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Shopping in Madrid: Chido Güey
Chido Güey's the Shop for the DF look here in Madrid
Have you been painfully aware lately that your wardrobe lacks the edgy pop-cultural flair of DF (Mexico City)? OK, perhaps not, but this revelation will hit with full force once you set foot inside Chido Güey.
Hidden on a typical stretch of inner-city Madrid streets among fruterias, pollerias and locutorias, this little shop...
Gay Bars Madrid: LL the Place to Start Your Weekend!
Gay Bars Madrid: LL the Place to Start Your Weekend!
Midnight: what may be the bewitching hour back home -sending crystal-shod princesses scurrying for their carriages- means something very different in Spain. At this hour, many a Madrileño will be just finishing a leisurely...
London Fashion in Madrid: Trendy Tube - Be a Step Ahead
London Fashion in Madrid: Trendy Tube - Be a Step Ahead
by Heather Hart
Hey girls - love designer clothes but can’t handle the designer price tags? Looking for something truly unique? Make your way over to Trendy Tube, Triball’s highly...
photo of the day
Trendy Tube is the Way to Avoid Noxious Shopping in Madrid
Trendy Tube is your connection to affordable London Fashion here in Madrid. The owner is bilingual making shopping in English even easier. The Triball zone, in which the shop is located, is known for it's seediness, but that's part of it's charm.
Shopping Madrid: Kling Downtown - The Spanish SoHo
Shopping Madrid: Kling Downtown - The Spanish SoHo
by Heather Hart
With summer rapidly approaching, it may be time to invest in some new breezy wear for those long lazy...
photo of the day
The Alternatives to the Madrid Mainstream
The newly reclaimed Triball zone in Madrid, just behind Grand Via, offers alternative perspectives on fashion. Curretnly, the new stores in this area number just under 15, but more are being added daily and there is an immediate potential for fifty plus shops. Swing by and say you were there first.
Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)
Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)
by Sean McNamara
The six-hour southbound bus ride passed quickly, as my anticipation for Sevilla’s famous spring Feria (Fair) grew and the monumental silhouettes of Andalusian bulls floated over the hills. Socibus, the company that shuttles travelers...
photo of the day
Shopping Day
Has the recent weather left you a bit blue? If it's a bit cold for terrazas or a walk in the park, don't forget your shopping options.
Shopping in Madrid: Triball - The Next Shopping District?
Shopping in Madrid: Triball - The Next Shopping District?
What exactly is the “Triball” project? Is it related to the modern primitive movement? Does it require indigenous tattoos? Ritual scarification? No, no, and no. “Triball” has no relation to “tribal” at all; in fact, the project is 100 per cent shopping-focused...
photo of the day
Preparing for the Shopping Masses
Merchants busily prepare as the Triball area converts itself from near-ghetto to alternative shopping area. See story for details.
Chueca Neighborhood: The Gay Barrio - cafes, bars and clubs
Chueca Neighborhood: The Gay Barrio - cafes, bars and clubs
If you take line five to Chueca you will happily pop up smack-dab in the center of the Plaza de Chueca – arguably the epicenter of all things gay, not only in Madrid, but in all of Spain.
Photo of the Day
Argumosa, the Street of Many Cafés
Calle Argumosa is lined with terrazas cafes serving juice, coffee, beer, wine and sangria. A couple of hours on this magical street will cure whatever ails you.
Lesbian Bar in Madrid: Friendly, Cheap and Fun
El Truco Lesbian Bar in Madrid: Friendly, Cheap and Fun
This girl bar on the corner of La Plaza de Chueca rates remarkably high on the friendly factor. Truco (trick) has craftily avoided the typical pitfalls of gay culture--don’t bristle, darling, all cultures have their downsides—that is, the...
Photo of the day
The Truco of the Trade
Gay scene: at Truco (trick), you'll find friendly girls, cheap drinks and energetic music. Located on the Plaza de Chueca, you can't find a more central venue to kick off the evening or kick back and enjoy the night. See review for details.
Tapas and Raciones - Spain's Little Dishes
Tapas and Raciones: La Poza
When you're roaming the streets of Madrid late at night and looking for some cheap bar food, kebabs are often your only option. Well, not anymore, my fellow MAPistas! A drunken staple of the...
