Must See Madrid: Travel like a Local
Madrid is a beautiful city filled with endless history and museums to keep you busy for days. We only spent 4 days here, but below is a summary of our experiences and recommendations for seeing the city from a more local perspective rather than just the tourst attractions.
Where to Stay: La Latina
If you want to live amongst locals while still remaining within walking distance to all the city sights, the La Latina district is for you. Neighborhood tapas bars line the streets and you will find quaint cantinas bustling all day long. We stayed in an AirBnB which was extremely central to public transit (not that you really ever need it) and never more than a 20 minute walk to anything you might want to see or do.
Where to Eat
Madrid is a tapas lovers dream! We ate such great food for every meal. Find out where we stopped below!
Angelita
A restaurant in the heart of Madrid offering tapas and an extensive wine. Overall we thought the food was tasty but this restaurant definitely caters to tourists more than others we visited.
Food: 3/5
The tomato salad is a must try! We also ordered the pig ear, salmon, and iberico pork. The pork was delicious but the others were not our fave.
Drinks: 4/5
The staff was incredibly knowledgeable about their wines and we were able to try a few local varieties
Localness: 2/5
As mentioned above, this restaurant seems to cater a bit more to tourists than others we tried. We also went on the early side of dinner (most locals eat between 9 and 10pm) so it may be different later in the night.
Cost: $$$
Tapas average about 15 euros per plate
Salmon Guru
We stopped at this Cocktail Bar when we arrived in Madrid before dinner and it was about half full, it definitely fills up later in the night though. By far some of the most inventive cocktails I’ve ever had and would recommend you to try it once even if it is a bit touristy! The vibe is jungle meets dive bar and it fits the bill perfectly.
Food ?
They had a food menu but we didn’t try it – what we saw looked great though!
Drinks: 5/5
Delicious, fun, and a little weird. What more could you want? They have a super long menu with some of their more out there drinks as well as some comforting classics so there is for sure something for everyone.
Localness: 1/5
I’m not sure this is the first stop for many locals as everyone in the bar with us was seaking English but it’s nonetheless a fun experience
Cost: $$$
You can expect to pay higher than average prices since it draws in tourists and prides itself on its unusual concoctions.
Slow Cafe
This was our go to coffee spot every morning in Madrid. It’s incredibly cute and has a wide array of coffees and breakfasts.
Food: 5/5
I highly recommend their yogurt bowls and various toasts. Their banana bread also has a cult following and is delicious
Drinks: 5/5
Their iced lattes and cappuccinos are amazing and so is their matcha.
Localness: 4/5
You can definitely tell this is a spot where locals come to enjoy coffee in the morning. It’s still super inviting for tourists but you most likely will not find many English speakers dining with you.
Cost: $$
This is considered a specialty coffee shop so it costs a bit more since they have a wider array of options. Still very reasonable and we usually spent 20€ on coffee and breakfast.
El Tempranillo
This was by far our favorite dinner spot in Madrid. It’s located on Calle de la Cava Baja which is known for their many tapas bars. We accidentally stumbled upon this one and had such a great experience.
Food: 5/5
Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, especially the smoked salmon with burrito
Drinks: 4/5
The wine is great and the servers are extremely helpful when it comes to choosing.
Localness: 5/5
We felt this was the most local feeling restaurant we visited. The inside was incredibly quaint and it definitely helped to know some Spanish (although not required at all)
Cost: $$
Extremely extremely reasonable. A great option for a cute casual dinner.
Mafrens
The perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a healthy, hearty breakfast/lunch option. The interior is so cute and airy and there is plenty of seating inside.
Food: 4/5
There are so many options and you can even create your own savory bowls. I had their yogurt bowl and it was really good but nothing could beat the one at Slow Cafe.
Drinks: 5/5
The best part about Mafrens is that they have a smoothie of the day each day and they are delicious. Not overly sweet like the ones you get in America, but super fruit forward and healthy. Their coffee is also great and I appreciated finding another place with iced coffee!
Localness: 3/5
Mafrens gives off more of an American breakfast vibe but there were a few locals while we were there enjoying their breakfast.
