MADRID – First came Napflix, an online TV channel that encourages siestas by playing “boring” videos designed to put you to sleep. (Two-hour lectures from a physics professor at Yale, an entire baseball match, and a 54-minute clip of chickens turning on a rotisserie are among the offerings.)
Now, the Spanish have taken the art of the siesta one step further, with a center dedicated to shut-eye: Similar to sleep services in Japan, Argentina, and Belgium, Spain has opened its first “nap bar,” according to Lonely Planet.
Called Siesta & Go, the center is available for locals and visitors alike looking to rest, read, or take a nap—for a fee, that is.
Visitors hoping to siesta and go can choose from a variety of options in either private or shared rooms, by the minute or by the hour, with prices ranging from €8 (top bunk; one hour) to €14 ($15) for one hour in a private room.
Pre-booking is allowed, though you can also just walk off the street and see if any of the 19 beds are available.
Worried about bed bugs?
Don’t be: Siesta & Go has a daily professional cleaning and industrial laundry service; each visitor gets their own set of sheets and single-use blankets. Worried about oversleeping? Don’t be: employees will wake you up at the agreed-upon time.
If you’re not interested in napping, the center—located in AZCA, Madrid’s commercial and financial district—also offers coffee, newspapers, free Wi-Fi, and even luggage storage. Sounds like a win for people who like to stay awake after a red-eye flight—and those that don’t.
Siesta & Go is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Katherine LaGrave
