Start at the trendy and progressive El Bonanno (Plaza del Humilladero, 4) for a beer and then head down Almendro street, riddled with tapas bars, towards Taberna Almendro, 13 to have some huevos rotos (broken eggs) and porra antequerana (a much thicker and very tasty kind of gazpacho with some iberico shavings). In the streets Cava Baja and Cava Alta is where most of the tapas bars of the area are located, as well as legendary restaurants like Casa Lucio or El Viejo Madrid. A very animated neighbourhood, muy castiza. You can also climb to the top of three story restaurant El Viajero, head towards the animated Delic, on Plaza de la Paja for a mojito, or stroll down to the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande and have a digestive orujo at Las Vistillas, in Calle Bailen, over a view of the Cathedral of La Almudena.
Almudena Cathedral
Plaza de Santa Ana – Madrid de las Letras
Plaza de Santa Ana (Cervantes lived a couple of streets away) is the center piece of what has become known as the Barrio de las Letras. It’s just off Madrid’s geographical center, the Puerta del Sol and it’s a pleasant and animated square. There you can eat good tapas in historical venues like La Moderna or Cerveceria Alemania. For great views try the Penthouse Bar & Terrace on the Hotel Melia Reina Victoria, also on the square. Stroll around that neighbourhood down Calle Huertas and head to a more sophisticated seated diner experience in the cozy East47 or simply walk around the small bar filled pedestrian streets of the neighborhood and get a glimpse of the very lively Madrid theatre district.
Plaza de Santa Ana
Retiro – a stroll in the park and great food discoveries
Retiro
Tags: tapas, Madrid, Austrias, La Latina, La Castela, Plaza de la Paja, Teatro Real, Palacio Real, El Retiro, East47, Plaza de Santa Ana, Taberna Laredo, porra antequerana, huevos rotos, Casa Lucio, El Viejo Madrid, Las Vistillas, Bailen, Ramon Guardans
