Hermosos y Malditos - Mediterranean Bistró

Our suggestion for this week is the perfect combination of homemade food with a twist and cocktails with a good crowd: Hermosos y Malditos. Its name refers to John Fitzgerald´s novel ‘The Beautiful and Damned’ and in the decoration you can feel the energy of the Golden twenties.

Japanese tea time in Madrid: Panda

We are all very familiar with sushi as a main Japanese dish, but Japan’s gastronomy is so much more than that!! In fact, in Japan, they love sweet things, their sweets even compete against some of the best and most acclaimed French patisseries in the world every two years in the famous Coupe du Monde de Patisserie.

In Madrid, there is only one place where you can taste Japanese pastries, its name is Panda, open from Monday to Sunday (during tea time schedule) from 17.00h to 20.00h.

El Perro y la Galleta, the new cool place in Madrid!

El Perro y la Galleta, dog lovers specially welcome!!

I had come across this restaurant while it was under renovation, and was intrigued by why it had such an original name: El Perro y La Galleta, which literally means The Dog and The Cookie. Its logo, old-fashioned and elegant, made me think of a perfume shop or an elegant pet shop.

Fonty our French-Peruvian Choice for Brunch

Close to Retiro Park, there is a very cosy café with great deco that will make you think of another city far away: Fonty. The name is an abbreviation for Fontainebleu, the French village well known for its castle and famous business school – where the owners, Luis and Marie, spent some time studying. The café has an international atmosphere, both in the customer mix and the delicatessen. The chefs are French and Slovenian.

Chef Ainsley Harriot eats Madrid with us!

We never expected but it did happen… My Little Madrid will be featured in a TV show next January in many countries: the United Kingdom; the USA; Australia and some countries in Asia.  Best of all,  we will show some of our Madrid favorite places to famous and lively British chef Ainsley Harriott! The TV show is called “Ainsley Eats the Streets", and this time, the  famous chef travels around the world looking for new gastronomic experiences.  Of course, after going to Morocco, he could not fail to visit Madrid!

Café Comercial - an Eternal Typical

Café Comercial is one of the most magical coffee shops in Madrid.

It was opened in 1908 and once you enter this beautiful venue with marble columns and wooden tables, you immediately experience a feeling of splendorous old times and important historical moments having taken place there. If you have a look around today, you will see some interesting characters who come in daily. It has been mentioned in many books and films. Actually John Malkovich used to come here while working in Madrid.

Calle Ponzano, the Coolest Foodie Street

We are big fans of Ponzano Street, it seems that it’s becoming the coolest street for tapas and lunch. anywhere you go, you’ll get a nice surprise. Our favorites, the original Sala de Despiece, the popular Fide , yummi pizzas at Picsa, and last but not least La Contraseña. Therefore, do not worry if you head to Ponzano without a reservation; any of those places will be a good choice and you can go back any time to try the rest of them.

Tip for September: a picnic at the Retiro by Magasand

So, we are back in town and it’s official, the holidays are over. We all look very suntanned but inside a terrible post-holiday depression has overcome us… no more outdoor activities either in the sea or the mountains, the majority of us are now confined to be in front of a computer.

Summer holidays are over and we have the pavement as landscape, however, we at My Little Madrid have a recommendation that will, for sure, make you feel as though coming back to the city wasn’t so terrible... as you will have the feeling again of being free among nature!!

You just have to follow our instructions:

Bocadillo de Jamón y Champán, a new hip place for a snack

There's a new place in town! "Bocadillo de Jamón y Champán". It has all the right qualities for being successful and definitely deserves a visit by My Little Madrid followers.

Brunch at Only You Hotel & Lounge Madrid

I enjoy Sundays very much and I usually love to go for an aperitivo or brunch. Last Sunday, my choice was brunch in one of the coolest hotels to recently open in Madrid! "Only You Hotel & Lounge Madrid". I had already been there for after-work drinks and dinner, but was curious about their brunch. And yes! My curiosity has been positively satisfied!

