Madrid for under £100 a night
THE Spanish capital is a grand place and the Madrilenos know it — this is a city of proud hosts. To align with Germany, in 1940 Franco set the country’s clocks forward an hour, which is, allegedly, why the Spanish are somewhat nocturnal. This is especially true in Madrid (forget usual mealtimes and add a couple of hours). Walk the wide streets, enjoy the imposing architecture and duck into the dark bars down hidden alleyways.
Where to stay Casual del Teatro
A FEW doors down from Ernest Hemingway’s favoured La Venencia bar, this 37-room hotel is in the Literary Quarter, home to the city’s first theatres. Just a ten-minute walk from the Prado Museum and Plaza Mayor, the convenient location more than makes up for the dramatically themed rooms (including Cabaret and Mamma Mia!), which are bound to divide opinion. B&B doubles from £82 (casualhoteles.com)
La Posada del Dragon
THIS elegant design hotel, which has its own tapas bar, is on Cava Baja in La Latina. Its 27 rooms are bright and quirky and some have balconies. The in-house offering isn’t cheap, but it’s far from your only option — La Latina is full of bars, taverns and coffee houses. B&B doubles with a balcony from £78 (posadadeldragon.com)
The Hat
BREAKFAST at this chic hostel is £3 for a buffet of coffee, juice, fruit and bread. Ensuite doubles are spacious and clean and there is a rooftop bar, plus free city tours. The Plaza Mayor is close by, while the Royal Palace — with bulletholes from the civil war — is a ten-minute walk away. Doubles from £51 (thehatmadrid.com)
Airbnb in Centro
IF you’RE looking for good-value group accommodation, you can source stylish rentals in excellent locations on Airbnb. one I found sleeps six and is a short walk from the Puerta del Sol, once a gate in Madrid’s 12th-century walls. Now, the square is the city’s centre and where people gather on New year’s Eve to eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, for good luck. Entire flat, sleeps six, from £76 a night (bit.ly/2ZeT9pR or airbnb. co.uk) — prices can fluctuate
Where to eat Mercado San Fernando
TOURIST favourite Mercado San Miguel is worth a look, but it’s overpriced and uncomfortably busy, so try San Fernando in trendy Lavapies instead. The grey facade may be dreary, but inside, it’s bright and arty, with an abundance of tables. As well as food, stalls sell everything from second-hand books to handmade soaps. Try morcilla (black pudding), patatas bravas (smoky fried potatoes) and secreto (pork steak), from £1.70 to £3.80. mercadodesanfernando.es
Cafeteria 3 Jotas
HUNDREDS of cafes in Madrid serve tostada con tomates (toast and grated tomato) and coffee, but join the locals at this one, near Colon, where it’s £1.70 and a clean start to what could be a heavy day of tapas. Address: Calle del Monte Esquinza, 3
Mercado San Ildefonso
IN MALASANA, Madrid’s newest market is loud, lively and set over three floors. you can mix cuisines and there’s even a vegan stall — hard to come by here. The huevos
rotos (potatoes, broken eggs and Iberico ham) from Malasana Farm and plates from La del Pulpo (octopus specialists) are delicious. Skip the sugary sangria and stick to glasses of wine (from £1.70). mercadodesanildefonso.com
Emma Cocina
IT CAN be easy to miss out on excellent food in Madrid — especially around the Plaza Mayor, where prices sky-rocket. A short walk away, Emma Cocina is an exception. It serves everything from Iberian cured classics for £8.60, to modern plates such as asparagus tempura for £9.50. Still not exactly cheap, but it’s worth the small detour. emma-cocina.com
Del Diego Cocktail Bar
THERE is a proud cocktail culture in Madrid. Bars serve copas, glasses full to the brim with a spirit with mixers on the side. A general rule is that the worse the bar looks, the bigger the drinks will be.
del diego has been serving cocktails in Chueca for 50 years and all drinks come with a small snack — it’s the Spanish way (cocktails and copas from £7). deldiego.com
How to get there
BRITISH AIRWAyS (ba.com) has return flights from £76. one trip on the Madrid Metro costs £1.50. Visit spain.info