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PLACES: 79

Central market

3 days, 21 hours ago



Plaza de Bib-Rambla

15 days ago

Bib Rambla is my favorite plaza in all of Granada, and once you step foot there it's not hard to imagine why. The Plaza is vaguely-touristy (just look at the grey-hair-and-camera groups in some of the terraces), but it's also an authentic hive of... read more

Bib Rambla is my favorite plaza in all of Granada, and once you step foot there it's not hard to imagine why. The Plaza is vaguely-touristy (just look at the grey-hair-and-camera groups in some of the terraces), but it's also an authentic hive of activity right off Reyes Catolicos avenue in downtown. The buildings are beautiful and the square is filled with musicians, people watchers, terraces, flowers, and shoppers out for the day. If you want to get the true feeling of the melting-pot which is Granada, get away from Paseo de los Tristes for a few minutes (but only a few) and head to Bib Rambla for a nice caña in the shade.



New York Burger

15 days, 15 hours ago

New York Burger is standard fare in the gourmet burger Renaissance currently underway in Madrid. While a lot of places get kind of cheesy (i.e. shrimp burgers, etc.), this place does big burgers simple, well-cooked, and delicious.

You... read more

New York Burger is standard fare in the gourmet burger Renaissance currently underway in Madrid. While a lot of places get kind of cheesy (i.e. shrimp burgers, etc.), this place does big burgers simple, well-cooked, and delicious.

You have the choice of 150g., 250g., and 500g patties (1/4, 1/2, and 1lbs., respectively), and I'd suggest the monster 500 grammer if you're hungry. The thing was so big it made me laugh when it came out. It dwarfed the bun. I ordered the Bronx in specific, I believe, which came with cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, and guacamole. For reference, the patty was 1.5in. thick and about 6in. across...it was huge! They cooked the meat exactly how I wanted it, and the fries were pretty good too.

Obviously, when you come to Spain burgers aren't top priority, but if you're tired of all the healthy Mediterranean cooking and want to treat your insides to some grease, smoke, and red meat, New York Burger is as good a choice as any in Madrid.



Mercado de los Motores

15 days, 17 hours ago

The Mercado de los Motores is held the first weekend of every month in an old building near the Pacifico and Menendez-Pelayo metro stops (Line 1) in south-central Madrid. Despite the name, the market has nothing at all to do with cars. The name... read more

The Mercado de los Motores is held the first weekend of every month in an old building near the Pacifico and Menendez-Pelayo metro stops (Line 1) in south-central Madrid. Despite the name, the market has nothing at all to do with cars. The name comes from the building, which used to house the power generators for the Madrid Metro network until the 80s when it was decommissioned. The building is gorgeous, and the power works are pretty impressive (you can visit them on normal days if you like), but the real reason for coming here is the Mercado de los Motores!

The marketplace is basically divided into three sections. The first is inside the old power works: here, you find higher-end boutique designers and handicrafts, things like vintage clothes, artisanal soaps, hand-made bags, hats, iphone covers, espadrilles, scarves, and more. The second (and my favorite), is found outside, where normal people come to set up shop and the place takes on more of a flea-market vibe. You can literally peruse for hours, checking out all kinds of vintage jewelry, bicycles, clothes, decorations, and knick-knacks: everything from original Russian-language film posters to vintage Fred Perry polos (for 10euros!) to DVDs to some awesome furniture made out of reconditioned shutters from old buildings.

There is also a bar area set up outside which has comfy canvas deck chairs so you can relax in the sun and have a cold Pilsner Urquell if you get tired of shopping. People also set up food stands, selling organic meats, massive paellas (which drove me crazy watching it cook!), homemade baked goods, and more.

The other cool thing about this market is the mixture of people. A lot of people, somewhat derisively, label Mercado de los Motores as a hipster market, which seems pretty unfounded. When I went, there were tons of young people of course, but also lots of grandmas from the neighborhood, young couples with kids, curious types from around the blocks, and everyone was having a really great time. If you happen to be in Madrid on the first of the month, it's definitely a place I'd recommend checking out.



Bodega de los Reyes Wine Shop

15 days, 18 hours ago

Bodega de los Reyes is a small wine shop just a few feet away from Plaza de España in downtown Madrid. While the shop in and of itself is nothing out of the ordinary, they do have great wine tastings on a pretty regular basis for afforable prices.... read more

Bodega de los Reyes is a small wine shop just a few feet away from Plaza de España in downtown Madrid. While the shop in and of itself is nothing out of the ordinary, they do have great wine tastings on a pretty regular basis for afforable prices. The cellar, aside from storing wine, is also decked out will a small bar, kitchen and tables, serving up rather good tapas and some of Spain's best wines (and Spain's full of them, with a lot of delightful ones coming from lesser-known regions).

We went to a 12-wine tasting accompanied by tapas of ham and cheese, gazpacho, and grilled steak for only five euros. The wines were young white wines (not barrel-aged) mainly from the region of Galicia, but were good and an incredible value for the money. If you're interested in checking out Spanish wine's but don' have time to make it to the Rias Baixas or La Rioja, Bodega de los Reyes is a good choice to get your fill.



Canal de Isabel II Park

1 month, 8 days ago

The Canal de Isabel II Park located right off Santa Engrancia Street between the metro stops of Rios Riosas and Cuatro Caminos (light blue line) is a little athletic oasis in the middle of an otherwise urban neighborhood. There are tennis courts,... read more

The Canal de Isabel II Park located right off Santa Engrancia Street between the metro stops of Rios Riosas and Cuatro Caminos (light blue line) is a little athletic oasis in the middle of an otherwise urban neighborhood. There are tennis courts, soccer fields, a driving course for golfers, and the whole installation is circled by a running path.