Bars and Cafes with Terrazas in Madrid
Jazz Bar: A Terraza AND Cocktails with a Dose of Magical Realism!
by Andrew Poole
It's only natural that my experience in Jazz Bar starts off on a great note, “Wow, 5.50 for a cocktail! Que Bueno!”
“That’s not all,” continues the bartender, “Since I’m from Colombia, I mix every...
Bars - beer, tapas and raciones
Palentino - In U2 & Manu Chao's Favorite Madrid Barrio - Cheap Food and Drink
“You’re in for another type of experience,” says Ana. These were the last words I heard before I entered the mythic Bar El Palentino . Ana is...
shopping in Madrid - 80s Fashion
These Boots Were Made for Rockin' - The Best 80s store in Madrid
Remember when "retro" clothing meant styles from the 50s, 60s, and 70s? Well, prepare to feel old my fellow Generations Xers–the 80s...
March in review
Check Out All Events in March
March was a busy month full of tapas bars, restaurants and flamenco.
For a peek into the real flamenco scene, see our feature, Flamenco 101- A Lesson in Life . For suggestions on where to catch a bit of flamenco action, see our flamenco page.
...
photo of the day
The Cheapest Tapas in Town at Casa Tortilla
Casa Tortilla, with it's unlimited food and alcohol, is a magnet for merry-makers like those pictured. After sufficient sangria, you too might be inspired to reappropriate that checked table cloth and use it as a fashionable headband. See review.
Photo of the Day
Salamanca by Night
Salamanca is a city that boasts a world-famous 13th-century university, Cathedrals, and Roman architecture - not to mention huge tapas and great discos. How can you resist? See review. Photo by Andre Nakazawa.
Castles - Castillo de Manzanares el Real
Fairytale Castle Just outside Modern Madrid: Castillo de Manzanares el Real
by Andre Nakazawa
Knights in shining armor, the King on his throne and sentinels patrolling their watchtowers. Everything you assumed was mere childhood fantasy materializes in the 15th century Castillo de Manzanares el Real.
Beautifully preserved, the castle lies a stone’s...
food - Brazilian
In Search of the Ultimate "Hole-in-the-Wall"
In spite of several frustrated buzzes, no one answered the doorbell. Why? Although it looked like an ordinary housing block, I was sure I had the address right – was there a secret knock? a password? a hidden video camera? Discouraged ...
clubs - Transmission
Transmission Club - Relaxed, Non-pretentious, Underground
Transmission is an experience in and of itself - especially if you’re down for a night of good, nostalgic music. You’ll get the sounds of indie rock, post-punk, psychadelica , new wave, glam or garage. Of course, great music calls...
groups - Madridmas
Parties, Dancing and Language - Get More out of Madrid with Madridmas!
Spain is known for its laid-back atmosphere; ironically, this tranquility is...
Holiday - creative gifts
Last-Minute Creative Gifts!
So are you suffering from a bad case of “buyers block” – you simply can’t think of a thing to buy for the people on your list. With the Christmas deadline hurling toward you, you’re getting nervous, no? Don’t worry Madrid is full of innovative gift solutions at great prices – we’ll get your creative consumer juices flowing. Ikonhaus, for example, is ideal for the fashion-ista in your...
Art - Asian Pop
A Taste of Tokyo in the Middle of Madrid
Those who have had the pleasure of traveling in Japan already know how quirky, profound and inescapably elegant the Japanese aesthetic can be. A Sunday walk through Yoyogi Koen (the “Central Park” of Tokyo) can bring you face to face with marvelous fusions like punk rock geisha – a look so harmoniously constructed your jaw will literally drop. OK, so bopping over to Japan isn’t an immediate option for most...
art - Free admission at the Prado
No More Excuses - Visit the Prado!
Though sickness and relative ineptitude are common pleas, lack of money is one of the finest justifications for a lack of cultural exploration. Unfortunately for you...
bars - Madrid's Old Man Bars (Bar de viejos)
When in Spain, Do as the... Old Men - Go to The Bar
Yes, the floor is dirty; yes, it’s not comfortable to sit in for hours having a coffee; yes, it’s always full of old men and the occasional roadside bum – but it has the best tapas I have eaten in my 15 months...
