Madrid is a city that has never been short on quality, from the days of Agustin Lara's famous 'Madrid' chotis to today's modern metropolis. Across the Spanish capital you will find an array shortage of beautiful places to visit and culture to explore, alongside an exceptional selection of restaurants and hotels. Here, we guide you through a few of our favorites during a handy 48-hour itinerary for the fabulous city of Madrid.
Day 1: Walk Through the Center, Salamanca, and Chamberí
Morning
The Plaza Mayor can be an excellent starting point for getting to know this historic city. This arcaded square, born as the town's market, is today one of the main axes that forms the backbone of the capital's tourism. A few meters from here, for example, is the legendary Chocolatería San Ginés, where it is essential to start the day with some churros with chocolate, a staple of this establishment opened in 1894.After breakfast, there's nothing better than a walk to the Puerta del Sol, where every December 31 thousands of people gather to say goodbye to the year to the sound of the 12 bells. Whether or not you're staying at the impressive Four Seasons Hotel Madrid (awarded Two MICHELIN Keys) it would be a good idea while you're here to visit the Food Hall Galería Canalejas located in this archetypal hotel. It's a gastronomic space where you can discover an interesting range of bars and restaurants, with all kinds of local and international cuisine.
A few meters away is Preciados Street, possibly one of the most important shopping streets in Spain. You can punctuate your shopping trip with a skewer of cod in the long-established Casa Labra, which will give you the strength to face the great walk to one of the jewels of the city, the triangle formed by the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía. It is impossible to cover these three great museums in a single day, so if you're passionate about art, you'll always have a good excuse to return to Madrid.
Lunch
The same can be said of the city's overwhelming gastronomic offering, which is both vast and impressive. Right now, you'll be in the vicinity of the Two MICHELIN Star restaurants Paco Roncero and Deessa, the latter being located inside the Mandarin Oriental Ritz hotel, which has recently been awarded Three MICHELIN Keys. Deessa is the Madrid home of the renowned Quique Dacosta, with Chef Domenico Vildacci at the helm day to day. In the elegant dining room you can enjoy two tasting menus ('Historical' and 'Contemporary'), with a smaller version of both available in 'Essence' format for lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. It's a perfect opportunity to get to know Dacosta's creative cuisine, in which produce and seasonality take precedence.
Afternoon
A stroll through the nearby Retiro Park, one of the most important green lungs of the city, will take you towards the newly restored Puerta de Alcalá. Very close to there you'll find the chocolate shop, La Pajarita. Here, you can get a foodie souvenir par excellence, such as their violent candies. The oldest chocolatier in Madrid, it has been managed by the same family since 1852, and serves other specialties made with traditional techniques and tools, such as the famous chocolate Pajaritas or its classic candies wrapped in 17 different flavors. Stepping inside is like a trip to the 19th century with furniture and decoration of the time, as well as a traditional manner from the team.
Continue your afternoon by visiting the National Archaeological Museum, right across the street from the chocolatier, or opt to continue shopping in the luxury boutiques of the Salamanca neighborhood or in its lively Mercado de la Paz. Another good option is to discover the Rosewood Villa Magna hotel, if its new Two MICHELIN Key distinction has not already made you choose it as the accommodation for your trip. Here, you will find the perfect drink in the Tarde.O bar or an afternoon tea in Flor y Nata, the space dedicated to the sweet creations of Pastry Chef Emanuel Alvés. And if you want to extend your visit into the evening, head for dinner at Amós, the hotel's Madrid outpost of revered chef Jesús Sánchez, who provides a contemporary journey through the cuisine of northern Spain.
Dinner and Evening
As already mentioned, the gastronomic offering in Madrid is so vast that you can leave yourself with plenty of choice within your two-day itinerary. Near the popular and bustling Ponzano area (one of the locals' favorites for tapas, beers, and wherever the night takes them), there are three restaurants recognized with a MICHELIN Star: Clos Madrid, El Invernadero and, recently moved to its new location, La Tasquería. In the latter, you will find the creations of Chef Javi Estévez, known for his reinterpretation of Madrid's popular gastronomy, in which he elevates 'casquería' (offal) into 'haute cuisine'. The restaurant currently offers three different lengths of tasting menu: 'M', 'Memoria 2015/2023' and 'The Menu', all of them with the possibility of adding extras such as their classic confit and fried suckling pig's head. They have also added an interesting cocktail offering; the Bloody Mary with a touch of their famous tripe sauce is not to be missed!
