what`s new in madrid

WHAT’S NEW
IN MADRID
2014-2015
Accommodation
Dear Hotel
Opened: July 2015.
www.dearhotelmadrid.com
Located at number 80 on Gran Vía, this new boutique hotel has
amazing views over the street itself and over Plaza de España. The
best place to enjoy them is from a table at the Nice to Meet You
Restaurant & Lounge. A panoramic terrace, swimming pool and
live DJ lend the space a very cosmopolitan vibe. All of the hotel’s
rooms (Deluxe, Premium and Suites) are outward-facing, with
plenty of natural light. Its interior was designed by Sandra Tarruella
(winner of AD magazine’s 2015 Interior Design Award.)
The Principal Madrid
Opened: January 2015.
www.theprincipalmadridhotel.com
This new hotel makes its debut with a unique status, as the first
five-star hotel on Madrid’s Gran Vía. Located in one of the most
iconic buildings on this century-old avenue, the spectacular views
it affords of the city centre are undoubtedly its best feature. They
can be appreciated from two locations: the Ático (Loft) and the
Terraza (Rooftop terrace). Both boast large landscaped areas
where customers can enjoy a cocktail or dishes from the menu
designed by chef Ramón Freixa (awarded two Michelin stars). Other amenities include a solarium where guests can sunbathe to the
sound of falling water from the overflow pool and all the best music. The hotel has 74 rooms, including a Wellness Suite (equipped
with its own sauna) and treatments for couples or solo visitors.
NH Collection Madrid
Eurobuilding
Remodelling: October 2014.
www.nh-hoteles.es
This elegant and functional four-star hotel, which underwent a
complete remodelling in 2014, is located 200 metres from Paseo
de la Castellana and has 15 floors and 412 spacious rooms. One
of its biggest attractions is its broad range of culinary options. DiverXO, the three Michelin starred restaurant managed by chef David Muñoz, leads the pack. Also worthy of note is a restaurant with
a menu featuring international dishes and Spanish tapas, devised
in consultation with Paco Roncero; 99 Sushi Bar serving Japanese
haute cuisine; and famous mixologist Diego Cabrera’s cocktail bar.
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Urso Hotel & Spa Madrid
Opened: August 2014.
hotelurso.com
This 5-star boutique hotel is situated between the residential
neighbourhood of Chamberí and the ever bustling streets of the
Chueca neighbourhood. Housed within the headquarters of the
former Paper Company, a palatial building constructed in 1915,
the hotel’s stained glass and tile façade and its sunny inner central courtyard lead to a modern establishment with 78 classically
elegant rooms and suites, several of which have private balconies and overlook the former gardens of Palacio Villagonzalo, the
stately home of the Count of Villagonzalo. The hotel’s ground floor
features a spa by Natura Bissé, a beauty and wellness firm, which
offers a range of exclusive treatments in facilities that include a
two-person massage room, an area with water jets and a hot and
cold water circuit.
The Hat
Opened: July 2014.
thehatmadrid.com
With all of the comfort of a hotel and the central location of a hostel, The Hat represents a new vision of accommodation in one
of the most central and traditional parts of the city. Occupying
a remodelled 19th century stately home, the hotel’s 42 rooms –
containing a total of 220 beds – are decorated in a functional and
ecological style with vintage touches that bring it into line with
the interior decoration seen in the most modern hotels. It offers
common areas for use by residents and tourists alike. The most
notable of these is the multi-purpose room known as The Cave,
used as a venue for exhibitions, concerts and DJ sessions. It also
has a solarium for exclusive use by hotel guests, which becomes
a sky bar open to the public at night, with open-air barbecues and
showcooking offered at the weekend.
NH Madrid Alonso Martínez
Opened: May 2014.
www.nh-hoteles.es
Hotel NH Madrid Alonso Martínez, formerly known as NH Embajada, has been completely refurbished in 2014. A three-star establishment that combines design, elegance and functionality inside
with a beautiful classical facade. It is located in the Chamberí
district, just 100 metres from Plaza Alonso Martínez. The new NH
hotel boasts 101 rooms, including ten superior rooms and a junior
suite. It also provides room service, referred to as Room Apetit,
and a lobby that is the real centrepiece of the hotel.
