Today, Condé Nast Traveler’s David Moralejo is going head-to-head with the internet to see whether Madrid’s most recommended spots are the best or if there’s somewhere as good people should try instead. Is Mercado de San Miguel the best market? Where can you eat the city’s best tapas? As a Madrid local, Moralejo has the inside scoop.
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00:00I am David Moralejo, a travel expert and Madrid local.
00:03I'm taking on the internet suggestions for what to do in Madrid.
00:05I'll tell you if these spots are worthy of time or where I would go instead.
00:16Markets are an essential part of everyday life in Madrid.
00:20The most famous on Google Yelp and TripAdvisor is, of course, Mercado de San Miguel.
00:24This is the market that all the people go to.
00:27It's expensive, crowded, it's more like a postcard.
00:30But the food is great. This is Spain at all.
00:32But my recommendation is Mercado de Vallehermoso.
00:35This is the more authentic spot, very local,
00:38full of international cuisine and very, very gorgeous spots.
00:42Come on. Let's go.
00:46We are in a place in the neighborhood where live a lot of students
00:50because the main University of Madrid is very close here.
00:53Market is, as you see, a mix of shops, spots, a traditional food corner
00:58and international cuisine.
01:00They are all preparing the day.
01:02This is completely crowded on the weekends.
01:06If you listen, you can find just Spanish language.
01:09There's no tourists here. It's very, very local.
01:14Look at the t-shirts of the team in that corner.
01:16I can't say the word in English because it's like a bad word,
01:20but it's very fun in Spanish.
01:22Just search in Google.
01:29Thirty-eight years old.
01:30My daughters like to come, for example,
01:32because they love this roll and we have to come.
01:36And in the end, there is a very different variety.
01:39There is a super different gastronomy.
01:41Each country is represented within the market.
01:44Even a Senegalese making snails.
01:46Oh, that's good. And where is it?
01:47Below, as you go down.
01:51Hello. How are you?
01:53Very good.
01:54A colleague of yours from above told us to come and meet you.
01:58Ah, very good.
01:59You make snails.
02:00Yes, we make snails here.
02:01My dad has a snail farm.
02:04A snail cap.
02:05You're a good cook.
02:07That's what it looks like.
02:11Look, these are snails from Madrid.
02:13And it's a traditional recipe with chorizo.
02:16With a very, very good sauce.
02:18You always need lots of bread to do.
02:22We say in Spanish, barquitos, like chips.
02:27Oh, it's hot.
02:28Good.
02:37You must explore Madrid's historic squares and plazas.
02:40These are spots where people gather, stop, eat.
02:43What's the top recommendation?
02:46TripAdvisor says, of course, Plaza Mayor.
02:49The reviews are saying it's a misfit place for tapas, beer, coffee.
02:53And I have to say, paellas.
02:55Fake paellas.
02:56This will not be my recommendation.
02:58I find it's crowded and full of mediocre cafes and tourist trap shops.
03:03For sure, my recommendation is Olavide Square.
03:08Here you can find a local's neighborhood with authentic restaurants, shops, and cafes.
03:14Let me show you some of my favorites.
03:17I love the name of this bookstore.
03:19It's called Bar de Libros, Books Bar, because you can have a drink, a coffee, while you enjoy a book.
03:46It's the perfect carry-on.
04:16This is Ruara House.
04:24It's one of my favorite spots to buy special souvenirs, handmade pieces.
04:29Artisan and local pieces are so, so nice.
04:46Almost everything I'm showing you is in Madrid, Spain, Benidorm.
04:50Ah, it's from Benidorm.
04:51Yes, this girl is from Benidorm.
04:53From Benidorm to Madrid.
04:55It's like our grandma's style.
04:57Yes, yes.
05:13Time for tapas.
05:14It's a must in Madrid.
05:16So, where are the most popular places to try it?
05:18Okay, let's see.
05:20I'm seeing lots of recommendations in the Huertas Area.
05:24It's a really popular neighborhood.
05:25Lots of bars and restaurants crammed together.
05:28I want to take you to the spot that I love for tapas.
05:30We are in Malasaña, a very popular neighborhood, and the name is Josefita Bar.
