Shopping – All our local tips

The CaixaForum Madrid is an art exhibition space sponsored by The La Caixa Foundation that opened in February 2008 as part of their social and cultural outreach efforts.

They’ve withstood all criticism and worries about keeping their amazing outdoor vertical garden green and lush despite Madrid’s sunny disposition. Designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc, this wall of green has 15,000 plants of 250 species covering a 460 m2 wall in the square in front of The CaixaForum.

The building itself was an old electrical plant, built in 1899 that has been reconstructed to be a funky rust-colored modern eye-catcher alongside classical beauties like the Prado and the Thyssen museums.

Inside you’ll find a permanent collection, several temporary exhibits, a café, a lounge area with a view of the garden and Paseo del Prado, and a bookstore.

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CaixaForum Madrid | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Free
Paseo del Prado 36 | Castellana | +34913307300
10:00 – 20:00 daily

A charming little store for babies and children clothing near Genova street just opened in Madrid, it is the cutest place to buy presents for the youngest of the family.

The store offers an affordable clothing line for infants. Even though it is a small store there is a wide variety of outfits. It is quite unique in a sense. There is a friendly atmosphere and the shopping is really pleasant.

My nine year old god son and his brother have stuff from the place and they love it!!

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CdeC | Shopping | Shirts € 25.00
C/ Fernando el santo, 3 | Chamberi | +34913104985
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 20:00, Sat 11:00 – 14:00 | August closed

A bit tricky to find the first time, EcoCentro is one of the only and in my opinion, the best vegetarian and natural food offerings that Madrid has.

It has one store for dried goods and household items, another for produce/dairy and then a restaurant downstairs and the café on the ground floor.

In the café they offer a great menu for lunch during the week, but you can also create your own salad at the salad bar which has an amazing variety of fresh stuff that you can’t find elsewhere; quinoa, brown rice, fresh beets, seaweed, etc.

The place is perfect for people with food allergies or if you just need a break from fried tapa-dom. For dessert they often have a dulce de leche yogurt which is to die for and you can’t feel too bad because it’s yogurt!

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EcoCentro | Shopping, Restaurants (Vegetarian) | pre-fixed lunch in the cafe € 8.50
Calle Esquilache 2- 6 | Chamberi | +34915535502
Store & cafe 10:00 – 00:00 daily
Restaurant 13:00 – 17:00 & 21:00 – 00:00 daily

I discovered this shop one day when going to another place. It was by chance and after a while I got addicted to their books, their nice staff and also their food!

I am in the process of changing my eating habits so this was the perfect place to start. In El Almazén Natural there is a selection of biological food, relax music, candles, minerals and stones. They also offer all kind of information about different courses and news related to having a healthy life style.

There are all types of very specific books about acupuncture, natural medicine, Feng Shui, aromatherapy, yoga or foot reflexology. If they don’t have a certain title, the would just find it for you in a few days.

So if you are new into this world, it is an amazing place to get informed. Here I have found the best air fresheners in the whole city and my favourite natural toothpaste. A friend of mine bought a very comfortable pillow recently so now I am thinking of buying the same one next time I will go to El Almazén Natural. We will see…

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El Almazén Natural | Shopping
Alcalá, 78 | Salamanca Area | +34917817760
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 20:30, Sat: 10:00 – 14:00

FNAC is Madrid´s largest and most well-known stop for books, films, music, DVD´s and electronic hardware. Here you can find a wide variety of titles as well as current newspapers. They also have a fairly extensive travel and local interest sections.

Madrid´s building is actually the first FNAC in Spain. After opening it, there came Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza… up to more than 16 in the whole country.

Here it´s possible to listen to those CDs you have been looking for (there are headphones available) and also to sit down and read the first pages of that magazine you have just picked up randomly. On the book´s section there is an area (which can get crowded sometimes) for those who´re tired of wandering around. You just choose a spot, open your book and enjoy the reading!!

FNAC Callao also has an specific area where, from time to time, there´re concerts, book presentations and different events.

It´s impossible to miss this huge building in Callao´s square. Its big sign is now more than a symbol in the city.

