Spanish Tapas and Rooftop Bars
Madrid is the perfect city for a weekend get away. With beautiful architecture, sunny rooftop bars and Spanish tapas -what’s not to like about the city…
Accommodation
We stayed at the Hotel Catalonia (£150 per night), purely because of the location being in the centre of the city. The rooftop pool is also a bonus and perfect for a those quick sun bathing session in between shopping and exploring. Other places I would also recommend staying at include Dear Hotel Madrid (a boutique hotel with beautiful modern all white rooms) and Iberostar Hotel (next door to Catalonia).
Food
My sister and I discovered the cutest little restaurant called Dray Martina. This hidden gem is located not too far a walk from Hotel Catalonia. We went on a Monday so it wasn’t too busy but the place is quite small so make sure you book in advance. Must orders include the aubergine tempera, lemon fish soaked in orange zest and red velvet cake for dessert!
As I was in Madrid with my sister we ate mostly at Vegan restaurants and I was surprised at the amount of choses for vegans in Madrid. Vega had the most delicious affordable vegan food! The smoked cheese on Rosemary focaccia bread and tofu spaghetti meatballs were heavenly.
If you fancy sushi, Sumo Restauarante is also delicious and not too pricey, other places to try include Fit food and Mox.
Must Dos
When in Madrid and the sun is shining, it is mandatory to go to a rooftop bar. We went to Circulo de Bellas Artes but other recommendations include Oscar hotel, ME Hotel and Gymnasm.
Must see museums include the museo Nacional Del Prado Paseo del Prado and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.
For parks, the Buen Retiro Park and Casa de Camp are great spots. and for shopping Gran Vía is my favourite.
Buy an ice cream and have a stroll around the Plaza Mayor admiring the architecture.
The San Miguel Market contains 33 stalls and features a wide range of delicacies and raw ingredients. It is the centre of culinary culture and definitely worth a visit for those foodies.
Another must see is the Temple of Debod which is an ancient Egyptian temple rebuilt in Madrid. It is an authentic Egyptian temple built in the 2nd century BC, at the village of Debod. Worth going for sunset for the best views.
