I thought it'd be nice to keep track of the places I have really enjoyed (to hopefully remember to go back soon) and to share them with the Newbies of Madrid to check out. Let me know what you think of them!
Cine Ideal- if you're looking for a movie theatre with movies in English, this is a good place. They have original version movies and are in a great location for shopping before the movie and tapas afterwards. I recommend going to Calle Barcelona or Cadiz after the show for drinks and tapas. The theatre is located near Puerta del Sol in Plaza Jacinto Benavente. If you're in Sol, look for the street Calle Carretas and walk up it. Then ask people where the Ideal theatre is or just look for the big sign. The address is Doctor Cortezo #6.
69 Petalos- this place is super fun - great atmosphere, music, and dancers. It costs 15 euros to get in (which includes a drink) and there are all sorts of wild, funky dancers all night long from Austin Powers to boys dressed as girls to girls barely dressed at all to a crazy space dude with glowing body parts. They play all the right music, the AC is pumping, and although people are smoking, the smoke gets sucked out of the room immediately. It's at Calle Alberto Alcocer, 32 near the Colombia metro stop. We arrived around 1:30 and stayed till after 5. I recommend the same time table to you party goers! Go with a big group of friends and dance the night away!
Casa Camu- this place is known by all Madrilenos for it's great food at really nice prices. They have many locations. I recommend the one on Alonso Cano. They have fast and friendly service, great typical Spanish food at VERY reasonable prices. Don't tell my suegra but they have the best croquetas I've ever tried. Their salads are good too. If you're looking for typical spanish food, this is the place to go! Location: Calle Alonso Cano 101 http://www.casacamu.com/ Thanks for the recommendation Miguelito!
Lateral - Reasonably priced food that´s not too bad, WONDERFUL WONDERFUL atmosphere, cool water glasses, great presentation, long wait time for a table but the food comes out quite quickly, very efficient server system (those in the restaurant business should go just to see that). I recommend it for an early dinner on a weeknight. I went to the one at Velazquez 57. Check it out at http://www.cadenalateral.es/
Galileo Galilei - live music every night of the week, great acoustics, great ambiance, casual, reasonably priced drinks, 10 euro cover; www.salagalileogalilei.com
Causeway - Irish Pub with great music to dance to, free buffett Milan style, free entrance, and most enjoyable on Thursday nights. 9:30 is a good time to arrive for the food.; Calle Miguel Angel, 11
Delic - a small cafe on Plaza de la Paja with yummy food and Austin-ish atmosphere; great for a Sunday afternoon; http://www.deliccafe.com/
Bisú - great for dancing and drinking all night long, a bit expensive but a fun environment (not a meat market) ; Calle Jose Abascal
Stomboli Cafe- it's a bar, not a cafe - very chic, small, great musice, lively & fun bartenders, great atmosphere...The drinks are quite expensive but strong - great mojitos but cost 9 euros each. I would recommend going for a special occasion...defintely a place to check out. Calle Hortaleza 96
Retiro Park – check out the drummers that play by the lake on Sundays. They start around 5.
Horcahteria Alboraya – My friend Hajin showed me this place today. It’s near Retiro Park at 125 Calle Alcala just past Principe de Vergara. They serve the typical drink of Valencia called Horchata. It’s a drink that’s impossible to explain. You just have to try it. It’s like a milkshake I suppose. If you enjoy it, let me know.
Tahona San Onofre – my favorite bakery so far in Madrid. They’re located all over the city. I’ve been to the one near Plaza Mayor on Calle Mayor #73. They even have a cookie named after my state.
Corner Cafe – The best “pan/barrita con tomate” I’ve tried in Spain. Their coffee isn’t very good but their toast makes up for it. They are also a chain with many locations in the city. I’ve been to the one on the corner of Calle Francisico Silvela and Calle Maldonado. Check it out!
Rocablanca Cafeteria/Cerveceria- this little place is a bit of a 'hole in the wall' but it is a great place for SUPER cheap food in a completely TYPICAL little cutre spanish joint with locals on their lunch break. It's across the street from Mango on Fuencarral (the cross street is San Mateo).
Club Tempo – A very cool cocktail bar. They serve all sorts of cocktails with high quality liquor (including Flor de Caña). The drink prices are around 8 euros which is quite good for the quality you get. I went before midnight and the atmosphere was very chill. It’s near the Plaza de España metro stop at Calle Duque de Osuna, 8. I went to their website http://www.tempoclub.net/ and it looks like they have live music too.