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Accommodation
Hotel Indigo
Opened: April 2014.
indigomadrid.com
This boutique hotel is owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group,
present in 100 countries, and is located smack in the heart of Gran
Vía. It has a markedly urban air and its 85 rooms are striking in
their eclectic décor, with nods to Art Deco and Baroque touches
that give each of them a unique personality. The hotel’s modern,
energetic vibe is apparent in the elegant terrace on its top floor,
which is particularly crowded in the summer months and boasts
one of the best views of the city. The hotel’s cuisine is also noteworthy; its gastrobar and restaurant feature food prepared under
the supervision of renowned Italian chef Andrea Tumbarello.
One Shot 04
Opened: January 2014.
www.oneshothotels.com
The recently created One Shot chain has two hotels in Madrid that
reflect its urban, cosmopolitan ambitions. One Shot 23 is located
in the Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter), in close proximity to
the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk). One Shot 04, for its part, is located in
the stately Barrio de Salamanca, and is also very close to Madrid’s
main museums and its financial centre. Each of the hotel’s 64
rooms is equipped with a flat screen television, extra-comfy beds
with 4 pillows, complementary WiFi and spacious showers with
rainfall effect showerheads. Additional services include electric
bicycle hire and private transfer services, in addition to temporary
exhibitions held on a frequent basis.
Innside Madrid Suecia
Opened: January 2014.
www.melia.com
This new hotel is situated right in the centre of Madrid, next to the
historical Círculo de Bellas Artes, very close to Calle Alcalá and
Gran Vía, and in the fully refurbished Hotel Casa de Suecia, where
Ernest Hemingway lived in the fifties. The hotel has 120 rooms and
7 suites, boasts modern, simple and functional decor, and has WiFi, a computer tray to work from bed, flat-screen TV and a mini bar
with soft drinks included. Some of the suites also have a lounge
and a terrace, especially the Loft Premium, which affords an amazing panoramic view of Madrid. Its facilities include The Balcony, a
modern cocktail bar on the top floor; Dado Deli, a restaurant on
the ground floor; the Lounge Bar, which is ideal for having a snack
any time of day; a fitness centre; a swimming pool on the rooftop;
and multifunctional areas for meetings and events, especially its
large terrace on the 11th floor, with a spectacular view.
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Restaurants
El perro y la galleta
Opened: June 2015.
www.elperroylagalleta.com
Although the style is Victorian, the market-sourced food is modern, with a single-minded focus on quality produce. The menu at
this new restaurant combines the already classic dishes served
at Bar Galleta in Malasaña, also under the ownership of Carlos
Moreno Fontaneda, with other more sophisticated cuisine. So you
can savour chicken flautas, aubergines coated in biscuit, Russian
salad with prawn carpaccio and much more. Make a note – it’s
open all day.
Atalanta
Opened: May 2015.
www.restauranteatalanta.com
Located on the first floor of the Grassy building, the large picture
windows allow diners to feel part of the hustle and bustle of Gran
Vía during the day and experience its magical lights at night, infusing the restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. Atalanta serves
interesting signature cuisine, featuring dishes such as marinated
sardines with passion fruit.
Tatel Madrid
Opened: May 2015.
www.tatelmadrid.com
This Art Deco style restaurant serves traditional dishes with a
modern twist. Some particularly enticing menu options are the
filleted anchovies seasoned with garlic and fried “backwards”,
whose final preparation is carried out at the table, and the truffled
potato omelette. Celebrities Rafa Nadal, Pau Gasol and Enrique
Iglesias are among the restaurant’s co-owners.
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Restaurants
Lovnis
Opened: April 2015.
lovnis.com
When designing their latest culinary endeavour, Iván Morales and
Álvaro Castellanos, the owners of La Taberna de Arzábal, gave free
reign to their nostalgia. Located in the heart of the neighbourhood of Salamanca, the restaurant is a celebration of childhood
that aims to bring back the traditional mixed platter using only
top-quality ingredients. Options include fried free-range eggs,
chistorra sausage, Gernika peppers and double-fried chips. For
dessert, there’s chocolate pudding with whipped cream served
in a glass.
