Be my Valentine

Valentines day: separated from that someone special? Pining over that someone special? Or still looking for that someone special? Why not come along to MadridBabel’s Valentines event, the “Great Saint Valentine’s Language Party”!

Madrid: the scenic route

Now that the weather’s starting to cheer up a bit there’s no better time to get out of the house and start exploring Madrid, especially if you’ve just arrived. Not sure where to head first? Let me give you a few ideas.

Hungry?

Fancy going out for dinner this weekend? Allow me to recommend a new find. La Musa in La Latina is a quirky hide-out which offers great food in great atmosphere.

Going upmarket

The San Antón Market is a gem I only discovered recently. Tucked away in Chueca, one of the trendiest parts of town, this market slash food court offers everything you could possibly ask for. From sushi to traditional Greek cuisine, luxury frozen goods to to seafood fresh from the water, a healthy fruit and veg stand to some of the best homemade cakes I have seen in Madrid- it’s hard to find a gap in the market (if you’ll pardon the pun). 

A city with a story to tell

Although it would be hard to get bored of Madrid, it’s always nice to have a change of scenery and explore a new place.  Just over half an hour on the train from Madrid, cheap, easy to travel to and with loads of stuff to keep you busy for the whole day, Alcalá de Henares provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.

When in Spain… Eat!

If I'm honest, all I've really done since being in Madrid is eat. And whilst my waistline might be suffering, I don't plan on stopping any time soon.

Madrid, like any city, is the perfect place to try new things and enjoy lots of what you already love. From budget bars to upmarket tapas, from late night takeaways to luxury Asian cuisine, from Telepizza to authentic Italian restaurants; Madrid has it all.

The Ideal Summer Cocktail

Summer is upon us and the regular 33 degree heat might be getting to you if, like me, your native land is not so caliente. However, I have a solution: tinto de verano. The name of this drink even translates to red wine of summer and is an ideal antedote to the madrileñan heat.
This wine cocktail is similar to sangria (which, let’s face is, is overdone) but is easier to make has less alcohol in it so is an ideal afternoon tipple. Here is the recipe for you to enjoy:

Places to eat and drink in Madrid

When you arrive in Madrid… where do you go next? Well, apart from your class on Monday morning at Inhispania, (obviously)… here are a few watering holes we have come to know and love, handily organised into categories: