Beatriz de los Mozos

Supernova is a secret club tucked away in a cool Madrid neighbourhood. Come here for strong drinks, friendly bartenders, and groovy tunes.

Tucked away on Bárbara de Braganza Street in the heart of Justicia, Mercedes Urquijo’s antiques gallery is a treasure trove for collectors and design lovers alike. Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of European furniture, decorative objects, ceramics, silver and paintings, with pieces spanning from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Urquijo has been dealing in antiques since the early 1990s, and her carefully sourced selection – gathered from across Spain and Europe – is constantly evolving, making every visit a chance to discover something unexpected.

Simple, cheerful and refreshingly affordable, 7 Islas Hotel is a smart base for exploring Madrid without stretching the budget. Tucked just off Gran Vía in the lively Malasaña neighbourhood, it places you within easy walking distance of many of the city’s highlights, from museums to late-night tapas bars. The interiors are bright and airy, with thoughtfully designed rooms and plenty of natural light. Borrow one of the hotel’s bikes and pedal through nearby streets

Tucked away on a quiet street in Justicia, Hermanas Arce is, fittingly, run by sister duo Elena and Ana. The coffee is fantastic, naturally, but what we really love are the tortitas (pancakes) and the avocado toast with chimichurri.

Los 33 is the spot that has been the 'it' place for some time. For all the good reasons. Book well in advance to grab a table for the à la carte dining scene. Though, if you're after something a little more spontaneous we love nabbing a seat at the bar for some wine and tapas. 

The best latte in town? Quite possibly. There's a reason Syra Coffee can be found in a fair number of cities across Spain, and that's for its uber-creamy, freshly-roasted homebrews. Take a bag of beans home with you, or treat yourself to a monthly (if not yearly) subscription. 

Coffee table book, art and architecture history books, personal memoirs to bullfighting manuals, Librería Gaudí is an endless fountain of knowledge. Pop by this bookstore and browse to your heart's content. 

For a peek at some of Spain's greatest and most-renowned masterpieces, head to COLNAGHI. If you're wanting to deep dive into works of art dating back from antiquity through to the modern era, book an appointment in advance. 

A spot where the sea becomes the pantry and the grill takes pride of place. A glazed tuna t-bone, a lobster salpicón or the crowd-dividing bocata de calamares (calamari sandwich) to start, followed by a platter of turbot: El Señor Martín is a seafood lover's paradise.