Ok, I’ll admit it. I may be a little bit biased when writing a post about Spain and in this case Madrid. It feels like your old pair of Jordans…they are a little beat up, dirty and smelly, but you still love them. This is how I feel about this magnificent city and its vibrant nightlife.
Being the third largest city in Europe (London and Berlin- just if you were wondering) it has so much to offer that a short review like this could never even nearly do justice to its enchantment. Therefore I will stick to a couple of discoveries from my last trip:
Gourmet Experience Gran Via
The well-known Corte Ingles at Plaza Callao hides a gem on the 9th floor called Gourmet Experience. On top of the well sorted liqour store and grocerie store and all the food stands it has one of the best views of Madrid…and it is for free:
This fascinating historical building form the early 20th century was re-opened in 2009 with a new concept and it is difficult to ignore if you are into food. Every stand is a feast and after the first few ones our spirits were already high due to the wine and cañas served with the tapas. The moment we found the fresh fruit caipirinha stand we were literally lost.
This restaurant located in the neighbourhood of La Latina is not an insider tip but sometimes an oldie is still a goldie. Try to snatch a table on the terrace on a Sunday afternoon after a stroll at El Rastro (open air flea market) and just do some people watching. The sun, the young crowd and the tinto de verano will put you into an endless summer mode.
A place of pilgrimage for every football fan on the planet; no matter which colors your heart beats for. I won’t enter into any discussion about footbal or Real Madrid, although it is itching me, and will focus on a place I discovered. La Esquina, a steak house located in the stadium and with a view to the pitch. The food is tasty, you can see the cook grilling your steak on the screens and Jorge will make the menue card become obsolete if you follow his suggestions.
Sunday morning, well most probably noon, and a hang-over? Visit this churreria and chocolateria nearby Plaza San Martin and ask for churros, porras (big fat brother of the churro) and hot chocolate. A Spanish classic that will cure all your pains at least as long as you don’t step on a scale. On the bright side, this snack won’t have any influence on your overall calorie consumption but who’s counting anyway on a weekend trip with the boys.
Routail 