La Tasquería
Opened: January 2015.
latasqueria.com
Chef Javi Estévez has set himself the task of bringing gastronomy back into fashion at his newly opened restaurant, where he
serves up food that’s well-prepared, fun and above all, different.
He loves tradition, but with contemporary flair. You simply must
try the tripe.
La Lonja & Raw Bar
Opened: January 2015.
www.lalonjadelmar.com
The Hapsburg quarter of Madrid sees two new eating places
opening in the same venue. Raw Bar, at street level, is a lively, informal spot with a spectacular bar. Salads, steak tartare, cebiches
and cocktails are its specialities. La Lonja, on the first floor, serves
some of the best seafood in town. The market determines the
menu each day at this restaurant, enabling it to offer the freshest
fish and seafood, the best Galician red meat –aged to varying degrees– and organic vegetables, all of which are cooked on a charcoal grill over a low flame.
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Álbora
First Michelin star: November 2014.
www.restaurantealbora.com
It offers traditional cuisine that has been revamped in terms of
flavour, textures and impeccable presentation. Quality food based
on ingredients and seasonal produce from the rich Spanish pantry, awarded a Michelin star in 2015. It has two types of menu
and two different zones in a clean, bright and sober space. This
sophisticated restaurant has an extremely professional management team: Jorge Dávila as restaurant manager and, alongside
him, José María Marrón as head waiter. In the kitchen, David
García, a disciple of Martín Berasategui for a number of years, was
also spent a year at the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
La Cabra
First Michelin star: November 2014.
www.restaurantelacabra.com
Trained at El Bohío and Santceloni, and following his time as
head chef at Piñera, Javier Aranda has surrounded himself with
a qualified and young team to offer market cuisine with a refined
background that has served to award him with a Michelin star in
the 2015 edition. La Cabra combines different spaces on its two
floors. The taperia is on the upper floor, as soon as you enter the
establishment local (where you can have some informal tapas)
and gastro, the actual restaurant is next to it, where you can enjoy complex and elaborate food. The library is on the lower floor,
where you can enjoy a coffee or a long drink and the wine cellar.
Punto MX
First Michelin star: November 2014.
www.puntomx.es
The concept behind the menu of this initiative by Mexican chef
Roberto Ruiz is based on the flavours of his country’s cuisine with
a cosmopolitan flair. It is the only restaurant in Europe that makes
its corn tortillas in the traditional manner following an ancient
technique. It is also the only Mexican restaurant in Europe that
boasts a Michelin star. The MezcalBar serves cocktails inspired
by typical recipes using the finest quality natural, fresh and original ingredients.
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Restaurants
DiverXO
Change of location: September 2014.
www.diverxo.com
DiverXO, the only restaurant in Madrid to have been awarded three
Michelin stars, is moving to a new location this September. A new
setting for the same cuisine with which chef David Muñoz has
been surprising the world since he opened his first establishment
in 2007. Amongst a décor of flying pigs, diners can enjoy a truly extraordinary degustation menu consisting of dishes called lienzos
(canvases) that look like true works of art on the table. Cuttingedge cocina viajera (global fusion cuisine) bursting with flavour.
Desencaja
Opened: September 2014.
www.dsncaja.com
This restaurant, much like a box whose outward appearance is
plain and simple, gives no indication of the surprising, unexpected
and varied content that lies within. Iván Sáez offers an innovative
culinary concept: recipes and combinations of flavours and textures that aim to desencajar (dislodge) diners from the familiar
and to make sure they enjoy the experience. Chicken fricassee
becomes free-range chicken dim sum with glazed wings, ají limo
chilli peppers and black garlic. The menu also features rice dishes,
oxtail, and torrija de brioche (Brioche French toast) by Iván. Two
surprise set menus are also available: Un viaje a la luna (Journey
to the Moon) and Un viaje a la Tierra (Journey to the Earth).
