A lot of times,
having returned from a trip, the most exciting memories that we end up keeping
and carrying with us through our lives are not those of the ruins, museums o
monuments. No doubt, this kind of information is important and necessary in the
process of “meeting” the city.
Nevertheless, usually, the most vivid memories are marked by those
moments that let you feel the atmosphere and the rhythm of the city: walks
through the quite streets, visits to moms & pops stores and, of course,
outings in cafes, taverns and restaurants, popular among the locals.
According to the
famous proverb, there are only three sacred things for Spaniards: breakfast,
lunch and dinner. You´ll be surprised to find out that this is precisely true.
A “not so fresh” steak, without much ado, will surely be returned back to the
kitchen by a Spaniard. Should a Spaniard
happen to be dinning in a good place lacking authentic and cozy atmosphere,
don´t expect him to return. Spaniards know how to live and enjoy simple human
pleasures, and that is why they give their preference to the restaurants with
simple and properly cooked meals, preferably with a terrace with a nice view. Luckily
Madrid is proud to offer plenty of this kind of places and we´ll share with you
some of them.
In the very center
of the city, on Callao square, at the top floor of El Corte Inglés, there is a
fancy market-restaurant «Gourmet Experience». Here you can enjoy one of the best views of Madrid center:
Gran Vía street and its famous «Schweppes» building, Opera square, skyscrapers
of the 50´s around España square, Royal Palace, Chathedral of Santa Maria de
Almudena and endless rows of traditional red tiled roofs of Madrid. The concept
of the market resembles European holiday markets with cafes and restaurants
with open kitchen and cousins from different parts of the world. Here you can
try pizzas, ice-creames or stop by at the chef´s burger-bar where you can
create your own piece of burger delight... The products and materials are of
top quality and satisfy most demanding tastes. No doubt, you are up for
pleasure here!
If you are looking
to combine knowledge and pleasure, we recommend popping into the warm and cozy Museum
of Romanticism. That´s where
you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the XIX century, admire the
charming interior, household items and art works of the epoch. At the ground level
don´t miss «El Café del Jardín»! Your excursion will feel even more romantic
ending in the atmosphere of the cafeteria of the museum, where you can treat
yourself to a cup of tea and a cake. Every detail, from menus to the dishes,
bears the spirit of the 19th century. If the weather permits, and in Madrid it
is not a rare occasion, there is an open terrace, with quiet setting of the
park.
The final charming
accord of the day can be “tasted” in the terrace of « Iroco», situated
on the Velázques street - a place that seems to have been created specifically
for romantic evenings. The atmosphere of the interior yard lets you forget that
you are in the center of the bursting capital of Spain. Tables, surrounded by
flowerbeds and trees, candles, best meals of the traditional national and
madrileño cuisine and the company of the significant other... Can anyone call
it other than “happiness”?
But if you are up
for a pleasant surprise or are eager to experiment, don´t miss out on «El Jardín Secreto». The name stands for “Secret
Garden”. Indeed, here visitors are greeted
with an enigmatic spirit of magic: a toy steam train hanging from the ceiling,
trees with luminant fruits, chandelier made of bellflorwers and exotic animals
looking at you from the walls. At this point even “Chocolate orgasm” doesn´t
sound surprising as a menu item, and even less surprising seem “Multiple
orgasm” and “Love from the first bite” or “Chocolate death”. With all due
respect each of these names are 100% deserved. The meal selection will not be
easy, since you´ll have to choose from ten different types of hot chocolate,
several pages of tea and coffee items, endless quantity of deserts, cocktails,
virgin cocktails, salads and more...
We invite you to
check out these and many other places for yourself, and we hope that each of them
will give you a tiny piece of Madrid to keep in your heart together with
memories that will stay with you for long years to come!
-- А. Opachanova
Colaborating Writer
Colaborating Writer
