Been to Madrid before?

Our Local Expert Says:

Room Mate is a small chain or "family" of designer hotels, each with their own personality Mario, Laura, Alicia. Their website http://www.room-matehotels.com also provides a way to find out what's on in the city and how to get tickets, etc..

Description:

• An impressive 20th-century industrial building in the Plaza Santa Ana, 500 meters from the Prado and Thyssen Museums.
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• The 34 guestrooms have modern decor in neutral colors; all offer direct-dial phones, minibars and satellite television.
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• Guests can order drinks and tapas from the bar, access the wireless Internet in the lounge, and unwind by the fireplace.
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Description:

This is Madrid's busiest and best-known street. Wide sidewalks, impressive buildings and proximity to the centre make it a most desirable residential neighbourhood. Some of the most historic buildings include Telefónica HQ, the Central bank, Callao cinema (art deco interior) and Prensa palace. For shoppers, there's a music store, Madrid Rock, and a bookstore, Casa del Libro. For entertainment, there's Lope de Vega theatre and for drinks after the show, try Chicote cocktail bar.

Description:

It's a bit like a pop art museum and has some real collector's items on display, like the Ericsson models made between 1895 and 1910 as well as telephones made by Siemens and General Electric. It aims to trace the evolution of telecommunications from the early days until the 1960s. You can find out about the history of the Spanish telephone industry and its Telefónica company in particular. Don't miss room five and its replica telephone operator's switchboard. There are regular temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists who work with new technology and the museum owns a collection of contemporary art including names like Picasso, Chillida, Juan Gris, Tàpies and Luis Fernández on show in the Reina Sofía Gallery.

Description:

As part of its contemporary offerings, the cultural institution Círculo de Bellas Artes regularly offers workshops (talleres) for kids, teenagers and adults in theater, film, painting, printmaking and even chess. Unless stated otherwise, all workshops are given in Spanish only. Discounts are available for members of the Círculo de Bellas Artes.

Description:

Undoubtedly among the oldest and best collections of paintings in Spain, the 17th-century examples stand out above all. The most interesting works include two self-portraits of Goya, canvasses by Ribera, Murillo and Velằuez along with those by foreign painters of the stature of Rubens, Van Dyck and Arcimboldo. There's a room dedicated to Picasso, a room especially for decorative arts, a section for drawings and prints and a valuable series of sculptures by Joselin Regular temporary exhibitions are organized. Access to the research library is restricted. Admission restricted.

Description:

Set on a quiet street close to Alcalá and a short walk from the Puerta del Sol, this airy, open-plan restaurant with bright, modern decor offers a winning combination of inventive quality cuisine and highly affordable prices. Vegetables in tempura batter and an exceptional choice of rice and fish dishes head the individual specialties, and the desserts are simple and delicious. Service is smart and efficient, and best value is its set weekday lunch. Understandably, it's a popular place, so you should plan to dine here earlier than the usual Spanish hours -- there's no booking ahead and queues soon gather, especially at lunchtime.

Description:

You can embark on a journey through the life and work of Valencian painter, Joaqua Sorolla (1863-1923), in this fascinating museum. It's located in what was his home and studio, donated to the Spanish state by his widow. Some 300 canvasses and thousands of drawings are spread throughout the three floors. The first floor contains his home and the three studios where he worked. The second floor displays most of his paintings and the ground floor is devoted to his drawings. The world according to Sorolla was a calm and peaceful place, and you'll find this museum to be an oasis of tranquillity. He was a master of light and shade and concentrated on painting the female form as well as children and the sea. Admission required.

Description:

Madrid's greatest and grandest avenue runs between Plaza de Colón and Plaza de Castilla. During the 1950s and 1960s this became an exclusive residential district when the aristocracy and wealthy upper-middle classes decided to move in. Today, their lovely palaces and mansions stand side by side with the headquarters of foreign and national banks. These skyscrapers - Europa, Windsor, Torre Picasso and Puerta de Europa - offer an overview of styles in contemporary architecture since the 1960s. Look out for the ABC building, which is decorated in fabulous ceramic tiles, and the Palacio de Congresos, with its murals designed by Miró. Come on October 12 and you'll see Spanish army's spectacular military parade pass by.