Madrid Museums - La Reina Sofia
The Reina Sofia - The Epicenter of Modern Art
Nestled amidst the bustling city of Madrid is that sanctuary of modern art known as La Reina Sofia. The museum is host to a truly wide-ranging permanent collection as well as visiting exhibits from around the world. Their most notable collections include that of Picasso, especially the renowned...
Cinema in Madrid
Cine Doré and The Filmoteca - for the Rarified, the Arty, the Quirky, the Camp and the Profound!
A true Madrileño weekend consists of the 5 C’s: Cañas, Clubbing, Chilling in Retiro and Caressing in a Cinema. In...
cafe/bookstore
Bacchus International Bookstore: Snug, Simple and Sociable
Named after a wine, there is nothing…umm… to whine about at Bacchus. A second hand bookstore and coffee shop, the place is warm, friendly and just plain comfortable. With its earth tones, cozy sofas, dim lights, great coffee and home-made (vegetarian) tostadas, its one of those places you just...
Clubs - Brit Pop
Supersonic Gin and Tonics - Beware!
Small, smoky, electric and eclectic - Supersonic is a grungy, nostalgic mix of misfits, the 80s, indie bands, and electronic music. Think Oasis or The Cure with a mixed-in house/funk beat that makes you dance instead of sing...
Rocking Ramadan
Noches De Ramadan Madrid
Head on down to the Parque de La Reina in Lavapiés tonight and tomorrow night to check out the "Noches De Ramadan (Ramadan Nights), celebrating the end of the Muslim holy festival of Ramadan with free concerts, tea, and sweets...
Chinese Food Madrid
El Chino De Plaza España
So, when you hear speaking about the famous "Chino De Plaza España;" literally "The Chinese Dude Of Spain Square," be assured that they are not talking about an obscure Kung Fu film...
Health - STD Clinic for People without Papers
The Sassy Classy STD Clinic
If you’re looking for a friendly, sympathetic yet sassy place to check-up on your STD status, get vaccinated or track down a mysterious health concern: and, if you are, like me, an immigrant over the age of 18 without a health card then Centro Madrid Internacional is the place for you...
Food - Pan-Asian Vegetarian
Asian Food with a Trendy Twist
At lunchtime do you often find yourself stuck in the Center desperately searching for a restaurant that is quick, inexpensive, healthy and relaxing? Add this to your list of culinary options: Shi-Shang...
Markets - The Rastro
The Bloody History of the Rastro
The Rastro, Madrid’s largest outdoor market can only be described as “a universe unto itself”. With origins that stretch back nearly five centuries, one can only imagine the plentitude of traditions surrounding this massive Sunday event...
clubs - the 80s
Garage Sónico: The Darker Side of the 80s
Although this week the magazine is full of “flamenco summits” and elegant evening art events, make no mistake about it - Madrid gets just as low brow as the next town. Malasaña is the “barrio” of all things uncivilized and “Garage Sónico” is the perfect point of entry...
Dance - Flamenco
Cumbre de Flamenca - Free Flamenco All Week
Also see our feature on the history of flamenco.
Five days of free flamenco! That’s what the third annual “Cumbre de Flamenca” (Flamenco Summit) offers. All you have to do is get yourself to the uh... metro station, Chamartin. Ya, on one hand, performances on this scale don’t typically happen in the subway station, but, on the other hand, there is no more appropriate place considering this is a form which prides itself on being inextricably linked to the common people and folk traditions...
fashion - second hand/vintage
Holala - Your Zombie Connection
Part Americana, part zombie, and totally hip! Holala is a combination vintage /second hand clothing store that’s much more than just clothing - it’s a lifestyle. It’s one branch of the Zombie Brand, which includes furniture, a clothing line and a design studio. In the Holala store itself, everything is for sale: from old 70s-style TVs and vacuum cleaners, to vintage sofas and, of course, clothes.
History
Was That "Under Construction" or "Under Destruction"?
Even after years in Madrid, I am still waiting for the day I will finally get to see a Puerta del Sol/Gran Via or any other main street in the center without holes in the ground: this city is just one massive “obra”. Madrid is changing and always has been - the Museo de Historia (formerly known as Museo Municipal)charts this chaotic process...
Cafes
Cocktails Just Like Mom Used to Make!
Entering the Anti Café, you might assume that its name stems from heartily rebelling against any conventional concept of café...
