Madrid was absolutely magical, and if you’re looking for a week to get lost in a European city, this is it. My friend Cassie and I chose to travel to Madrid because of how inexpensive flights and lodging were — but what we didn’t realize is how much we’d fall absolutely in love with this city.
The architecture in Madrid is truly a work of art, so we typically spent our days brunching, strolling around different pockets of the city, shopping, grabbing tapas with wine for dinner, and ending the day with either dessert or going out (depending on our energy levels!).
We were in Madrid for about a week, and we did one day-trip to Segovia — which was super unique but not entirely needed. We missed the liveliness of the heart of Madrid, and I’d really recommend giving yourself about a week (with maybe one day-trip thrown in there), to truly feel like you’ve immersed yourself in Madrid.
Ahead, I’ll be including all my favorite brunch spots, sites, coffee shops, dinner recs, dessert places, and bars. I’d like also to give a huge shoutout to my friend Lindsey, who has lived in Madrid for about two years and gave us the absolute best recs. With these spots, you won’t go wrong and will truly feel like a local in the beautiful city of Madrid.
Brunch
Pum Pum Café
This is a super hip, hole-in-the-wall brunch spot that is famous for its croissants. Pum Pum has both a café and a bakery in Madrid, but I’d recommend going to the café if you just have time for one so that you can get a combination of the café's savory dishes along with its scrumptious baked goods.
I’ve been boasting about the shop's 10 euro weekend combo of coffee, freshly squeezed OJ, croissant, yogurt with homemade granola and fresh fruit, and poached eggs on avocado toast. (I had them remove the avocado, of course, and they kindly replaced the avocado with some olive oil!) They then bring out each of these dishes on this extremely large serving tray, making for the best way to start your weekend.
Federal Café
Federal Café is an authentic Australian café that was opened by a few Australian locals bringing the best kind of brunch to Madrid. The inside seating was perfect for working on your laptop over eggs and a coffee, while the outside seating is situated in a really quaint corner that lets you ease into your morning over a benedict.
The food was so fresh, flavorful, and they were perfect portion sizes. I’d highly recommend this spot to any visitor!
We went twice during our trip, where I ordered the scrambled eggs, toast, and a side of crispy bacon with either feta or grilled halloumi cheese, depending on the day. It was a simple, homey and flavorful breakfast spot that I truly craved!
EatMyTrip
Wow, EatMyTrip is one of the most vibrant brunch spots that I’ve been to. Maybe that’s why it’s named one of “the most creative brunch restaurants” in Madrid. Their expansive menu has lots of creative twists on brunch dishes, always with a bright, colorful and fun presentation. There are also weekly specials to keep locals coming back for something new each week.
This spot has so many benedicts to choose from, but I opted for their Macho Iberia Benedict, which was definitely the right call. My meal was comprised of poached eggs covered with truffle hollandaise sauce, crispy Iberian ham, and roasted potatoes, pictured here. The ham was crispy, the eggs were fluffy, and the truffle sauce was addicting. I'd highly recommend adding this brunch spot to your list, especially if you're staying by the La Latina neighborhood.
La Rollerie
La Rollerie is a very bright and spacious restaurant, and it’s the perfect pick if you’re looking for a great, centralized brunch spot near the central train station (Puerta del Sol) before a day-trip.
Both our benedict choices were so bright and flavorful, with Cassie going the avocado route and me sticking with the jamón option.
The aesthetics at this restaurant are spot-on with beautiful décor and a bakery located at the front of the restaurant with delicious-looking baked goods. The highlight of the decor goes to the stunning tree that's situated in the center of the restaurant, poking through between both floors.
Zenith
This brunch spot was a little bit of a trek from our Airbnb (which was right near Cava Baja, for reference!). However, it was well-worth the walk, and if it was any closer, we would have made sure to go again. Zenith is perfect for Millennials and Gen-Zers who love a tasty brunch with an aesthetic that's as high-quality as the food. Zenith has all the great brunch options that you’d want to see on a menu — plus so many creative additions.
This restaurant has a huge variety of pancakes, and I ordered the bacon & egg pancake that had cheddar cheese and was topped with a fried egg, chives, and maple syrup. I'm a sucker for a sweet and savory combo, and this was the perfect dish for anyone who agrees.
