Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
Page 182
From Puerta del Sol, walk south down C. de Espoz y Mina, restaurant will be on your right. Entrees €8-12. Day prices for drinks: 1:30-11pm.
TABERNA DE ANTONIO SANCHEZ
Meson de paredes, 13
TAPAS
34 915 397 826
Founded in 1830 by bullfighter Antonio Sanchez, this taberna has had a lot of time to perfect its delicious tapas and entrees. Get a variety of tapas (€1-3) to share as two tapas calientes are filling enough for dinner. If you can find this restaurant, the inside covered in dark-wooded walls and Spanish paintings feels like a step back in time. Make sure to try the Mortados Calientes de Chizo or the Escalipines à la Madrilena for a taste of the old world.
From Tirso De Molina, walk past the Plaza de Tirso de Molina until you get to C. del Meson de Paredes. It will be on your left. Entrees €3-15.
CASA ALBERTO
C. de las Huertas, 18
TRADITIONAL
91 429 93 56 www.casaalberto.es
Founded in 1827, Casa Alberto is one of the oldest taverns in Madrid. Come for a taste of some of the best tapas in the city, made from carefully selected ingredients and true to the recipes of past generations. Lancers and banderilleros used to come here to imbibe a “cup of courage” before entering the bullring. Feeling adventurous? Enter your own bullring of fear by trying tripe (stomach...yum), or pig’s ear. If you’d rather stay in your comfort zone, go with customer favorites such as snails, lamb’s knuckles, oxtail, veal meatballs, or Madrid-style Salt Cod.
From Plaza Del Angel, walk down C. de las Huertas towards the Prado. It will be on your right. Entrees €5-20 Open daily noon-1:30am
O’PULPO MESON RESTAURANTE
C. de los Cañizares, 8
TAPAS
91 369 02 46 www.opulpo.com
Right next door to Cat’s Hostel, O’Pulpo serves up traditional local tapas with a one-big-family attitude. Try the Tortilla Tapa—a mixture of potatoes, eggs, and onion, with the Tinto de Verrano, a beverage made with wine and lemon Fanta.
From Plaza Santa Ana, walk south down C. Olivar and pass C.Magdalena. It will be on your right. €5-15. Open daily 10am-4:30pm and 8:30pm-midnight.
LA SOBERINA
C. Espoz y Mina
TAPAS
91 531 05 76 www.lasoberbia.es/
For a traditional Spanish dish try the Arroz Abanda at La Soberina. Originally a way to use up leftovers from the week, Arroz Abanda is a gumbo-like seafood rice dish. From 1-5pm get the special: an appetizer and entree (€9.50). Tapas calientes (€4) and drinks (€1.90) also served.
From Plaza de Santa Ana head down C. Espoz y Mina towards Puerta Del Sol. Entrees €4-12. Open daily 8:45am-2am.
Gran Vía
RESTAURANTE LA ALHAMBRA DE SANTO DOMINGO
Jacometrezo, 15
MEDITERRANEAN
91 548 43 31
Come to La Alhambra de Santo Domingo to order cheap and fast Mediterranean food. Their menú of the day includes an appetizer, entree, bread, drink, and dessert (€8) and is a great deal for backpackers looking to fill up for cheap. For a smaller meal, explore their kebab plates (€4), pizzas (€3), or desserts (€3.50).
Callao. Walk east down Jacometrezo, restaurant will be on your left. Meals around €10.
[H]ARINA
Plaza de la Independencia, 10
SANDWICHES, DESSERTS, COFFEE
91 522 87 85 www.harinamadrid.com
Go through the sliding glass doors of this chic bakery for a delicious dessert and drink or a small salad before visiting nearby Retiro Park.
Outside the entrance to Retiro park in the Plaza de la Independencia. Food €5-15. Open M-Su 9am-9pm.
MERCADO DE LA REINA
C. Gran Vía, 12
TAPAS
91 521 31 98 www.mercadodelareina.es
The classy Mercado de la Reina is an upscale break from Gran Vía shopping. Business suits flock to this mercado’s back tables during their lunch breaks, so plop down into one of the high stools in the front of the restaurant to taste pinchos made from organic ingredients that come paired with wine.
