I've heard that Europeans are big time smokers and i was wondering abou this b/c i am not a smoker myself. as far as the restaurants are there non-smoking sections?

There are possibly less than 5 restaurants and less than 5 clubs in Madrid which are smoke-free or have no-smoking sections. I haven´t seen one yet, however.

Saludos, MadridMan

Starbucks remains about the only place I've been to in Madrid where you can almost (note almost) guarantee you won't coming out smelling like the bottom of an ashtray. As far as restaurans, a very few do have non-smoking sections, but the smoke will still drift over to you. If you eat supper early (8:30-9:00) there will be fewer smokers. Clubs, well................

thanks guys, i guess i'll take a gallon of shampoo so i can wash my hair every 10 minutes

Go to Matritum on Cava Alta st. DOWNSTAIRS they have a beautiful wine cellar where you can also have tapas and wine. Smoke is prohibited by all means.

Andres

I know VIPs has a non-smoking section, and I think Hollywoods too. I'm sure some of the international restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe are sensitive to that issue. As for purely traditional Spanish places, that's a tough call. If I can think of any others, I'll add to this list

By law, every restaurant above certain limit of customers, is obligated to have a non-smoking section.

It is a matter of physics however Smoke has the annoying property of filling the surrounding space.

I really really detest smoke and I pray for the day it becomes banned from restaurants, but in the meantime, if you ask for the non-smokers area (which most restaurants have) you will have a good chance of avoiding our behated friend

As for clubs/discos/pubs... forget it. You will end as smoked as a barbaque steak no matter where you go. Try to go to modern and ample discos, where air recycling systems will lessen the problem a bit.

Fernando