Pioneering chefs, eye-popping boutiques, 21-st century design and innovation – and, yes, some of the finest tapas in Spain.
Lay of the Land
Argensola Tucked between trendy Chueca and the upscale shopping district of Barrio de Salamanca, Calle Argensola is packed with independent boutiques and lively bars.
Barrio de las Letras These narrow lanes were once home to literary lions such as Cervantes and Lope de Vega—today, you’ll find galleries and vintage-furniture shops.
Chueca This barrio is Madrid’s gay epicenter and has no shortage of chic bars and restaurants.
La Latina A foolproof plan for exploring La Latina includes a visit to the Sunday Rastro flea market followed by a tapas crawl along Calle Cava Baja.

Triball Just north of Gran Via, the former rough-around-the-edges Triball has transformed into Madrid’s nightlife hub.
Getting Around Taxis are reasonably priced and easy to hail. The Metro (metromadrid.es) is expansive and connects the airport with the city center.