I’ve been soaking in the sights and sounds and smells of Madrid since September 2011, and my inevitable departure in July 2013 puts me just shy of two incredible years of growth.

What’s so great about Madrid, you ask? Below you’ll find my humble opinion. Check here for free things to do in Madrid, here for cheap and interesting things, and here for the official calendar of events!

Places to see…

Sol.

This is the heart of the city. The center of Spain. All roads go out from here, Kilometer 0. Apart from street performers, eating twelve grapes on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, increiblde Christmas lights during December and January, and the ocassional (well, maybe more ocassional than not) demonstration), it’s common to meet up with your friends at the oso y el madroño, to begin the famous tapeando.

Plaza de Mayor

All around there are bars (touristy), markets, artists, history – beheadings, burnings, statue of a horse, paintings on buildings (one of them is Cibeles, the same goddess you see in the fountain by City Hall). Nearby is Mercado de San Miguel (Calle Mayor).

Opera

opera house, Palacio Real, catedral

Plaza de españa

fountains, status, markets

Gran via/Callao

nearby c/ Hortaleza & c/ Fuencarral (shopping, cafes)

Barrio de las Letras

C/ Huertas.

Famous streets and bars where famous writers met (Cervantes). Quotes on ground. Cobblestone streets (“kissing streets”).

El Retiro

beautiful park. Palacio de Cristal/ Estanque.

El Prado

Free between 6-8pm. Classic art.

Reina Sofia

Guernica

Thyssan

Cibeles

reading rooms, exhibitions.

Ayuntamiento – subir a ver la vista (free).

Nearby: Circulo de Bellas Artes (2 euro, cool bookstore).

La Latina, Lava Pies, Tirso de Molina

Going out, good eats

El rastro

Flavors to try…

Kebabs

Cana con limon – glass of beer mixed with lemon soda. they say madrids foam is the best.
Chocolate con churro. If you want the typical experience try out Choclateria Santa Gines. But honestly, you can find a good cup of hot chocolate at many cafes. Don’t think the kind of hot chocolate your dad made you with mash allows on top (although that is one of the best things about life), think about a melted dark chocolate bar with creamy milk and sugar.

Un chupito de Crema de Orujo.

A friend said, after trying it, that its like drinking ice cream.
Tortilla. Casa Paco. Perhaps the best place for tortilla.
Bocadillos de Calamares in plaza mayor. Cheap, delicious grub.
Patatas brava. Restaurants brava.

Cafe con leche.

It’s the typical order here. Espresso with milk. I order it “con largo de cafe” because I love coffee.
(I suggested going into any cafe that has an Illy sign. This means they serve Illy brand Italian coffee. Love it.)

Nepolitas, palmeras.

Small green fried peppers.

Jamon.

Honestly I’ve never liked ham. But this is a different game. Walk along the street and you’ll see plenty of carnecerias with hundreds of ham legs hanging in the wall. Order a “bocadillo con queso y jamon”. The typical place is Museo de jamon. It’s worth going in just for the typical atmosphere. But I’ve heard some amazing Iberian ham and cheese sandwiches can be found at ______, in barrio Salamanca – Goya number ____.
If you have a hankering for something sweet try the typical bakery in sol.

Places to eat…

Mur cafe

British style cafe – it’s minimalist and industrial style manages to maintain a cosy feel. Bring your laptop and connect while you sit in a private alcove of your own drinking a variety of coffees or teas. Or sit around a family style table drinking British brews and noshing on delicious deserts with your friends. Or bring some of your besties or a date for delicious bagel sandwiches.

Baobab

Carmencita bar

El Tigre

Argentinian place on calle espiritu santo

100 montaditos

La venganza de marlinche

Taco bar by baobab

Chesscafe

El rincon de Jaen.

If you want a typical madrilenan food experience go here or to any one of the similar bars in barrio Salamanca – each round of drinks you’ll get free tapas. Order a few raciones to fill you up – I suggest _____ and ______) and at the end you’ll get chupitos (Orujo y cream de Orujo) and something sweet.
La mordida

Centro commercial

(Bilbao famous coffee spot)

Cave bars

(by San Miguel)

Bookstores

Lily&things (espiritu santo)
J&js
El paisaje (Alonso martinez)
El mar (off mayor)
Cervantes? (Book store malasaña)

Theatre and Film

Zarzuela.

Matadero.

Place where Ines had a concert.

What’s your theatre and exhibition style? There’s something for you? Classical? Try out the zarzuela – typical Madrid opera/musical. Modern? Matadero. An old slaughter house converted to a great center for film and exhibits. Community and