Madrid is fast becoming one of the world’s coolest cities. Jill Sara returns from a recent visit with news on the hippest places to shop, dine and stay.
Fall in love with Madrid all over again. This alluring, seductive and flamboyant city has been described by Lonely Planet as “a rebellious ex-convent schoolgirl who grew up, got sophisticated but never forgot how to have a good time.” Come have a great time with her in the myriad of trendy shops, restaurants, clubs and bars that bubble with imagination and creativity, and whose free spiritedness and passion will cast a spell on you. Here’s more than a peek at what to do in the 21st century capital of the Kingdom of Spain.
Boutiques
Alma Aguilar
Jorge Juan 12, Salamanca;
+34-91-5776-698.
One of the more influential names in the fashion
world, Spanish designer Alma Aguilar has always epitomized fashion. With
brilliant and creative parents—her father was a jazz artist and her mum, a
painter—it is no surprise that she’s now a much sought-after designer. In 1999,
Aguilar opened her namesake boutique, and later her atelier, at Jorge Juan Alley
in the Salamanca district of Madrid. The décor is very feminine, glowing with a
soft pink hue. Comfortable chaise squares in the middle of the compact dressing
room are perfect for lounging and sipping champagne all afternoon while trying
on whatever you like from the racks.
CH Carolina Herrera
16 Calle De Serrano, Salamanca;
+34-91-7814-380.
It was only the most natural thing to do—open a
“home concept” boutique in Madrid’s gilded shopping district, Salamanca. The
double-story wood interior is decked with CH monogramed bags in a dozen colors,
the latest collection of dresses and wearable separates, and a custom-made horse
saddle in the girly section. The lower floor is a treasure trove for men.
Equipped with a pool table, champagne bar and rows of impeccably tailored shirts
and pants, it is simply unfathomable that any respectable hot-blooded male could
walk out of here empty-handed.
Stradivarius
C.C. Principe Pio, Paso de la Florida;
+34-91-5420-728.
From the same style-makers who gave us Zara, Pull
& Bear and Massimo Dutti, is homegrown label Stradivarius. Since 1994, the
youthful charisma of the Spanish brand has grown from strength to strength with
outposts in over 30 countries including Oman, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Ireland and
Jordan. Seasonal items are tagged at €39.95 for a trench coat, €79.95 for an
everyday leather jacket, calf-length and knee-high boots from €49.95-79.95,
handbags from €19.95 and accessories at less than €15. Clearly, the price for
looking good comes very affordable these days.
H&M
Calle Goya 81, Salamanca; +34-90-1120-084.
Always fashion-forward and dabbling in the creative virtuoso of
celebrated British designer Matthew Williamson, H&M presents the fashion
genius’ capsule collection for Summer 2009. Key details to look out for this
season are modern, Brit high-street and colorful prints. Not all 1,200
square-feet is dedicated to this one designer though; there are men’s and kids’
sections, an accessories trove and shelves of accoutrements for ample
variety.
Restaurants
Arola Madrid Restaurant
National Museum Reina
Sof’a, Calle Argumosa 42; +34-91-4670-202.
Opened in 2005 at a cool
€1 million, Arola Madrid Restaurant at Sofia Reina Museum exudes sexy overtones
of scarlet red in its ceiling and illuminated walls made of zinc and concrete.
The 150-seater is packed during lunch and brunch by hungry diners who come here
for the modern creations of Sergi Arola, who also happens to be one of the more
successful protégés of Ferran Adria of El Bulli fame and who was recently in
Singapore to cook at the World Gourmet Summit.
Opened in 2006, this restaurant has since been dishing up award-winning Chef Alberto Chicote’s Spanish food cooked traditional-style over a charcoal fire, such as his fideuá (noodle paella) and Andalusian tuna. Tasty fusion treats like curry-flavored chicken wings and herbed sushi-grade fish are also served at this Salamanca joint where the fashion-savvy and corporate types congregate for meals.
Tapas Bars
La Cruzada
Calle de la Amnist’a 8; +34-91-5480-131.
Claimed to be the oldest tapas bar in Madrid, La Cruzada is known
far and wide for its generous selection of fine wines and visually stimulating
tapas. Croquettas, or small, fried and breaded potato pancakes, are the
must-order here. And it’s very friendly and laidback. Feel free to sit at the
bar and talk for hours with strangers, a skinny ciggie in one hand and a
swirling wine glass in the other.
Según Emma
Conde de Miranda 4; +34-91-5590-897.
Once
the clock strikes nine in the evening, a buzzing social crowd gets underway in
Según Emma. This rustic, woody outfit holds captive to individuals in their mid
20s to older folks in their 50s. Besides Spanish wine, which is usually a few
Euros a glass and accompanied by complimentary tapas, the salmorejo wins over
the locals. This tomato-puree soup is flavored with garlic, vinegar and olive
oil and is served chilled, with bread. Not to be mistaken for gazpacho, this
soup the color of a sunset also contains Serrano ham and hard-boiled eggs. After
slurping up a coveted bowl, soak in the infectious atmosphere which goes on late
into the evening.
Casa Lucas
Calle Cava Baja 30; +34-91-3650-804.
This
is a place where you can probably find very cute boys behind the bar. And more
than that—there’s tapas, pinchos (or pintxos) and raciones prepared in the
kitchen. Pinchos, meaning “spike” in Spanish, are presented with a toothpick,
while raciones on the other hand is generally double or triple the size of
tapas. Acknowledging that one size does not fit all, Casa Lucas displays a menu
written daily on a chalkboard, with items starting from €5.
Museo del Jamón
Carrere de San Jeronimo 6; +34-91-5210-346.
The reason why tapas-crawling Madrileños love this place is because
its extensive menu is value-for-money. With legs of preserved pork legs dangling
from the ceiling, one may be enticed to sink one’s teeth into bocadillos, which
are six-inch long baguettes stuffed with Spanish sausages and tomatoes. The full
menu can go on for quite a bit, and the serving portions range from hand-held to
whole platters of paella or jamón.
How to get there: Singapore Airlines flies to Barcelona
daily for about S$1,800 return, from where there are many air, road and rail
links to Madrid. Alternatively, you can fly Air France or KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines to Madrid, via Paris and Amsterdam, respectively, for about the same
price.
Where to stay: De Las Letras Hotel, Gran V’a 11;
+34-91-5237-980; www.hoteldelasletras.com.
Hotel
De La Letras is a decadent boutique hotel with a literary profile. Lines of
literature are imprinted on bedroom walls, and the rest of the well-preserved
building is eclectically decorated in a rich, southern European style.
Oh-so-close to the shopping pulse of Gran Via and just a hop, skip and jump to
Stradivarius, Mango, Zara and a whole lot more fashionable high-street shops.
Online reservations are recommended as room rates can go as low as €180 per
night for basic room.
Currency: Euros. 1€ = S$2.
For
more information visit www.spain.info.