Oh bla bla!
Opened: September 2014.
twitter.com/OHBLABLAA
This establishment is designed to be both a trattoria and a sushi
bar. It is owned by bullfighter Cayetano Rivera and actor Santiago
Segura, and is committed to serving healthy, natural food. This is
clearly evident in its menu, which boasts dishes made with ecological and ‘zero-mile’ ingredients. The pizza dough is 100% organic, the eggs are produced by free-range hens, and the jams are all
natural. Located on Calle Génova, the restaurant has a summer
terrace that’s heated in the winter.
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SOT
Opened: August 2014.
www.sergiarola.es
Chef Sergi Arola’s most daring cuisine finds a home in this innovative space, located on the second floor of the restaurant that
bears his name. A vermutería (vermouth bar) where you can, of
course, have a vermouth but can also enjoy other cocktails and
traditional offerings such as calamares haciéndole un bocata a
un trozo de pan (calamari making a sandwich out of a piece of
bread). Eating at SOT is an experience that engages the senses.
This basement restaurant, which boasts plenty of light after having been remodelled, is almost a laboratory where what was ‘upstairs’ has come down and some of the ‘downstairs’ recipes may
someday move up. Barman Francisco Camino adds a Spanish
twist to the cocktails, with original creations including the Freszly
Mojito made from rum, mint and pineapple juice, cinnamon syrup
and a splash of ginger beer, or the Hollie Cook which has vermouth, ginger liqueur, orange juice and soda water.
Rooster
Opened: August 2014.
www.rooster-restaurante.com
Alfonso Castellano in the kitchen, Alfonso Vega in the dining room
and Ana Castellano as sommelier are the pillars that Rooster is
based on. These three heavyweights have embarked on this project with the aim of pleasing diners with unpretentious food that
they recognise when they eat. To achieve this goal they scoured
the Spanish countryside searching for small suppliers who guarantee the uniqueness of the ingredients used. Rooster is a new
restaurant that brings the best farm products, seafood and garden
produce to Madrid. It is divided into two areas: the large bar at the
entrance with high tables perfect for enjoying some tapas, offering a view of the open kitchen complete with its charcoal grill, and
the dining room with wooden tables as well as a stable, a private
room featuring two cows.
DSTAgE
Opened: July 2014.
www.dstageconcept.com
First Michelin star: November 2014.
Diego Guerrero continues with his silent revolution in his new
restaurant. Here the emphasis is on haute cuisine with which
the chef, who earned two Michelin stars at El Club Allard, makes
his debut as a businessman. This is a different culinary concept,
where the cooks have direct contact with the clientele and mingle with the waiting staff. The experience begins on the top floor
where, after a few bar snacks at the entrance, the diners enter
the dining room, arranged around a patio. There are two tasting
menus to choose from.
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Restaurants
Café Colón
Opened: July 2014.
www.cafecolonmadrid.com
Café Colón Madrid is undoubtedly one of the city’s top restaurants for carefully prepared food served with a great dollop of
creativity. Chef Jesús Barreiro from Galicia has created a traditional menu most notable for its fish and its seven types of rice
dishes, from risotto with foie and boletus to paella ciega (a paella
in which meat and seafood are deboned and removed from their
shells) and arroz de ibéricos (rice with Iberian pork and ham). The
restaurant has a large terrace right in the square which is open all
year round and has views of the National Library.
Bacira
Opened: July 2014.
www.bacira.es
Located in the heart of the Barrio de Chamberí, everything on this
restaurant’s menu is appetising. A culinary blend of Asia and the
Mediterranean, with nods to other global cuisines and a focus on
seasonal ingredients. At the helm of the business, the kitchen and
the dining room are Gabriel Zapata, Carlos Langreo and Vicente
de la Red, three highly experienced young men enamoured with
gastronomy who surprise diners with offerings such as scallop
tiradito with tobiko, shoots, pork scratchings and yuzu, stewed
oxtail meatballs with spiced mashed potatoes, and Japanese
mollete (soft round bread) with beef, roasted red peppers, chimichurri and chives. For dessert there’s spiced bread with chocolate
mousse and orange ice cream with salt and pepper.
