When my three best friends visited me in Madrid for four days in the city, I knew it would be a good time to explore more Madrid Musts. We walked, ate, drank, talked, explored, and somehow managed to fit a ton of plans into one long weekend. Below is the full itinerary of everywhere we went, and over the next few weeks I’ll be posting more in-depth reviews of each place individually.
Here’s what our four days in the city looked like.
Saturday: Pastries, Wine, and Reggaeton
Maison Kayser
The moment they arrived, I took them straight to one of my favourite spots: Maison Kayser. Whether you want a simple breakfast, an afternoon study café, fresh pastries, or a casual lunch, this place never disappoints.
My go-to location is: C. de Jorge Juan 21, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid
It has a small six-seat terrace and is close to Goya and Calle Serrano. My recommendations: the focaccia sandwiches and the palmeras.
The pastries at Maison Kayser: cinnamon roll, apple crumble, pistachio roll, and a lemon pie.
After breakfast we did some shopping, explored the neighbourhood, and took a power nap before heading out again.
De Vinos
For the evening, I took them to De Vinos, my absolute favourite wine bar in Madrid. It is tiny, cozy, usually packed, and always the right pick. Their wine and cava selection is amazing, and their cheese and meat platters are a must.
Even if you end up standing, the atmosphere makes it worth it. C. de la Palma 76, Centro, 28015 Madrid
The meat platter was Italian themed this time, as they switch between countries for their platters. The sourdough bread that comes with it is honestly addicting.
A short video to understand the atmosphere at De Vinos.
Teatro Magno / PerreoLab
We ended the night dancing at Teatro Magno/PerreoLab, a club focused on reggaeton. Surprisingly (for me), I actually enjoyed it. The music was good, the vibe was fun, and there was no line to get in. The entry ticket cost around €30 per person including a drink.
Small tip: do not bring a coat, the cloakroom line is about 1.5 hours.
Sunday: Brunch, Culture, and the F1 Finale
Alma Libre
We started the day with brunch at Alma Libre, a fully vegetarian spot known for its açaí bowls, Turkish eggs, and really good coffee. C. de la Libertad 17, Centro, 28004 Madrid
After that we spent the afternoon at the Royal Palace, which never gets old.
Club Pickwick
For the F1 season finale, we went to Club Pickwick, a sports bar we often go to after class. The staff is great, the atmosphere is fun, and it’s perfect for watching a match or grabbing drinks and food. C. de Espoz y Mina 6, Centro, 28012 Madrid
Aarde
Sunday night was for a slightly more luxurious dinner at Aarde, next to Puerta de Alcalá. It’s a shared dining concept with beautiful interior design and great quality food.
We ordered oysters, burrata, grilled asparagus, sushi rolls, sashimi, steak tartare, truffle risotto, and a mortadella pizza… all paired with cava and wine. The perfect girls’ night. After dinner, we stayed at the bar for a final cocktail.
Aarde is on the pricier side, but definitely worth trying once. Pl. de Independencia 10, Retiro, 28001 Madrid (reservation recommended).
Some of the fish dishes we ordered: spicy tuna roll, a salmon roll, and a mix of different kinds of sashimi.
And the black truffle risotto and steak tartare.
Monday: Prado, Paella, and Rooftop
Kentya Madrid
We planned to go to Casa Dani for their famous tortilla, but it was closed due to the holiday. Luckily, this led us to Kentya Madrid, right across from it, and it turned out to be amazing.
We had burrata, jamón ibérico, steamed vegetables, and a seafood paella that was genuinely delicious. Somehow we still had room for dessert: a homemade cookie with ice cream, and the surprisingly fun “Caca – O Real”, served in a gold toilet bowl filled with chocolate. Calle de Lagasca 48, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid
Some wine, jamón ibérico, and a fresh tomato burrata salad.
And a truly delicious seafood paella.
Azotea Cibeles
After more walking and the Christmas market, we ended the night at Azotea Cibeles, one of my favourite rooftop bars. Entry is €10 but you can use it toward your drink.
We ordered cava, a cheese platter, and played games while enjoying the view. We also tried the Margarita Chingona, which Fee and I highly recommend.
A few notes: it opens after 16:00 and they provide blankets in winter. Pl. Cibeles 1, Sixth Floor, Retiro, 28014 Madrid
Tuesday: One Last Coffee
For our final morning together, we went to BAHAY Coffee, a tiny café behind my apartment and next to Diego de León metro. The coffee is great, but the winner is the pan con tomate. It is the perfect simple breakfast for me.
A pan con tomate and a café con leche cost under €7, which is rare in Salamanca. Calle de Diego de León 59, Salamanca, 28006 Madrid
A Perfect Four Days in Madrid
So this was our full itinerary: a lot of walking, eating, and drinking, and every place was truly worth visiting. I’ll be posting more detailed reviews of each spot soon in the Madrid Musts section.