El Jardín Secreto – I haven’t tried the food or tea yet but I heard it’s quite good and the place is absolutely adorable. There are candles and plants all over the place. For those of you that have been to Austin or Vancouver, this place would fit in well there. It’s just a few doors down from Club Tempo on Calle de Conde Duque 2 near the Plaza de España metro stop. It doesn't open till very late afternoon. If you try it out, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
La Burbuja que Ríe- super fun and lively atmosphere with live bagpipe players. This place has typical Asturian food including apple cider that is poured into glasses from great heights. The prices are WONDERFUL but the place is always packed. So make sure to make reservations at least a week in advance. It is near the La Latina metro station at Calle Angel 16. Thanks for showing me this place Saralita!
La Puerta de Cotos - wonderful scenery and great place to HIKE just an hour outside Madrid. You can take the train or rent a car. The views are amazing (if you walk to the right spots) and you can choose to hike all day or go on shorter paths to soak in the sun and fresh air. We had a picnic and hiked for a very long time. I was exhausted but absolutely loved it! I highly recommend doing this itleast once! Make sure to go before it gets cold! Thank you Sasha for being our guide! There is no entrance fee. If you take the highway to La Coruna, it's the exit after Torrelodonesand it says Navacerrada Puerto de los Cotos. Go to this link for driving directions: http://www.viamichelin.es/search/Itineraires?strStartLocid=34MTE1OGI3aTMwMDN5NXIxMDUyeXhyaWNOREF1TkRJek5UTT1jTFRNdU56RXpNams9Y05EQXVOREl6TkE9PWNMVE11TnpFek5UYz1jTkRBdU5ESXpOVE09Y0xUTXVOekV6TWprPTBmUGxhemEgZGUgRXNwYcOxYQ==&strDestLocid=31M3VycjE4Y05EQXVPREkwT1RFPWNMVE11T1RVNU9UWT0=&intItineraryType=0&isFavoriseAutoroute=false&isAvoidPeage=false&isAvoidVignette=false&isAvoidLNR=false&isAvoidFrontiers=false&dtmDeparture=null&distance=km&devise=1.0EUR&carbCost=1.3&Fp=0&autoConso=6.8&villeConso=6&routeConso=5.60&Fl=0&indemnite=0&caravaneHidden=false&vh=CAR&empriseH=275&empriseW=315&reinit=true
Nippon - sushi place with half price items on Sundays. Calle de Los Madrazo 18, phone 913 600 354
Bike Riding in Southern Madrid - I will be updating this soon with more information but basically Spain is replacing all of the old train tracks with bike paths. It's absolutely incredible - miles and miles of beautiful scenery, fresh air, etc. The place I went to can be accessed by metro - check the metro schedule as to when they allow bikes on the metro. It was an absolutely perfect day. We biked through two quaint towns (Morata de TajuNa and Perales de Tajuna), olive tree farms, pecan trees, large rocks, etc. Thanks for finding this place Carmen! Check it out at:
http://www.viasverdes.com/ViasVerdes/Itinerarios/Comunidad%20de%20Madrid/Madrid/V%EDa%20Verde%20del%20Taju%F1a/Ficha%20T%E9cnica
If you need to rent a bike, here are two options:
http://www.bravobike.com/html/eng/enlaces%20laterales/ofertasx.htm ~12 euros per day
http://www.bybike.info/alquiler.html ~19 euros for 6 hours (2009 prices)
Fuencarral- this is a main shopping street with great rebajas (sales). The Mango outlet is there!
Maty – great costume shop for Halloween or Carnival located at Calle Maestro Victoria 2. Metro Sol. http://www.maty.es/
El Mirador de EL GOLOSO - fantastic restaurant! The food is of high quality and authentic. It´s a great place to take visitors. I recommend ordering some wine to accompany the meal: Palacio de Bornos Verdejo Cosecha 2008 Rueda Bodegas de Crianza de Castilla la Vieja Valladid, EspaNa. The only problem is you need a car in order to go. So, if you have access to some wheels - then go! It´s always full. So make sure to make a reservation. Thanks for showing me this place Miguelito! Autovia Colmenar Viejo, km. 17,700; Salida 18 28760 Madrid; phone number 917341490; www.interocio.es/elgoloso
Places I'm going to check out and get back to you on: Sala Bujo http://www.buhoreal.com/
Musicians in Madrid: Tontxu, Andrés Suárez, Leo Minax, 84
Restaurants I recommend but not on the top of my list: Tulipan (really good authentic Korean food) at C/ Virgen de la Fuencisla N-2, Bazaar (classy ambiance with excellent prices) in Chueca at Calle Libertad 21, Lamucca in Plaza Carlos Cambronero at C/ Molino de Viento and C/ Del Pez (VERY tasty food, good prices, busy but cool waiters, and don't walk in the area alone at night), Arrocería Gala at Calle Moratin near the metro stop Anton Martin (nice indoor patio and awesome paella but expensive and I recommend a minimum of six people per Paella)...
