Puro Placer is one of the bars in Madrid which, despite the best efforts of the EU, is essentially a smokers bar. There was never any chance that Spaniards were going to part with their nicotine-fuelled ways, and indeed, the so-called smoking ban has been fudged so that you can still light up in many bars, clubs or restaurants in Madrid. If you’re fond of a puff then, you’re going to want to stop by Puro Placer, whose name comes from a play on words thanks to ‘puro’ meaning both cigar and pure, and ‘placer’ meaning pleasure.

The warm orange hues of the décor make for attractive surroundings, clearly visible from the street thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. On the menu are wines, whiskies and champagnes, but the real attraction is the specially ventilated humidor, from where you can choose a fat cigar to enjoy, safe in the knowledge that smoking is practically encouraged here.