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25/25

Madrid

High-profile public building projects and a cosmopolitan feel mean Madrid is a city in flux. But it remains full of tradition with regional elements strongly influencing its restaurants. Expect icy cold weather from November to February and scorching heat from June to August - and little variation in between.
 

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01
Essentials

01 The tourism and hotel industry in Madrid is booming – some eight million visitors spent at least one night in the city last year.
02 Avoid the traffic and take the metro.
03 The city may be in central Spain but the seafood is some of the best in the country.
04 Fresh produce can be found daily at food markets such as the Mercado de San Miguel. At night, the marketplace turns into a fun spot for tapas.
05 Although flamenco originated in the south of the country, Madrid hosts some of the best classical guitar and dance shows in Spain.

Hotels

Independent and easy
De La Letras
11 calle Gran Via
+ 34 91 523 7980
hoteldelasletras.com

Dependable chain
AC Palacio del Retiro
14 calle Alfonso XII
+ 34 91 523 7460
hotelacpalaciodelretiro.com

Premium
Villa Magna
22 Paseo de la Castellana
+34 91 587 1234
villamagna.es


Dining

Fast breakfast
Café del Real
2 plaza Isabel II
+ 34 91 547 2124

Business breakfast
Harina
Plaza de la Independencia 10
+ 34 915 228 785
harinamadrid.com

Mid-morning coffee
Isolée
55 calle Claudio Coello
+ 34 90 287 6136
isolee.com

Working lunch with colleagues
Ølsen
15 calle del Prado
+ 34 91 429 3659
olsenmadrid.com

Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Ramón Freixa Madrid
67 calle Claudio Coello
+ 34 91 781 8262
ramonfreixamadrid.com

Lunch on your own
Olivia Te Cuida
8 calle Santa Teresa
+ 34 91 702 0066
oliviatecuida.com

Afternoon tea/drink
Café de los Austrias
1 plaza de Ramales
+ 34 91 559 8436
cafedelosaustrias.com

Dinner on your own
El Pescador
375 calle Jose Ortega y Gasset
+ 34 91 402 1290
marisqueriaelpescador.net
Dinner with colleagues
Arzabal
2 calle del Doctor Castelo
+ 34 91 557 2691
arzabal.com

Private dinner
Maison Blanche
10 calle Piamonte
+ 34 91 522 8217

Big dinner with partner/clients
Santceloni
57 paseo de la Castellana
+ 34 91 210 8840
restaurantesantceloni.com

Drink after dinner
Le Cabrera
2 Barbara de Braganza
+ 34 91 319 9457
lecabrera.com

Late drinks
Loft 39
39 calle Velázquez
+ 34 91 432 4386
restauranteloft39.com

On the tiles
Charada
13 calle de la Bola
charadaclubdebaile.com

Reading

Bookshop
Graphicbook
50 calle la Palma
+ 34 91 521 0019
graphicbook.com

Thank yous

Chocolate shop
Cacao Sampaka
4 calle Orellana
+34 91 319 5840
cacaosampaka.com 

Shopping

Something you can't get  anywhere else
Foie gras and cured ham from La Boulette
Mercado de la Paz,
28 calle Ayala
+ 34 91 431 7725
laboulette.com

Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
El Corte Inglés
1-3 calle Preciados
+ 34 91 379 8000
elcorteingles.com

Something for the kids
Don Juego
113 calle Alcalá
+ 34 91 435 3724
donjuego.es

Something for someone you love
Accessories from Maria Roca
10 conde de Aranda
+ 34 91 577 8804
mobymariaroca.com

Something for yourself
Tailor-made espadrilles at Casa Hernanz
18 calle Toledo
+ 34 91 366 5450
loewe.es

Two-hour tour
01
CaixaForum The cultural district’s newest resident, the CaixaForum has a much edgier programme compared to its neighbours, the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza.
36 paseo Prado
+ 34 91 3307 300
obrasocial.lacaixa.es

02
Real Jardian Botanico
A great place to rest your museum-weary feet, the 20 acres of the city’s botanic garden contain plenty of beds to gawp at, and tall trees to enjoy some shade under.
2 plaza de Murillo,
+ 34 91 420 3017
rjb.csic.es

03
Antigua Casa Talavera
Over a century old, this treasure trove is the place to shop for the best in Spanish ceramics, with pottery from all over the country on its shelves.
2 calle Isabel la Catôlica
+ 34 91 547 3417

04
And don't leave without a stroll around the Retiro park.

Limousine/car
Aero City
34 calle Marzo
+ 34 91 747 7570
aerocity.com

Transport

Buy a pass
Abono de 10 viajes
10-journey metro/bus pass. From any metro station or estanco (tobacconist) (€7).

Rent a bike
Trixi
12 calle de los Jardines
+ 34 91 523 1547
trixi.com

Fitness

Good gym
Holmes Place
77 calle Silvano
holmesplace.es

Good running route
Parque del Oeste
Metro: Plaza de España

Credits

Writer: Simon Hunter

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