05:35With authentic comfort food, it's very cozy, and it's so fun.
05:40Come check it out with me.
05:41It's too soon for lunch in Spain, it's 1.30, and this is Sol, the owner.
05:46¿Qué te apetece tomar?
05:47A beer.
05:48¿La barra?
05:49La barra.
05:49Venga.
05:50¿Tu caña?
05:50Mi caña.
05:51Caña is the most famous drink in Madrid.
05:56It's typically the serve with the foam, and Sol serves the beer.
06:05It's typically the serve with the foam, and Sol serves always perfect.
06:15This is finger food.
06:17It's not easy, but let's try it.
06:20This is salad with mayonnaise and potato and anchovies.
06:29Me encanta.
06:30And Sol always uses a lot of olive oil.
06:35There's no joy here.
06:37Green gold.
06:38Green gold.
06:38Green gold for everything.
06:41Well, over here, this skinless pink tomato.
06:43Wow.
06:45With Basque peppers, fresh onion, and Córdoba olive oil, of course.
06:51It tastes like tomato.
06:54Real tomato.
06:55Well, and a beer that never lacks a gilda.
06:58You have to eat, try to eat completely, but it's difficult.
07:07Salud.
07:12Madrid has some of the best art of the world.
07:15So which museum should you visit?
07:17Okay, this is very easy.
07:18Prado is number one on every list.
07:21TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google.
07:23I agree, you have to see Prado.
07:24It's part of the heritage of Madrid,
07:26and of the world.
07:27But you should also visit the Museum of Romanticism.
07:39I love this kind of museums,
07:41because you can feel how the people live in different ages.
07:46You can feel the rise of Madrid in the 19th century.
07:51The rise of culture, art, and economy.
07:55And the bourgeoisie.
07:58We are in the room of all the artists of those years.
08:03Since Teodoro de la Madrid, it's like the Penelope Cruz of the Romanticism.
08:08This house, this small palace, reflects how was the life of a typical family of the 19th century.
08:16And it reflects all the areas of a typical house.
08:26Madrid is a beautiful city, so where do we go for the best views?
08:30Let's see the recommendations.
08:33TripAdvisor and Yelp say Círculo de Bellas Artes has the best view of the city.
08:37This is one of the trendiest rooftop terraces with great views of Madrid, for sure.
08:43You won't find a single local there.
08:46We prefer the Devote Temple.
08:56You will find lots of couples on first dates,
08:59and it's so historic, romantic, it's so Madrid.
09:04Come with me, let's see the views.
09:09I told you, the perfect spot for sunsets.
09:17And this is the Devote Temple.
09:19It's an unexpected monument.
09:21It was a gift from Egypt to Spain, and I love this place.
09:26And after sunset, time to dress up.
09:30We have to find a good restaurant.
09:33It's very difficult in Madrid.
09:36We have lots of good restaurants, but what are the top recommendations on the internet?
09:42Okay, typical, the area of Jorge Juana Street.
09:46It's very cool, but perhaps too so off.
09:51I would recommend instead La Buena Vida, The Good Life.
09:54It's one of my favorite restaurants in Madrid.
09:56They have the best product, classic recipes, and an excellent wine cellar.
10:25This is a puff pastry with anchovies, homemade of course, and it's like a snack.
10:41You can't imagine how it smells.
10:54Here comes the second one.
10:56Wow, the black butter.
10:58How many years have you been trying this dish?
11:00Since we opened, 23 years ago.
11:02And it's the king of the menu.
11:03Well, it's famous.
11:05I know it's famous, I know it, but...
11:07Yes, yes, yes.
11:08Well, I hope you like it.
11:09I'm sure you do.
11:11This is maybe my favorite souvenir of Madrid.
11:18Now, after this spectacular dinner, let's go to perhaps the last place.
11:22But in Madrid, you never know.
11:27To end the day or start the night, this is the place to be.
11:32Because as you know, all in Madrid is about nightlife.
11:47Salud.
11:48Salud.
11:51These are my favorite spots in Madrid.
11:53Do you agree with my suggestions?
11:55Let us know what you think.