Going to Madrid

[Charlatan]

In October I will be spending a weekend in Madrid. I have never been and was wondering if anyone can make any suggestions.

Cheers!

[amonkie]

Talk to Cynthetiq .... I know he went to Spain... not sure if it was madrid though - from his journal it sounded like he found some great things to make the stay memorable...

[RainbowBright]

I spent a few days in Madrid on a recent trip to Spain/ France. Mostly I hit the tourist spots. How long will you be there? I highly recommend hitting a few Tapa's bars (Rick Steve's guidebooks have a good tapa introduction). Chueca is the hip/liberal part of town, also the gay section as the two usually go hand in hand. I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can.

[Charlatan]

I will be there from a Thursday night to Monday morning... I am staying downtown near the city centre (Alcaca or something like that -- it's near a big park).

I am looking for the best areas for Tapas, where to go for shopping, clubbing, etc.

[RainbowBright]

We visited two tapas bars that were in our guide book La Taurina Cerveceria and Museo del Jamon. The first was pretty sedate, the second a little more hoppin'. Go east from Puerta del Sol down Carrera de San Jeronimo to the corner of Calle Victoria. From that corner and but up Victoria you should be able to find plenty of Tapas places. For shopping I'd start at Plaza Mayor and go from there. As I was staying outside of the city with friends I didn't get to experience much nightlife but I think starting with a Tapas bar is a good start.

[Cynthetiq]

i loved Madrid and would go back in a heartbeat

there's the oldest restaurant in the world that is near Plaza Mayor Il Botin if I recall correctly... also there's lots of cheap tabernas that are away from where the crowds are and the tapas....

also find time to have chocolate con churros.. a great snack or late night after drinking soberup time. San Ginas (sp?) has some good ones and it's not the Valdor chain which is also good.

I recommend the DK eyewitness book since it has a good map of the museums if you so choose to visit them and exact paths to see the most important things.

El Abuelo is a good tapas bar, make sure to get the gambas in all 6 ways.. but the best is ala plancha and ajillo.

also, don't bother with bottled water if you can... water is safe to drink in Madrid.. ask for "una jarra (pronounced harra) de agua gryphon" and that will get you tap water... better than that is a cana of beer or wine drink lots of wine it's great and cheap.

Botín Restaurant, Cuchilleros 17, near Plaza Mayor, Metro: Sol
Tel. (+34) 913 664217 / 913 663026.
Open every day. Nearby parking. Spanish (Castillian) cuisine. 30 - 40 euros.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, this is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating from 1725. The restaurant is also mentioned in the book Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós (published 1886-1887) and Goya supposedly worked here before becoming a painter. Hemingway was a frequent visitor and pronounced it one of his favourite restaurants. Today, the restaurant is decidely a tourist spot, since it appears in so many guides. Don't let that put you off, though, becase Spaniards still go here to sample the excellent food, specialities being cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and cordero asado (roast lamb). The restaurant consists of four floors of tiled, wood-beamed dining rooms, with caste-iron ovens several centuries old. As you eat, you may find yourself serenaded by the ocassional "tuna", a musical group formed by students and playing traditional songs in traditional dress, complete with knickerbockers.

All major credit cards accepted.

during the siesta time if you are hungry and want something more than tapas.. go to a cafeteria.. they are open 24 hours usually. I suggest a bocadillo jamon y queso or chorizo y queso.

[Charlatan]

Thanks guys... This has been a real help.