Yakitoro by Chicote
Opened: June 2014.
www.yakitoro.com
This establishment is inspired by traditional Japanese yakitori
restaurants, where all the cooking is performed in the open over
charcoal, for all to see. TV chef Alberto Chicote cooks the food
in his own style, imbuing it with familiar tones that are very close
to home, where Mediterranean flavours predominate over Asian
ones. The distribution of the dining room, with some tables to be
shared by diners, is a fundamental part of the concept and helps
give Yakitoro its lively, festive atmosphere.
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Otto
Opened: June 2014.
www.ottomadrid.com
Fun, authentic and unpretentious dishes made with the finest
fresh ingredients are served in this establishment which pays
careful attention to both preparation and presentation. From the
food and music to the lighting, décor and private areas, everything has been carefully thought out, down to the last detail. The
menu comprises Mediterranean dishes made from local ingredients (rice dishes, assorted cheeses and Iberian cold cuts, salads
and more).
Celso y Manolo
Opened: May 2014.
www.celsoymanolo.es
Reminiscent of an old-style eating house, this new establishment
offers a menu featuring traditional fare. Organic chicken wings,
meat sandwiches, and Bay of Biscay calamari can be washed
down with naturally produced wines, craft beers or vermouth
made with 50 different herbs.
Bosco de Lobos
Opened: May 2014.
www.encompaniadelobos.com
The restaurant at the headquarters of COAM (the Official Association of Architects of Madrid) is a peaceful, well-lit space created by architects Rubén Picado and María José de Blas. The
unassuming design of an extremely simple bar and the judicious
choice of furnishings are enough to make this place worth visiting. The menu features Italian food such as lasagne with leek purée and hazelnuts or black tagliolini pasta with cuttlefish cooked
in its own ink. The restaurant has a garden and a terrace.
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Restaurants
Bar Galleta
Opened: May 2014.
bargalleta.es
Distressed wooden furniture, soft lighting, mirrors, and – almost
everywhere in sight – old posters and other items from the former
biscuit factory Fontaneda, originally founded by the grandfather of
one of the restaurant’s owners, have made this one of the trendiest restaurants in Triball. Located on Calle Corredera Baja de San
Pablo, booking is advisable. The menu changes frequently, although dishes such as tuna tartare in mustard sauce served with
avocado and mango and tagliatelle with red prawns and courgette
have become firm favourites. The restaurant lives up to its name
with its desserts, which are all biscuit-based. Pure temptation.
Kena
Opened: April 2014.
www.kenadeluisarevalo.com
Situated in the Salamanca District, this eatery is the personal project of Luis Arévalo. After training with Ricardo Sanz at Japanese
restaurant Kabuki, and working at Nikkei 225, this Peruvian chef
has become nothing short of an expert on Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. At Kena, pretty much everything revolves around the
bar where most dishes are whipped up. The menu features over 40
dishes including sushi, tiradito and soups. You can also order a set
menu like the Omakase, where the chef decides what to prepare
as he goes along.
Tándem
Opened: April 2014.
tandemrestaurante.com
Owned by the same people and located in the same neighbourhood (Literary Quarter) as the increasingly trendy Triciclo, Tandem
serves fresh and simple dishes that can be enjoyed at any time
of day: from special breakfasts to laid-back dinners or late-night
drinks. Be warned though that this fashionable meeting place,
a great spot to meet friends, only has seven tables. Their sandwiches are particularly popular, including their Italian one which
is filled with creamy burrata cheese, fresh rocket, aromatic truffle
mortadella, sun-dried tomatoes and a drizzle of pesto.
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Alabaster
Opened: February 2014.
www.restaurantealabaster.com
This snazzy establishment in downtown Madrid boasts a harmonious and relaxed interior design and a prime location, a stone’s
throw from El Retiro Park and Puerta de Alcalá. It has two dining
rooms and several private rooms, plus a well-lit, comfortable bar
area serving a wide selection of tapas and other dishes to share.