Description:

These examples of Spanish 20th-century avant-garde art blend in so well with their surrounding urban landscape that most people walk past them without noticing. It's worth taking the time to stop and look though, and it's free. You'll see 15 sculptures by artists as famous as Chillida, Subirachs, Torner, Alfaro, Chirino and Miró. Manoeuvering Chillida's piece, Sirena varada (Stranded Siren), into place was a feat of engineering in itself.

Description:

The capital's tallest building was designed by Japanese architect Minoru Yamasaki, the creator of the Twin Towers in NYC. It's 157.25m tall, has 43 floors and a helipad on the roof. The entire building is controlled by an 'intelligent' computer system and the aluminium façade has been specially treated with fluorine. It's located in the AZCA complex, a financial district designed to imitate New York's 'Wall Street' or London's 'The City'.

Our Local Expert Says:

Check Real Madrid's website for details on tours of the stadium.

Description:

Founded in 1902, the club's teams had to play in a variety of venues throughout the city until this stadium was built in 1947. It holds a capacity crowd of 75342 and has become world famous due to Real's success in international competitions over the years. It is named after the chairman of the Board of Directors, Santiago Bernabéu, who had the vision to borrow the money to buy this plot of land and start building. At that time it was the most modern stadium in the country and it has since undergone various expansion and improvement projects. You can visit the club's museum that is open daily, except Monday, to find out about its history, see the trophy room and tread on the hallowed turf itself.

Description:

Built of granite, glass and metal, the angle at which these towers lean is simply spectacular. They're 27 stories high and a shining example of how dynamic and modern Madrid has become. Their official name is Puerta de Europa (Gateway to Europe), though locals call them the KIO Towers after the business group in charge of their construction. They were eventually completed in 1996 by the banking group Caja Madrid. Architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee (famous for New York's AT&T tower) designed them as office space and they're the most dramatic sight on the skyline as you arrive from the north. They are not open to the public.

Our Local Expert Says:

Brush up on your flamenco stars by checking out the photos covering the walls of the dining space.

Description:

With five different shows on per week, this is undoubtedly one of the capital's most important flamenco clubs. It attracts first-class performers and true aficionados. All the most famous stars of today have passed through here at one time or another. Performances start around midnight and you can make a real night out of it by coming for dinner as well. The restaurant specializes in wholesome Spanish home-cooking with dishes like Rabo de Toro (oxtail stew).

Our Local Expert Says:

Room Mate is a small chain or "family" of designer hotels, each with their own personality Mario, Laura, Alicia. Their website http://www.room-matehotels.com also provides a way to find out what's on in the city and how to get tickets, etc..

Description:

• An impressive 20th-century industrial building in the Plaza Santa Ana, 500 meters from the Prado and Thyssen Museums.
• 
  
  
• The 34 guestrooms have modern decor in neutral colors; all offer direct-dial phones, minibars and satellite television.
• 
  
  
• Guests can order drinks and tapas from the bar, access the wireless Internet in the lounge, and unwind by the fireplace.
• 
  
  

Description:

Charting man's maritime history, this museum starts with the maps used during the discovery of the New World and ends with a display of the most advanced nautical instruments available today. The battles and naval campaigns waged throughout Spanish history are explored and explained. You'll see how nautical, scientific and astronomical instruments developed alongside weapons of war and maps. There are reproductions of ship's cabins, paintings of ships, the personal belongings of well-known sailors, and portraits of kings and navigators as well as a collection of shipwrecked curios.

Description:

Plaza de Colón (Columbus Square) is dedicated to explorer Christopher Columbus and the European discovery of the Americas, but for a contemporary touch, a massive Spanish flag flies in the dead center of the square. The statue of Columbus that once dominated one side of the square was relocated to the middle of the roundabout, but on the other side you can still see the large concrete sculptures representing the discovery of the Americas. Hidden underneath (on the Paseo de la Castellana side) you will find an arts center and a theater.

