Food and Shopping in Madrid
Good food in Spain is nothing new, but in a city like Madrid one risks feeling lost in the gastronomic offerings that overflow with tapas bars and restaurants literally at every turn. So too with shopping: chain stores and Souvenir stores everywhere. But finding less conventional and memorable places is more complicated.
Here are a few we looked for or luckily stumbled upon during our trip to Madrid.
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
BUCOLICO CAFÉ
Let's start the review with my favourite place. This bohemian-looking café is located in the heart of Chueca, but on a quiet side street, especially in the morning when it opens its balconies with tables facing directly onto the street. The interior is almost fairy-like, in a setting of brick, peeling plaster and wood, where everything looks perfectly unkempt, where the seating is different from one another, where there is no shortage of vases overflowing with flowers and a country farmhouse table filled with freshly baked cakes and cookies.
If the ambiance is exquisite, even more so are the dishes. The tostas are all worth a taste, from the classic with tomato and ham to the exotic ones with hummus and eggplant. One star to the delicious Chai Latte.
CAFÉ DELIC
We accidentally discovered this inviting old-fashioned café, with a pleasant dehor on the Plaza de la Paja. A quiet, tree-lined esplanade, and a tapas menu that includes excellent tostas (bruschetta with fresh tomato and garlic) with jamon and a few more unusual regional dishes, such as torreznos with parmentier.
TOMA CAFÉ 1
In the heart of Malasaña is this café, anonymous on the outside, and very pleasant inside, excellent for both savoury and sweet breakfasts. The café overlooks a quiet street, and the surrounding narrow streets are pleasant to stroll through in the morning when they enjoy great tranquillity. We recommend the tostada with dulce de leche and salt flakes, truly memorable!
MERCADO DE SAN IDELFONSO
Everyone in Madrid is familiar with the Mercado de San Miguel. It is a really nice place full of food stands offering all kinds of food in tapas format. Its location right next to the Plaza Mayor makes it a hub for gastronomy. However, precisely because it is a very nice and busy market, it is difficult to find a seat at the counter or on a table, and you have to scramble to make your way through the crowds at almost any hour of the day or evening. The San Idelfonso market, north of Chueca, on the other hand, is less well known, and almost escapes the view from the street. Instead it is a very nice place and also full of offerings. The concept of the market is less "tapas" and more actual dishes, making room for Asian and ethnic cuisine in general, as well as local cuisine.
CHOCOLATERIA SAN GINES
Sounds strange, but Madrid is overflowing with chocolate shops. This chocolate shop offers a very simple menu: hot chocolate and churros, to be dunked gluttonously at breakfast, or even better, for a mouth-watering afternoon snack. The historic establishment offers a casual, vintage ambiance, as well as some of the best hot chocolate you'll ever taste (believe me, I live in Switzerland!). You can also buy the chocolate to take home with you in preparation for winter!
PESCAME MUCHO
We entered this place attracted by the colourful murals and the concept of fish sandwiches, and we did not regret our choice. All kinds of fish burgers are served. The one with prawns, bacon and mozzarella cheese is not to be missed!
TABERNA MACEIRAS
In Atocha, not far from the Prado Museum, there is, in my opinion, a must for anyone visiting Madrid. I have been to this scruffy, cheerful-looking tavern several times, and each time I am charmed by their cuisine. You will find different places, signposted 1, 2, 3. From time to time a new place opens, always nearby, will it be a sign of the success of their cuisine? The place offers Spanish and Galician dishes, and serves the best octopus dish I've ever had.
Don't miss the pulpo a la gallega, with potatoes and paprika, and the arroz marinero, a very brothy seafood risotto. Very low prices and unparalleled quality.
SHOPPING
ACCESSORIES & CONCEPT STORES
Another corner of Plaza de la Paja to explore, this time for shopping, is the Cocol store. It projects you into Provence and sells home goods and country chic accessories.
A wonderful place for furniture and design is El Moderno, in Malasaña, divinely decorated, it has an exceptional offer with well-known and niche brands. The furniture posters are all very nice as well.
Corre. Baja de San Pablo is a street overflowing with whimsical and original stores for accessories, jewellery, and even children's clothing.
CLOTHING & CO.
In the Salamanca district, if you proceed eastward, past Calle de Serrano, which gathers all the big and well-known clothing brands, reaching Calle de Coelho, you will find an elegant and pleasant neighbourhood to stroll through, which is home to much more appealing niche stores. You can spend a few hours zigzagging through these streets and looking for the place that best suits your style and your pocket.
FURNITURES & CO.
If Chueca is known for its LGBT stores and chain stores on Calle Fuencarral, at the eastern edge of the neighbourhood, look for Calle del Barquillo, and wander from north to south exploring the surrounding alleys that hide unusual and quite chic places for personal and home furnishings and accessories. Continuing south, past Gran Via, you'll feel the same atmosphere for a while longer. Drop by the Pardo Family Madrid store, a fabulous place for clothing and accessories.
