Guidebook for Madrid
Food Scene
The staff is genuinely friendly and we have always enjoyed their tasty cuisine, especially the fresh shellfish and seafood.
Cervecería Monje
14 Cuesta de Sto. DomingoThe staff is genuinely friendly and we have always enjoyed their tasty cuisine, especially the fresh shellfish and seafood.
A charming little place for two or three adults to chat over a glass of wine or a light meal. It's small, but very cozy and warm inside--great for a rainy day.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Mollete
4 C. de la BolaA charming little place for two or three adults to chat over a glass of wine or a light meal. It's small, but very cozy and warm inside--great for a rainy day.
This must-see restaurant is practically a monument in Madrid. Perfect for foodies who want to experience the local fare wherever they travel. Famous for their "cocido madrileño".
108 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
LA BOLA
5 C. de la BolaThis must-see restaurant is practically a monument in Madrid. Perfect for foodies who want to experience the local fare wherever they travel. Famous for their "cocido madrileño".
El Corte Inglés is the iconic department store of Spain. The supermarket in the basement is very well stocked, and the gourmet area on the top floor sells gourmet products and offers a diverse choice of restaurants. The dining area has a beautiful skyline view of Madrid. Anything else you might need can be found in this building.
451 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Corte Inglés Seguros Correduría
2 Pl. del CallaoEl Corte Inglés is the iconic department store of Spain. The supermarket in the basement is very well stocked, and the gourmet area on the top floor sells gourmet products and offers a diverse choice of restaurants. The dining area has a beautiful skyline view of Madrid. Anything else you might need can be found in this building.
This is one of the best-know bakeries in Madrid and has been around for a long time ("de toda la vida"). Everyone calls this place "San Onofre" because there are actually four or five of these bakeries in Madrid belonging to the San Onofre group. It's an emblematic place to buy a variety of fresh breads or pick up something nice for breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning. They sell desserts and other bakery surprises too. A must-see / must-taste in Madrid.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Santiaguesa
73 C. MayorThis is one of the best-know bakeries in Madrid and has been around for a long time ("de toda la vida"). Everyone calls this place "San Onofre" because there are actually four or five of these bakeries in Madrid belonging to the San Onofre group. It's an emblematic place to buy a variety of fresh breads or pick up something nice for breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning. They sell desserts and other bakery surprises too. A must-see / must-taste in Madrid.
Drinks & Nightlife
Haven't been here in a while (i.e. since having kids), but the drinks were good and the atmosphere was festive the last time we did.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Marta Cariño
4 Calle de SilvaHaven't been here in a while (i.e. since having kids), but the drinks were good and the atmosphere was festive the last time we did.
Sightseeing
You can't come to Madrid without checking out the Royal Palace, a place once accessible only to kings! The Sabatini gardens and the Plaza de Oriente are great places to hang out.
1110 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Royal Armoury of Madrid
s/n Calle de BailénYou can't come to Madrid without checking out the Royal Palace, a place once accessible only to kings! The Sabatini gardens and the Plaza de Oriente are great places to hang out.
This restored Egyptian temple was donated to the city by Egypt in thanks for the work of Spanish engineers along the Nile. There is a viewpoint behind it that is one of the best places to watch the sun set anywhere in Madrid.
1359 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Templo de Debod
1 C. de FerrazThis restored Egyptian temple was donated to the city by Egypt in thanks for the work of Spanish engineers along the Nile. There is a viewpoint behind it that is one of the best places to watch the sun set anywhere in Madrid.
You can't come to a Spanish city without exploring the area around the Plaza Mayor, a place where bullfights were once held, and those accused of witchcraft were once burned at the stake by the Spanish Inquisition (look up "autos de fé"). Plenty of good restaurants, and the Mercado de San Miguel nearby is seventh heaven for foodies.
1659 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Plaza Mayor
Plaza MayorYou can't come to a Spanish city without exploring the area around the Plaza Mayor, a place where bullfights were once held, and those accused of witchcraft were once burned at the stake by the Spanish Inquisition (look up "autos de fé"). Plenty of good restaurants, and the Mercado de San Miguel nearby is seventh heaven for foodies.