The kitchen is helmed by Óscar Marcos and Francisco Ramírez,
two experienced chefs who are backed by a large team of waiting
and kitchen staff. The menu combines traditional fare with avantgarde creations, and all dishes are made from the finest ingredients. The Galician group Alborada Hostelería has finally realized
its dream of bringing to the Spanish capital the philosophy and
cooking style of their restaurant in A Coruña.
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Cafés
C
Hat Bar
Opened: May 2014.
Instagram: @hatbarmadrid
This charming establishment is a tapas bar and hat shop all rolled
into one. Located in the Chueca neighbourhood, it’s the brainchild
of two of the city’s most renowned hat designers, Mabel Sanz and
Fátima de Burnay, combining their two passions: fashion and food.
Reminding us of a 1920s speakeasy-style bar, the Hat Bar is the
perfect place to enjoy a beer or a cocktail and snack on something light while listening to good music. Customers can peruse
the many books and magazines dotted around the bar or even
make purchases, because the hats are actually on sale! Don’t miss
the idyllically peaceful indoor garden.
Bocadillo de Jamón y Champán
Opened: May 2014.
www.bocadillodejamon.com
Located in the heart of Salesas, this is the perfect place to stop for
a break while out shopping. The house speciality is undoubtedly
the bocadillo de jamón (ham baguette), especially the one made
with pan de cristal (Spanish ciabatta-style bread). There are other
options, too, such as the bocata de mortadela trufada (truffled
mortadella sandwich). The short yet very appetising menu features
salmorejo (tomato, bread and garlic soup), torta del Casar (cheese
made from raw sheep’s milk) and homemade desserts. And to
wash it all down, you could always order a glass of champagne.
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Gourmet Food Courts
G
Gourmet Experience Serrano
Opened: January 2015.
www.elcorteingles.es
El Corte Inglés has just launched its new Gourmet Experience
in the Salamanca district, in one of its most emblematic stores.
David Muñoz, who thanks to his outstanding work at DiverXO has
become Madrid’s only three Michelin star chef, has moved his
successful StreetXO to this new venue where he serves his most
daring dishes. Roberto Rodríguez, whose Punto MX is the first
Mexican restaurant in Europe to be awarded a star, delights visitors with Salón Cascabel, an innovative Mexican antojería. Last
but not least, the luxury food court houses an ice-cream parlour
called Rocambolesc which was opened by Jordi Roca, the man
considered to be the best pâtissier in the world and the recipient
of three Michelin stars at El Celler de Can Roca (Girona).
Platea Madrid
Opening May 2014.
www.plateamadrid.com
Platea Madrid has made a name for itself with a new and revolutionary culinary experience. Spread out over 5,800 square metres,
it features a whole range of leisure options you can enjoy while
you savour local delicacies prepared by three of Spain’s most internationally acclaimed chefs: Pepe Solla, Marcos Morán and
Paco Roncero. At Platea Madrid you can also relish cuisines from
other countries: Japan, Peru, Mexico and Italy. In the first amphitheatre Platea serves the gastronomic masterpieces of the great
Ramón Freixa, winner of two Michelin Stars, and at Mamá Framboise you can indulge your sweet tooth with the sugary delights
of patissier Alejandro Montes. Boasting an unbeatable location on
Plaza de Colón, this gastronomic space has already become a firm
favourite among the city’s gourmets.
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Markets
Madreat
Opened: October 2014.
www.madreat.org
This is a place for finding and tasting Spain’s best street food. An
open-air area bringing together all the latest foodie trends on the
third weekend of every month. A meeting place for lovers of fine
food, with a varied and multicultural range on offer from more
than 50 stalls and caravans.
Barceló Market
Opened: September 2014.
mercadobarcelo.es
Following remodelling works lasting over five years, Barceló Market has resumed its position as one of the top gastronomy markets in the Chueca neighbourhood. The site of the new building,
designed by the Nieto Sobejano architecture firm, previously
housed what was regarded as Spain’s first supermarket. A farmers’
market for the 21st century, it boasts one hundred stalls, a library
and a sports complex, and will soon feature tasting areas.
