Ibiza to Madrid: how to enjoy the vibrant and renewed city
With regular direct flights from Ibiza to Madrid all winter we select the best reasons to travel.
The Spanish capital is known for its traditional side, which ranges from the Royal Palace, through the famous Plaza Mayor and Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world, dating back to 1725, according to Guiness. However, Madrid has much more than its pure side, as the Spaniards say. It is a modern city, with three and a half million inhabitants, which is constantly being renovated, offers a spectacular gastronomic scene, an intense cultural program, and in addition, it has a luxury hotel offer that is the envy of other European metropolises . No wonder, around 45 million international tourists visit Spain every year and Madrid renews its protagonist with excellence.
cultural madrid
The city has internationally renowned museums, among which the Reina Sofia Art Center National Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and CaixaForum Madrid stand out. Not to mention the Prado Museum, one of the most visited in the world, with the largest art gallery in existence. In other words, if the idea is to take an art tour, set aside enough time! There is also the Círculo de Belas Artes, an important cultural center with exhibitions, events and a nice restaurant.
parks and monuments
Madrid is one of the cities with the largest extension of green areas in Europe and one of the great attractions is the Retiro Park. With a Central Park vibe , it is a meeting point for tourists and locals alike. On weekends it gets crowded, - in all months of the year - full of couples, families and solo visitors who walk, run, cycle, ride a boat or simply breathe the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful view in the midst of nature. In fact, both the Paseo del Prado - where there are several museums - and the El Retiro area were declared World Heritage Sites in the category of Cultural Landscape.
Urban Madrid and shopping
There are numerous neighborhoods, each with its different characteristics. It can be said that one of the most interesting and charming is Salamanca, where the famous Calle Serrano is located, which has been named one of the most beautiful streets in the world, for its historic buildings among the centuries-old trees. It is also where designer stores are concentrated, such as Prada, Gucci, Carolina Herrera, Louis Vuitton, among others. The largest Corte Inglés in the city - the well-known department store - is also there and remains the best place to find all kinds of clothes, accessories, perfumes and makeup.
Nearby, those who want to visit even more luxury brand stores should take a leisurely stroll along Ortega y Gasset Street, and come across the elegant windows, such as Bvlgari, Cartier, Jimmy Choo, just to name a few.
The streets parallel to Serrano have small boutiques by local designers, as well as some home and decor stores, such as Zara Home and the funky Balakata.
The gastronomy
The city is known for its numerous tapas bars, which are frequented by Madrid residents from eight to eighty at different times of the day. But beyond them and the friendly gastronomic markets, such as San Miguel, downtown, San Antón in Chueca and Platea in Salamanca, there is a diverse and sophisticated scene when it comes to food.
In this same neighborhood, there is a quiet and residential street, Zurbarán, which brings together great establishments, such as the brand new NoDrama, led by chef Pablo Fernandez, which makes signature cuisine, with Asian and French influences and features a consistent tasting menu. Next door, two others deserve attention: the Colombian Quimbaya, with a Michelin star, and Soy Kitchen, which features a fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine.
Those who prefer a more relaxed signature cuisine can bet on Ve.Ga, a mix of restaurant and gourmet shop in a friendly space, also known for its brunch on weekends.
Meanwhile, if the focus is on good restaurants with buzz and neat decor, it's worth visiting the houses of the successful Paraguas group, which even has a Brazilian among its partners, businessman Sandro Silva. They are: El Paraguas, Ten con Ten, Ultramarinos Quintín, Amazónico, Numa Pompilio, Aarde and Origen. Each with a distinct personality but all attractive, with good food and attentive service.
International restaurants also arrive in the city with increasing frequency. Two of them are the Asian Zuma and the renowned French Robuchon, both in Passo de la Castellana.
In the neighborhood of La Latina and Malasaña, bohemia continues to run wild and there are countless bars to eat a good jamon serrano, accompanied by a caña (beer) or a red wine (like a sangria).
The sophisticated and restless hotel scene
In a short space of time, three of the most renowned luxury hotel brands arrived in the city: Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood. And yet other hip boutique hotels opened: The Edition and Thompson.
Four Seasons
One of the most coveted hotels is the new Four Seasons, which took ten years to complete. The junction of seven historic buildings draws the attention of those who pass through Plaza Canalejas, in the center of the city. There are two hundred rooms very well distributed in eight floors and the largest spa in Spain, with 14 thousand m2 and a spectacular swimming pool.
The hotel lobby is an attraction in itself! With high ceilings, it is difficult to take your eyes off the beauty and richness of details. The reception and concierge are very discreet while a bar and lounge take care of the room, complete with Kaws' beautiful artwork. On the first floor is the Asian restaurant Isa, led by chef Johnny Setjo, which offers a menu of fresh and inventive sushi and sashimi. The bar can also be an option for those who prefer to just stay for drinks. The atmosphere is sophisticated with red velvet sofas and large windows that allow the customer to see the hustle and bustle of central Madrid.
