Madrid: An Elegant Getaway

“Madrid is full of literature, poetry and music on all four sides, so much so that she is a literary character herself.” Ernest Hemingway

Gratitude for my excellent friend Dorian with whom I just spent a delightful 24 hours museum hopping, shamelessly shoe shopping, happily feasting and generally admiring the grand elegant city of Madrid.  Not enough time at all… Here is a compilation of both of our recommendations from this trip and previous visits. 

Wait! Fun fact: Madrid is the highest capital in Europe located at 2,100 feet (635 meters) above sea level. (Except maybe Andorra?) Anyway – cool right!?

Ok here you go:

Sights

• El Prado – probably Spain’s most famous museum with extensive works by Velazquez, Goya, Greco and other Spanish master painters
• Reina Sofía – Works by Picasso (including “Guernica”) and other modern Spanish masters including Salvador Dalí and Joan Miro
• Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum – broad collection of masterpieces by European artists dating from the 14th-20th centuries.
• Museo Lazaro Galdiano – stately private home and art collection has been called “the Frick Museum of Madrid”
• Templo de Debod – ancient Nubian Egyptian temple relocated from Aswan to a hill behind the Royal Palace of Madrid with a 360 degree view of the city.
• Parque de Espana / El Retiro –  large public park in the center of Madrid with many famous sculptures and extensive gardens, and including the Velazquez palace, the Glass Palace and Teatro de Títeres which presents puppet shows on the weekend
• Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great – elaborate church famous for the Goya frescoes
• Real Academia Bella Artes – check for special exhibition schedule. A Goya exhibition will be up through January 2025
• Círculo de Bellas Artes – art center with rotating exhibitions and a rooftop restaurant with 360 views.

Food

• Amazónica – trendy restaurant in Salamanca great drinks
• MAD Gourmet: Galería Canalejas – gourmet food hall in the middle of the shopping district
• Mercado de San Miguel – Beautiful 1916 covered market housing a gorgeous food hall
• Mune – Persian food, light and airy with two locations in Barrio de las Letras and Salamanca
• Ramon Freixa – Michelin starred molecular gastronomy in a lovely garden in Salamanca
• Restaurante TriCiclo –intimate minimalist modern tapas. 
• Salmon Guru – cocktail lab/neon tiki bar rated one of the top 50 bars in the world, prepare to wait in line
• Sobrino de Botín – The Guinness Book of Records oldest restaurant in the world can be found in Madrid. Dating to 1725 and mentioned by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, the kitchen is famous for its suckling pig.
• The Spanish Farm Shop – gourmet Spanish products near El Prado. Take your picnic to the park!
• Ultramarino Quintin – Refined and creative cooking with many options and great ambiance in a refurbished grocery store in Salamanca
• Akiro Hand Roll Bar – Take a seat at the bar for the freshest sushi hand rolls. Great lunch stop if you’re exploring the Salamanca neighborhood

Hotels

• Four Seasons – Super luxury in a gorgeous building at the center of all the action.
• Grand Hotel Ingles – Tucked on a tiny street in Barrio de la Letras, this is the oldest luxury hotel in the city. The service is excellent!
• Hotel Único – Little jewel box of a hotel in the posh Salamanca district
• Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá – great location near the Royal Palace

Shopping

• Barrio Salamanca – spend a pleasant morning meandering this area with many boutique shops with Spanish luxury clothes and leather goods
• Calle Serrano – another good shopping street that borders Salamanca with luxury stores
• La Chinela – the best slippers/ slip on shoes at ridiculously low prices! This is why you shop in Spain people!
• Castañer – gorgeously crafted classic espadrilles and other shoes
• Miboheme – another great resource for top quality espadrilles with a stylish twist and other lovely shoes
• Lowe – luxury women’s clothing and leather goods
• Galleria Canalejas – super high end shopping in a beautiful 3-floor department store near the Four Seasons
• M. Moleiro – unique publisher reproducing beautiful maps and illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Travelers, historians, book lovers, botanists, and general art lovers do not miss!
• Pons Quintana – I have developed a bit of an addiction to these fun and comfortable shoes that are hand made in Mallorca. There’s a better selection online, but it’s fun to see what they have in the store.

Resources

• CN Traveler: The 21 Best Restaurants in Madrid
• Eater: The 38 Essential Restaurants in Madrid
• Travel and Leisure: How Madrid Became One of the Top Food Destinations
• Culture Trip: An Art Lover’s Guide to Madrid in 24 Hours
• Devour Tours: Adventures & Attractions: 14 Things to Do in Madrid for Kids
• Madrid Neighborhoods