Chamberi Madrid – All our local tips

This charming little store opened in 2005 and it is owned by quite young people who are fanatics of the comics and its culture.

You can find almost everything related to the Comic culture (Marvel, DC, Manga, American Underground, BD, etc.) and if you do not come across of what you are looking for they will get it for you.

They also have merchandising, t-shirts, DVDs… The owners can spend with you hours and hours trying to explain all the aspects of this art. Since I like comics but I am not a fan, when I go there I like to spend time with them so I can learn what’s new…

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Atom Comics | Art & culture, Shopping | Comics from € 5.00
C/ Feijoo, 11 | Chamberi | +34914462368
Mon – Sat 10:45 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 21:00

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

Leo is a dragon, lover of the books and mascot of this charming book shops. Cosy places decorated in wood and red colour where you can find all kind of children books following the good advices of the owners.

The one on Fernández de la Hoz Street has also a wide collection of children books in Italian language. Specially on weekend the story tellers visit the dragon and children can attend for free. But sometimes there are work shops, talks of writers… But for me the best thing of El Dragón Lector is that you always feel like if you’re at home.

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El Dragón Lector | Art & culture
Fernández de la Hoz 72 | Chamberi | +34913991940
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 20:30, Sat 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 20:00

This is a school for helping amateurs or professionals to express, communicate and feel through the theatre. I’ve been studying here  for more than three years because the teachers make it easy and funny to learn, and they are really nice, close to the students and flexible.

You can go for a free  trial lession. If you’re student you can request to use the place if you want to rehearse or play a performance. Asura is somehow specialized in clown and improv theatre (where actors and actresses create a play basing on the suggestions of the audience). In addition, Asura offers other regular courses or short workshops pointed to interpretation (in more classical way), body expression, dance, hospital clown… and even theatre courses for children.

From now to them you can also go for a free performace doing for the students as a practice with audience. I have to say that I don’t know why but in Asura there are always a great number of foreigner studens.

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Escuela de Teatro Asura | Art & culture, Theaters | Per month (3 hours a week) € 61
Abel 1 | Chamberi | +34915331565
Mon – Sat

Very creamy, natural, handmade and tempting in every season.

The ice creams of Heladería La Romana are simply delicious. I hardly recommend the pistachio one but not always you can find it because the flavours are constantly changing.

Indeed, some fruit flavours are only available if it’s the right season. For winter you also have semi-cold ice cream (less cold that the common ice creams) and cioccolata calda, excellent hot chocolate.

I love the one that have hazelnuts. Of course, you can take away the products or eat them seating in the shop that is modern and comfortable with a big showcase. These are not cheap but I think a visit is worth it.

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Heladería La Romana | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks
Santa Engracia 155 | Chamberi | +34915331495
Depends on the season

In some restaurants and bars, the quality of the dishes and drinks is less important to me than the way in which they are served.

In Los Aros II, what I value more is firstly the kindness and familiar treatment of the waiters and secondly the generous and good tapas that they serve to you with a simple beer (1,30 euros). Good tortilla, good Spanish ham, mussels and so on.

Los Aros II is a typical tavern in a location that is not well frequented, but it has loyal clients because it’s a nice place to chat, eat something fast or drink. They have the typical montaditos (little sandwiches with Spanish bread) from 3,25, big sandwiches and a wide range of plates and wines, that are exposed over the bar.

Los Aros II is also a restaurant, separated by a panel from the bar. There you can eat the homemade style daily menu or take an informal dinner. There’s another Los Aros in Berruguete Street, but I haven’t visited it.

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Los Aros II | Bars, Restaurants (Tapas) | Daily menu € 9.00
Tenerife 15 | Chamberi | +34915352594
Sun – Fri 09:30 – 01:00

It has just 14 ha, but it´s a jewel among Madrid’s gardens. Walking around El Parque de El Capricho will give you the relaxation you’ve been searching the whole week and it’s also a very romantic place!

This garden was first created at the request of the Duchess of Osuna at the end of the 18th century. Its beautiful and peaceful setting has earned it the name “The Caprice”. The garden also has additional historic significance, as it was used as a hideout for a soldier of Napoleon’s in the War of Independence and the Spanish Civil War.

The XII Duchess of Osuna was the last member of the family who owned it. When he died, La Alameda was acquired in 1920 by the Baüer family, who took care of the garden until they sold it, at the end of the Spanish Civil War. From that moment, this place remained totally abandoned till Madrid City Council started with its restoration in 1974.

There are some spots you cannot miss, like “El Casino de Baile”, that used to be a place for parties; “La Casa de la Vieja”, a symbol of the rural world, or “El Abejero”, built for the study of the bees´ behaviour. There´re also lots of beautiful fountains, a wonderful pond and even a pier with relaxing views.

A great plan for a stroll on a sunny morning in the weekend!

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Parque El Capricho | Relaxing | Free
Parque El Capricho | Chamberi
Sat – Sun 09:00 – 18:00

Plaza de Olavide is considered to be the center of the Chamberí neighborhood, which makes sense because decades ago it used to house the local fruit and vegetable market.

I like to think of it as the ‘people’s plaza’ because it is secluded away from busy streets and is usually bustling with people walking dogs, going for tapas, meeting before going to the cinema or after shopping along Calle Fuencarral.

The surrounding restaurants are all typical Spanish joints, while the center of the plaza has benches and a fountain, perfect to sit and people watch.

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Plaza de Olavide | Bars, Relaxing, Snacks | Free
Plaza de Olavide | Chamberi
24 hours daily