Pele_Is_God Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pele_Is_God Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 (edited) Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. Edited March 29 by Pele_Is_God Duplicate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 45 minutes ago, Pele_Is_God said: Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. I lived there for three months and have visited Madrid many times outwith that. Apart from the usual tips about art galleries, museums and the wonderful park (Retiro), I would strongly suggest to you that the best area for tapas bars is La Latina. And go to Casa Labra, a wee bar near Puerto Del Sol. Draft vermouth and fino and the best croquettas and bacalao you will find in Madrid. And, of course, visit the Bernabeu! Have a great time, it’s a brilliant place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il Duce McTarkin Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 It's a shithole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il Duce McTarkin Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 It's a shithole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 1 hour ago, Pele_Is_God said: Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. Atocha and Chamartín stations are fantastic. From them, you can get trains all over the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Only kidding. Madrid is great fun. I always stay at the Hotel Catalonia near Goya underground station for work so can’t vouch for any other accommodation. Breakfast a nightmare with Latin American tourists doing what Germans do on Spanish beaches and claiming a table by sending the youngest member of the group down at 06:30! Plenty places to eat and drink near there. Just follow the crowds. Avoid touristy places (anywhere with an English menu) and go with the flow. Some of the local places can be cheap and great fun. Retiro park is great for a wander. Usually some decent buskers, too. Just watch out for the usual scammers. I’d avoid the day trip Toledo. Rammed full of Asian tourists blocking the views, eating their own food and pissing off the locals. Some shops do have hidden stashes of fascist memorabilia if you know how to ask, so maybe all is not lost @il Duce McTarkin Day trip to Aranjuez is nice, if you like palaces and gardens. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aranjuez Go north for hiking in the hills. Beautiful. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-hikes-in-madrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Hang about chueca and take it from there. Cool area. Bar Brilliante for tapa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysmithsgloves Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 1 hour ago, il Duce McTarkin said: It's a shithole. Es un agujero de mierda Fixed it for you 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn artist Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Retiro park - rowing boats is good. Segway tour also available there. visit the numerous places selling churros - chocolataria san gines is the most famous but others are good too. stadium tour for Real Madrid is good aswell. 1862 dry bar for cocktails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King prawn Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 1 hour ago, il Duce McTarkin said: It's a shithole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King prawn Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Bars - Revoltosa in plaza del rey is well located with a terrace in a nice square - sala equis (old porn cinema turned into a trendy bar) - Rosi la loca , mental Mexican bar where you drink cocktails out of cartoon character themed vessels , book in advance - Triskells if you want an Irish bar in the centre. Not a fan of the James Joyce myself - El Tigre does pints that come with ridiculous amounts of free food but it’s not good quality - café parnaso interesting place with a selection of bizarre seating downstairs (like an antiques shop) - plaza cascorro outside has lots of terraces any are good - plaza de la luna good terraces also plaza de Santa ana Restaurants - Casa macareno (Calle San Vincente Ferrer) good typical Spanish food with good portions. Book ahead on Google as it fills up - La tia Juana colourful Mexican themed place - ochenta grados modern take on Spanish tapas - La Cachapera for Venezuelan food if you fancy something different - La musa latina is in a nice square and does a range of food - más al sur , great restaurant for typical food closer to atocha if you’re staying there Activities/Areas - Retiro Park - El rastro street market in La Latina on Sundays - Bernabeu tour - Plaza Mayor (main square but tourist trap for drinks/food) . Sol is a dump, not worth visiting in my opinion - El prado has some brilliant artwork in it, book ahead - Cibeles (fountain outside is where all the Real Madrid fans gather to celebrate trophies) , you can climb the tower for 3 euros to get views of Madrid and an expensive rooftop drink - Madrid Rio is a nice walk down the river - they put the motorway underneath it so you can now walk/cycle round the edge of it. You can walk down to the matadero (old slaughterhouse) and have a drink - Casa de campo is close to the palace and nice on a sunny day - plaza de toros in ventas is an impressive building but quite far away from a lot of things. wouldnt go there on Sundays careful in lavapies at night , it’s much better than it used to be but pickpockets galore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD 1874 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 20 hours ago, Pele_Is_God said: Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. Make sure you go to mercado de San miguel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spellczech Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 (edited) 20 