How to get into Istar Club Madrid without queuing

Istar Club — Ïstar or IŠTAR, depending where you look — sits at Calle de Serrano, 41, and has one of the most selective doors in Madrid's Salamanca district. It is not a place you turn up and walk into: there is a door policy, and you feel it. This guide explains how it actually works.

The three routes in

1. General queue

You pay at the door, around €25 depending on the day. It is the most uncertain route: you depend on capacity, on the hour, and on fitting the door's read of the night. On a Saturday that can mean waiting and still not getting in.

2. Guest list

Your name and your group's are down in advance. You use priority access and skip the queue. The bit nobody spells out: being on the list does not guarantee entry. It improves your chances a great deal, but final access still depends on capacity and the door.

3. VIP table

This is the only route that guarantees you get in. The table is in your name, the group walks straight in with no separate tickets, and you are not subject to door discretion. Minimum spend from €400, split across the group. We break it down in how much a VIP table costs at Istar.

The dress code, plainly

Istar asks for smart, elegant dress. In practice:

• Avoid: tracksuits, shorts, vests, caps and loud trainers.
• Works: trousers with a shirt or knitwear, clean understated shoes or trainers, a jacket if the night calls for it.
• For women: a dress or a smart outfit. The bar is high, and the room reflects it.

Dress code is not negotiated at the door. If you are borderline, you do not get in — and being on the list will not save you.

Minimum age and ID

The guide age is 21, though the venue applies its own judgement depending on the night. What is not negotiable is ID: original passport, national ID or NIE. Photocopies, screenshots and phone photos are not accepted. It is the silliest and most frequent reason people get turned away.

When to arrive

Istar opens late, roughly 00:00 to 06:00, Tuesday to Saturday. The room fills from about 01:30. Arriving early makes entry easier but you get an empty club; turning up at 03:00 on a Saturday with no list and no table is the worst possible combination.

The sweet spot, if you are on the list, is between 01:00 and 02:00.

What leaves people standing outside

• Large all-male groups. The most common filter at any club of this profile. A balanced group gets in far more easily.
• Arriving with the night already well advanced. The state you turn up in counts, a lot.
• Showing up without original ID.
• Assuming the list is a guaranteed pass. It is not.
• Arguing with the door. No argument reverses a "not tonight".

How we handle it

MYKEY is an independent concierge. We put you on the list or close your table in advance, tell you beforehand what to expect at the door on that specific night, and stay reachable on WhatsApp if something goes sideways at three in the morning.

We need three things: name, night, number of people.

Request list or table Message on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

Can you get into Istar without being on a list?

Yes, paying at the door — but you are exposed to the queue and to door policy. On big nights it is not the smart move.

Is the guest list free?

List conditions depend on the night and the time. We confirm them beforehand, with no surprises on arrival.

How many people can I put on the list?

It depends on the night and the make-up of the group. Large groups find list access harder; that is where a table pays for itself.

What music do they play?

Afrohouse and house, with DJ sets. It is the reference club for the genre in Madrid: read more in our guide to afrohouse in Madrid.

Access policy, dress code and minimum age are set by Istar Club and may vary by night or event. This guide is indicative. MYKEY is an independent concierge service and is not part of the venue.