After spending six amazing weeks interning in Madrid, I am sad to say that my journey is coming to an end. I look back on my time, and I am thankful for all of the new places that I got to experience with all of the great people I have met here! I won’t say that I have been everywhere, but I have eaten out probably every night, I walk everywhere, and I am constantly exploring the city. With that said, I give you the best places in Madrid, or my favorites, at least.
When the days are long and hot, you can’t be surprised that ice cream is a popular indulgence for us tourists. My friends and I have decided that MISTURA is our favorite ice cream spot that we’ve been to here.
Fun fact: At 12:00am in July, I turned 21 here!
a. Why? TE VERDE! Green tea ice cream is a little obsession of mine and this place has the best tasting version of it in Madrid!
b. Where? The two locations I’ve been to are the one near Fuencarral, and another near to Plaza Mayor. The one on Plaza Mayor has this cool cave-like hangout spot in the basement where you can cool off and enjoy your sweet treat!
Yes I know tacos are Mexican, but my friends and I craved them all the time while we were here. This famous taco spot is frequented by locals and tourists alike! The line reaches down the street if you go at the wrong time. Tonight my roommate and I are heading there early to beat the crowd.
a. Why? They’re so cheap! With about 6 different types of mini tacos on corn tortillas, they will cost you 1€ each!! And they taste the best out of all of the other taco places we have visited.
b. Where? Right off Gran Via in Sol: Calle de Abada, 2, 8013.
Every time we were asked, “what are you guys doing this weekend?”, the answer almost always involved Kapital! We get there around 1am and don’t leave til 5:30! As one of the most popular clubs in Madrid, I doubt that anything will be able to top my experience here!
a. Why? Kapital is so popular because it has SEVEN floors. There’s the main floor with house/commercial music, the karaoke floor, the hip hop floor, the Spanish floor, a beautiful rooftop bar, and the others are bars! It’s safe to say that Kapital has a little bit of something for everyone. Plus, with a QR code from their Facebook page, you get entry and 2 drinks for 17€. Sounds like a deal to me!
b. Where? It’s in the whole Prado/Retiro/Atocha area. A cab from Gran Via only costs about 2€ per person when you split it! Calle de Atocha, 125, 28012.
My roommate and I recently discovered Ojalá, one of the coolest restaurants in Madrid. We were also surprised to find that it is steps from where I have lived this entire time. The upstairs restaurant is cool and all, but downstairs is where the real magic happens.
a. Why? The entire downstairs is covered in sand for the ultimate beach bar experience in Madrid. As you may know, there are no beaches here, so come to Ojala with a couple of friends for a few drinks and prepare to have a great time.
b. Where? Not too far from the Tribunal metro station (minutes from my apartment). Calle San Andrés, 1, 28004.
Templo de Debod probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Spain, but after visiting a few times, it has become my favorite place to go at any time of the day!
a. Why? It is so perfect for photoshoots, anytime of the day. And there is NO better place to watch the sunset, at least of all the places I have visited.
b. Where? Catch this beauty right past Plaza de España!
I have no shame in sounding like the ultimate tourist despite being here for six weeks. I know that everyone will say something different but I have not tasted tapas anywhere else that I enjoy more than the tapas I have tasted here.
a. Why? One word: BACALAO. Their bacalao and tomato tapas are to die for, the pulpo tapas are amazing and I fell in love with the fruit parfait shots. The market has tons of different stands where everyone can find something to satisfy their taste buds.
b. Where? Right next door to Plaza Mayor! (I didn’t even intend for that to rhyme but I’m so happy that it does).
This list is by no means a definitive guide to the best things or best places in Madrid. These are just my favorite things after being here for such a short time. There is so much more to discover here in Madrid and I am sad that I am leaving, but I am certain that I will be coming back. When you visit Madrid, or anywhere else, I encourage you to make your own lists and share them with others so that we can all experience the very best that these cities have to offer!
Now that you know about the six best places in Madrid, click here to apply for an internship in Madrid today.
Photo 1. based on Madrid lluvioso , by Míriam Pérez, CC BY -ND 2.0
Photo 2,3,4,5,6 by Kaela Green.