There's also fun neon signs and grass walls, so dress cute when you come to Madrid's most Instagram-worthy brunch spot.
Coffee/Smoothie Shops
HanSo Café
HanSo Café, which also has their HanSo Café2 location, was my go-to coffee shop that offered hip, industrial vibes that were perfect for catching up on messages from home over a delicious cold brew with oat milk. HanSo offers a robust food and beverage menu that included the shop’s Asian flare, offering everything from spongy cakes to specialty lattes to brunch staples.
I’d highly recommend coming here for your coffee cravings — plus, oat milk can be a bit difficult to come by in Madrid, so if you’re like me, this is a consistently great choice!
Faborit
I love starting my mornings in NYC with juices and smoothies, and after a few days in Spain eating very little fruits and veggies, I had to stop at Faborit to feed my green juice kick. This establishment has a few locations and an expansive menu, depending on whatever you’re looking for, including a full salad bar. I’d recommend working this into your trip to help fuel you for all the jamón!
Activities
Explore the Sites
Retiro Park
This park is Madrid’s version of Central Park for all my New Yorkers who need a good comparison. However, Parque del Retiro just felt even more special and unique!
It could have been the Palacio de Cristal, which is their glass palace set in the heart of the park. Maybe it is the romantic rowing boats drifting in the Retiro Park Lake. Or perhaps it’s the stunning gates of Puerta de Alcala situated at the entrance of the park. Whatever the reasoning, there’s something truly special about this park, and it kept bringing us back during our week-long trip.
Temple of Debod + Campo de Moro
Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC, which was transported to Madrid's Cuartel de la Montaña Park. This is a really unique historical site to add to your list when visiting.
It’s situated very close to Campo del Moro, which is Madrid’s largest public park (which is also looking at the back of the Royal Palace). The grounds are beautiful, and it's super easy to get lost in this park and take in the beauty of Madrid. I'd recommend grouping both sites together since they're both a bit north west of where the heart of the city is.
Royal Palace and Cathedral
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family. It’s definitely worth visiting, whether for touring, photo opps, or just taking in the architectural wonder that it is.
It’s situated right in front of La Almudena Cathedral, which is Madrid’s “grandest” church. It’s popular for tourists but so worth seeing. We caught it during sunset, which was stunning. (This makes for a great spot for golden hour!).
Shop
Shopping in Madrid is a whole other experience, with fantastic pedestrian streets making it easy to hop from store-to-store and many of your favorite stores staying open until 10 PM.
My favorite? Zara Madrid is absolutely incredible, from the layout, the selection, and the prices. If you're somewhat of a Zara fan, it's a must to check out one of the Zara's while in Madrid.
I’d recommend hitting the shops near Gran Via (including the two Zara’s there) as well as the Chueca and Malasaña areas for a mix of trendy, modern, and vintage shops. You can’t go wrong strolling these cobblestone streets and treating yourself to a new pair of European-styled trousers or leather jackets — because when in Madrid!
Explore Markets
Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel is the most popular market in Madrid, and it’s a go-to for a reason! An indoor market with floor-to-ceiling glass and cast-iron architecture, Mercado de San Miguel has been around for over 100 years. There are over 20 stands of high-quality tapas offering Spanish cuisine with a bustling, vibrant atmosphere. I’d recommend grabbing tapas and a drink here with friends or stopping by for a midday snack. No matter the time of day, you can find something here that is authentic and memorable.
Mercado de San Ildefonso
Mercado de San Ildefonso is a less touristy yet a must-see market when in Spain. My friend Brett brought me here my first time in Madrid, and I just had to go back this time around. It’s a three-story market that’s bright and vibrant with more diverse food options throughout the 20 stalls. There are also three cocktails bars within this market, and there’s more seating options, including a terrace — which is tougher to come by compared to Mercado de San Miguel. If you’re looking for more diverse food options and more seating, I’d recommend heading here.
Check Out Rooftops
Circulo de Bellas Artes
Circulo de Bellas Artes is a private cultural center with a breathtaking rooftop. This spot offers great cocktails, a variety of seating options that includes turf grass, and absolutely insane 360-degree rooftop views of Madrid. I’ve come here both times I've been to Madrid, and I still stand by this rooftop having the very best views of Madrid.