The gastronomic restaurant is located on the fabulous rooftop. Dani Brasserie, owned by chef Dani Garcia, opens from the café - quite filling, by the way - to dinner. The atmosphere is elegant with no frills and a beautiful bar in the middle.
Accommodations are comfortable and sophisticated worthy of the Canadian brand. The large windows let in a lot of natural light, but the black out and the reinforced acoustic covering give the chance to an excellent night's sleep in the very comfortable King size bed.
In addition, Four Seasons Madrid's top-notch service is excellent even before the guest enters the hotel. In the taxi, employees run to greet customers and help with bags and suitcases even without being called.
Finally, in the same complex, a mixture of sophisticated shopping and gastronomic space was created, where the old Galerías Canalejas operated.
Mandarin Oriental Ritz
Meanwhile, opposite the Prado museum, the traditional Ritz, from 1910, was bought by the Asian brand Mandarin Oriental and underwent a 99 million euro renovation. Anyone who knew the Belle Epoque palace will need to look for references in their memory to try to remember how it was before, such a change. The iconic property in a noble and exclusive address gained a much brighter lobby, as the century-old skylight now has glass, through which natural light enters. The reception is in an exclusive corner so that the guest can check-in and check-in with complete peace of mind.
In the center of the room is the Palm Court restaurant, where breakfast is served, with hot dishes à la carte and also a rich buffet, in addition to the traditional afternoon tea. In the background, a charming champagne bar. It is also possible to have lunch and dinner there and, in fact, it is worth trying the delicious pizza without any pretensions. On the same floor is the stellar Deessa restaurant, led by chef Quique Dacosta, with lots of golden details and an ultra-sophisticated atmosphere. There is also El Jardín del Ritz, open-air and ideal for days with mild temperatures. Both happy hour - to the sound of a DJ on weekends - and dinner are extremely pleasant surrounded by the large trees.
The hotel's Pictura bar and spa are other great assets worth exploring.
The 100 rooms and 53 spacious suites are decorated in a classic-contemporary style using noble materials, which perfectly match the architectural profile of the hotel. If you opt for a suite overlooking the Prado gardens, it will be difficult to leave the balcony. On the other hand, bath time will be long, in the immense and comfortable marble bathroom.
Rosewood Madrid Villa Magna
Not far from there, the modern Villa Magna, opened in 2009, has also been revamped and now bears the sophisticated Rosewood seal. Upon entering the property in the charming neighborhood of Salamanca, one can already perceive the elegance of the environments with contemporary furniture and works of art. In terms of gastronomy, there is Las Brasas de Castellana, where the main character is the barbecue, and the gastronomic restaurant AMOS, by Chef Jesús Sánchez, which brings the essence of Cantabria. The classic cocktails at TARDE.O are inviting in a contemporary setting and the romantic Flor y Nata confectionery is ideal for a coffee during the day or even light meals. Detail for a well-kept secret at Villa Magna: the exclusive direct entrance to Corte Inglés.
The Edition Madrid
Returning to the city center, another recently opened is The Editon with a modern and sophisticated vibe and the signature of entrepreneur Ian Schrager, specialist in luxury boutique hotel. With a bold design, the property inside contrasts with the historic buildings around it. The design is elegant and the wide white staircase immediately catches the eye at the entrance. There are 200 comfortable and luxurious rooms and suites while the gastronomic part is taken seriously. There are two restaurants: Jerónimo, led by Mexican chef Enrique Olvera –whose restaurant Pujol is one of the ten best restaurants in the world–; and Oroya, by Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz – who led the acclaimed restaurant Astrid y Gastón de Lima to victory as the best Latin American restaurant in The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Therefore, immediate success among Madrid's own people. There is also the inviting cocktail bar Punch Room and the lively Lobby Bar, even before the reception. Because tradition is a word that Edition doesn't match.
Thompson Madrid
Last but not least , Madrid is also home to the trendy Thompson, also in the city centre, the latest in the Hyatt European lifestyle brand. In the lobby, there is a nice lounge and a well-lit bar and on the rooftop there is a beautiful infinity pool, ideal for those hot Madrid days. There are three restaurants: Tama, on the tenth floor; The Omar, the bistro where breakfast and meals are served during the day, and the Hijos de Tomas piano bar, ideal for a nightcap. All under the auspices of chef Nino Redruello, with extensive experience in restaurants in the Spanish capital.
There are six categories of rooms and the decor follows the contemporary atmosphere of the literally young hotel.
After so many detailed descriptions, did you want to visit or return to Madrid?
Text and photos: Renata Araújo, journalist and editor of the luxury tourism website You Must Go!