Neighbourhood associations, led by the vocal Federación Regional de Asociaciones Vecinales de Madrid (FRAVM), have stepped up their campaign against the city’s sprawling outdoor dining scene. Frustrated by late-night noise and encroaching restaurants, residents are pushing for firmer rules to rein in hospitality terraces. But here’s the burning question: Is the humble bar terrace, the soul of Madrid’s social pulse, finally under threat? Yet, as Madrid’s debates show, this tradition risks tipping into excess, revealing the tightrope between revelry and rest. Madrid’s debate over terraces continues, and for now, whether they continue lies in the hands of those who have to get up early.