San Ildefonso Market
Opened: May 2014.
www.mercadodesanildefonso.com
An innovative concept in food-based leisure, entertainment and
socialising, in the style of the street food markets found in London, New York, Singapore and Bangkok. A great place to meet up
after work or for a pre-dinner drink, it is a firm favourite among
residents and frequenters of Malasaña and Chueca, due to its location on Calle de Fuencarral, right between the two neighbourhoods. The market is situated just a few metres from the site of
the first covered wholesale food market in Madrid, which was
demolished in 1970. The stalls mainly offer ready-made dishes, although they also sell raw ingredients which you can take home or
ask to be cooked for you there and then. The food can be eaten
at the stalls themselves or, if you fancy a stroll in the sun, you can
take it with you.
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El Huerto de Lucas
(Lucas’ Vegetable Garden)
Opened: May 2014.
elhuertodelucas.com
Located in the heart of Chueca neighbourhood, this 450 m2 organic food market is dedicated to environmentally friendly, healthy
eating. It boasts numerous stalls: a bakery, delicatessen, fruit and
veg stand, a butcher’s and poulterer’s, a stall selling bean sprouts
and juices, a tea and coffee stand and even an ice cream stall. In
addition to selling top-notch100% organic goods, this traditional
wholesale food market has a restaurant called La Cantina which
is run by chef Javier Muñoz-Calero and serves simple but creative
and sustainable food.
Madrid Productores
(Farmers’ Market)
Opened: September 2014.
mercadoproductores.es
Beginning in September, on the last weekend of every month
Matadero Madrid will host this unique event, in which food products from the Region of Madrid will be displayed and sold in the
open air. A place where consumers and producers come together
in an atmosphere of exchange to meet each others production
and consumption needs. The market features a tasting area and a
comprehensive programme of activities.
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Shopping
Louis Vuitton
Opened: December 2014.
www.louisvuitton.com
Located in the heart of the Salamanca District, at number 66 Calle
de Serrano, a new 400m2 fashion boutique has opened its doors.
Its decor of wooden furniture, stucco walls and marble and stone
flooring reflect the luxury and refinement that has defined the
Louis Vuitton style throughout the world. The first floor is where
you’ll find the brand’s legendary trunks and other leather goods,
while the second floor is home to men’s and women’s accessories as well as footwear and its ready-to-wear range. A spectacular
staircase adorned with glass and pieces by French painter Lionel
Esteve joins both floors.
Quesería Conde Duque
(Conde Duque Cheese Shop)
Opened: September 2014.
www.queseriacondeduque.com
In this new establishment you’ll find a large assortment of artisan
cheeses that are ripe and ready to eat. Three master cheese-makers from around Spain (Álvaro Corral, Juan Carlos Hernández and
Rubén Valbuena) have put together a huge selection of cheeses,
selling them at extremely competitive prices and highlighting
their nutritional benefit. They have teamed up with traditional
cheese makers, young workers keen to save a dying profession.
At Quesería Conde Duque you’ll find products from Spain, Britain,
Holland, France and Italy.
Apple Store
Opened: June 2014.
www.apple.com/es/retail/puertadelsol
Apple’s new store in Madrid could be mistaken for a small museum. It is located in the central Puerta del Sol square, in an iconic
19th-century building which used to house the Hotel París. It has
a briefing room in the basement and two other floors divided into
areas where visitors can try out iPads, iPhones, Macs and iPods.
There is also a large space dedicated to accessories. In addition,
the store boasts a 360º Genius Bar, the first of its kind in Spain,
where experts answer customer questions, give advice and solve
technical problems.
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Zara
Opened: April 2014.
www.zara.com
The Spanish brand has a new flagship store right on Calle de Serrano in the Salamanca District. It occupies a total of 5,000 m2, with
a retail space of 2,415 m2. The store has seven floors that hold its
Women’s, Kids’ and Men’s collections, and is topped off by a 360 m2
showroom that caters to fashion industry professionals and offers
a view of the city’s rooftops through its glass display cabinets.
