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Madrid’s Cine Doré enters Time Out’s new ranking as the world’s 7th-best cinema
Cine Doré, a landmark of Lavapiés and home to the Filmoteca Española, has been chosen among the world’s ten best cinemas. The recognition from Time Out highlights Madrid’s cultural vitality and the resilience of its historic cinemas.
The Cine Doré, right in the heart of Lavapiés, has just ranked among the ten best cinemas in the world according to Time Out’s latest selection. This international recognition comes at a key moment for Madrid’s cultural life, when cinemas are seeking their place amid the rise of streaming platforms and changes in leisure habits. For those who enjoy the big screen, the news strengthens the agenda of urban plans and restores prominence to a venue that forms part of the city’s collective memory.
Time Out’s list, compiled with the collaboration of local experts, highlights iconic cinemas in cities such as Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles, but only one from Madrid has managed to enter the top: the Doré, which occupies seventh place. Its art deco façade and its history, which began in 1923, make it a landmark for generations of Madrid residents. The cinema has survived closures, war and decades of urban transformation, retaining its essence as a meeting point and cultural refuge.
After closing in the 1960s, the Doré reopened in 1989 under the management of the Town Council, preserving original features and adding new screens, a terrace for summer nights, a café and a bookshop. Today it is the home of the Filmoteca Española and a regular destination for those seeking classic cinema, themed series or simply a different experience in central Madrid. The nickname ‘The Palace of Sunflower Seeds’ lives on, recalling the custom of local residents bringing sunflower seeds to screenings.
The Doré is not only a cinema: it is a thermometer of Lavapiés’ cultural life and an example of how historic spaces can adapt without losing their character. Its varied, carefully curated programme attracts both film lovers from across the city and those discovering arthouse cinema for the first time. In a neighbourhood changing at a rapid pace, the Doré maintains its role as a cultural beacon and intergenerational meeting point. Madrid is already starting to move in that direction.