"Mercato Italiano" in Madrid is in the city's Little Italy in Rios Rosas. Great bruschetta and salads, and I recommend getting a wine, spritz or Campari...

"Toma Café 2" in Madrid have not only created art out of coffee (I'm sipping a jasmine/white peach brew right now), I love their sandwiches & peacefulness.

"Taverna Sacromonte" is an Andaluz tavern in Usera, Madrid. It feels village-y. Their tapas are great here -- I recommend going there and then for Chinese!

"La Mina" Madrid is a bar I've been visiting since 1990 for its speciality - grilled prawns. It's a spot to enjoy a caña and a chat with the locals...

"Caramelos Paco" in Madrid sells sweets - its window display leaves no doubt about that. I love old shops like this, the opposites of one-stop shopping!

"CaixaForum Madrid" is a good alternative to the nearby, more touristy Prado and Reina Sofia. It's beautiful, cool and quite small if you have limited time

"Casa Gonzalez" is a lovely little delicatessen in Madrid and a great place for some great wine, cheese & tostas! My favorite is the 'azul picón de hojas'.

Calle Redondilla (bottom of the square to the left) has maybe the oldest standing building in Madrid at Number 10 - it's from the 15th century,

"Museo Geominero" Madrid is quite the hidden gem. Even locals don't know about it, and its collections of things unearthed is astonishing. It's also free!

"Casa Lope de Vega" Madrid is the house where Spain's most famous playwright ever spent the last part of his life. Great museum to appreciate his genius.

The "Fallen Angel Fountain" in Madrid is a beautiful bronze statue of Lucifer. Spookily, this fountain stands exactly 666m above sea level...

"Mercado de la Paz" is a fabulous market in Madrid, a hidden treasure right in heart of the 'golden mile'. Here you'll find the best tortilla in town...