From Gran Vía metro stop walk straight east down Gran Vía, restaurant will be on your right. Entrees €10-20. Open M-Th 9am-midnight, Sa-Su 10am-1am.
Chueca
BAZAAR
C. de la Libertad, 21
MEDITERRANEAN
91 523 39 05 www.restaurantbazaar.com
With immaculate white tablecloths, plush seats, and romantic candles, you’d expect this restaurant to be forebodingly expensive. Think again. Bazaar boasts cheap dishes (€8-10) in a ritzy atmosphere, but some portions are on the smaller side.
Chueca. Make a left on C. Augusto Figuroa, and a right on C. de la Libertad, 21. Entrees €8-10. Open daily 1:15-4pm and 8:30-11:45pm.
MAGASAND
Travesía de San Mateo, 16
CAFE, SMOOTHIES
91 319 68 25 www.magasand.com
With an advertising slogan like, “incredible sandwiches, impossible magazines,” Magasand is a cafe you need to experience to understand. Have one of their fresh sandwiches, salads, smoothies, or coffees made-to-order by the jovial staff, and then move upstairs to lounge on hip couches and colorful stools as you read one of their many alternative artsy magazines.
Chueca. Make a right on C. Augusto Figuroa, and another right on C. Hortaleza. Turn right onto Travesía de San Mateo (there’s a sign on Hortaleza pointing you in the right direction). Sandwiches €5-8. Salads €4-7. Open daily 9:30am-1:30pm and 4-9pm.
STOP MADRID
C. de Hortaleza, 11
TAPAS
91 521 8887 www.stopmadrid.es
Founded in 1929, this traditional Madrid tavern offers Iberian ham, Spanish cheeses, and 70 different kinds of wine. Marble walls, wine bottle decor, and wooden stools make this place feel like you’ve hot tub-time-machined your way back to the old country.
Gran Vía. From the Gran Vía stop, walk straight up C. de Hortaleza. Entrees €5-10 Open daily noon-2am.
DIURNO
San Marcos, 37
CAFE, VIDEO RENTAL
91 522 0009 www.diurno.com
Get your freshly prepared sandwiches, desserts, pastas, and more at this yuppie haven reminiscent of an iPod commercial. With a huge selections of DVDs for you to rent and buy, take your food to-go and catch up on the last season of Modern Family.
Chueca. Make a left onto C. Augusto Figuroa, and a right onto C. de la Libertad, 21. Diurno is across from Bazaar. Sandwiches €5-10. Open daily 10am-midnight.
EL TIGRE
C. de las Infantas, 30
TAPAS
91 532 00 72
El Tigre is crowded, hectic, loud, and fun. Buy a round of drinks (try one of their big mojitos) and get free plates full of tapas to go with it. Enough to fill you up, the tapas here are deep fried and delicious, and even hardy eaters can fill up for under €5. Prepare to fight your way through the crowd to grab a ledge to perch your food and drink. Originally a local favorite, El Tigre was recently discovered by travelers who now make up a large part of their clientele.
Gran Vía. Walk north up C. de Hortaleza and make a right on C. de las Infantas. It will be on your right. Beer €1.50. Drinks with tapas €3-10. Open daily 10am-2am.
Malasaña
LA DOMINGA
Espíritu Santa, 15
SPANISH
915 244 809 www.ladominga.com
Come to this upscale restaurant for fancy Spanish food even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy. With wood furnishings, a large bar, and dark red walls, this is the perfect place to try conservative Spanish fare for the first time. On weekdays, go for their menú of the day (€10.90).
Tribunal. Go west on C. de San Vincente Ferrer, make a left on C. del Barco, and make a right on C. del Espíritu Santo. Entrees €10-15. Open daily 1pm-4:30pm and 8:30pm-noon.