Mexican Food and Drink
La Catrina: Where Christ Comes Face to Face with Zorro and Godzilla
La Catrina restaurant in Malasaña is living proof that Mexican culture has officially perfected the art of clutter. This cozy space boasts more objects per square centimeter than any other establishment in the neighborhood!
Photography
The Personal is the Political: HIV Sufferers in Africa and Central America
I’m an absolute sucker for real-life photography. But I almost feel guilty going to ‘look at’ someone’s private life a photographer is publicly exhibiting. However, when it’s an awareness or fund raising exercise done in conjunction with a charity organization, it’s valid; Omar Ayyashi’s exhibition of people with HIV in Mozambique and Honduras is a perfect example.
Malasaña Bars
The Tupperware Party Not To Miss!
The word “Tupperware” calls to mind images of prim, post-war wives chatting in immaculate living rooms enthusiastically selecting plastic receptacles while exchanging jell-O recipes – in a word: kitsch-o-riffic.
Art
Art So Infused With Black Humor And Rebellion That It’ll Make You Chuckle and Choke!
Sporadic art exhibitions keep popping up like wild mushrooms in Madrid, and it’s often hard to find one that is worth the “trip” - especially when you aren’t an art freak.
Clubs
Brit-pop Your Pants off!!!
Super sonic, a cozy space tastefully plastered with icons including David Bowie, The Libertines, Blondie and The Killers, strikes a perfect balance between a festive club and your best friend’s living room. Luis and Nacho a.k.a. “DJs Liquid Boy” and “Sweet Vicious”, the young, hipster owners, capitalize on this hominess by taking time to chat with people, learn their names and find out what they're into.
DVD Rentals
The Place to Rent DVDs
Looking for easy access to quality, international, alternative movies in Madrid? Check out Ficciones. With an extensive collection of films meticulously selected and grouped according to country and director, you should be able to locate anything you can imagine.
Restaurants
Are You Lazy, Poor And Kinda Fat? Don’t Fret! We Have Just The Restaurant For You!
"Health Food" looks great on the menu; after all, everyone likes food, and, presumably, we all like to be healthy. Yet, so many of us still find ourselves getting lured into Burger King, McDonald's or other peddlers of gut rot. Why is that?
From our former site
Roof DJ Sessions - The Casa Encendida. Buy Tickets in Advance (Ticket sales start at 4)!!!
Because some bad stupid person recently stole my camera, today we have a drawing in place of a photo. Notice the DJs at Casa Encendid are so good that it inspires people to grow tall and cars to float. Seriously, check it out!
From our former site
Oskar Burger
So for those of you who think like me, that is, the definition of a good time is limited to two words–"cheap & good"–let me present you with one of Madrid's finest traditions in supreme culinary delight: Oskar.
From our former site
Sebastiao Salgado - Photography of Africa
To many people Sebastiao Salgado is photography...
From our former site
Maoz Vegetarian - A (Mostly) Pun-less Review
Don’t worry even though most people pronounce the name of the restaurant “mouth” we will avoid such bad puns as “It’s maoz watering!” - we simply aren’t that sort of publication. This non-pun-oriented restaurant is almost more of a hybrid restaurant/kiosk, but think cozy not cramped. It’s the place for every frazzled, Madrileño who’s short on time and money, but wants to eat healthily on occasion. If you are from a city that has entered the vegetarian realm a little more deeply than Madrid (for example, any place where “ham” isn’t classified as a vegetable)...
From our former site
Salsa For the Serious - Azùcar!
Before embarking down the salsa road, you might want to ask yourself "how much do I actually want to learn salsa?" The answer should help you determine which place to go. If the answer is "yeah... learn salsa... whatever... I just wanna meet girls/boys and have a bit of a laugh", you'll want a more easy-going lesson, like Cats, for example. If your answer is "Salsa! Gimme more Salsa! I wanna learn everything! Saaaaalsa! Watch me sweat blood for salsa!" you may well want to consider Azúcar...
Art - Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh: The Final Landscapes (Los Ùltimo Paisajes)
Vincent Van Gogh had a remarkably productive career but nothing came close to the output of his final two and a half months. In May of 1890, having recently recuperated from a mental illness, he moved to Auver-sur-Oise, France. It was here that he would end his life, but...
Bars - Old Madrid and the Jerez (Sherry) experience
La Venencia Bar - Jerez (Sherry), the Old-School Way!
