald’s 

I personally steer clear of McDonalds’ bathrooms, most likely because I immediately think of the one that’s on calle Montera (yikes!). But my husband, James, says there’s a nice one near metro Begoña, right below the 4 towers in Plaza de Castilla.
Fellow Madrid language teachers and wanderers, do you know of any other good bathrooms in Madrid?

7. Hotels

As in any other big city, you can always pop into a hotel too.