All of My secret Barcelona • By Tal's mapsMadrid
99 stories · Sep 2025 · 27 places
The places from this trip
- Parque del Buen RetiroMadrid's green lung: rent a rowboat on the big lake, catch open-air art shows and living statues, and picnic with market food.
- Estació de Barcelona SantsAVE to Madrid takes 2h50; feels like an airport but arriving 30 min before departure is enough.
- Mercado de la PazCute local food market in Salamanca (near C/ Serrano 50) — stalls with wines and manchego cheese.
- Puerta del Sol
- Plaza del CallaoFlower planters on Gran Vía by Plaza Callao make a good photo stop.
- Casa GerardoOld-school taberna at C/ Calatrava 21: wines from €2.70-3.90, a top cheese plate and the deceptively simple tomato-tuna salad.
- SSSTUFFFClothing store built like a bakery — plastic bread display but real bread hangers; buy 2+ pieces get 10% off.
- Thai Sol Foot MassageThai foot massage near Puerta del Sol — she calls it perfect and says to write the name down.
- Mercado de San FernandoMarket full of bars on Calle de Embajadores 41 where locals drink afternoon vermouth — it comes with a free aperitivo; order torreznos (€8).
- Hangy Korean BBQGrill-your-own at the table; order the couples' set and don't miss the kimchi — popular, worth booking.
- Bar TrafalgarThe most recommended spot and it delivers: best Bloody Mary ever, chistorra in egg-yolk cream, anchovy-and-butter toast, ventresca tataki.
- ProbashiTiny authentic spot on Calle del Olivar: excellent lamb stew and the best palak paneer she's had — everything swims in oil.
- ChamberíOne of her favourite Madrid neighbourhoods to wander.
- Plaza de OlavideCute market in the square with clothes, jewellery and food — jamón carved on the spot, empanada de bonito and liqueur tastings.
- La Casa EncendidaArt centre at Ronda de Valencia 2 — the video-art show on African culture, 'Chorus in Rememory of Flight', was especially impressive.
- El BoquerónCalle de Valencia 14 — a window packed with Spanish conservas: Ortiz bonito, anchovies, mackerel.
- Calle de FuencarralMain shopping street for a fitting-room spree between drinks.
- Gracias ViejaCafé-bar at Calle Lavapiés 25 serving coffee, drinks and plates.
- Espacio Rastro MadridDesigners' and artists' pop-up with art on the walls and craft stalls, near El Rastro.
- Nevercrew muralBig Nevercrew bear mural painted for Urvanity — a street-art stop in Chueca.
- Plaza de San IldefonsoStreets around the plaza in Malasaña are full of design and stationery shops with illustrated posters and wrapping paper.
- El RastroHuge famous Sunday flea market but unbearably crowded and a bit disappointing — the surrounding streets are more pleasant.
- Calle de SerranoOne of Madrid's main shopping streets — luxury boutiques, international and upscale Spanish brands.
- Casa MaravillasCharming vintage spot on Calle Manuela Malasaña — head straight to the bar counter.
- El Capricho ExtremeñoCash only, huge queue on Calle Carlos Arniches: tostas with goat cheese and jam, stew, and Madrid's famous calamari sandwich.
- El PerenquénCanary Islands street-food stall inside Mercado de San Fernando.
- Gran VíaShe avoids Gran Vía and everything around Plaza Callao — too touristy; crosses it at most on the way.
