Image by Claudia Ortega

There are several wanna-be diners in Madrid that don’t come close to a “real” American diner. Tommy Mel’s is the exception because the food is pretty authentic – think chili, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes and burgers – and the atmosphere is complete with 50′s music blasting and energetic waiters in timely costume.

To bridge the Spanish-American gap, you can order cocktails, beer and wine and have cheese fries with local blue-cheese topping. But, the majority of the menu is reminiscent of the movie Grease and is probably cooked with plenty.

Don’t miss the dessert and milkshake menu: the pecan pie gets my stamp of approval. The restaurant has been so successful, they’ve opened more around Madrid and are branching out to different Spanish cities.

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Tommy Mel’s | Snacks, Restaurants (American) | Classic burger € 6.35
Pedro Jeixeira 8 | Castellana | +34914178744
Mon – Thu 13:15 – 00:00, Fri 13:15 – 02:30, Sat 09:00 – 02:30, Sun 09:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

This is a rather sad and often overlooked spot, but it is also a beautiful and reflective place.

Commemorating the 191 people who lost their lives during the March 11, 2004 bombing of four trains destined to the Atocha station, the memorial is located in the middle of the station.

From outside the station, you see an 11 meter cylinder of glass bricks, but from below you see a tunnel of light with clear plastic balloon floating inside the cylinder, printed with thousands of messages of hope and condolences in various languages.

If you have a few minutes while waiting for a train, I think it’s nice to take a few minutes to relax and be gracious.

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11 M Memorial | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Atocha Station | Lavapies & Latina
10:00 – 20:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

If you need your fill of tasty burgers and sandwiches with specialties like really spicy chipotle pepper chicken or a tandoori-spiced burger all made from organic meats, this is your place.

Owned by a French Canadian Chef who has made Madrid his home, the upscale diner-themed restaurant has gained popularity as it’s the only place in Madrid to get an organic beef burger. It’s absolutely necessary to have a reservation to eat there most nights of the week. In good news however, they offer take-out and they’ve opened two other branches in the city center.

Don’t miss the variety of homemade desserts.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Home Burger Bar | Snacks, Restaurants (Burgers) | Classic burger € 8.75
Calle Espiritu Santo 12 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915229728
Mon – Sat 13:30 – 16:00 & 23:00 – 00:00, Sun 14:00 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Plastered with Ramones souvenirs, you get both visual and audio blitz of the Ramones in Nueva Visión. The actual band members have all been there at least once (the whole band was there in 1992).

Pronounced /ra-mon-Es/ in Spanish, the Ramones are dearly loved and daresay, worshipped here. The bar is small and loud, but a total anomaly with its strong and selective theme.

If you’re a rocker or a closet rocker like some of us, you’ll have a blast dancing to “I wanna be Sedated” and other punk rock hits (it’s not ALL Ramones). And finally, if you are a really big fan of the Ramones, you can buy your Madrid fan club paraphernalia at the bar.

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Nueva Visión | Bars, Music | T-shirt € 12.00
Calle Velarde 5 | Chueca & Malasaña
Wed – Sat 21:00 – 03:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

While strolling around Malasaña, you can’t miss the colorful tile facade of the Juanse Pharmacy. Dating back to the early 1900s, the pharmacy and laboratory Juanse made their own concoctions and medicines (nowadays it’s a normal pharmacy).

The tile display has suffered some graffiti attacks in the recent years, but you can still enjoy their giant ads for toothache powder (the woman clutching her jaw with a handkerchief really looks like she’s in pain) and my favorite: the ad for diarrhea medicine showing a sad child hovering over a chamber pot.

Chances are we’ve all had embarrassing ailments, so here is beautiful tile-work to pay public homage.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Juanse Pharmacy | Art & culture | Free
Calle San Andres / Calle San Vicente Ferrer | Chueca & Malasaña
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Opened to the public on April 15, 2011, the Madrid River Park has been in the works for years. What was once a dribbling stream is now a cultural eco-park with 17 unique playgrounds with sustainable, interactive wooden structures to climb on; an urban beach with water shooting out of the ground; walking paths; an area for skateboarding and roller-blading; scenic overlooks from the various bridges and more.

The river park starts at Principe Pio at the Puente del Rey, and runs all the way to the Matadero art centre near metro Legazpi/Almendrales. I look forward to going in a few years when the young trees will offer more shade, the public bathrooms will be completed and there are more supportive industries nearby (more restaurants, please!), but for now it is a lovely green space where you can spend all day playing, walking and relaxing.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Madrid Rio | Relaxing | Free
Principe Pio | Lavapies & Latina
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Just down from the Mercado de San Miguel (check the San Miguel article), the Mesón del Champiñon is a cave with fungi-esque decor.

They specialize in fantastic mushrooms drenched in olive oil, garlic and adorned with bits of chorizo, but in addition to the tapas, you get entertainment. There is a guy playing the electric piano for tips and you can make song requests (his repertoire is vast, but random) and then sing along group-style.

The last time I was there a microphone was taken out for a few customers who reminded me of characters from an Almodóvar film; they sang Spanish ballads, danced and we applauded.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mesón del Champiñon | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Tapas) | Mushroom tapas € 6.00
Cava de San Miguel 17 | Sol | +34915596790
Spring – Summer Sun – Thu 18:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 02:30, Winter lunch 12:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid