Bloggin' MadridBloggin' Madrid

All the flavour of Madrid

Silvia Roba — Tue, 09 May 2023 09:11:52 +0000

In a month steeped in tradition, we review some of the new-style tabernas and bistros with great atmosphere that are putting a modern spin on Madrid’s most celebrated dishes. Fortunata, one of Benito Pérez Galdós’s most famous female characters, lived—albeit temporarily—on Calle de Tabernillas, the same street which many years later would be home to […]

Art around their shoulders

Silvia Roba — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 06:57:44 +0000

Despite the origins of this garment being traced to the Far East, the Manila shawl is one of the capital’s most representative items of clothing. Seen draped around the shoulders of all traditionally dressed chulapas at the city’s verbena festivities, the shawl forms part of the city’s history. Purchasing one is the perfect way to […]

From Gran Vía to Heaven

Silvia Roba — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:09:27 +0000

High up on this century-old Madrid avenue, sculptures of gods, humans and creatures of all kind exist side-by-side. Read on to discover what these iconic symbols of our city represent. Pay close attention to the following verses by Luis Quiñones de Benavente, one of the most celebrated entremésauthors of the Spanish Golden Age: “For winter […]

A plate of croquetas, please!

Silvia Roba — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:21:18 +0000

It’s a sentence you’re bound to hear in Madrid’s tabernas and bars. Croquetas are a bite-sized delicacy, steeped in centuries of tradition. Read on to discover our mouth-watering route. Order by the unit as an appetiser or as a ración (bigger portion) to share. It’s impossible to find a bar in Madrid that doesn’t serve […]

Timeless Jewellery

Silvia Roba — Tue, 24 May 2022 09:22:34 +0000

Much more than simple a form of adornment, pieces of jewellery are dreams come true in the eyes of these makers who, in their studios in Madrid, uphold an artisan tradition deeply rooted in our city. Visit any archaeological museum around the world and you’ll see how men and women from prehistoric times used shells, […]

Gourmet shops: no two are the same

Silvia Roba — Tue, 17 May 2022 10:25:31 +0000

Ultra-specialisation is here to stay. This month, as Madrid hosts Gastrofestival, its most important culinary event, we’ll be taking a look at some of the shops in the city devoted to a single product. There’s an endless range of flavours and aromas! Tell me what you buy and I’ll tell you who you are. Or […]

Artisan bookbinders

Silvia Roba — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:46:31 +0000

We can find some of Madrid’s master artisans working among leather, papyrus scrolls, book looms, and presses, determined to make the hands of time stand still as we turn the pages of the books they bind. Madrid is home to book presses where age-old hand-binding techniques are used to make truly unique editions. These guardians […]

All the flavours of the Literary Quarter

Silvia Roba — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:00:42 +0000

In the most literary month in Madrid’s calendar, we’ll explore all of the streets and squares that were once a haven for the great writers of the Spanish Golden Age. Many of their taverns and restaurants hearken back to years gone by. Others have embraced modern times but remind us that here and now, like […]

A way of life

Silvia Roba — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 07:57:04 +0000

A large part of Madrid’s history has been witnessed by the marble tabletops of its coffee shops which, since the start of the 19th century, have enriched cultural life in the capital by hosting regular philosophical debates. Many others have followed suit, and it’s time to pay them a visit. “I go out for a […]

Madrid’s new potters

Silvia Roba — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 18:27:04 +0000

Feeling clay between your hands can be quite an experience. Madrid has numerous studios where master artisans work with it to express themselves, but also to make their knowledge of a centuries-old trade accessible to others. Their lives unfold against a backdrop of kilns and potters’ wheels. Improvements to ovens during the Roman era allowed […]