My favorite part (let's face it, I'm no athlete) are the boardwalk and fountains, surrounded by rose gardens and Mediterranean trees. It's a great place to throw out your towel, have a cold drink, and try to imagine you're at the beach, not in the center of the city!

If you're visiting Madrid and trying to maintain your exercise regime, I'd recommend Canal Isabel II even more than Retiro, which is too crowded and easily to get lost in. Canal Isabel II is perfect for a jog, a picnic, or just to relax in the sun.



Vinotinto

1 month, 8 days ago

Vinotino is a nice Spanish restaurant on Jorge Juan, one of the most privileged streets in downtown Madrid. The menu is traditional Spanish/Mediterranean with a high-end touch (just a touch), a features an extensive list of hot and cold "pinchos"... read more

Vinotino is a nice Spanish restaurant on Jorge Juan, one of the most privileged streets in downtown Madrid. The menu is traditional Spanish/Mediterranean with a high-end touch (just a touch), a features an extensive list of hot and cold "pinchos" (small plates, like tapas), as well as plates to share like grilled octopus, grilled provolone, croquettes, steaks, etc., and meats. The highlight of this place is the mesquite-grill and the terrace.

In Madrid, terraces for dinner are hard to come by, not because there aren't thousands of them in Madrid, but usually because they get full rather quickly. This wasn't the case at Vinotino. We came without a reservation and were offered a seat at the terrace immediately.

We ordered a tomato and mozzarella salad, grilled vegetables, and a steak for 2, the latter two grilled over a mesquite fire. The food was good and not overpriced considering the location, and the service was attentive and polite. All in all, I'd recommend checking out Vinotino for some pre-dinner pinchos and wine with friends.



La Buena Vida Market

1 month, 15 days ago

Every first weekend of the month, La Buena Vida Market is held in the HUB, a co-working space in central Madrid, only a few feet away from the famous Caixa Forum and Prado Museum. The market is on the smaller side, but has enough charm, activity,... read more

Every first weekend of the month, La Buena Vida Market is held in the HUB, a co-working space in central Madrid, only a few feet away from the famous Caixa Forum and Prado Museum. The market is on the smaller side, but has enough charm, activity, and welcoming vibes to keep it interesting.

The market features local producers of high-quality, organic goods, not only produce, but also cured and fresh cheeses, Spanish hams, chorizos, blood sausages, breads and pastries, chocolates, olive oils, teas, preserves, and, of course, beer.

The market has its own tapas bar where you can sample some tapas created with the market's own produce and hand-crafted artisanal vermouth. The highlight for me was the impromptu bar set up by the crew from Domus, a craft beer vendor out of Toledo. I'd recommend the chocolatey "Summa" brew or the apple-tart IPA. Anyways, it's a cool place to go if you get tired of the hustle at the Rastro and are looking for a chill plan for a Sunday morning in one of Madrid's best neighborhoods.



Tropicopter Helicopter Tours

1 month, 21 days ago

Tropicopter is a company located in the Port of Motril which takes visitors up in one of their special helicopters to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the coastline and surrounding valley. On our trip, we did a spectacular tour of the coastline leading... read more

Tropicopter is a company located in the Port of Motril which takes visitors up in one of their special helicopters to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the coastline and surrounding valley. On our trip, we did a spectacular tour of the coastline leading to Salobreña and then circled the picturesque castle perched atop a massive rock jutting out into the sea. It's a photographer's dream!

The helicopters are small but comfortable (pond-jumpers, as they're sometimes referred) and can sit 3 easily. The tours might seem to be on the short side (10-15min.) but it's the perfect amount of time to enjoy the thrill of going up hundreds of feet over the Mediterranean without the claustrophobia or airsickness which longer flights might provoke. All in all, if you have some extra cash and an adventurous streak, I'd recommend checking out Tropicopter and having your "helicopter baptism" right here in Motril!



The Albayzín District

1 month, 21 days ago

The Albayzín area of Granada is the oldest and most charming part of the city, consisting of over 3,000 small winding corridors, some not more than a meter across, which spread across one of the hills in central Granada. The Albayzín charm is... read more

The Albayzín area of Granada is the oldest and most charming part of the city, consisting of over 3,000 small winding corridors, some not more than a meter across, which spread across one of the hills in central Granada. The Albayzín charm is really threefold: 1.) the views, 2.) the culture, 3.) the look.

The views from the Albayzín, especially those of the Alhambra, are spectacular, not surprising considering the famous San Nicolas Viewpoint is found there. The cultural aspect of the Albayzín is also interesting: the neighborhood is a protected UNESCO world heritage site and as such, all constructions are limited. Here, you won't find any McDonalds or H&M's, just traditional buildings built in accordance with traditional methods and materials. The neighborhood has a bohemian vibe, with quirky restaurants offering cheap tapas and cañas, street vendors hawking wares in the squares in the mornings, Moroccan-inspired shops, and the occasional flamenco guitarist serenading a fountain-lined plaza.

Finally, the Albayzín is just a pleasure to walk through. The maze of small, white-walled streets dotted with quaint squares, Moorish fountains, and "Carmens," the luxurious traditional homes of the Albayzín, but like oases in the Moorish style, with shady courtyards filled with the scent of flowering vines and the trickle of running water. This should be at the top of your list for your next visit to Granada!

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