Il Tavolo Verde, Organic Café and Antique Market

Big glass windows, lovely antic furniture, organic food and a pleasant atmosphere close to the Retiro: I am talking about Il Tavolo Verde, (which in italian stands for the gaming table). The perfect place to go to by yourself for a relaxing lunch or tea time with a book. I sometimes feel that in Madrid, there are not enough places to go to on your own when you find yourself in a quiet mood.

Find Nature in the Middle of Madrid - El Olivar de Castillejo

Path towards the house surrounded by olive trees

Madrid has it! incredible surprises when you least expect it. Wandering randomly throuhg Chamartin district,  I discovered an amazing place: Fundación Olivar de Castillejo. A true olive grove with more than 100 olive trees in a hectare of land, located in the middle, but really in the hub of town. Between streets Alberto Alcocer and Enri Dunant with entrance through Menendez Pidal 11. Amazing! A smaill uninviting door without signs or indications, go through it and get literally teletransported into the deep countryside, one of those Andalusian "ventas" dotted with olive trees, flowerbeds and small paths ....

La Central - Much More than a Bookstore

We are big fans of the fantastic bookstore La Central in Callao! We consider it much more than a bookstore for many reasons. Firstly, they have more than 80 000 book references in several languages and many different sections that avoid the typical collection of best sellers you find elsewhere. It is a library within a 19^th century palace. If you feel hungry or want to take a rest, you can also try their great “Bistro” with very tasty food options for breakfast, lunch or tea time. You can even stay for drinks at night in their bar, "el Garito" , where many events and book presentations take place.

Christmas Pop-up store The Hovse: the place to be and buy!

 

Festive season fever has arrived in Madrid and despite the fact that we still have 24 days until Christmas; I am not enthusiastic about the stressful consumer obsession that abounds this time of year. For this reason, I declare my deepest love to the best Christmas pop-up store in Madrid: #thehovse!!

Spanish Taberna: La Imperial de Raimundo

My recommendation today is very special and I am convinced it will be a pleasant surprise: La Imperial de Raimundo. I discovered them at the second floor of the Mercado de San Antón, where they have a long wooden table and a lovely terrace. Now they just opened a second Imperial in Nuevos Ministerios area that is worth the visit.

Courageous entrepreneurs! The new Imperial de Raimundo keeps the same young, original and patriotic spirit that is part of their success and a bigger terrace!

National Geographic store in Madrid - New Menu

Although the National Geographic Store is in Madrid since 2010, I had never visited it simply because I did not know about its existence. It was a nice surprise to be invited to the renewal presentation party that took place on Thursday. And even more surprising to realize that this huge space has nothing to envy to the London National Geographic Store, it is even better! Specially the restaurant and its new menu.

Great Summer Discovery - Le Café de l'Institut Français

I had heard about a nice indoor terrace close to Colón square, but could not find out where it was. Luckily, yesterday, meeting a friend for lunch, I finally discovered it at the Institut Français, le Café Bistrot, lots of French flavor! Oh lá lá!

Lobby Market Restaurant - A good choice in Gran Via

Lobby Market opened its doors in April this year. I had a nice dinner there recently during one of this summer nights. It is great to notice how Gran Via is slowly recuperating its lost splendour. In the past you would just go to Gran Via for its cinemas. Night life and gastronomic offer were just too touristic.

Places like Mercado de la Reina and this new spot: Lobby Market are very welcome and are attracting Madrileños again to Gran vía.

O'Clock Pub - Gin Spring

Spring is here! Even if, up to now, we delight a rainy spring. Until we get real sunshine we can still enjoy of a blossoming garden plus delicious cocktails at O´Clock Pub & Garden. Especially now that Rent a Garden has crafted a lovely flowery decoration at the entrance of the pub. It will make you forget the noise in the street and smell wonderful flowers while you taste two different Hendricks gin suggestions elaborated by Jordi Otero! Hurry up, the flowers will wither sooner or later! En español abajo sigue leyendo.

Macadamia Graf - tapas, drinks and restaurant

Eating a Cesar Salad

The good thing about Madrid is the fact that spontaneous plans are always welcome! Sometimes you begin with a few friends eating tapas and end up having dinner and if the crowd is fun…drinks and dancing! We have found a great place for everything, its name is Macadamia Graf, a tasty name for a tasty place!