Image by Eco Centro

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 a 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) | Mon – Fri lunch menu € 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

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Image by Nikko Hinderstein

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

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Image by A. Collet

This charming little store opened in 2005 and it is owned by some 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

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Image by Heladería La Romana

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

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

Indeed, some fruit flavors 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 has hazelnuts. Of course, you can take away the products or eat them in the shop which is modern and comfortable. The ice cream is not cheap but I think it’s worth a visit.

There are two other gelaterias in Alcobendas and Majadahonda, two cities near Madrid.

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Heladería La Romana | Coffee & tea, Snacks
Santa Engracia 155 | Chamberi | +34915331495
Sun – Fri 10:00 – 22:00, Sat 10:00 – 23:00

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Image by A. Collet

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

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Image by Tsunami

Tsunami was one of the first Japanese restaurants of Madrid. It opened ten years ago and today continues being one of the references for many Japanese gastronomy lovers.

The place is sober, but warm thanks to the wood that covers the walls. It has two distinct areas for eating. One of them has an informal sushi bar where you can see the chefs in action, as well as a relaxing fish tank.

The main chef is the Mexican David Juarez, who has been working in Asian restaurants for almost thirty years. He makes traditional Japanese dishes, but also more original ones.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tsunami | Restaurants (Japanese) | Menu Mon – Fri € 30
Caracas 10 | Chamberi | +34913080569
Mon – Sat 13:30 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 23:30

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Image by La Gabinoteca

La Gabinoteca is the most informal and youngest of the three restaurants that are owned by the Redruello family. The other two are La Ancha and Las Tortillas de Gabino. Both have been recognized for years by both critics and clients.

La Gabinoteca offers tapas and little rations with an original touch in a modern but warm ambient. I very much recommend “Tortilla de patata y pimientos con brandada de bacalao” y “Carrilleras de ternera”. They are delicious.

For dessert you can choose “Juan Palomo” that consists of a do-it-yourself dish… be careful when you use the cream!

Sometimes the waiters and waitress are a little bit slow or absent minded and the clients are a bit too cool (it’s only my opinion), however the decoration and specially the food are really nice.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
La Gabinoteca | Restaurants (Spanish) | Main meal € 25
Fernández de la Hoz, 53 | Chamberi | +34913991500
Mon – Thu 13:30 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 23:30, Fri 13:30 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 00:30, Sat 20:30 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Brookei

Brookei is a new restaurant, quite formal in its decoration, with two floors and where chef Alfonso Sánchez creates a very personal cuisine with Asiatic touches in some dishes.

I love “Tomate Chicote con burrata y sal ahumada” (Chicote’s Tomato with Italian cheese and smoked salt) and “Tataki de presa de ibérico con vinagreta de miel trufada” (too complicated to translate, but it’s mainly raw and thin slices of pork meat with a sauce), for example, although everything I’ve tasted is very nice.

Brookei has a daily menu for 15 euro.

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Brookei | Restaurants (Modern cuisine) | Dinner +/- € 40
Espronceda, 34 | Chamberi | +34914410501
Tue – Sat: 13:00 – 16:00 & 21:00 – 00:00

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Image by E.G.G.

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Los Aros II | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Tapas) | Daily menu € 9.00
Tenerife 15 | Chamberi | +34915352594
Sun – Fri 09:30 – 01:00

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Image by Teatro Asura

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

You can go for a free trial lesson. If you’re student you can request to use the place if you want to rehearse or perform. Asura is somehow specialized in clown and improv theatre (where actors and actresses create a play based on the suggestions of the audience).

In addition, Asura offers other regular courses or short workshops focused on interpretation (in a more classical way), body expression, dance, hospital clown… and even theatre courses for children.

Every now and then you can also go for a free performance by the students as they practice with audience. I don’t know why but in Asura there are always a great number of foreigner students.

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Escuela de Teatro Asura | Art & culture, Theaters | Per month € 65
Abel 1 | Chamberi | +34915331565
Mon 16:00 – 17:30, Wed 16:30 – 18:00, Sat 14:30 – 16:00

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