Madrid, the capital of Spain, also refers to the region located in the center of the country. The climate is characterized by cool winters and warm, dry summers. Popular foods include lamb and veal, and perhaps surprisingly, fish. Madrid has the second largest fish market in the world, and the restaurants provide great selection and quality. From sightseeing to shopping to nightlife, Madrid is full of places to see and things to do.
WINERIES
BODEGAS BERNABELEVA
Located at the foot of the Cerro de Guisando and the Gredos mountains, this bodega focuses on balance with nature. Wines produced here show off differences in the orientation, vegetation, altitude and soil of each location. The environment is a huge part of the winemaking process.
bernabeleva.com
RESTAURANTS
BOTÍN
Hemingway ate a suckling pig alone here, so I figured “Why can’t I?” I waited for an hour at the tiny vermouth bar across the road, and then ignored the large feasting groups and surprised servers as I dug into a piglet all my own.
botin.es
CASA PACO
Try the pisto manchego (Spanish version of ratatouille).
casapaco.com
JULIAN DE TOLOSA
Wine list filled with wonderful Riberas.
casajuliandetolosa.com
LA CHATA
The place to enjoy copitas of wine, cheeses, and jamón.
Calle Cava Baja, 24 | Madrid 28005
tel: 34 91 366 14 58
tripadvisor
LA TRAINERA
Great for seafood.
latrainera.es
CERVECERIA LA ARDOSA
We really loved the potato tortilla at Bodega de La Ardosa.
www.laardosa.com
Snacks at La Ardosa (potato tortilla on the right)
Touring COVAP
NIGHTLIFE
CAFE POPULART
Eclectic music venue, from Celtic to Cuban Jazz.
cafepopulart.com
CASA PATAS
Food and flamenco.
casapatas.com
ACTIVITIES
JUSTO ALGABA’S WORKSHOP
There are only 5 matador tailors in the world; all live in Madrid.
justoalgaba.com
CORRAL DE LA MORERIA
Flamenco show and restaurant.
corraldelamoreria.com
MANTEQUERIAS BRAVO
A gourmet food and wine shop; great for jamón.
mantequeriasbravo.com
LAVINIA
Wine shop that lets you taste some of Spain’s best wines; will ship to you.
lavinia.es
MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL
One of the oldest markets in Madrid, Mercado de San Miguel offers a whole new concept of market— specializing in Spanish foods as well as fruits, cheese and fish. The market consists of 33 shops that also offer great food in an even better setting.
mercadodesanmiguel.es
COVAP FACTORY
We got the complete tour of the factory, and then the food came out. Iberico ham, lomo, salsichon, Lomito, and sobrasada. All were great, but the lomito was the best of the charcuteria. The flavor was amazing. It was slightly gamey, nutty, sweet and salty. It was the most amazing piece of cured meat. The cream of the crop (and the best thing I ate that day) were two cuts from the same Iberico pigs that were being cured—cuts you will hardly see in the US. This meat was the best pork I’ve ever had. It was everything you taste in Iberico ham with the texture of Kobe beef.
covap.es
ACCOMMODATIONS
THE WESTIN PALACE
It’s a gorgeous hotel with renovated and comfortable rooms. The location is amazing because it’s within walking distance to many tourist destinations.
starwoodhotels.com
