If I was on holiday in Madrid, this is the kind of cafe bar I would be excited to discover. Those tiles, that font. Swoon! As you’ve may know by now, here at Ellie & Co, we enjoy celebrating overlooked local gems, and exploring the side of a place most tourists are unlikely to see. Seeing as I’ve been considering a trip to Madrid for a while now, I’ve been doing a bit of research and stumbled on the blog Madrid No Frills, written by English girl, Leah, who spends her time “exploring the Madrid that nobody else will”.
She loves discovering unique, and unusual sights of Madrid only the locals will know about and I completely lost myself in her beautifully written and photographed posts. In case you’re planning a trip to Madrid soon, I took it upon myself to pick out some of my favourite alternative things to do in Madrid from her blog, which she kindly let me share with you. So let’s dive into some secret highlights of a weekend in Madrid, Spain.
Hidden Highlights of Madrid
1 A Drink in one of Madrid’s 100s of no-frills bars
You’ve probably noticed these small pockets of Spain’s past on every street in any Spanish city or town. They’re unpretentiously beautiful, full of charm and soul – but they’re endangered, at risk of disappearing due to gentrification which is why they need our support. They’re usually family owned, the staff know their regulars inside out, they’ve been serving up cold beers, coffee and tapas for decades. They’re the perfect choice for curious travellers who need a mid-treasure-hunting pitstop. They’re also where Leah’s blog, Madrid No Frills, was born, while she was propping up the bar with a caña and a tapa and listening to the owner’s story. She loves them so much, a few years ago she started documenting each one she ever visited here.
Read more here.
2 Bodega Rojos, a Shop for unusual wines and spirits
Bodega Rojos lies tucked away on a residential street, unbeknown to most. Although it doesn’t look like much from the outside; inside it looks as though you’d be stepping into a bohemian uncle’s drinking den. Archival row upon row of wine, vermouth and spirit bottles line each wall. A few wine casks sit at the ready, to be served at a moment’s notice, alongside little plates of chorizo.
Read more here.
3 Los Pinchitos, a local favourite for Chocolate and churros
According to Leah, an indicator you’ve found a good place for chocolate con churros is the crowd: the more elderly ladies enjoying la hora de los churros together, the better and Los Pinchitos is one of those places. In so many other establishments you often have to queue to be served, but you never have to wait more than a few seconds at Los Pinchitos, even if the waiters didn’t know you were coming. Side note: The menu is in Spanish so brush up on the local language because the chocolate, churros and porras are so cheap you don’t want to miss out.
Read more here.
4 Jazz nights in a secret club
Despite its beautiful façade, even most locals walk on past Café El Despertar and think it’s closed, let alone realise it’s the setting for regular atmospheric jazz nights. Push open the heavy wooden doors from around 7pm on any day of the week, and you’ll discover a secret jazz club. Visit the Café El Despertar’s website to find out who’s playing. Tickets cost €5-6 and can be booked in advance, although it’s not usually necessary.
Read more here.
5 Casa 42, a charming local gem for Tapas with a twist
Set in a cute one-storey building in Tetuan – one of the oldest on this particular street – that stands out architecturally from all the others is this little tapas place using charm offensive to stay afloat. The food served at Casa 42 extends beyond the traditional Spanish bar selection all of it homemade by owners Willy and Susana who like experimenting with food from around the world – even curry occasionally features on the menu. They’re doing a good job at keeping up with Madrid’s changing tastes and habits while maintaining the bar’s innate charm and soul. There’s even a mini library in one corner to keep you entertained.
Read more here.
6 Casa Postal, a living museum of odd collectibles
Casa Postal is a tiny shop, not far from Plaza Chueca, filled with around a quarter of a million objects, all of which once held a place in someone’s day-to-day life. “When elderly relatives die or move into a nursing home and they don’t know what to do with the collections they’ve built up over the years – their children usually don’t want them so they give them to me!,” Belen, the owner, tells Madrid No Frills. There are thousands of handwritten postcards from all around the world, plus hundreds of books, magazines and old maps to browse. Not to mention, collections of miniature bottles and tins, Art Deco lamps, large baubles, vintage metal signs, ornate spoons and more.
Read more here.
7 Magic after dark at La Escalera de Jacob i
For a date night with a difference head to a dark cellar underneath La Escalera de Jacob in the neighbourhood of Lavapies. This is where you’ll find magician Carlos performing magic tricks to small, sold-out magic audiences, three nights a week. His 19th-century-inspired magic, which has been updated for modern audiences, constantly leaves you lost for words while you desperately attempt to figure out the logic behind his tricks.
Read more here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these secret highlights of a weekend in Madrid and feel inspired to hunt for curiosities on your next trip to the Spanish city. Do you have a curiosity in Madrid to recommend? I’d love to know!
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1 Comment
Aaah! I now want to go back to Madrid! The font in the first photo is very reminiscent of fonts used for shops and restaurants in Communist Poland back in the 60s/70s. I remember them clearly (they were still there in the 80s).
I miss Spanish churros with the delicious thick chocolate. We have plenty of churros available here in Canada, but it’s mostly in Mexican restaurants. Sadly they are mostly served up dry, covered in sugar (the Mexican way).
And that suitcase place takes the cake! ??