Pro tip: stay for sunset — golden hour takes on a whole new meaning up here!
Gourmet Experience Gran Via
Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a rooftop situated atop of the El Corte Ingles department store. This upscale food market has tons of cool food stalls, with about ten different vendors, and a stunning outdoor view of the city of Madrid. I didn’t get a chance to try any of the food, but this definitely seems like a stop that’s worth it if you can secure one of the tables outside that overlooks the city.
Dinner
Ojalá
This dope Mexican spot is located in the Malasaña neighborhood, and I’d highly recommend Ojalá for when you’re looking for a trendy place for food and drinks. The fluorescent lights and wooden tables on the main floor and the sand beach basement with a beach bar makes for one of the most unique dining experiences, open for either brunch or dinner. There are tapas, salads, and anything you can want from a trendy, creative Mexican restaurant.
El Buo
Situated in La Latina, El Buo is a tavern that offers great tapas, delicious wine, and their famous stuffed tortillas. We ordered wine and delicious sangria to drink, and to eat, we split the burrata salad with the pork and goat cheese. Everything was fresh, flavorful and so well-priced for the amount of food we got.
Juana La Loca
This was the highlight dinner spot of our trip, and if you’re traveling to Madrid for a very short time, I’d recommend making this your choice of dinner spot. Located in La Latina, Juana La Loca's mix of creative and authentic flavors, its high-quality wine selection, along with its incredible service made for such a memorable dinner experience.
We split Juana La Loca's famous tortilla de patatas, a flavorful roast beef sandwich, and gnocchi cheesy dip. We agreed that the restaurant's roast beef sandwich was actually our favorite part of our meal — in addition to our attentive and warm waiter who made sure we had such a perfect dining experience.
We can't say enough great things about the ambiance and service here, so I'd strongly suggest making a reservation for your next Madrid trip.
Dessert
Chocolateria San Gines
This café, which was founded in the 1800s, is famous for its churros and chocolate. The authentic marble tables and tiled floor take you back to cafés of the late 19th century. Chocolateria San Gines is located in the San Ginés passageway, which is an alley tucked away, but tourists from near and far still show up to have a bite of the famous churros dipped in chocolate. It’s worth the hype and the perfect way to end a night in Madrid.
Llaollao
This chain froyo place is absolutely delicious. Llallo is a healthier and lighter alternative to gelato and is made from skim milk, and I honestly craved it so often. I’d highly recommend this as an afternoon treat or a post-dinner dessert.
Bars
Cats Hostel Pub Crawl
Cats Hostel is one of the top party hostels in the world, and its pub crawl proves this to be true. You don’t need to stay at the hostel in order to participate on the crawl, so for only 20 euros, you can participate in a night crawl of bars and clubs in Madrid. This is a great option if you’re traveling solo or in small groups because it’s the perfect atmosphere to meet new people from across the world while exploring Madrid’s night scene.
Espit Chupitos
This was one of the bars on our pub crawl, and I’d come here for longer on my own! Known for more than 600 original shots, each shot ordered is essentially a performance, making for one of the most memorable shot-taking experiences I’ve ever had.
Espit Chupitos is three floors down within the bar, so make sure you head to the basement for one of the most special bars you’ll ever come across. We had a “fire” and “mouthwash” shot, but I'll make more of a dent in the 600 shot list the next time I’m there.
Bar Hopping at Cava Baja
Bar hopping is always a good option for a night on the town, so I’d recommend exploring Cava Baja, one of the most lively streets lined with fun bars, cheap wine, and an assortment of tapas places. One of the most vibrant spots that we didn’t get to check out is called Hopper, which is known for its fun atmosphere that is great to grab drinks with friends and mingle with others.
Bar Hopping at Malasaña
You can also explore the bars in Malasaña, one of Madrid’s most hip, young neighborhoods. There’s a mix of cozy, unique cocktail bars as well as European clubs, so you can get everything you want in this bustling neighborhood.
Madrid is one of the most energetic, unique and livable cities I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Cassie and I were truly able to feel like locals with this itinerary. Hope you can have yourself a day in Madrid very soon!