Jeff Bezos’ bachelor party: Highlights from his Madrid stag night

Madrid was buzzing on the night of May 15. While San Isidro park filled the historic city center with people dressed in traditional chulapo attire for local fiestas, over in Plaza de Colón square, one of the world’s richest men was having his own celebration. Jeff Bezos, billionaire founder of Amazon, chose this area for his bachelor party, making a tour of several venues within just 800 square meters, highlighting why this district has become the new hub of luxury and high-end nightlife experiences in the capital.

Bezos’ itinerary could rival that of the best nightlife tour guide in Madrid: he had dinner at Ten con Ten, went down to La Destilería, and ended the night at Blondie Club. The next day, Friday, May 16, he stopped by Castellana 8 and wrapped up the evening at Gunilla nightclub. All within an area of less than one square kilometer along Paseo de la Castellana — a cluster of luxury nightclubs in the upscale Madrid neighborhood of Salamanca. Many of them, newly opened, have already established themselves as the new temples of upscale entertainment in Madrid.

At Ten con Ten, the restaurant run by Sandro Silva and Marta Seco, staff confirmed to EL PAÍS that Bezos had indeed visited the established. Although they declined to share many details — discretion being one of the key services these establishments offer their celebrity clientele—Bezos and his party enjoyed dishes such as salmon tartare with caviar, duck spring rolls, ceviche calderón, and truffle risotto.

Dressed in his signature black T-shirt and wearing a broad smile, Bezos dined with friends, surrounded by other guests, some of whom quickly took to social media to share the moment.

“I can’t believe I’m having dinner with Jeff Bezos,” read a few of the posts shared from the scene. This venue, along with La Destilería, is part of Grupo Paraguas, one of the leading forces in Madrid’s fine dining scene.

Private lounges averaging $1,000

The group then moved on to La Destilería, the hidden cocktail bar inside Amazónico. From there, they crossed over to Blondie Club, one of the latest additions to the Recoletos nightlife scene. Inside, everything is designed to preserve the magic of a Madrid night. According to sources from the venue, Bezos and his entourage took over one of the club’s most expensive private lounges.

On Friday, the party continued at Castellana 8, a club spread across eight distinct areas that combines mixology, a piano bar, and a room dedicated to electronic music.

“There’s nothing like it in Madrid. It’s a place to get lost in,” said sources from the venue, which also confirmed Bezos’ presence in an interview with this newspaper.

The finale took place at Gunilla, one of the venues that have redefined the nightclub concept in the Spanish capital.

“It was a large and lively group, about 19 or 12 people. They didn’t stop dancing and jumping on the sofas to the rhythm of the music,” said sources from the venue. They added that the group arrived unannounced, without a reservation, yet still ended up in one of the most exclusive spots — right behind the DJ booth.

“They went mostly unnoticed until they left. It wasn’t a particularly long night, but it was intense. There was a strong sense of camaraderie among them. Their spending was typical for that kind of table,” the same sources noted.

Simon P., a local public relations figure, summed it up this way: “Gunilla is for beautiful people. It’s a place to flirt, to see and be seen, to show off. It’s trendy.”

Under the dim lights of Madrid’s most exclusive bars, a night out becomes an exercise in status. At Ten con Ten, the average bill per person is around €80 ($90), although some guests push it higher with dishes like €300-caviar ($340).

At Gunilla, a bottle of champagne can reach €12,500 ($14,000), and whisky or gin can cost up to €7,000 ($7,800). A VIP lounge for eight people starts at €1,000 ($1,100).

At Castellana 8 — accessible only via QR code — premium bottles hover around €300 ($340). At Blondie Club, a Macallan Reflexion goes for €5,500 ($6,200), Clase Azul Extra Añejo tequila for €6,300 ($7,100), and a Louis Roederer Cristal Matusalem for €12,500 ($14,000), with no public pricing for the private lounges. In Madrid’s nightlife, luxury comes without a fixed price tag.

While Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, was celebrating her bachelorette party in Paris with stars like Kim Kardashian, the billionaire chose Madrid. In June, the couple will marry in Venice. Bezos’ connection to Spain is personal — he has family in Valladolid and has previously been spotted in central Madrid buying traditional tapas, as covered by the media.

This short route near Plaza de Colón is drawing in international visitors with high expectations. A source from one of the venues visited by Bezos sums it up: “They’re looking for more than just a night out — they want exclusive, sophisticated experiences. To feel like just another person on the dance floor.”

At Grupo Sounds, the team behind Castellana 8 believes they’ve found the formula for success: concentrating the entire experience in a single location. “It’s not just a bar or a nightclub — it’s about moving through different environments without leaving the building,” they explain. From a piano bar with views to a red room where the vibe shifts, every corner has its own identity. “The key is for each space to tell a different story,” they add.

Every night at midnight, dozens of elegantly dressed people line up for their turn to enter these venues. Simon P., 30, knows the pace from the inside. “Security is designed with this clientele in mind. It’s not unusual to spot famous faces walking around here. The usual plan: dinner at Giselle and end the night dancing at Gunilla,” he says.

Madrid is home to more than 1,500 nightlife venues — and the number keeps growing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the nightlife scene has evolved. It’s no longer just about drinking or dancing; now, people seek a more complete experience. Dining, music, and entertainment — all in one place.

That’s how Noche Madrid, the main organization representing Madrid’s nightlife industry, explains it, noting that the shift is also generational. The average age of partygoers has increased. It’s no longer surprising to see people in their 30s, 40s, or even 60s — like Bezos himself — enjoying a night out that blends dinner, performance, and dancing in a single venue. “It’s the model that’s thriving in the world’s major cities,” they conclude.

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