IgoUgo

Madrid Journals

Madrid Eating and Sleeping

Best of IgoUgo

An April 2007 trip to Madrid by LenR

House full at Casa Ciriaco Photo - Madrid, Spain More Photos
Quote: This journal reviews three of the better hotels in Madrid and recommends three great restaurants that should not be missed on any visit.
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Madrid Eating and Sleeping Best of IgoUgo

Overview

House full at Casa Ciriaco Photo - Madrid, Spain
Quote:
You need to know a few things about Madrid eating styles before you go there because they are quite different to many other places. First, people here eat lunch and dinner quite late. Restaurants open for lunch at around 1.30pm and fill up by 3pm, while dinner time doesn’t really begin until about 9pm and many reservations are made for 10.30 or even 11pm. For someone who normally eats at 7.30, that was a shock. Meals can take a long time because locals like to talk between courses and restaurant staff caters for this.There is a solution to this time thing, however, provided by the early evening tapas hour. After paintings, these could be Madrid’s most irresistible attraction. I’m told the ...Read More

Hotel Ritz Madrid Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel Ritz"

Ritz Hotel Photo - Hotel Ritz Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
When this marvelous hotel opened in 1910 it was undoubtedly the most exclusive in Spain and many would argue that it still is. Exclusiveness, however, doesn’t mean stuffiness and in particular I found the staff to be friendly, helpful, and very courteous. The location is superb and the public rooms are grand and gracious.When Alfonso X111 was about to marry Queen Victoria’s grand daughter, he decided that there needed to be a luxury hotel in Madrid for his royal guests. The Ritz is the result. It is said that the King was so interested in the project that he personally carried out some of the construction supervision. I don’t know if the royal guests were impressed but I do know that one ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Hotel Ritz Madrid
Plaza de la Lealtad 5
Madrid, Spain
+34 91 701 6767

Westin Palace Madrid Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Westin Palace Hotel"

Grand luxury hotel Photo - Westin Palace Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
I really enjoyed this hotel. It is absolute luxury yet it has a friendly welcoming feel that is not at all intimidating. We arrived looking somewhat tired and dirty after an eventful road trip but we could have arrived in dinner dress as far as the reception staff were concerned. They were courteous, efficient, and even offered us water.This has probably been Madrid’s most famous grand hotel over the years since it was finished in 1912. It is three times the size of the Ritz and is in just as good a position. The guest list reads like a who’s who of film stars (Brando and Hayworth for starters), pop music stars (Madonna) and artists (Dali). Then they had us!The hotel has many wonderful...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Westin Palace Madrid
Plaza de las Cortes 7
Madrid, Spain 28014
+34 (91) 360-8000

Rafael Hoteles Atocha Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Rafael Atocha Hotel"

Hotel Rafael Atocha Photo - Rafael Hoteles Atocha, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this hotel. The rooms are pleasant, the staff are friendly, the whole place is clean, yet I would not recommend it to anyone heading for Madrid if your main aim is to explore the central city. The problem for me is the location.The hotel is located about ten minutes from the Atocha Railway Station, and has direct access from the M-30 urban ring road by way of the "Méndez Álvaro" exit. So far, so good.The hotel advertises it is near the "culture mile" area which contains the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, and the Reina Sofía Art Centre. It is probably only 0.75 kilometres from the Art Centre but everything else is much further aw...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Rafael Hoteles Atocha
Mendez Alvaro 30
Madrid, Spain 28045
+34 914 688 100

Botín Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Botin Restaurant"

Botin food Photo - Botín, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
There was no way that I was going to Madrid without going to this – the world’s oldest restaurant. I knew little about it, however. Was it a tourist trap? Was it outrageously expensive? I gave this some thought then decided I didn’t really care. I need not have worried. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it didn’t break the bank.The restaurant opened in 1725 on the site of an inn. The building is pretty much still original and the four floors of tile and wood-beam dining rooms have plenty of atmosphere. The waiters are mainly older men who are happy to help with menu suggestions and provide a bit of history at the same time. It’s difficult to know just how good this restaurant is...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Botín
Cuchilleros, 17
Madrid, Spain 28005
+34 91 366 4217

Casa Ciriaco Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Enjoying Casa Ciriaco Photo - Casa Ciriaco, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
We ate at this restaurant on the first day we were in Madrid so had no benchmark to compare it with. After spending a week or so in Madrid and further time in regional Spain, I would now say this was one of the best places we ate at during our whole stay.We did not just stumble across this place although as it is in one of the main streets of Old Madrid only a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor, I’m sure that many others do. I had heard about the restaurant from friends and as we were heading towards the palace, it seemed appropriate to stop off here.In business for more than 100 years, this taberna-cum-restaurant is still run by the same family. It is only two blocks from the Pal...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Casa Ciriaco
Mayor, 84
Madrid, Spain 28013
+34 91 5480620

Trucha Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "La Trucha"

La Trucha bar area Photo - Trucha, Madrid, Spain
Quote:
I must say I went to this restaurant with some expectations because several guidebooks and other sources of information had made reference to it. I was also told that it gets extremely crowded at times so we decided to go for lunch on the weekend when there would be no local office crowd. We had no problem finding a table inside when we arrived but 10 minutes later the whole place was full.La Trucha has a street-level bar and small dining room with arched ceiling and whitewashed walls. The decor is made festive with hanging braids of garlic, dried peppers, and onions. On the lower level, the walls of a second bustling area are covered with eye-catching antiques, bullfight notices, and othe...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Trucha
Manuel Fernández y González, 3
Madrid, Spain 28014
+34 91 4293778