hours ago, Pele_Is_God said: Going to Madrid in October for the first time. Looking for pub, restaurant and activity recommendations please. Google. Wife had me watching 2 dancers touring Spain during the week and this place caught my eye in Madrid, if you like eating snails (I expect it has other stuff on the menu too): https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZD2D9nQnpHmbh7b57 Edited March 30 by Spellczech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbank2 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Bar very close to Sol - La Fontana D'Oro - happy hour in the late afternoon, jumping in the evening with live music. No cover chatge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbank2 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Close to the Santiago Bernabau, The Irish Rover - been there for ever. Good drinks and food and a lively vibe. Live music at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooperstar Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Mercado de San Miguel. An indoor food market with loads of stalls selling some brilliant tapas style food and of course bevvy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class of 75 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 (edited) Please please avoid the subway. Pick pockets all over the place. Watched one trying to get into my wife's handbag without her knowing. Got scammed by taxi driver so not great memories of the place. Edited March 30 by Class of 75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 55 minutes ago, Class of 75 said: Please please avoid the subway. Pick pockets all over the place. Watched one trying to get into my wife's handbag without her knowing. Got scammed by taxi driver so not great memories of the place. Not belittling your experience, but I've been to Madrid dozens of times (and always carrying a work bag with tablet, laptop etc). Never had any issues on the subway. As with anywhere, being vigilant is key (and a bit of luck, probably). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manaliveits105 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Yes love Madrid - it's so big that the red tourist bus is a must just to get your bearings and hop on and off - very interesting too. A few years ago I also watched a female pickpocket have an attempt at my wife's bag on the big zebra crossings outside Atocha - so yes be aware in busy spots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class of 75 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 7 hours ago, Jim_Duncan said: Not belittling your experience, but I've been to Madrid dozens of times (and always carrying a work bag with tablet, laptop etc). Never had any issues on the subway. As with anywhere, being vigilant is key (and a bit of luck, probably). No worries, may have just been s bad trip and we were unlucky 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Camazzola Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 A lot of useful tips already posted. I can vouch for the Bernabeau tour. Would like to go again since the place has been re-vamped with the roof and revolving pitch. The Metropolitano is also worth a visit. Amazing stadium and the VR headset experience is a nice touch. When you go, it could coincide with a match that's on (Getafe and Real Vallecano are also local should either of the 'big heads' not fit in with your schedule). The subway is cheap and a great way to get about. The Prado was wasted on me. Im not into the grand, religious artwork therefore, thought the entry fee paid could have been spent elsewhere. I preferred the pop-art/Warhol exhibition that was on at one of the places within the Retiro Park - it was free too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westbow Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 On 29/03/2024 at 14:43, il Duce McTarkin said: It's a shithole. It does have a peculiar smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westbow Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 1 minute ago, Samuel Camazzola said: The Prado was wasted on me. Im not into the grand, religious artwork therefore, thought the entry fee paid could have been spent elsewhere. Yeah, if you like Goya you're laughing. I went to the Museo del Traje which was a bit of an Uber ride from the centre but fun. The cafe was very nice too, didn't try the baby eels on bread though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 There’s a museum showing all the stuff they plundered from the Americas plus some cool places showing how the indigenous people lived. Museo de las Americas or something. Loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manaliveits105 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 A funny thing happened on the way to Reina Sofia ........ We were sitting having meal and drinks opposite side of the Plaza and a couple of foreign students with accented English sat at next table .It became evident they were on a first date and the girl had gone all out on a white dress . Their first courses arrived with the girl opting for tomato soup . Some young Spanish kids were kicking a ball about the Plaza and yes the ball hit a step edge about 30 feet away from us and locked in on the tomato soup - a direct hit ! - the girls dress - hair and face were absolutely splattered and she sat for an eternity in silence with her mouth open and arms outstretched in total shock.The boys father did come across and apologise but the restaurant were a bit loathe to replace her soup (no oor fault) She ended up looking like a Picasso painting. When I think of Reine Sofia that's what always springs to mind now - Im not sure how their relationship will have progressed after that date they are probably still playing ketchup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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