Cost: $$
It was a bit more expensive for breakfast than the cafes we went to but the portions were larger as well. A perfect stop for a filling early meal.
Casa Lucas
We stopped here when Tempranillo closed for vacation since it was nearby and had great reviews. We were unfortanately underwhelmed with our food and everyone around us was speaking english while we were there.
Food: 2/5
Every dish we ordered had a pile of french fries on it which we thought was odd. The croquettes had good flavor but weren’t our favorite.
Drinks: 4/5
The wine was decent and they also have a beer selection so there are many options
Localness: 2/5
I didn’t feel an immediate local vibe from this place. Again we were here on the early side so we may not have given it a fair chance.
Cost: $$
Pretty average price for traditional tapas, they range from 8-25 euros per plate.
La Cava de Illan
We visited this restaurant after the one above since we needed a bit more food. We ordered paella for the first time since we had been in Spain and it was surprising that it wasn’t crispy like we’d had back in the States.
Food: 3/5
The flavor of the paella was amazing but the fish was a bit overcooked. We didn’t try anything else but the other dishes we saw looked pretty good.
Drinks: 3/5
A bit less of a selection than other places we went but still a good glass of wine!
Localness: 3/5
There seemed to be a good balance between tourists and locals here and the ambience was very cute and cozy.
Cost: $$$
Most tapas fall around the 20 euro range, a bit pricier than the average restaurant
What to Do
Although we weren’t in Madrid for that long, we got to see so much of the city and find some super cool spots!
Parque De La Montana
A beautiful park housing the Temple de Debod with endless views over the city and countryside. Much less crowded than the below mentioned Retiro Park and a perfect place to stroll and people watch.
Localness: 4/5
Paella Class
Okay this might not be a “locals” activity of any sort but it is some of the most fun we have ever had. There were 10 or 12 of us split up into pairs and assigned a different paella flavor. The instructors walked us through the steps while pouring us all the cava we could ever want. Once it was ready, we were served appetizers made by the chef and got to try everyone’s paella. It was such a great way to meet other people and learn a new skill!
Localness: 0/5 (it’s hosted in english, I don’t think a local has ever attended)
Festival de San Cayetano
Throughout August, Madrid hosts three festivals, each honoring a different saint. We happened to stumble upon the one for San Cayetano and it was unlike anything we have ever attended before. Block after block of shoulder to shoulder crowds, food trucks, beer, more beer, karaoke, and so much more. If you are in Madrid during one of these festivals, it’s a must do.
Localness: 5/5
The Prado
If artwork from the 15th to 18th century is your thing, the Prado will be heaven on earth. Otherwise, it might be a nice museum walk with a few interesting pieces. I personally do not have the strongest interest in art prior to the 19th/20th centuries so felt like things became redundant pretty quick but the sheer size and collection of artwork in this museum is astonishing. (Pro tip: Buy tickets online in advance and save yourself hours of waiting in line at the ticket counter)
Localness: 3/5
Retiro Park
Quite a bit larger and more trafficked than the above mentioned park but still very pretty and relaxing. There is a lake in the middle where you can take boats out and a wide expanse for picnicking/lawn games/etc. The further you are from the lake the less touristy and busy it is so I’d recommend traveling off the beaten path.
Localness: 3/5
Flamenco Show
Again, not a local activity perse but still a fun experience. We booked a reservation at Corral de la Moreria for their dinner and a show package. You are also able to just attend the show if you want to eat dinner beforehand. The restaurant is Michelin starred and just the food makes this experience worth it. (Pro tip: the earlier you book, the better table you’ll receive). The show was entertaining and the dancers are rotating so you never know what you might see!
Localness: 2/5
Royal Palace
We hadn’t planned on touring the palace but the outside gates were so pretty we felt as though we had to. My favorite part is the view you get from the outer walls of the palace over the city and countryside. The inside is an extremely opulent mansion where you walk through various rooms used by the royal family. (This is another place to definitely buy tickets in advance)
Localness: 1/5
Conclusion
This is just a snippet of what Madrid can offer but shows that you can easily find local spots to visit! Happy traveling