Placa Matadero en Arganzuela

Plaza Matadero is an open-air square in Madrid's Arganzuela district, part of the Matadero Madrid complex – a former municipal slaughterhouse turned contemporary cultural centre. It's a spot where the city's industrial past meets its present-day arts scene.

Where is Plaza Matadero and how do you get there?

The square sits in the southern part of Madrid, in the Arganzuela district, directly adjoining the Matadero Madrid building complex. Several entrances lead onto the site: from Calle Chopera, from Plaza de Legazpi, from the Madrid Río park side, and from the Casa del Reloj – a distinctive clock-tower building that serves as a landmark for visitors. With so many access points, the square is easy to reach whichever direction you're coming from, whether on foot along the Manzanares river, by metro, or by bus.

What can you do at Plaza Matadero?

Plaza Matadero is first and foremost an open space – not a building, but a broad square within the complex where cultural and leisure events take place outdoors. Concerts, performances, shows, and other open-air events are staged here, making the most of the site's distinctive industrial atmosphere. It functions as a natural extension of the wider Matadero Madrid cultural programme, letting visitors move freely between the indoor exhibition halls and the open square.

What is Matadero Madrid, and where does the name come from?

The square takes its name from the site's former use. The Matadero Madrid complex was the city's municipal slaughterhouse and livestock market (El Matadero y Mercado Municipal de Ganados), built between 1911 and 1925. After years of disuse, the industrial buildings were converted for cultural purposes, and today the complex is one of Madrid's leading contemporary art centres, with galleries, screening rooms, spaces for artist residencies, and open squares such as Plaza Matadero itself. Much of the early 20th-century brick industrial architecture has been preserved, giving the site its distinctive, recognisable character.

What else is nearby?

Right next to the square stands Nave 11, one of the public buildings within the Matadero complex. The whole site also borders Madrid Río, the park running along the Manzanares river, making this a convenient stop on a route combining a visit to the cultural centre with a riverside walk.

When is a good time to visit?

The Matadero Madrid cultural complex is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, though the square itself, as an open public space, remains part of the city and can be crossed at any time. It's worth checking the current events schedule before visiting, since concerts and shows mostly take place in the evenings and on specific days of the week.

Frequently asked questions

What is Plaza Matadero? It's an open-air square in the Arganzuela district, part of the Matadero Madrid cultural complex – a former municipal slaughterhouse converted into a contemporary art centre.

How do you get to Plaza Matadero? Entrances to the site are located off Calle Chopera, Plaza de Legazpi, the Madrid Río park side, and the Casa del Reloj.

What events take place on the square? Concerts, performances, and other open-air events are held here as part of the Matadero Madrid cultural programme.

What are the opening hours? The Matadero Madrid complex is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, although the square itself, being a public space, is accessible at all times.