My 2nd visit to Spain but my first visit to Madrid for work for 2 months (visited Barcelona previously on a ladies rugby tour, don't ask...)
Madrid, the capital of Spain, one of the most populous cities in the EU apparently (after London and Berlin). There are several Spanish languages, Castilian ( main language which I've had to learn), Euskera, Gallego and Catalan. Madrid is a city with great culture, somewhat friendly people who are very family oriented, most young people live at home until their late twenties; Madrilenos eat very late, average 10pm, and smoke too much (bizarre that they live soo long...) Anyway, whilst Madrid possesses many modern infrastructures, it has preserved the look and feel of it's historic neighbourhoods and streets. There are many districts in Madrid, some are:
Salamanca/Recoletos - I love this area, it's very chic, the streets are wide and clean, you can smell opulence in the air :), need I say that this area is where some of the expensive properties are. Serrano is a popular street here with all the designer stores (dead give away), and Velazquez, Jose Ortega, Goya. The Plaza de colon can be found in this district.
Beautiful hotels: Gran Melia Fenix on calle Hermosilla - Posh & Becks have stayed here
Restaurants: Bice restaurant est 1926 with a fountain in the courtyard on calle Genova; Hard Rock Cafe on calle Castellana
La Latina - this is the really old part of Madrid, with narrow windy streets, family run
restaurants and bars, many gypsies live here apparently. It has quite a few churchess such as the Iglesia de San Andres, Almudena's Cathedral and the Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande; and the Puerta de Toledo monument. There is an amazing view of Madrid from the bridge on calle de San Francisco. The Palacio Real (beautiful but havent been inside) and the Teatro Real can be found in this area. Also plaza de la Paja.Hotels: surprisingly I don't know any in this area strangely enough...
Restaurants: El Arrozal on calle Segovia and Salamandra on calle Alfonso VI (if it re-opens?), JuanalaLoca/Pintxos Bar on calle Puerta Moros
Les Cortes: This is where the heart or should I say the nightlife of Madrid can be found, thousands of hotels, bars, restuarants, clubs and places to hang out. The famous Plaza Mayor
and Puerta del Sol - where all the tourists can be found! Many shops in this area e.g. El Cortes Ingles, quite a few Zaras in the same radius. Also the famous Gran Via (meaning the 'Great Way'), which is similar to Piccadilly circus or Times Square, it has many cinemas and theatre shows from Banco de Espana upto Plaza de Espana, the red light district is also off here ( i know 'cause i accidently stumbled into it!). Plaza de Santa Ana is a great place to hang out with many restuarants and hotels. On calle Jeronimo is the Congreso de los Diputados, Plaza de las cortes, with the famous Westin Palace hotel and the Ritz hotel on the other side of Plaza de Canovas del Castillo (Neptune fountain). Also in this district is the the Plaza de Cibeles - the beautiful sculpture and fountain of the statue of Cybele in a chariot drawn by lions. The Casa de Correos - Palacio de Comunicaciones is also here (too beautiful to be a post office). It also includes one of the three museums of the Madrid golden triangle, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.Hotels: Hotel Catalonia de las cortes on calle prado, Hotel de las Letras on Gran Via, Westin Palace hotel, The Ritz, Melia ME hotel.
Restaurants: Olsen on calle Prado, Miau on Plaza de Santa Ana, Restaurante Hegar on Plaza Mayor, Vegetariano on calle Mayor, El Neru on calle Bordadores and Tocororo on Calle del Prado (Cuban)
Clubs: Palacio Graviria (splendid palace unfortunately turned into a club :( )
Chueca/Justicia - this is a very hype trendy area, and predominantly a gay village I noticed it straight away)
Hotels: same as Gran Via
Restaurants: ?
Retiro: Mainly in this area is the beautiful Parque del Buen Retiro (similar to Hyde Park and Central Park but much smaller!), it's a great place to go jogging, and it has the Palacio cristal (crystal palace in the photo- very nice!) Another one of the three museums of the Madrid golden triangle, The Prado musuem is in this area, which houses famous works of art from Spanish artists such as Velazquez and Goya. Also the very grand/impressive Puerta del Alcala (gates used by merchants to enter the city) can be found here.
Atocha/Huertas: this is the a predominantly an arty area with many bookshops and private galleries (from plaza plateria de Martinez along calle de las Huertas to Plaza Jacinto Benavente). Another one of the three museums of the Madrid golden triangle, The Reina Sofia musuem is in this area - mainly modern/contemporary art, houses works of art by Picasso and Dali. The Jardin botanico is across the street from Puerta de Atocha - the grand central station where one of the 2005 Madrid train bombing took place.
Hotels: Hotel Husa Paseo Del Arte, NH Nacional
Restaurants: La Taperia on Plaza Plateria, Casa Patas on calle Canizares - live flamenco performance!