Description:

Alfredo's is a popular rendezvous for Americans longing for home-style food. Al himself arrives at his bar/restaurant wearing boots, blue jeans, and a 10-gallon hat; his friendly welcome has made the place a center for both his friends and newcomers to Madrid. You can have hamburgers here, but they are of the barbecued variety, and you might prefer the barbecued spareribs or chicken. The salad bar is an attraction. And it's a rare treat to be able to have corn on the cob in Spain.

The original Alfredo's Barbacoa, Lagasca 5 (tel. 91-576-62-71; Metro: Retiro), is still in business, and also under Al's auspices.

Description:

A focal point for industrious students, teachers and researchers, this old barracks complex now contains the city's historical archives, the newspaper and periodical library, a video library, two concerts halls and six exhibition spaces. In summer, there's always an interesting programme of live concerts held outdoors in the beautiful courtyard. You can enjoy the music and a relaxing drink in the wonderful surroundings. Pedro de Ribera designed the building, with its attractive baroque façade, during the reign of Felipe V in the 18th century to house the King's Royal Guard.

Description:

A near-Buddhist sense of calm and peace fills this intimate eating spot, located in a quiet zone close to other polyglot restaurants just a short stroll from the Plaza España. Specializing in delicacies from Thailand, where multilingual Texan owner David Haynes lived many years before moving to Madrid to create this genuine labor of love, it's one of the best Asian eating spots in town. Authentic imported ingredients are used in creating gourmet treats such as hot prawn soup, spicy green curry, and rehashed veal cooked with cashews and limes. Among the simple but delicious desserts are oranges in rosewater, and you can choose from a wide range of special teas. The fixed-price lunch menu is a very good value.

Description:

Resembling a space ship, the Faro de Moncloa is an observation deck, accessed by an elevator in the base, featuring panoramic views of the city. Built in Madrid's Moncloa district in 1992, the Faro de Moncloa was closed to the public for repairs in 2005 and is now scheduled to open again in late 2011.

Description:

Packed full of interesting artefacts relating to North and South America's indigenous cultures, most of the pieces on display at this museum were brought to Spain between the 16th and 17th centuries. Outstanding collections include the 17th-century Mexican pottery, the Quimbayas Treasure, Paracas Mummy, shell paintings of the conquest of Mexico, North American Indian artefacts, and the results of 18th-century scientific expeditions. There are regular temporary exhibitions and organized educational weekend workshops for children. This museum has been open since 1965 in a colonial-style mansion close to the Faro de Madrid (Lighthouse).

Description:

There are two branches of this very popular and established vegetarian establishment. The most popular is probably this modern and simply decorated eating spot in the heart of bohemian Huertas parallel to Calle Echegaray. For starters try the inventive crema de ortiga (nettle cream), sopa de menta y calabacín (mint and pumpkin soup), or quiche de puerros (leek quiche). Main courses include an excellent vegetarian paella, and you can sip an "ecological" wine with your meal. Choose from over 20 different versions of herbals teas to accompany your dessert (give the pastel persa, Persian pastry, a try). A second branch is located at Tres Cruces 4 (tel. 91-521-87-21; Metro: Callao).

Our Local Expert Says:

Room Mate is a small chain or "family" of designer hotels, each with their own personality Mario, Laura, Alicia. Their website http://www.room-matehotels.com also provides a way to find out what's on in the city and how to get tickets, etc..

Description:

• An impressive 20th-century industrial building in the Plaza Santa Ana, 500 meters from the Prado and Thyssen Museums.
• 
  
  
• The 34 guestrooms have modern decor in neutral colors; all offer direct-dial phones, minibars and satellite television.
• 
  
  
• Guests can order drinks and tapas from the bar, access the wireless Internet in the lounge, and unwind by the fireplace.
•