CRÊPERIE LA RUE
C. Espíritu Santo, 18
CRÊPERIE
This tiny crêperie calls itself a
“un pedacito de Francia en el centro de Madrid,” or a little bit of France in the center of Madrid. We agree. French music, paintings of Parisian landmarks, and the delicious smell of savory and sweet crêpes make this place seem like the set from Amélie and the perfect stop for a mid-afternoon snack. Order your crêpe to go as there is limited seating.
Tribunal. Go west on C. de San Vincente Ferrer, make a left onto C. del Barco, and make a right onto C. del Espíritu Santo. Crêpes €4-8. Open daily 11:30am-midnight.
OLOKUN
C. Fuencarral, 105
CUBAN
914 45 69 16
If you’d like to taste classic Cuban food, look no further than Olokun. Get a tropical drink (€5-7) to go along with the beach scenes on the walls. Try Cuban classics like tostones (€6) or Ropa Vieja, (shredded beef served over rice; €10). For a little taste of everything, go for the menú (€11.90). If you get bored waiting for your meal, you can always go play with the foosball table in the basement. Tribunal. From the Tribunal metro stop walk straight north up C. Fuencarral. Restaurant will be on your left Entrees €10-15. Open daily noon-5pm and 9pm-2am.
Argüelles and Moncloa
LA TABERNA DE LIERIA
C. del Duque de Liria, 9
SPANISH
915 414 519 www.latabernadeliria.com
This offbeat restaurant serves up classy Basque food in interesting flavor combinations in an atmosphere that seems like your distant relative’s living room. To get a taste of everything, try their preset menu combinations made for two or more people. Wine and cheese tastings as well as lessons in how to cook duck foie gras are offered periodically, so consult their website for a schedule of these tasty exhibitions.
Ventura Rodriguez. Walk forward, take the left fork in the road (C. San Bernardino), and walk straight forward. Entrees €15-20. Open daily 10am-2am.
EL JARDÍN SECRETO
C. de Conde Duque, 2
CAFE
91 541 80 23
Tucked away in a tiny street close to C. de la Princesa, El Jardín Secreto is Arguelles’s best-kept secret. Walk into this eclectic cafe filled with beaded window coverings, wooden ceiling canopies, and crystal-ball table lights to enjoy one of their dozens of coffees, hot chocolates, and snacks. For a real taste of the varied treats Secreto has to offer, try the Chocolate El Jardín served with chocolate Teddy Grahams and dark chocolate at the bottom of your cup (€6) or the George Clooney cocktail with horchata, crème de cocoa, and cointreau (€7.25).
Ventura Rodriguez. Walk straight, take the left fork in the road (C. San Bernardino) and walk forward. Coffee and tea €3-6. Cocktails €7.25. Desserts €4.20. Open M-Th 6:30pm-1:30am, F-Sa 6:30pm-2:30am, Su 6:30pm-1:30am.
KURTO AL PLATO
Serrano Jover, 1
SPANISH
917 585 946 www.kultoalplato.com
Described as Basque haute cuisine in miniature, Kurto al Plato is a great place to try designer tapas in a swanky atmosphere. Located right next to the El Corte Ingles department store, Kurto al Plato is your perfect stop for a post-shopping dinner, but make sure your wallet isn’t wiped before you order. High black chairs, funky plates, and a colorful chalk drink menu all add to the upscale but slightly offbeat decor.
Argüelles. Walk straight south down C. de la Princesa. Meals €12-20. Open M-Th 8:30-11:30pm, F-Sa noon-1am, Su 8:30-11:30pm.
NIGHTLIFE
El Centro and Gran Vía
OHM/BASH LINE
Plaza de Callao, 4
CLUB
91 532 01 32 www.pacha-madrid.com
Known as Bash Line on weekdays and Sundays and Ohm on Fridays and Saturdays, this lively club has drag queens out front and DJs who keep the beats going until the sun comes up. Organized themed parties are regular features.
Tribunal. Cover M-F €10-15; Sa €10-14; Su €10-15. Open W-Su midnight-6am.