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FNAC Callao | Shopping
C/ Preciados 28 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34915956100
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 21:30, Sun 12:00 – 21:30

In Madrid near la Puerta del Sol you will find a new concept store for all the cooking lovers! You can find all kind of gadgets for the kitchen and the funniest appliances for it!! You will find a large selection of cookware, bake ware and bar Supply. They offer cooking lessons from all parts of the world and all regions in Spain. You can learn how to prepare paella but also muffins!

They also have special packages to make paella, “fabada” and other typical Spanish and Madrilenian dishes at home!

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Hazlopro | Shopping
C/ Cedaceros, 9 | Sol | +343692726
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 15:00 & 16:00 – 20:30

Madrid’s best second-hand English bookstore also has beer, coffee, quiz nights, snacks and great company.

J&J Books and Coffee is a well-known local haven for expats to collapse into friendly English conversations (Spanish is also spoken!) and to buy second-hand books. Wednesday and Thursday nights are “intercambio” nights to chat alternatively in Spanish and English, while Friday night turns into the rowdiest collection of intellectuals competing at trivia.

During the day the upstairs bar ranges from mellow to lively for coffee drinkers and book perusers, while the downstairs is full of thousands of books.

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J&J Books and Coffee | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Coffee € 1.25
Espiritu Santo, 47 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915218576
Mon – Thu & Sat 11:00 – 00:00, Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 16:00 – 22:00

Spain is one of the countries where you can find more smokers than average. There are a lot of women that smoke and the smoking ban hasn’t affected that as much as some would have liked. At least that is my impression, as I do not smoke. So, you will wonder why I recommend this place.

Well, La Mansión del Fumador is “the shop” for smokers and also the shop for those who don´t smoke but have to buy something new for a smoking friend or relative. As a few members of my family do smoke, I have visited this shop and I find it really unique selling all types of tools for smokers.

In La Mansión del Fumador they do not  sell tobacco, but here you can find an authentic paradise for smokers. There is a huge variety of pipes, water pipes, lighters and funny things like pocket ashtrays!

It is actually a different place for a creative gift. So, even if you do not smoke, it is worth a visit!

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La Mansión del Fumador | Shopping
Calle del Carmen 22 | Sol | +34915320817
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 20:30, Sat: 10:00 – 14:00

Sometimes I need good ideas to buy a present for any of my female friends. Most of the times it is concretely here where I can find a solution.

This cute Linea Cero shop is located in the main hall of Sol metro station. There used to be more shops around but they have closed them recently due to political reasons. So right now this is the only one that lasts and where you can find all kinds of earrings, rings, necklaces, hats, belts, scarfs and purses.

Linea Cero is divided into different sections, so you just have to decide what type of gift you are looking for, and the staff will help you to make the right decision.

Their prices are affordable but if I were you, I would buy a nice ring or a stylish pair of earrings here than any T-shirts, as you will find them cheaper in other shops. (Trust me, I am quite an expert in finding bargains…)

An extraordinary idea to spend a few minutes looking or buying when you commute home.

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Linea Cero Shop | Shopping
Inside Metro Sol Station | Sol
10:00 – 20:30, daily

Cheap flights

Madrid Barajas Airport is the most important in Spain and it also serves as a key connection point for flights from many South American countries to other cities in Europe. One of my favourite ways of killing time before a connecting flight is having Spanish tapas and a glass of Sangria. It is a little taste of Spain and really makes me appreciate travelling and trying out new things.

After your flight to Madrid you can take the metro which connects the airport and the city centre, or alternatively you can take a bus from outside the terminal buildings. If it is your first time in Madrid I wouldn’t recommend taking a taxi as the drivers are famous for taking tourists on a detour to up the prices.

For sure not all markets have an enchanting atmosphere. Just some keep on with the tradition and have a special touch. Thank God Madrid’s City Hall remembers the way our grandmothers used to shop for food and there has been a renovation of some of them.

Mercado de Ibiza market is located next to the house were used to live one of the key persons for the Spanish Transition (1912-1993), Carlos Ollero. There is a sign that says it on the wall, so you will not miss it.

It is a renovated and refreshing place , but what I like the most, is that is has the same style as before, but with a new face.

Just come over and have a look, and fill in your shopping list!!!

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Mercado de Ibiza | Shopping | Free
Calle Ibiza, 6 | Salamanca Area
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 20:30, Sat 10:00 – 14:00

There is not a big tradition of flower markets in Madrid. Flowers are usually expensive, compared to other European cities.