A Spanish living room, 70 years ago. There is no beer, no cappuccino, no hip minimalist interior, no music, and the bartenders are middle aged brothers. The first layer of presumably white paint, which was applied more than 80 years ago, was also the last. And yet there’s every reason to include La Venencia, on Calle de Echegaray, on your list of favourite hang-outs. Life in this memorable Spanish bar, where time has apparently stood still, is all about sherry. This is also the only drink you’ll be able to get - apart from the odd glass of water...
Concert - Flamenco Icon, Kiko Veneno
Free Street Party: Kiko Veneno Plays the Fiestas de Hortaleza!
Kiko Veneno is an icon of the Movida, the post-Franco cultural explosion in the 80s. In line with the alternative disposition of the Movida, Kiko remained underground for decades. During his early years, he gathered influences and honed his talent while traveling through Europe and The US taking in concerts by the greats such as Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa...
From our former site
Feria de la Tapa 2007 - Really cheap Tapas!
Feria de Tapa, 2007 Thurs, May 31 to Sunday, June 3 noon to 16:30 and from 19h to 23h Avenida de Felipe II (no number) or Jorge Juan, 99 Expand Your Cultural Horizons! Hyper-Extend Your Stomach! Drink Lots of Little Beers! All While Saving Money! ...
From our former site
Three Great Restaurants - Glorieta de Montera, Bazaar & La Finca de Susana
Glorieta de Montera Caballero de Gracia, 10 Bazaar Calle de la Libertad La Finca de Susana Calle Arlaban, 4 Fine Dining For Less Glorieta de Montera along with its sister restaurants La Finca de Susana and Bazaar stand out on the Madrid scene by s...
From our former site
Restaurante Boñar de Leon - CHEAP tapas!
Restaurante Boñar de Leon Cruz Verde, 16 Metro: San Bernardo T. 91 531 00 30 or 91 521 26 02 Daily 9 AM – 2AM The Hallowed ground of Humungous Tapas Just when you thought tapas couldn’t get any bigger, any cheaper or any yummier… We bring you – Re...
From our former site
Art Exhibit: The Mirror And The Mask - Portraiture In The Age of Picasso
The Mirror and the Mask Portraiture in the Age of Picasso Two locations : (Free! Annex location) Fundacion Caja Madrid – Plaza San Martin, 1 Tues to Sun 10:00 – 20:00 (Not free! Main location – 9 euros) Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza – Paseo del Prado, 8...
Madrid Cafés and bars: Las Horas Cafes
Las Horas Café - A Clandestined Café
Las Horas Café Calle Magdalena, 32 Metro: Antón Martin While some cafes in Madrid give you the feeling of being seen, Las Horas Café provides you with the opposite sensation – that of being pleasantly clandestine. Lanterns and candles on the wall...
From our former site
Photography Exhibit: The Mara - Casa de Las Americas
Exhibit: Mara Artist: Isabel Muñoz Casa de Las Americas Plaza de Cibeles, 2 T: 91 595 48 00 www.casamerica.es Documenting Life in Prison Standing before Isabel Muñoz’s dwarfing, black and white portraits of prisoners leaves you not only spee...
Rock bars in Madrid: The Wurlitzer ballroom
The Wurlitzer - An Afterhours Club
WURLITZER BALLROOM C/Tres cruces 12 28013 Madrid So you're walking up the Gran Via at around three or four in the morning when your buddy asks you, "Is there any place open with good music?" You give him the “I know a place” look, buy some beer i...
Spanish wine: Wines from Madrid
Spanish Wine from your very own barrio!
So obviously yo’ mama told you to never arrive empty handed. Whether you are dashing to a friend’s for dinner or making the long trek back to your country or city of origin, here is a tip: wines dedicated to your very own barrio here in Madrid. It’...
Bes Tostas in Madrid
Taberna Casa de Las Tostas
I won’t even post this as a review, it’s a downright challenge: if you can find a better tostas bar than Taberna La Casa de Las Tostas, send us the address...
Tapas in Madrid: Casa Julio
Casa Julio
Let’s face it, tourists love celebrity allure. As a result, a lot of bars in Madrid claim Ernest Hemingway as a former patron; after all, it’s a great way to turn a pub into a tourist attraction–and even if there’s no physical...