The Madrid Guide.

Madrid is effortlessly elegant—grand boulevards, leafy parks, and sunlit cafés that make you want to linger. It’s vibrant yet totally livable, with food, art, and charm at every turn.

Madrid has slowly but surely become one of my favorite cities in Europe—and easily ranks among the most livable in the world. It has an effortless elegance and charm that’s hard to find elsewhere. The food and nightlife are just two of the many reasons I always recommend it as more than just a stopover—it’s a destination in its own right.

As always, feel free to reach out to (carolinehariri@gmail.com) for a customized itinerary tailored to your trip.

This guide is continuously updated to make sure you have the latest and greatest at your fingertips!

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Food

• Restaurants:

  • Restaurante Desde 1911

  • DiverXO - fine dining classic spot

  • SALA DE DESPIECE 1 - one of my favorite restaurants in the world, innovative and modern tapas

  • Alimentación Mediavilla

  • BiBo Dani García

  • Marieta

  • El Pescador

  • Bar Entre Cáceres y Badajoz - tapas bar

  • Stroll along Calle de Ponzano for tapas

  • Bar Trafalgar

  • Coque - fancy, special occasion place

  • Restaurante La Parra Madrid - delicious meats

  • Persimmons - delicious Georgian restaurant, very upscale

  • Charrúa Madrid - amazing steak restaurant

  • Cannibal Raw Bar Madrid - really good seafood restaurant

  • La Mallorquina - pastry shop

  • Mercado de San Miguel - food market with many delicious offerings

  • Casa Lucio - rustic Spanish restaurant

  • La Barraca - Valencian restaurant famous for paella

  • Restaurante La Parra Madrid

  • ARAHY RESTAURANTE - elegant Mediterannean

  • Museo del Jamón - not a museum! Spanish jamón chain shop great for sandwiches

  • Sobrino de Botín - another classic Spanish spot

  • Raza Madrid Barquillo - delicious food in a beautiful restaurant

  • The below restaurants are all in the same area - Barrio de Salamanca neighborhood which is upscale and classic. The restaurants are all pretty pricey and I wouldn’t say they’re the most amazing food options but they are pretty safe bets and great service -

    • Saddle Madrid - another fine dining restaurant

    • Restaurante Ten Con Ten - iconic restaurant, always busy

    • La Máquina Jorge Juan - upscale, elegant restaurant

    • Restaurante Ultramarinos Quintin - Mediterranean restaurant with great food

    • Amazónico - sceney spot with live jazz

    • Taberna Los Gallos - tapas

    • Isa Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

    • Cervecería Alemana - great bar with classic tapas - very simple

Bars

• Restaurante Casa Salvador - food is just decent but atmosphere is great for drinks

• Gilda Haus - trendy bar with cool, live music

• 1862 Dry Bar - elegant cocktail bar

• Club Matador - social club

• La Estrella - cool, speakeasy feel cocktail bar

• Bar Cock - classic cocktail bar

• La Venencia - old school Spanish bar

• La Analógica - very cool cocktail bar

• Corchito Bar de Vinos - hip wine bar

• Fat Cats Cocktail House - fun cocktail bar with great drinks

Activities

• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - home of Real Madrid!

• Platea Madrid - event venue, check the schedule

• Royal Palace of Madrid

• Casa de Cisneros - historic palace

• Madrid Cableway - Casa de Campo Station - scenic views from a cablecar!

• Casa de La Villa. City of Madrid - beautiful government building

• Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena

• Plaza Mayor - major plaza with Philip III’s statue

• Museums

  • Sorolla Museum

  • Estación Museo de Chamberí

  • Temple of Debod

  • Museo Nacional del Prado

  • Círculo de Bellas Artes - a great arts center with an amazing rooftop bar

  • Lázaro Galdiano Museum

  • Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

• Shopping & things to do

  • Becara - Tienda de decoración

  • El Corte Inglés (large department store with a great collection)

  • NAC (women’s clothing)

  • Fulhamon (men’s clothing)

  • El Ganso Serrano (men’s clothing)

  • Edmmond Studios (men’s clothing)

  • Isolée - Perfume store

  • Helena Rohner - jeweler

  • Real Fábrica - great shop with home goods and gourmet food

Hotel

• Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid - 5-star, beautiful hotel

• Rosewood Villa Magna

• Relais & Chateaux Hotel Orfila

• Hotel Wellington & Spa - fairly priced 5-star hotel

• The Palace

🔒 Exclusive Subscriber access (a very convenient map with all my recommended places pinned!)

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