San Juan Baptista/ Avenida de la Paz: I have to mention this area because it's where my office is :) It's mainly offices in this area but also quite residential, nothing else here really....oh yes the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas where bull fighting takes place is not too far away......
Hotels: Novotel, Travelodge, Hotel Puerta America (fab hotel nearby each floor is designed by a famous artist or architect such as John Pawson, Arata Izosaki etc. I stayed on the 5th floor which was designed by Victorio & Lucchino. Staying in the hotel is like being in a modern museum, the restaurants & bars are amazing (great sky deck and sky bar! - v romantic...), the rooms are great with very nice toileteries) - highly highly recommended!
Restaurants: Gambrinus, Cuco's Bar and Restaurant, Chin chin - all on calle Torrelaguna, La Bolera on calle Agastia, Lagrimas Negras & Marmobar (Hotel Puerta America)
Mirasierra: This is pretty much a residential area, too many flats! It does have the famous Bernabeu stadium nearby though - home to Real Madrid football, didn't watch any live matches or see Becks...... :( Also in this area are the Puerta de Europa skyscrapers - really cool!
Hotels: Hotel Mirasierra Suites and Spa - highly recommended!!! (each room as a dressing area, a kitchen, a dining table, godiva chocolate daily (if you eat chocolate), a feminine kit, hermes toiletries in the expensive rooms!), the hotel also has a great gym (with Technogym equipment) and spa!
Restaurants: hmmmm.....hotel restuarant????....
Castellana: This is mainly the financial district, so many companies, government buildings and many hotels geared to the companies (KMPG has a hotel attached to it!).
Hotels: Intercontinental, NH Hotel Breton de los Herreros
Restaurants: Many......
Negative Points on Madrid: Muchas Traffico (too much traffic, crazy driving and taxis) and smoking! Avoid the centre of madrid on saturdays - there's always a demonstration!
Recommendations:-
Favourite meal: Tortilla de Espanola
Favourite Attraction: Plaza Mayor
Favourite Drink: Sangria (Chapman to us Nijas....)
Favourite phrase: necessito un taxi por favor....
Favourite Tour: Madrid Vision
Favourite church: Iglesias Bethel in Aluche (warm & friendly people, awesome ministry!)
Favourite Hotel: hmmmmm..... Hotel Puerta America!!!!
(photo attached: me in Plaza de Colon)
Hotels: Hotel Husa Paseo Del Arte, NH Nacional
Restaurants: La Taperia on Plaza Plateria, Casa Patas on calle Canizares - live flamenco performance!
San Juan Baptista/ Avenida de la Paz: I have to mention this area because it's where my office is :) It's mainly offices in this area but also quite residential, nothing else here really....oh yes the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas where bull fighting takes place is not too far away......
Hotels: Novotel, Travelodge, Hotel Puerta America (fab hotel nearby each floor is designed by a famous artist or architect such as John Pawson, Arata Izosaki etc. I stayed on the 5th floor which was designed by Victorio & Lucchino. Staying in the hotel is like being in a modern museum, the restaurants & bars are amazing (great sky deck and sky bar! - v romantic...), the rooms are great with very nice toileteries) - highly highly recommended!
Restaurants: Gambrinus, Cuco's Bar and Restaurant, Chin chin - all on calle Torrelaguna, La Bolera on calle Agastia, Lagrimas Negras & Marmobar (Hotel Puerta America)
Mirasierra: This is pretty much a residential area, too many flats! It does have the famous Bernabeu stadium nearby though - home to Real Madrid football, didn't watch any live matches or see Becks...... :( Also in this area are the Puerta de Europa skyscrapers - really cool!
Hotels: Hotel Mirasierra Suites and Spa - highly recommended!!! (each room as a dressing area, a kitchen, a dining table, godiva chocolate daily (if you eat chocolate), a feminine kit, hermes toiletries in the expensive rooms!), the hotel also has a great gym (with Technogym equipment) and spa!
Restaurants: hmmmm.....hotel restuarant????....
Castellana: This is mainly the financial district, so many companies, government buildings and many hotels geared to the companies (KMPG has a hotel attached to it!).
Hotels: Intercontinental, NH Hotel Breton de los Herreros
Restaurants: Many......
Negative Points on Madrid: Muchas Traffico (too much traffic, crazy driving and taxis) and smoking! Avoid the centre of madrid on saturdays - there's always a demonstration!
Recommendations:-
Favourite meal: Tortilla de Espanola
Favourite Attraction: Plaza Mayor
Favourite Drink: Sangria (Chapman to us Nijas....)
Favourite phrase: necessito un taxi por favor....
Favourite Tour: Madrid Vision
Favourite church: Iglesias Bethel in Aluche (warm & friendly people, awesome ministry!)
Favourite Hotel: hmmmmm..... Hotel Puerta America!!!!
(photo attached: me in Plaza de Colon)