This iconic plaza is Spain's version of New York's Times Square--where their famous ball drops down the clock tower every December 31st to ring in the new year. "Kilometro Zero" or "Zero Kilometer" is represented by a large tile on the sidewalk in front of the government offices on the south side of the plaza. Any milestone you see on the major motorways that radiate outward from Madrid to other regions like the spokes of a wheel are measured from this point. This is a great place to hang out and people-watch ever since city planners had the good sense to divert most car traffic elsewhere. Several streets branching off the Puerta del Sol have wisely been pedestrianized, such as Calle Preciados and Calle Arenal--perfect for strolling or shopping.
1055 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Puerta del Sol
This iconic plaza is Spain's version of New York's Times Square--where their famous ball drops down the clock tower every December 31st to ring in the new year. "Kilometro Zero" or "Zero Kilometer" is represented by a large tile on the sidewalk in front of the government offices on the south side of the plaza. Any milestone you see on the major motorways that radiate outward from Madrid to other regions like the spokes of a wheel are measured from this point. This is a great place to hang out and people-watch ever since city planners had the good sense to divert most car traffic elsewhere. Several streets branching off the Puerta del Sol have wisely been pedestrianized, such as Calle Preciados and Calle Arenal--perfect for strolling or shopping.
Parks & Nature
This park is amazing pretty. Whoever designed it was obviously passionate about nature and really knew how to arrange trees to highlight their beauty.
1359 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Templo de Debod
1 C. de FerrazThis park is amazing pretty. Whoever designed it was obviously passionate about nature and really knew how to arrange trees to highlight their beauty.
Not too far from the flat, and a great place to hang out and read a book or watch the sunset on a nice day.
198 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Jardines de Sabatini
2 C. de BailénNot too far from the flat, and a great place to hang out and read a book or watch the sunset on a nice day.
This was once a beautiful private park park reserved for Spanish royalty. It is now open to the public and well worth a walk, even in a light rain... If you have kids, or even if you don't, look for the peacocks...
118 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Campo del Moro
1 P.º de la Virgen del PuertoThis was once a beautiful private park park reserved for Spanish royalty. It is now open to the public and well worth a walk, even in a light rain... If you have kids, or even if you don't, look for the peacocks...
Shopping
Formerly known as "Petra's International Bookshop", this great little hole-in-the-wall for book-lovers is just a short walk from Skyhouse. Here's an excerpt from The Guardian: "With a vintage typewriter for browsers to punch out poems, a chessboard and naughty kitten, Desperate Literature might initially seem affected. But Charlotte and Terry are pure in their desire to build a homely bolthole for book lovers. The typewriter is for typing, says Charlotte, not selfies. They offer tea and wine to customers (backpackers, expats, and locals) and they’re picky (there’s Raymond Chandler, Isaac Asimov and Laurie Lee – but no Danielle Steel or Dan Brown). There are also works in Spanish and French, and prices run from €3 to €9. Boxes of books continue arriving from New York and literary treasures are dug up in Madrid’s flea market."
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/01/desperate-literature-bookshop-madrid-spain
Librería Desperate Literature (Bookstore)
13 C. de CampomanesFormerly known as "Petra's International Bookshop", this great little hole-in-the-wall for book-lovers is just a short walk from Skyhouse. Here's an excerpt from The Guardian: "With a vintage typewriter for browsers to punch out poems, a chessboard and naughty kitten, Desperate Literature might initially seem affected. But Charlotte and Terry are pure in their desire to build a homely bolthole for book lovers. The typewriter is for typing, says Charlotte, not selfies. They offer tea and wine to customers (backpackers, expats, and locals) and they’re picky (there’s Raymond Chandler, Isaac Asimov and Laurie Lee – but no Danielle Steel or Dan Brown). There are also works in Spanish and French, and prices run from €3 to €9. Boxes of books continue arriving from New York and literary treasures are dug up in Madrid’s flea market."
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/01/desperate-literature-bookshop-madrid-spain
Essentials
This is one of the most economical supermarkets in the neighborhood for travelers on a budget, although there's another grocery store called Suma that is quite good as well and is just across the street from Skyhouse.
85 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Supermercados Dia
This is one of the most economical supermarkets in the neighborhood for travelers on a budget, although there's another grocery store called Suma that is quite good as well and is just across the street from Skyhouse.