To close the day, you can go back to the center and enjoy a walk along the Gran Vía, with an interesting selection of musicals and plays down to the Plaza de España. In the other direction, almost at the confluence with calle de Alcalá, you'll see The Principal Madrid. This majestic hotel occupies an extraordinary building with truly special views, which you can enjoy from one of its private terraces while having the last drink of the night. Afterwards, any of its more than 70 luxurious rooms will be the perfect culmination of your first day in Madrid.
Day 2: Castellana, Moncloa, Letras, and Chamberí
Morning
Fancy breakfast in a pastry shop from 1914? Head to La Duquesita, currently under the auspices of the renowned master pastry chef Oriol Balaguer. It is a charming confectionery and pastry shop with an elegant façade that will delight those with a sweet tooth. In a small tea room in the adjoining premises, you will find classics such as croissants, palmeras, or cremadillos (an exquisite puff pastry with apple), as well as a good repertoire of cakes, pies, macarons, and chocolates.If you'd prefer something more substantial, then brunch is ideal. Málaga-born chef Dani García offers a brunch menu at both BiBo Madrid and at his steakhouse Leña Madrid, in both cases only available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 12:30pm. In them you will find the classic eggs Benedict (a different version in each place), as well as desserts, juices, coffees, and some of the most emblematic dishes of each restaurant.
Lunch
It has always been said, not without that certain cockiness that we Madrilenians have, that the capital has the best sea port in the country. Although we have never had a beach (as the famous '80s song by The Refrescos used to say), Desde 1911 is a clear example that Madrid at least has brilliant gastronomic restaurants where fish is the focus. The success of Desde 1911 makes perfect sense, as they are supplied by Pescaderías Coruñesas, one of the best purveyors of seafood in the city. In the restaurant itself, you can choose between different lengths of tasting menu, all with a main course of fish. Before dessert, you can delight in one of the legendary cheese boards of Abel Valverde, who officiates here as Head Waiter.
Afternoon
For a glimpse of some of Madrid's finest art, head to the Sorolla Museum. This building was the home and studio of Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla and his family from 1911 until his death in 1923. Today, it houses the largest collection of works from this internationally successful artist, with more than 1,200 pieces that you can admire in a unique environment, decorated with original furniture and objects of the time. It is essential to dedicate part of the visit to the beautiful garden that surrounds the house, as well as the gorgeous Andalusian courtyard.Dinner and Evening
If there is anyone who has invigorated the gastronomic scene in Madrid in recent years, it is Dabiz Muñoz. RavioXO and DiverXO (the latter currently located in the NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding hotel until an upcoming move to La Finca in 2025) are his two restaurants recommended by The MICHELIN Guide, holding One and Three Stars respectively. At both establishments, you can discover the avant-garde and international style of the Madrid native. RavioXO offers a menu based on the world of pasta, while DiverXO, with its long tasting menu, will take you on a culinary journey that will undoubtedly become one of the most memorable dining experiences of your lifetime. It is advisable to plan your visit well ahead of time, as reservations open months in advance.
After dinner, return to the city center to have a last drink in what has been one of the most interesting cocktail bars in the city since its opening in 2016. At Salmon Guru, Diego Cabrera offers a menu with up to 28 signature cocktails, among which are different categories such as the house classics or those they refer to as 'unclassifiable madness', with risky combinations of flavors; there's non-alcoholic options 'for drivers' as well. All of this is found in an environment with surprising décor that ranges from a tiled entrance to colorful neon lighting and comic-book styling on the walls.
If we have to choose a hotel to close this trip, the magnificent, One MICHELIN Key Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is one of those establishments that makes travelers' dreams come true. Located near to the Castellana neighborhood, it's an authentic neoclassical mansion from 1895 that is today, without a doubt, one of the most luxurious accommodations in the city. Its exclusive 51 rooms are usually a favorite of foreign authorities and celebrities, who find here an authentic haven of peace in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Address Book
Casa Labra: Calle Tetuán, 12, 28013 Madrid
Chocolatería San Ginés: Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, 28013 Madrid
Food Hall Galería Canalejas: Calle de Alcalá, 12, 28014 Madrid
La Duquesita: Calle Fernando VI, 2, 28004 Madrid
La Pajarita: Calle de Villanueva, 14, 28001 Madrid
Mercado de la Paz: Calle Ayala, 28, 28001 Madrid
National Archaeological Museum: Calle de Serrano, 13, 28001 Madrid
Prado Museum: Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid
Reina Sofía Museum: Calle Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid
Retiro Park: Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 28001 Madrid
Salmon Guru: Calle de Echegaray, 21, 28014, Madrid
Sorolla Museum: Calle General Martínez Campos, 37, 28010 Madrid
Thyssen-Bornesmiza Museum: Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid
Hero Image: Madrid at night (© GettyImages)
