places

Our selection of interesting places near the apartment

PLAZA DE SANTA ANA

This buzzing square is a popular start for many a Madrileño's Friday night chateo (tapas crawl). It is flanked at either end by the elegant 18th-century Teatro Español (Spanish Theatre) and the famous Gran Hotel Reina Victoria that's recently morphed into the ME Madrid Reina Victoria. Once favoured by bullfighters, the Reina is now a serious contender for the late-shift party crowd at its rooftop and lobby bars. 

It's worth a quick ice-cold beer at two of Hemingway's favourite bars close by; Viva Madrid (in Manuel Fernández y González street) is famous for its walls decorated with hand-painted tiles depicting turn-of-the-century scenes, and still lives off its reputation for attracting the likes of Ava Gardner and bullfighter Manolete, who made out at one of its intimate tables Hemingway’s other favourites in Plaza Santa Ana is Cervecería Alemana, is a wood-panelled gem with decent plates of jamón, white asparagus and fried squids. In an article for Life magazine titled 'A dangerous summer' Hemingway talked about it as a good place for beer and coffee.

Also In Manuel Fernández y González street just in front of the apartment there is a funny, charming and cozy place named Los Carbones where you can have a nice cup of coffee with delicious cakes or enjoy a refreshing gin tonic, it is a recommended place for gin tonics in Las Letras.

El Lacón, just at the apartment same building, a beacon of authenticity, where everything from the wall tiles to the clay dishes are steeped in Spanish history. Here the bar is crowded with the tweed trousers of the regulars, the floor is cluttered with discarded napkins and the room is filled with the raspy sound of old-man Spanish, signs that the food is not only authentic, but delicious. At El Lacon each drink is accompanied by a small cazuela (small clay pot) of one of four typical aperitivos.

By and large Madrid’s typical old-time bars are havens of meat and potatoes. And although that cured ham is heavenly and those fresh-cut, olive-oil fried potatoes are stellar, I often leave craving some – any! – vegetables. In El Lacon, my wildest veggie dreams came true in the form of bright green asparagus as thick as my thumb seared to toasted perfection on an olive oil-drenched grill. Even out of season, these trigueros a la plancha were a vegetable-lover’s paradise

In the middle of Echegaray street you can see many restaurants and bars, I recommend 3: La Boca del lobo: funky music an alive concerts, La Venencia: old bar they only serve sweet wine, no beer, and Cardamomo: place where you can hear a really good flamenco. It is better if you go during the week.

Arriving to the end of the street, you can find an italian restaurant very famous Come Prima, the food is delicious.

Echegaray Street is full of neighbourhood people, tourist and history, at least, full of life.

Café Central, in plaza del Angel for jazz at nights, this emblematic café has been hosting jazz performances at night for 30 years. Prestigious magazines have made ​​lists of the best jazz clubs in Europe and Central Café  was identified in them, the only club in Spain that is mentioned.

La Trocha, in calle de las Huertas, lined with more atmospheric bars, the best for caipirinhas, good jazz and good atmosphere.

Try nearby Casa Alberto in calle de las Huertas, situated on the street level of a house where Cervantes lived and wrote the second part of 'Don Quijote' in 1614, Casa Alberto has been serving rabo de toro estofado (oxtail stew), albóndigas (meatballs) and glasses of chilled vermouth from its worn onyx bar since 1827.

For tapas in Plaza Santa Ana or nearby are recommended also Lateral and Cervantes cervecería in plaza de Jesús 13, going down Cervantes street until you cross Duque de Medinacelli street, then turn to the right, there it is Plaza de Jesús, you will get a great beer and fresh seafood tapas, gambas (prawns), the tosta de gambas is a must.

González, in León 12 street, a restaurant -bar- shop where you can taste the finest typical spanish products such as sausage products, cheeses, wines, canned food. There are also exquisite toasts and snacks that you can take away.

Also in Plaza de Jesús there is another popular tapas bar named Taberna de Dolores, splendid canapes at this popular standing room only tiled bar, decorated with beer bottles from around the world, the beer is really good and the food specialities include roquefort and anchovy and smoked salmon canapes.

El Rabano, in calle Jesús, 2, since 1965 they have been cooking and serving the finest dishes of traditional Spanish cuisine, fish and meet, good castilian food at good Price.
A charming place with a personal touch that will make you feel at home. His dishes will make you remember the best dishes of spanish mothers.
The quality of its products is one of the hallmarks of this restaurant, they can delight you with a variety of meat and fish that will enjoy the finest palates.

