Madrid

From: Dermott
Message:
olly wrote:
> can anyone recommend a good hotel? preferably no more than 100 euro
> per night.
>
> any "must do" things, other than the obligatory galleries and museums?
>
> muchos gracias,
> olly.

Not sure on Hotels, I just grabbed one off the 'Net at the last minute.
There are loads in Madrid at reasonable rates.

The below info is culled from different sources a few years ago when I
last visited, so beware of out of date info. Apart from that, it's a
fucking great city. Get the Time Out - "Madrid" book.

Quick info.

The Rastro - a wicked flea market

3 clubs:

Soma, Coccoon , Ronda de Toledo (all three are house & Techno)

Best places for bars & tapas - Plaza de Santa Ana and all the streets
off it
- especially Calle Huertas ...(just be careful of pickpockets - loads in the
area). The Central (located in old part of madrid) is pretty cool, apart
from it
being one of two bars in Madrid that sells a very nice pint of Guinness
on
draft. The Reggae bar "Big Bamboo" on Calle Barquillo is also pretty good.

Sightseeing - loads - Madrid is a beautiful city - quick recommendations -
Around Royal Palace & Opera, Plaza Mayor, (and surrounding streets), Las
Recoletos ( all the key art museums are along that street Prado, etc as well
as Botanic gardens etc) , Cheuca is the alternative/gay area - if you want
veggie type food its the best place in Madrid...

Shopping - Salamanca is the area - Calle Serrano is great - all the top
fashion designers are along their - Yves St. Laurent, Versace, Prada,
Cartier etc - lovely architecture and nice streets - great window shopping
and people watching. You'll also find the more down to earth stuff in this
area (mainly on Calle Goya) and parallel streets - Mango, Zara etc....

There's also a club that opens at 8 in the morning on
weekends off GRAN VIA called GOA (don't be fooled by
the name its nothing to do with trance) I think its
open from 8 till 12 midday its kind of an "after" club

I also highly recommend "Chocolat con Churros" (a hot chocolate drink
sold with sticks of "doughnut") - ideal food/drink at 8am after a hard
night on the dance-floor.

Regards,

Dermott