{"id":1286,"date":"2015-09-22T10:18:29","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T09:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/?p=1286"},"modified":"2015-09-23T06:29:06","modified_gmt":"2015-09-23T05:29:06","slug":"welcome-to-the-city-of-hugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/2015\/09\/22\/welcome-to-the-city-of-hugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to the City of Hugs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Plaza

Plaza San Ildefonso<\/p><\/div>\n

Madrid is \u201cthe city of embrace,\u201d or at least that\u2019s something that new Mayor has been repeating ever since she swept to power last May. It\u2019s a line that perplexed many, especially when the Spanish version \u201cla ciudad del abrazo<\/em>\u201d sounds more like \u201cthe city of hugs.\u201d While a city full of hugs could make a really nice holiday destination<\/strong>, the Mayor and her team are eager to expand upon the idea and welcome more people to discover the city.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks the softly spoken Mayor has elaborated; pointing to the fact that Madrid is the only capital she knows with its very own monument to the embrace<\/strong>. She believes that the statue, which is located in Plaza Anton Martin, is a very physical representation of Madrid\u2019s welcoming atmosphere and general sense of openness.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Statue of Hugs<\/p><\/div>\n

Whether you\u2019re tasting the multi-cultural<\/strong> morsels in one of the city\u2019s gastro-markets, making new friends in one of the many convivial parks and plazas, or looking to gain a foothold in the local art scene or business culture, Madrid has become more open than ever. If you\u2019ve just touched down in the city, here are a few elements to look out for that will give you an authentic Madrid welcome.<\/p>\n

The Multicultural Mercado de Anton Martin<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mercado de Anton Mart\u00edn<\/a> market is a gastronomic testament<\/strong> to the Spanish capital\u2019s increasingly multicultural make-up. Once a traditional neighbourhood food market, in recent times the two-level building has seen a wave of tasty market food stalls open that cook up exotic morsels from noon til night. Feast on the Asian treats from Buns & Bones<\/strong>, the Mexican flavours from Cutzamala<\/strong>, or the authentic Japanese from Yoka Loka.<\/strong> Be sure to do a quick tour around the space before you pull up a stool – the sumptuous selection of food stalls continues to grow.<\/p>\n

\"Mercado

Mercado de Ant\u00f3n Mart\u00edn<\/p><\/div>\n

Inviting Districts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Madrid\u2019s inner-city districts all have a distinct personality and you can spend an entire day wandering around the colourful calles<\/em><\/strong> to get to know them properly. Several of these barrios<\/em><\/strong> have welcomed in different collectives over the years and have become all the more vibrant for it. The Lavapi\u00e9s<\/strong> district<\/strong><\/a> has a centuries-old tradition of being open to different cultures \u2013 in recent years it has become home for the city\u2019s African, Middle-Eastern, and South Asian communities and the food options are therefore some of the most diverse and delicious. The Chueca district<\/strong><\/a> is one of the world\u2019s largest gay-friendly suburbs and transforms from colourful retail hub by day into a festive free-for-all party destination by night. In recent times, the Malasa\u00f1a <\/strong><\/a>and Conde Duque<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>have welcomed in plenty of young entrepreneurs eager to launch their new enterprises. If you\u2019re looking for some of Madrid\u2019s most dynamic drinking holes and retail concepts then this is where you should head.<\/p>\n

\"Malasa\u00f1a\"

Malasa\u00f1a District<\/p><\/div>\n

Social Plazas and Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

A combination of warm weather and small apartments has traditionally brought Madrile\u00f1os down to the streets where they typically congregate on terraces in plazas and in parks. Some of the most social meeting points include Plaza Dos de Mayo<\/strong> in Malasa\u00f1a, which tends to come alive at around 7pm well into the night \u2013 students from the neighbourhood\u2019s music school can often be heard strumming their guitars too. The nearby Plaza San Ildefonso<\/strong> is particularly festive on warmer nights while Plaza Olvaide<\/strong> in Chamber\u00ed is a circle of trees and endless al fresco terraces populated mainly by local residents. The Buen Retiro Park<\/strong><\/a> is a popular meeting point for people of all ages and is particularly social on sunny weekends. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. The area around the Monument to King Alfonso XII<\/strong> on the beautiful central lake has a younger, friendlier vibe and occasionally a musician will stop by to liven things up even more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Buen<\/a>

