Many cities in Spain have Whiskerias , nominally "whiskey houses. Whiskey is not all they're after. Similarly, when driving between cities in Spain, you are likely to see a number of bright neon signs proclaiming simply "club.
Is this the place to stop for a quick dance and drink when on the long haul from Madrid to Barcelona? Not if a dance floor is all you're looking for.
It's an easy mistake for tourists to make. You pop into what you assume is a whiskey house for a drink. It seems logical. But if you make it through the door and poke your head inside, you probably won't see anyone drinking whiskey in there. Prostitution is not exactly illegal in Spain, but it's not regulated either.
The topic is not addressed in the country's criminal code, so it exists in a sort of legal vacuum. This means it's also not highly regulated, like in the Netherlands. However, pimping is illegal. So is street prostitution. Interestingly, brothels, as explicitly labeled, are illegal in Spain and have been since This is a sort of legal loophole in the system.
Inside a brothel, you will likely see a bartender and probably not overt drug use. There's not necessarily a burly doorman. In fact, a brothel can feel pretty relaxed, straightforward, and not intimidating. The out-of-town version of the whiskeria is the club. These specifically target the long-haul truck drivers who may get a bit lonely on the road. Some inner-city brothels are also called clubs, too, but don't assume that every club in a city is a brothel. If you're looking for a fun night out and don't want to risk accidentally ending up in a brothel, head to some of the most popular clubs in Madrid.