PALACIO GAVIRIA
C. del Arenal, 9
CLUB
915 266 069 www.palaciogaviria.com
Built in 1850 and inspired by the Italian Renaissance, the Palacio Gaviria is a beautiful palace turned nightlife hotspot. Make your royal entrance by heading down the grand marble staircase onto the dance floor powered by techno beats and electric dance moves. Be on the lookout for promoters of Palacio Gaviria in Puerta del Sol, as they will often have vouchers for free entry or drinks.
From Puerta del Sol walk straight down C. del Arenal. Cover M-Th €10, F-Sa €15, Su €10. Opens at 11pm.
JOY ESLAVA
Arenal, 11
CLUB
91 366 37 33 www.joy-eslava.com
An old standby, this converted theater has stayed strong amid Madrid’s rapidly changing nightlife scene. Number one among study-abroad students and travelers, this club plays an eclectic mix of music and features scantily clad models (of both sexes) dancing on the theater stage. Balloons and confetti periodically fall from the ceiling New-Year’s-Eve-style.
Cover M-W €12; Th €15; F-Su €18. Open M-Th 11:30pm-5:30am, F-Sa 11:30pm-6am, Su 11:30pm-5:30am.
EL CHAMPANDEZ
C. de Fernando, 77
BAR
91 54 29 68 www.chapandaz.com
With manmade stalactites hanging from the ceiling, this unique bar is designed to look like a cave (complete with a specialty drink that bartenders drip from the ceiling). Although it’s pretty quiet earlier in the evening, it starts getting packed with pre-clubbers fast.
From Moncloa, get to the intersection of C. de Fernando and C. de la Princesa and walk straight east down Fernando. Drinks €10. Open daily 10pm-3am.
La Latina and Lavapiés
SHOKO
C. de Toledo, 86
DISCOTECA
913 541 691 www.shokomadrid.com
With massive “bamboo” shoots that reach to the ceiling, a huge stage featuring internationally acclaimed acts, and a swanky VIP section Let’s Go wishes it could live in, Shoko is an Oriental-inspired discoteca that follows the rules of Feng Shui and breaks any rules against a good time.
La Latina. Head straight south down C. de Toledo. Cover €10-15. Open daily 11:30pm-late.
CASA LUCAS
Cava Baja, 30
BAR
91 365 08 04 www.casalucas.es
The inviting orange walls, paintings, and corked wine bottles create a friendly vibe, and once you’ve opened that wine bottle, you’ll never want to leave this mellow, comfortable casa. Casa Lucas is a comfortable place to grab a glass of wine. Calmer than some of La Latina’s rowdy options, Casa Lucas also has tapas and raciones—just pay attention to the prices, as some expensive raciones can turn into a brutal bill.
La Latina. Walk west down Plaza de la Cebada. Make a right onto C. de Humilladero and continue right on Cava Baja. Raciones €5-20. Open daily 8:30pm-midnight.
LA PEREJILA
C. Cava Baja, 25
TAPAS, BAR
91 364 28 55
This place immediately stands out because of the live parakeets out front. The tropical theme continues inside with green walls, fake shrubbery, and quirky knick-knacks that make this feel like a themed restaurant at an amusement park. Come to see the eclectic decor, stay for a taste of their homemade tapas, and spend the night for cerveza and sangria.
La Latina. Walk west down Plaza de la Cebada. Make a right onto C. de Humilladero, and continue right on Cava Baja. Cocktails €5-10. Open daily 1-4pm and 8:15pm-12:30am.
Huertas
KAPITAL
Atocha, 125
CLUB
91 420 29 06
If you only have one night in Madrid, be sure to make it to Kapital, one of the biggest clubs in Spain (if not the world). With seven different floors of music and a huge variety of drinks to encounter, this sprawling discoteca has something for every party animal—even you, Mom. Don’t come too early; the place starts going strong around 2am.
2min. walk up Atocha street from Atocha. Cover €15; includes 1 free drink. Drinks €10-15. Open Th-Sun 11:30pm-5:30am.
C. del Doctor Cortezo, 1
CLUB
918 694 038