Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Satisfying my greatest needs for good sushi, Oishi is just off central Plaza Callao and full of great food. There are two magnetic bands twirling platters of sushi around the tables where you can help yourself, or you can order soups and noodle dishes from the menu.

Be sure to specify if you want the soba (buckwheat) or udon (wide wheat) noodles. If you don’t see the sushi you want, just ask the sushi chef and he’ll whip up something fresh. At the end of the meal, your bill will be totalled based on the colors of the plates you’ve chosen.

Top off your meal with some sesame and green tea ice cream.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Oishi | Snacks, Restaurants (Japanese) | Sushi plate € 3.50
Miguel Moya 6 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34915227574
13:00 – 16:00 & 20:00 – 00:00 daily

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

For being a Michelin-ranked restaurant, El Buey is surprisingly affordable and makes for a fun interactive meal!

The restaurant, one of two in Madrid, is famous for the high quality of ox meat which you can order in a stew or in raw slices to cook on a hot ceramic plate. The ox-tail stew, though spectacular, is nothing compared to the raw meat with big grains of salt, seared on your plate. Don’t rush and try to cook all of the meat slices at once, if your plate gets cool, ask the attentive waiter for another one.

The menu is short, with some fish and vegetable options and the waiter will also tell you about any daily specials as well. Added bonuses are the excellent house wine (which you can buy on your way out) and aged cheese that is served as you sit down at the table. My only complaint would be that the fried potatoes served with most of the dishes are unimpressive in comparison with the rest of the food.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
El Buey | Restaurants (Spanish) | Dinner € 25.00
Plaza de la Marina Española, 1 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34915413041
Mon – Sat 13:00 – 16:00 & 21:00 – 00:00

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

The intimate setting of Toma is like a classic diner grown-up, there might be Bruce Springsteen playing, but the fresh flowers and soft candle-light give it a nice romantic edge.

Perhaps you’ve been craving fried chicken? Or a full brunch with a breakfast burrito and mimosa? Toma, which roughly translated means “take that”, delivers. Their brunch is arguably the best in Madrid when counting the niceness of the waitstaff, the food options (it’s a big carb load, but you can walk that off at the Prado) and the price.

The menu changes seasonally (strawberry pie now!), but maintains a few basics along with delicious desserts like cheesecake and brownies.

Toma is very small with about 6 tables and a bar, be sure to make a reservation.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Toma | Restaurants (American/Intern.) | Brunch € 18.00
Calle Conde Duque 14 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34915474996
Tue – Sun 21:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 16:00 & 21:00 – 02:30

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Nestled into Parque Oeste on the West side of town is one of Madrid’s amazing treasures – an Egyptian temple which is striking by day and luminous by night.

The Temple of Debod was a gift to the government of Spain after helping to save various historical buildings from the Nubia region in 1960 which was under threat of flooding from the construction of the Great Damn of Aswan.

It graciously arrived bit by bit to Spain in 1968 and stands in open air with a view of the far West of Madrid (on clear days you can see out to the Guadarama mountains). Several other temples were given to other countries; the Temple of Dendur stands inside the Metropolitan museum in New York, Temple Taffeh is in the Netherlands and the Ellesiya Temple is in Turin, Italy.

My favorite time to go is to watch the sunset behind the temple; it’s a popular place for young and old couples to go and make-out (you’ll find a very easy-going public kissing policy in Madrid). If you go during a hot day, you can admire the temple from a shady trail and then find a nearby terraza to enjoy a cold drink or ice cream.

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Templo de Debod | Art & culture | Free
Calle Pintor Rosales | Gran Via & Princesa | +34913667415
Apr – Sep Tue – Fri 10:00 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 20:00 Oct – March: Tue – Fri 09:45 – 13:45 & 16:15 – 18:15, Year round Sat, Sun and festivals 10:00 – 14:00

Image by Teresa Juan

Located on the 9th (top) floor of the commercial centre called El Corte Inglés (don’t worry, there are escalators or several lifts to get there), this coffee shop is one of the best examples of how beautiful Madrid is from the roof.

You´ll never imagine that inside a huge commercial centre, in its cafeteria, you´ll find such a fantastic atmosphere. But it´s real!! And there´re still a few privileged people who can enjoy it. I say “just a few” because the large window from where you can observe the whole city is available for a maximum of six-seven tables. The rest of the coffee shop is a regular venue where you can order your meals or drinks.

It gets so crowded during lunch time, that I won´t recommend it because you even have to wait your turn to sit beside the window. So the best moment to enjoy your coffee with “tortitas con nata” is just before dinner, in the late afternoon (between 16:00 – 19:00).

This is an ideal place for a drink while you see how it gets dark, either to impress your friends or your couple with an exquisite place. It´ll depend where you sit, you´ll be able to see the Royal Palace, the Opera, Gran Vía, or even Casa de Campo.

Enjoy the view!!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cafetería El Corte Inglés | Coffee & tea | Main meal € 12.00
Plaza de Callao, 2 | Gran Via & Princesa | +34913798000
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 22:00 (11:00 – 21:00 on holidays)