Calle Victoria 12 in Carrera San Jerónimo direction there are many bars, ‘La Cueva del gato’ bar is also a very good recommendation for tapas and ‘La casa del abuelo’  is an historic tavern with a strong reputation based on a range of natural products, the best shrimps, prawns and sweet wine of Madrid.

Chocolat, also near to the apartment in Santa María 30 street, paralel to Huertas street, a very nice place for eating chocolate con churros, an spanish pastry, a deep-fried dough stick sprinkle with sugar, for breakfast or as an afternoon snack dipped in hot chocolate.

For pizzas in calle León 35, La Pizzateca with its own identity, delicious pizzas, for eating there or taking away.

Antón Martín market. is very popular. When I wander about this area I like to think that some things never change, such as the knife shop in the alley, the stands selling pork scraps, or the one that specializes in pickles. But I'm also amazed to discover bold new iniciatives coexisting alongside the most traditional market stands.


 

Pastelería El Pozo

Calle del Pozo, 8

This cake shop was founded in 1830. Besides its 'roscones de reyes', a ring-shaped sponge cake with sugar and glazed fruits traditionally eaten in the days around Epiphany, their specialties are the flaky pastries filled with custard or pumpkin jam (my favorite!!). Many other delicious products can be bought such as 'turron' or Spanish nougat, biscuits, pies or season sweets, in an atmosphere evocative of 19th century bakeries.

This place is at 300 meters, 4 minutes walk from the apartment.

Casa Mira

Carrera de San Jerónimo, 30

Founded in 1855, here you can try the best artisanal 'turrón' (nougat) of Madrid. Luis Mira was the main supplier of the Royal House nougat during the reign of Isabel II, Amadeo I of Savoy, Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII. In addition, Luis Mira earned a Grand Prix at the Paris World Fair of 1899, which clearly illustrates the importance of this establishment close to the Congress of Deputies.

This place is at 500 meters, 5 minutes walk from the apartment.

Lhardy

Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8

One of the oldest delicatessens in Madrid, Lhardy was founded in 1839 by Emilio Lhardy (also known as Huguenin) from Switzerland and it soon became a meeting spot for the aristocrats of the time. The shop is associated with a restaurant of the same name and it maintains the elegant aspect of former times. It is not a cheap place, but it is worth visiting because it is a piece of the history of Madrid. Here you can purchase an endless number of gastronomic specialities of which the most famous are 'callos a la madrileña' (tripe casserole with chorizo and chillies) and 'cocido madrileño' (a dish based on chickpeas but with many other things).

This place is at 350, 4 minutes walk from the apartment.

Restaurante Botín

Calle Cuchilleros 17

According to the Guinness Book of Records this is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating from 1725. The restaurant is also mentioned in the book Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós (published 1886-1887) and Goya supposedly worked here before becoming a painter. Hemingway was a frequent visitor and pronounced it one of his favourite restaurants.

Today, the restaurant is decidely a tourist spot and not cheap, since it appears in so many guides. Don't let that put you off, though, because Spaniards still go here to sample the excellent food, specialities being 'cochinillo asado' (roast suckling pig) and 'cordero asado' (roast lamb). The restaurant in housed in a XVI century building in the old part of Madrid and really is a must when visiting Spain's capital.

This place is at 1,000 meters, 15 minutes walk from the apartment.

Chocolatería San Ginés

Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5

This traditional white-marbled bar was established in 1894 and is famous for its speciality, the 'churros', which are traditionally eaten with a cup of hot thick chocolate, dipping and dunking the 'churro' into the chocolate to enjoy the mouth-watering contrast of the slightly salty churro with the sweeter chocolate.

In the same street there is a bookshop which became very popular in the early 20th century because many personalities from the literary, arts and politics  world used to meet here.

This place is at 850 meters, 10 minutes walk from the apartment.

Café Central

Plaza del Ángel, 10

This is probably the best known Jazz club in Madrid. Popular in the day when you can have a coffee, but really comes to life at 10 p.m. when the live performances star. It is better to go sometime in advance, as it can get a bit crowded.

This place is at 300 meters, 3 minutes walk from the apartment.