Pop Up Christmas Shopping in Madrid - The Appartment & Madrid in Love

 It’s late for Santa but still in time for the Three Wise Men (los Reyes Magos), which is the real tradition in Spain for Christmas presents.

I have been actively searching the perfect gift and I am ready to recommend two singular Pop-Up Stores: The Apartment (6 December – 6 January) and Madrid in Love.

Tu Trato - Furniture and Antiques Secondhand Market

Fortunately, even though there is a strong economic crisis, Spanish people are hard workers and full of resources to develop new useful concepts. My last discovery has been Tu Trato.es. It consists on a big warehouse in central Madrid (Cuatro Caminos) that contains secondhand, vintage and antique furniture and decoration objects. The innovative thing is that all items are under a deposit formula by owners and can be either rented or purchased. Imagine you need a big table for Christmas dinner because this year it’s your turn, no problem! Rent a table and chairs just for the occasion and then return everything to the warehouse.

I Love Retro - Vintage Furniture Market

This weekend suddenly rainy autumn arrived to Madrid. Still you can have a very British Sunday profiting of the second edition of a very interesting vintage furniture market; I Love Retro in Chamartin Train Station.

Decoraccion 2012 - nice walk through las Letras

Last weekend, I enjoyed myself very much walking around Barrio de las Letras and admiring the lovely decoration brought up by the initiative DecorAccion.

Walking through Barrio de las letras is always special, architecture and shops have plenty of history and good taste. And yet imagine if a bunch of many well known decorators and antiquaires work on the outside look of the shops, creating lovely installations and organise brocantes in the streets or even let you visit their private studios..! You almost get the Stendhal disease… J

Isabela Gourmet Market in Madrid

Isabela Gourmet Market
Paseo de la Habana 3
91 562 71 83

This time I went to the newly opened Isabela Gourmet Market in Chamartin (paseo de la Habana 3). the new market concept is boosting in Madrid, and they have announced a new one in Salamanca district in the premises of old Carlos III cinema...

San Miguel Market in Madrid

Nice exterior...

The current San Miguel Market was built at the beginning of 20th century, following the style of the markets in Paris with big glass and iron buildings, Eiffel Style. During the Civil War the market was closed but fortunately not destroyed.

San Antón Market in Madrid

A vegetable wall for a veggy shop

Someone at the Town Hall started with this good idea to recover old district markets (spanish mercados de abastos) that were abandoned and refurbish them as new hot spots for the city. Today the trendiest place to buy food or to have a snack in Madrid is Mercado de San Antón or Mercado de San Miguel, and I've heard there are some others programmed shortly...!! I must say I like it.

Vintage Jewelry and Others - Castillo Encantado at el Rastro

Second due appointment at the Rastro: Vintage shop Castillo Encantado. Best choice for fine vintage jewelry, but it also has handbags, hats and even some small furniture and lamps. Pieces are very exclusive and special so prices are not a bargain.

Ancient Prints - Ojeda at El Rastro

Nuevas Galerias at el Rastro

Ojeda on the right 

Every Sunday el Rastro is a due appointment. I will disclose my favourite places in this blog, one by one, and for a start I propose a very nice old prints and engravings shop at Nuevas Galerias; Alonso Ojeda. It’s situated at the ground level of the galleria on the right side shop number 28. It has a huge choice of old maps and old prints, including views of Madrid. Prices are very convenient and you can do some bargain  (part of el Rastro fun).

Funny print with a recipe for 30€

Fruit and Vegetable Market - Plaza de Castilla

 Sunday at the market. Sunday mornings there is an outdoors market at plaza de Castilla where I usually go to refurbish my fresh vegetable and fruit weekly needs. The market has also cloths and others but I do not recommend that sector. You need to get to the end of the market (which starts at Plaza de Castilla) at the corner of Avda de Asturias and calle Pinos baja, park there, so you are really close for transportation, and walk around to find the best bargain. Quality is good as directly gown and picked from your yard and prices are very convenient.

Funny Sergio from Romania offering delicious oranges (Bombon) 

This is my today's purchase: 1 kilo eggplants, 1 kilo borraja, 5 kilos mandarines, 1,5 kilo artichokes, 1 kilo tomatoes, 1 kilo green butter beans, 2 kilo kiwis, 1 kilo carrots, 1 lettuce, 1 kilo courgettes, 1 kilo sweet beet and 1 red cabbage for a total price of €23,85. Not bad!

Speed and Bacon

Space Speed and Bacon 

Don Ramón de la Cruz 26 

A funny new entry: Speed and Bacon, taking its name from a famous Spanish proverb: "nada tiene que ver el tocino con la velocidad" - there is nothing in common between speed and bacon.

It is a new trendy space at the very heart of Salamanca district in a covered patio - which is the last fashion in Madrid. An interesting space that offeres many different deals from special sales to art – need to keep informed. It also includes a nice little restaurant. Food is easy and good, and prices are very friendly, from €15 to €20. Nice bet for shopping and shopping break.