A secret garden in Madrid vs traditional bars
Madrid is a city of traditional bars, but we are going to tell you a secret…well, actually, we are going to tell you about a secret garden located in Calle de la Montera 37, in the city centre. This amazing place hosts a cute shop of bags and suitcases, in a very special building, with a secret rooftop. Certainly, we have always been fascinated by rooftops, but this is a very special one!
In fact, while on the third floor you will be able to drink a tea in the Vip Lounge, which is a cute vintage tea room that will make you feel like Alice in Wonderland, the best kept secret of the building is located on the fourth floor. Here you will have the chance to enjoy a peculiar oasis and contemplate the sky above the heart of the capital of Spain.
Why we love the secret garden in Montera street
Surely, we love the flowers, plants, vintage furniture and retro nostalgic items. Especially the charming details, like the menu served in a little bird shelter and the waitresses dressed as vintage flight attendants. In other words, we enjoyed being in a fairy tail.
While their gastronomic offer combines natural juices and cocktails with delicious international flavours, in order to ensure the best quality, all ingredients used in the preparation of each dish are strictly natural.
As former flight attendants and having owned a vintage aviation themed bar in Barcelona a few years ago, how could we not be fans of this trendy spot, with such a great choice of food and drinks, and where the waitresses are dressed like cabin crew members?
What a great choice for a city like Madrid, especially if we consider that, despite the capital of Spain was also the heart of the Movida countercultural movement, in our opinion most of the top bars are still very traditional, if compared to other European cities, and it is not common to find a modern terrace on the rooftop of a building, where you can have a tea, a cocktail, a fresh juice or even a full meal.
Don’t get us wrong, we do not believe that Madrid lacks of bars choices…not at all! Actually, despite the economic crisis of the recent years, it’s still the hit place where you can basically party every single night of the week, while other cities will turn on the party lights only Thursdays/Sundays.
What we really mean is that when it comes to bars, Madrileños still prefer authentic bars with home-made tapas, where they can “warm up the engines” and start the night, while eating and drinking with their friends, as they would at home.
What to expect in a traditional bar in Madrid
Spaniards consider the bar as the “extension” of their home, they are faithful to the same establishments, where they know the names of the bar tenders and the waiters, and they expect them to know and anticipate their special requirements, while conversing with them as friends would.
Therefore, locals still prefer to proudly stick to old recipes and traditions, in what they call “bares de toda la vida” (long-life bars). Actually, the first establishments were even reported during ancient Greek and Roman periods, when travellers used them for refreshments and food.
CURIOSITY: Madrid also boasts the oldest bar in the world, El Botín, opened in 1927 and where Goya worked as waiter when he was an apprentice painter.
Where are the traditional bars in Madrid?
Definitely north of Gran Via, where you will find Malasaña to the west and Chueca to the east, gathering the best “bares de tapas” (for food) and “bares de copas” (for cocktails and music). Malasaña was the epicentre of the Movida Madrileña, the hedonistic wave that took place during the Spanish transition, after the dictatorship Francisco Franco’s death in 1975, representing the resurrection of Spanish economy and of Spanish identity.
Beside historical bars like Siroco, Moloko, Nueva Visión, El Tupperware, El Penta and La Via Lactea, where you can sip your drink surrounded by the magical and nostalgic aura of the Movida, you will be able to start the night with a refreshing beer and a snack (caña + tapa) for a couple of euros! Los Amigos, El Rincón Abulense, Lus Enemigus, Casa Pepe, Marea Viva, La Llama are only few bars where, when ordering your beer, you will still get a free tapa with it.
Chueca is the lively gay district, but the offer of cafes, bars and shops attracts different types of crowds, regardless their sexual orientation. The increasing popularity of this area is related to the fact that every year since 2007, the neighbourhood hosts the Europride, the biggest gay march of the world.
Tapas and drinks in Madrid
You may start the night with budget drinks and tapas at La Revoltosa, in Plaza del Rey or you may head to El Tigre, in calle de las Infantas, where with every ordered beer you will get a free traditional Spanish tapa (tortilla, serrano ham or patatas bravas).
If you look for a place where to practice your Spanish with locals, do not miss Bambalinas Bar, in calle Pelayo. The owners are very friendly and you will feel like in a private party where, by the end of the night, you will know everyone in the bar.
Another popular spot for a few drinks is Fulanita de Tal in Calle Regueros, while if you are looking for deeper action and possibly a drag show, we suggest the evergreen Black and White bar, in Calle de La Libertad, which opened back in the ’80s and it’s still very popular, while maintaining reasonable prices.
If you are a wine lover too, La Latina caters an excellent offer of wine bars, while if you fancy dancing, Barrio de las Letras is where you will be able to find several clubs and disco pubs for all tastes.
Close to La Latina, you will find Lavapiés, the most hippy and cosmopolitan area of Madrid, with a growing scene of peculiar cafes, ethnic restaurants and art galleries.
How to get to Madrid
- By Train: Madrid has two train Stations, Chamartin, in the north and Atocha in the south. It is very well-connected to other Spanish and European cities.
- By Bus: Many international buses arrive at and depart from Estación Sur de Autobuses, while buses from Barcelona and Bilbao operate from the Avenida de América bus terminal.
- By car: while getting to Madrid by car is pretty easy, some roads within the city are difficult to navigate and the city lacks of free parking.
- By Plane: the airport Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas is located 13 km from the centre of the city and it’s one of the largest airports in Europe, with three terminals in the same area and a most recent Terminal 4, in another area, with its own metro and commuter train stations.
Transportation from /to the airport of Madrid Barajas
From the airport there is a 24 hours express bus service, which is the best option if you travel late at night. Terminal 4 is the end line, and it takes about 40 minutes to get to Cibeles. While the frequency is every 12 minutes during the day, expect about 35 minutes during the night. With this in mind, a ticket costs 5 euros and shall be purchased directly on board. Ultimately, no credit cards are accepted.
Between 05:30 am to 11:30 pm Terminal 4 is also connected to Atocha and to Chamartin by local trains (Cercanias). Price of the ticket: 2,15 euros.
The airport is also served by the city Metro (pink line number 8) that goes to the Nuevos Ministerios metro station in the centre. From the airport, a single journey fare will cost you 5 euros. Note that the metro operates from 06:30 am to 01:30 am.
Finally, you may take a taxi, expecting to be charged about 30 euros. The last time we took a taxi from Barajas to the centre was a few years ago, and we got also charged 2 extra euros for each piece of baggage. This is why we now prefer the bus, the metro or the train.
Madrid-Barajas airport is served by most of the international renewed airlines, as well as by major low cost European airlines. You may check flights and prices here.
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