La Tabacalera is a former 19th-century tobacco factory in the heart of Lavapiés, Madrid. The building covers 16,000 square metres across three floors, plus a large outdoor garden. For years, it operated as two distinct projects:
- La Tabacalera Promoción del Arte, a contemporary cultural centre.
- CSOA La Tabacalera, a self-managed community space.
However, the space closed in late 2023 for major structural renovations. The collectives that ran the space, including El Keller, Molino Rojo, Roots and Culture and Recicleto, all lost access as a result.
Then, in March 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Culture announced the handover of two spaces to the Remontada Tabacalera collective, marking the start of a slow return. Below, we cover what the space offered and why it still matters to Madrid’s street art scene.
Where is La Tabacalera located?
Getting to La Tabacalera is really easy if you use the public transport.
Take the yellow metro line from Sol to Embajadores metro station. Exit towards Miguel Servet street.
Entrance located by the metalic door round the corner on Calle Embajadores, 53 .
Lavapiés district : a multicultural side of town
Lavapiés is probably Madrid’s most multicultural district. There are citizens from all over the world and it’s becoming a trendy and hipster neighborhood. No wonder it’s one of our most booked walking tours in Madrid!
El Rastro, Madrid’s biggest open-air flea market is nearby and you will also find two local food markets, ‘La Cebada’ and ‘San Fernando’.
Workshops to be found in La Tabacalera de Lavapiés
Before the 2023 closure, La Tabacalera brought together several independent collectives under one roof. Together, they transformed the building into one of Madrid’s most active self-managed cultural spaces:
- El Keller, the graffiti and street art collective.
- Recicleto, a bike workshop where members learned to fix and rebuild their gear.
- Roots and Culture, focused on dancehall and reggae.
- Tabahack, dedicated to computing and free software.
- Molino Rojo, running contemporary dance and live performance events.
All five collectives lost access to the building when renovations started. Their future remains uncertain as of mid-2026.
El Keller, street art and graffiti workshop
If you found La Tabacalera through its graffiti, El Keller is probably the reason why. This collective managed the interior walls, inviting local, national and international artists to paint freely across the building. The result was one of the most impressive free graffiti spaces in Madrid.
El Keller also ran open sessions every Tuesday from 6.00PM to 10.00PM. Anyone could attend, learn spray techniques, and connect directly with the artists behind the walls.
Note: El Keller lost access to La Tabacalera in late 2023. For updates on where they operate now, follow @elkellertbk on Instagram.
Is La Tabacalera open right now?
La Tabacalera closed in late 2023 and currently does not accept visitors. The building entered a phase of major structural renovation, and no official reopening date exists. In March 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Culture took a first step by handing two spaces back to the Remontada Tabacalera collective. Nevertheless, a full reopening to the public is still some way off.
For the latest news, follow La Tabacalera on social media or check the official Ministry of Culture announcement from March 2026 (article only in Spanish language).
Frequently asked questions
- Is La Tabacalera currently open to visitors?
No. The space has been closed since late 2023 for structural renovation. The space does not currently welcome visitors. Follow their social media channels to stay informed about any future reopening.
- How do I contact La Tabacalera?
For general information, you can reach the organisation at comunica@latabacalera.net. Note that response times may be slower than usual during the closure period.
- Can I paint a legal graffiti wall at La Tabacalera?
El Keller previously managed the legal walls inside the building. Since they no longer operate from the space, we recommend following @elkellertbk on Instagram to find out where they have taken their activities.
Our take on La Tabacalera
La Tabacalera was one of the most genuinely alternative spaces in Madrid. The building, the murals, the collectives and the open-access atmosphere made it unlike anything else in the city. In some ways, it reminded us of the old Berlin warehouse scene: raw, self-organised, and free.
The 2023 closure dealt a real blow to Lavapiés and to Madrid’s street art community. We hope the Remontada Tabacalera collective can restore some of that spirit when they take back the space. Meanwhile, the street art culture that El Keller helped build still lives on in the neighbourhood. Explore the best street art in Lavapiés to see what the area still has to offer today.
Get in touch with us at +34638399784 or by email at info@cooltourspain.com.