Stella McCartney
Opened: April 2014.
www.stellamccartney.com
Set over two floors, this 370 m2 shop in the Salamanca District reflects the English designer’s take on fashion: marble shelves, brass
fixtures and pop art accents showcase Stella’s latest collections.
Her second store in Spain –the other one is in Barcelona– features
a wide range of clothes and accessories, from prêt-à-porter, denim
and kid’s clothing to shoes and sunglasses.
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Cultural Spaces
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
de Madrid
Reopened (two rooms): February 2015.
www.madrid.es
The Museum of Contemporary Art has recreated the study of
avant-garde writer Ramón Gómez de la Serna, which can be
viewed by Madrid residents and visitors alike. The room is associated with the museum’s permanent collection, from which paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints and sketches have been selected for display.
History Museum
Reopened: December 2014.
www.madrid.es/museodehistoria
The museum is housed in one of Madrid’s impressive Baroque
buildings, formerly the San Fernando Hospice. Built by Pedro Ribera, it boasts a magnificent entrance. The museum exhibits one
of the finest collections of Madrid’s historical evolution and offers
an overview of the arts, industries, everydays lives and customs
of the city’s residents since 1561, the year in which it became the
capital of Spain, until the present day. Some of the notable pieces
among the more than 60,000 items include the Scale Model of
Madrid made by León Gil de Palacio in 1830; the Allegory of the
City of Madrid by Francisco de Goya; the Virgin with Saint Ferdinand by Luca Giordano; the porcelain collection of Buen Retiro;
the historical map collection; a series of objects from the house of
Mesonero Romanos; pieces from artist Gutiérrez Solana’s studio;
and the collection of historical photographs.
MAPFRE Foundation. Bárbara
de Braganza Exhibition Hall
Opened: May 2014.
www.fundacionmapfre.org
This new exhibition hall belongs to the Mapfre Foundation and is
located in the Barrio de Las Salesas, next to Paseo de Recoletos
directly opposite the National Library. The building that houses the
exhibition hall has an area of 868 m2, distributed over two floors.
The new hall is devoted exclusively to photographic exhibitions.
With this space the Mapfre Foundation aims to emphasise its
commitment to the dissemination of national and international
photography in Spain.
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C
National Archaeological Museum
Reopened: April 2014.
www.man.es
The National Archaeological Museum, which has one of the most
important collections of antiques in the world, reopened in 2014 after a complete remodelling that took six years. Located in the heart
of the Salamanca District, it offers a historic view spanning from
Prehistory to the 19th century, with artefacts from the different
Mediterranean cultures such as Greek ceramics, Visigoth votive
crowns and Hispano-Islamic ivories. The invaluable works housed
in this institution, which was established in 1867, are displayed according to a new museum plan that gives as much importance
to their archaeological value as it does to their artistic value, with
videos, models and displays featuring replicas of the original artefacts. The museum’s most exceptional pieces include the Iberian
work of art known as the Lady of Elche, as well as the Treasure of
Guarrazar, the most extraordinary example of Visigoth goldsmithing in the world.
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Observation decks
O
Faro de Moncloa
Opened: May 2015.
www.esmadrid.com
From Madrid to heaven... The expression that reflects Madrid’s atmosphere so well is truer than ever. Two panoramic lifts take visitors 92 metres up to the impressive Faro de Moncloa viewpoint,
standing tall over the heart of Madrid’s Ciudad Universitaria. This
former transmission tower was built by architect Salvador Pérez
Arroyo in 1992, the year in which the city was named European
Capital of Culture, and stands at 110 metres tall.
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Services
S
BiciMAD
Unveiling: June 2014.
www.bicimad.com
Madrid can be enjoyed in a way that’s both healthy and ecological thanks to the electric bicycles available through the city’s BiciMAD service. Bikes can be found throughout the city centre and
in some parts of the Arganzuela, El Retiro, Moncloa-Aravaca and
Chamberí districts. Occasional users get a 1, 3 or 5 day pass from
the terminal at the bike docking station, and are charged at the
end of the selected period based on their use of the service.
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