|
Book your apartment
|
|
we offer you
|
| Arrival
|
 |
| Departure |
|
| Number of people |
|
City
|
search |
|
|
|
|
-
from comfort to luxury
-
secured online booking
-
real time confirmation
Tel. +34 938 021 535 |
Madrid cultural information and guide
Food and drink
 Spanish food has its regional variations and Madrid is no exception. With the biggest selection of tapas in Spain, sample from the great variety of local dishes available.
Breakfast is usually un cortado (short coffee) with a mini roll or pastry, but lunch is a drawn-out affair of up to two hours. Anytime between noon and 3pm, you can expect to find various lunch menus of 3 courses, at reasonable prices.
Madrid is home to Botín, officially the oldest restaurant in the world, dating back to 1725. Four floors of beamed ceilings, cast-iron ovens, and a history with Goya and Hemingway, certainly draw the crowds, but Spaniards do still come here for the great food. Specialities include cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and cordero asado (roast lamb). Expect occasional bursts of live traditional song during courses.
Madrileños usually eat out for dinner and quite late, from about 9pm till midnight, but of course it’s easy to find somewhere to eat earlier if you don’t want to wait.
Look on the menu for cocido madrileño; a chickpea stew with a mix of meats and vegetables, or the tripe dish callos, which also identifies with the local cuisine. Other specialities include a garlic soup, snails or caracoles, Spanish potato omelette known as tortilla de patatas and certainly the tapas.
Tapas in Spain are such a gastronomic tradition that going for tapas is as common as meeting up for a drink and known as “Ir de Tapeo”. In Madrid, it’s quite common to receive a portion of olives or nuts when you order a drink. The more substantial tapas are ordered from a menu.
Patatas Bravas is a tapas favourite; fried cubed potatoes, with a spicy tomato dressing. Madrileños are the undisputed masters of the patatas bravas a la casera; with a homemade salsa.
Other types of tapas are anchovies, battered cod bombas, potato croquettes with ham, or a platter of local cheese and jamón serrano, Spain’s chewy cured dry ham.
For paella, avoid the generic tourist-geared types and pick a restaurant in the La Latina-El Rastro area, which serve up the real deal to the locals who know better.
Madrid enjoys a superb selection of locally produced, quality wines, such as Castilla la Mancha, a type of Tempranillo.
Wine in Spain is extremely inexpensive, compared to other European countries. It's possible to pick up a good bottle of wine in the supermarket for just a few euros.
It is unspeakable to visit Spain without trying the sangría, a refreshingly fruity drink made commonly with red wine, fruit juices and liquor. In Madrid, look out for the delicious cider-sangria in the more traditional establishments.
Siesta in Madrid
 Thanks to Madrid's stifling summer temperatures of around 40ºC, most madrileños and businesses alike, still abide by Spain’s most famous year-round past-time, La Siesta.
During 2pm and 5pm you can expect to find most traditional businesses and services closed, as staff relax at home or enjoy a long lunch with friends, preferably out of the heat. This personal time allows the Spanish some time for leisure and repose; however most international corporations, stores, and eating establishments are open during these hours.
How to tip in Madrid
Spanish salaries are below average for Europe and hospitality wages are reflected in this; therefore your tip will be appreciated. In restaurants, 10% of the bill is standard courtesy, but your enjoyment of the service should always determine how much you decide to leave as a tip.
Madrid nightlife
 Madrid’s nightlife is on par with, if not more extensive than, that of its sister city, Barcelona. Perhaps due to its bigger scale and status as an international capital city, Madrid’s reputation as a party city definitely does not go unjustified.
With its variety of live concerts, flamenco, huge festivals, bars and late clubs, Madrid has enough pulse to keep visitors and locals on their toes throughout the year.
The madrileños have a long dinner and then bar-hop for hours, so clubs don’t usually fill until after 2am.
Malasaña is Madrid's undisputed area for nightlife. At around midnight the trendy crowds gather in its little bars. With a great mix of people, a night in Malasaña lasts until morning.
Lavapies has an artsy-boho scene, with the Casa Patas flamenco venue located here, alongside an array of busy bars, stretching to Huertas and Plaza Santa Ana.
Around the Plaza Mayor and Los Austrias, you can find some very authentic old bars with a relaxed, mature vibe, but if you want dancing, the major discotécas are located between Sol, Callao and Gran Via.
Chueca, the predominantly gay zone in central Madrid, keeps a varied social scene with its terraces and traditional establishments among hip new lounge bars.
After-hours clubs are pretty popular in Madrid, so if you can’t sleep-won’t sleep, just ask around or keep your eye out for flyers when the bars close.
Enjoy Madrid
 Madrid, compared to other major European and American cities, is fairly safe. Although violent crime rates are very low; there are problems with pickpockets and theft.
It’s important that you pay attention to your belongings and your surroundings, to avoid any possible incidents. Leave valuables in a safe place in your apartment, don’t take them with you.
If you’re at a café, bar or party, keep your personal items at hand; a mobile phone left on the table or your bag out of eyesight may attract unwanted opportunists.
People asking for help or directions may be a ruse. Chances are that you will look like a foreigner and are therefore unlikely to be asked for information under normal circumstances.
Take note of your belongings in crowded places such as on public transport or in a busy bar and be wary of strange distractions, or people offering help without any request. Small precautions like these will help to avoid any unhappy moments in such a magnificent city.
Read more about Madrid
Madrid public transport
Madrid map and area info
|