Buen Retiro Park<\/p><\/div>\n

The Friendliest Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit my bias from the outset (it\u2019s my local) but not only is Toma Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/a> (Calle Palma 49 in Malasa\u00f1a) the best coffee specialist in town, I\u2019m also prepared to go out on a limb and call it one of the friendliest too. The perky owners Santiago Rigoni and Patricia Alda D\u00edaz always greet their long stream of coffee-loving customers with a smile, but are also joined by a warm and friendly \u2013 and very multicultural \u2013 team of staff who speak multiple languages and conduct regular coffee-tasting sessions. If you\u2019re looking for somewhere to put a spring in your step as you wander around Malasa\u00f1a \u2013 this is the place to do it. You might want to hug the chef too, as there\u2019s a healthy, mouthwatering lunch menu with a Peruvian twist.<\/p>\n

\"Toma

Toma Caf\u00e9<\/p><\/div>\n

Open for Business<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Spanish capital is fast-becoming the destination of choice for young European start-ups \u2013 attracted by low costs and a high quality of life to help balance out work-related stress. As a result, a supportive network of entrepreneurial infrastructure has sprung up around the city. Located alongside the CaixaForum<\/strong><\/a> gallery, the MediaLab Prado<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a hub of experimentation for students and entrepreneurs interested in digital culture and new technologies. Housed inside a refurbished sawmill, the extensive offer of activities is spread across a bilingual programme which is free and open to anyone who is interested. This year, Google opened its Campus Madrid<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0inside a former submarine factory. In a district that flanks the banks of the Manzanares river<\/strong>, Campus Madrid welcomes in young entrepreneurs who are looking for a no-hassle space to work alongside fellow creatives. The Campus caf\u00e9 has free wi-fi, plenty of powerpoints, and a deliciously healthy food menu to boot \u2013 all you need to do is sign up to become a member. If you\u2019re planning on a more extended stay, you could also rent a desk in one of the city\u2019s growing network of co-working spaces.<\/p>\n

\"Campus

Campus Madrid<\/p><\/div>\n

All Access Art<\/strong><\/p>\n

The city\u2019s galleries are not just the exclusive domain of the elite. Some of the most eclectic public galleries<\/strong> also encourage participation. Visit the Casa Encendida<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to get a gauge on young upcoming artists, stop by the Tabacalera<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for a more ephemeral insight into Madrid\u2019s artistic underground, or explore the Matadero<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0art precinct for a inter-disciplinary art feast that ranges from theatre to design to literature and cinema.<\/p>\n

\"Matadero

Matadero Madrid<\/p><\/div>\n

Local Etiquette<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the Mayor is eager to promote Madrid as the \u201cCity of the Embrace,\u201d the truth is that most Madrile\u00f1os were already fervent subscribers to this moniker before it even became a thing. That\u2019s because Madrile\u00f1os are quite an affectionate lot, something that becomes rather apparent when you begin to meet people<\/strong> and they greet and farewell you with plenty of hugs and kisses. Other quirks include saying hello and goodbye upon entering and exiting lifts; the fluidity of casual conversation with strangers in the city\u2019s many bars; and the question that you\u2019ll be asked ad infinitum wherever you go \u2013 \u201c\u00bfQu\u00e9 tal?<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 which is local slang for What\u2019s up?<\/em> or How are you?<\/em> If you\u2019ve come to Madrid to brush up on your Spanish, you\u2019ll find a city full of talkative strangers very happy<\/strong> to oblige.<\/p>\n

\"Plaza

Plaza de San Ildefonso<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Madrid is \u201cthe city of embrace,\u201d or at least that\u2019s something that new Mayor has been repeating ever since she swept to power last May. It\u2019s a line that perplexed many, especially when the Spanish version \u201cla ciudad del abrazo\u201d sounds more like \u201cthe city of hugs.\u201d While a city full of hugs could make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[192,128,30,114,180,73,28],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1286"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1286"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1304,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1286\/revisions\/1304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}