Nevertheless, for those who like to have fresh and colourful flowers at home, there are a few options. One of them is El Mecado de las Flores, located in the heart of the city, in Plaza Tirso de Molina.

Plaza Tirso de Molina has been recently renovated and now it is full of cultural activity. It is actually a nice area to walk around the flower stands or just take part in any of the Festivals that are scheduled.

The stands were designed by the famous studio Galán/Lubascher Arquitectos, exclusively for the city. Here you can find daisies, tulips, roses, Spanish carnations, or even orchids. They also sell bouquets of flowers from those ones you choose.

This Plaza is quite unusual because it is full of wholesale shops. So just check it out!

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Mercado de las Flores | Shopping
Plaza Tirso de Molina | Lavapies & Latina
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 20:30, Sat:10:00 – 14:00

I don’t know if it has to do with the inner child that is in all of us, or with the fact that the shop seems to be the ‘games room’ that we’ve never had; but the truth is that this place is the greatest one I have ever found.

It is very small but since the first step when you come into it, you realise that this shop of games has something special. Here you will find all kind of games: from the most recent -risk, monopoly, quarto, clued, party&co.-, to the most ancient ones -puzzles, playing cards, snakes and ladders, backgammon, ludo- … even the original versions made in wood.

A little paradise!

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Naipe Juegos | Shopping | Playing cards € 4.80
Calle Meléndez Valdés 55 | Moncloa & Arguelles | +34915444319
10:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 20:00 daily

It’s hard nowadays to find cool, locally-made products, but the design team at Peseta constantly produces original, Madrid-made accessories and products.

The sewn wallets have catchy names and hidden pockets, while the bags and backpacks (guy and girl friendly) are unique and express tons of character depending on the fabric used.

The humorous “Ukelele Bag” caught the attention of NY-based designer Marc Jacobs; they’ve produced a limited edition of bags for him and will collaborate on other projects in the future.

Every season they try out new ideas, like a colorful guitar strap, to keep things lively, but really, the excitement is inevitable with the limited-edition funky fabrics and styles.

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Peseta | Shopping | Wallet € 12.00
Noviciado 9 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915211404
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 20:30, Sat 11:00 – 14:00

The tiny shop is full of funky dresses and shirts, groovy bags and other accessories. The collection contains second-hand stuff as well as hand-made stuff by the shop owner and other local artisans.

I love that the pieces are originals or from a small production. The store is jam-packed, so be sure to take a few moments to look through the jewelry cases, on the shelves, both high and low.

It’s a really great alternative to the big chain stores because the prices are competitive and the products are unique.

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Sixties | Shopping | Dress € 25.00
Espíritu Santo 1 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915214809
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 21:00

This little organic product store is hidden in the city center. There are handmade soaps and lotions, imported clothes from afar and bag and shoes made from recycled materials.

Everything there is organically made, ethically constructed and good for your soul. The prices are fair enough (and even better when there are sales) – hemp and cotton pants will run 30-60€ and handbags are under €20.00.

I really love the natural soaps because there is a chocolate-scented one with shea butter that smells delicious. For everything in the shop, the Cameroonian owner has a story to tell about where it came from or how it is made, which is part of the fun of shopping there.

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Trê Chic Nature | Shopping | Soap gift box € 7.50
Abada, 4 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34608094096
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 21:30

Answering the need for more vegetarian and take-out restaurants in Madrid, Viva la Vida is a tiny locale with a packed salad bar in the middle and a surrounding organic store.

It can get claustrophobic around lunch time, but the crowd is worth the battle to get your colorful meal and head to nearby Paseo del Prado or Plaza Santa Ana to eat on a park bench (there are also benches in front of the shop).

The salad bar has a cold side (green salad, hummus, guacamole, bean sprouts….) and hot (vegetable croquettes, lasagna, roasted vegetables, lentil loaf…) along with salsas, oil and vinegars.

If you can juggle the plates, the desserts are rich and decadent, a perfect way to end a healthy meal. The food in general is really tasty and innovative, but the prices are a bit high. A big salad can end up being over 15 euros, depending on how much heavy food you have.

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Viva la Vida | Shopping, Restaurants (vegetarian) | per 100 grams € 2.10
Calle Huertas 57 | Lavapies & Latina
11:00 – 00:00 daily