Madrid For Foodies: Best Italian Restaurants

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Madrid For Foodies: Best Italian Restaurants

May 27, 2019

Italian cuisine is probably the most popular around the world. I don't know a single human being who doesn't like pasta, it's one of the best inventions ever! When I travel I always choose local cuisine over anything else but there are many Italian restaurants outside of Italy worth trying for instance in Madrid. So if you are tired of tapas and typical Spanish or you crave some Italian food, I''m going to help you find the best Italian eateries in Madrid.

Whether you are looking for delicious pasta, fresh burrata salad or refreshing gelato, follow my guide to the top Italian restaurants in Madrid.

Follow my account Madrid for Foodies on Instagram for the best restaurant recommendations in Madrid

Best italian restaurants in Madrid: FELLINA

I have to admit that what attracted me about this Italian restaurant in the center of Madrid was the decor. I had seen a photo on Instagram and it was love at first sight! I didn't do any research about the food, I just wanted to see that gorgeous indoor terrace. Luckily, the food didn't disappoint, everything -pasta or not- was delicious.
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Best italian restaurants in Madrid: BEL MONDO

Beautiful world indeed! A real 100% italian restaurant where all the staff is bilingual. This new addition to Madrid's italian restaurant scene is a must try. .Not only to admire the whimsical atmosphere they have created which lives up to its name, but also to try some of the best pasta you can find in Madrid. I highly recommend their most famous dish "La Gran Carbonara", spaghetti with creamycheese and guanciale served inside a pecorino cheese.

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The place has become so popular that they have opened a new one, Villa Capri, which is just as spectacular. Can't wait to try it! 

Not in the mood to eat out? Don't worry, they also deliver gourmet pizzas to your doorstep via UberEats.

Best italian restaurants in Madrid: NAP Neapolitan Authentic Pizza

We have a good friend from Italy who showed us where you can eat the best pizza in Madrid. NAP is a small pizzeria that will conquer your stomach. It's believed to be the best Neapolitan pizza outside Naples. Very good value for money too! They have two locations in Madrid, one in Chamberi and another one in Lavapies.

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Best italian restaurants in Madrid: TAVERNA PAN & VINO DI GIOVANNI

Former Ti Amo Restaurant, they only changed the name, the staff and food is the same. This small family restaurant is in the north of the city, close to where we live. We've been many times because we love every single dish we try. Here we discovered the traditional Italian dessert Chiacchiere di Nutella -see photo below- which has become an obsession. And if you need more reasons to visit...the Italian staff and owner are really kind and make you feel at home. 

TripAdvisor

Best italian restaurants in Madrid: GELATERIA DA ROMA

The same Italian friend introduced us to the best gelato in town. Gelateria DaRoma has a wide selection of delicious artisan gelato that they make daily with the best ingredients. You can eat it there or you can take a container home. This is the best place to cool off on a hot summer day in Madrid!

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Best italian restaurants in Madrid: MERCATO ITALIANO

There are probably hundreds of Italian restaurants in Madrid but did you know there's also an Italian market? At Il Mercato Italiano you can find the best delicatessen, cheese, pasta, sweets, wine and other delicious food from la bella italia. And it's also a restaurant!

Best italian restaurants in Madrid: the MAP

TOP ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN MADRID AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

WEAR THIS HERE

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Madrid for Foodies: Best Brunch and Breakfast Spots

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Madrid for Foodies: Best Brunch and Breakfast Spots

May 20, 2019

Summer is in the air...Days are longer, temperatures are raising...It's the last few weeks of spring before summer gets here. At this time we feel the urge to spend as much time as possible outdoors enjoying the great weather and that is often accompanied by great food as well. This is our favorite time of the year to go out for brunch. 

You know that Spain is well-known for its impressive gastronomy. Tapas are great but there's so much more to try! Even though brunch is not a Spanish tradition, it has become very popular in big cities in recent years and, right now, one of the best things to do in Madrid this spring and summer is to try one of the many wonderful brunch spots in the capital of Spain.

Read What to do in Madrid this Spring

Read What to do in Madrid this Summer

Brunch menus in Spain are similar in general, they offer natural juices and smoothies, coffee and tea, cereal with granola or muesli and a main dish which can be savory -like quiche, eggs Benedict, avocado toast, breakfast bowls or sandwiches- or sweet -waffles, carrot cake, pancakes... Some places allow you to build your own menu, others offer a set one.

Here is my complete guide to the best brunch and breakfast restaurants in Madrid. It includes all the info you need and a map at the end.

BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: CAFE RUN RUN RUN

Open in May 2019, Cafe Run Run Run is one of the latest additions to Madrid's healthy restaurant scene. This lovely cafe was created with runners and healthy lifestyle in mind. All the dishes are 100% clean eating and it has many vegan options. However, this spot is much more than a simple cafe, it's a meeting point for runners and clean eaters. In fact, they are a running club as well. We absolutely loved the place and I'm sure we'll be coming back many many times.

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: ABOLEA

If you are looking for healthy 100% homemade brunch, Abolea restaurant is the place to go. Their homemade granola was delicious but their breakfast bowls are the true star here. Best thing we've ever had! They are just perfect: pretty, delicious and healthy food, can you ask for more? They make their own bread and cakes as well. The set brunch menu is 15,95€, the most affordable we've had so far.

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: BENDITA LOCURA

Sunday brunch is not enough for you? No problem! Bendita Locura offers brunch every day of the week. This is the latest brunch restaurant we've been to and it's already one of our favorites. The experience was perfect: fast and kind service, great food and reasonable price. The offer a full brunch for 21€ and a smaller one for 16€.

Bendita Locura is a place we will go back to, now we want to try their lunch and dinner! It's a small cafe and constantly buzzing so make reservations if you don't want to wait. 

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: FRUTAS PROHIBIDAS

This cozy cafe in Malasaña offers a great quality brunch menu for less than 20€. Their healthy menu includes superfooods, yummy smoothies and a wide variety of toasts. I love the way they present food, the açai bowl for instance comes inside a coconut! A spot to come back again and again. 

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: EL JARDIN SECRETO DE SALVADOR BACHILLER

A secret garden in the heart of Madrid. Located on the roof top of the Salvador Bachiller store, this hidden gem is one of the trendiest restaurants in Madrid. The decor is impressive, there are plants all around, even the placemat is a giant leaf! It's like you left the concrete jungle to be in the real jungle. 

Read the full post about El Jardin Secreto

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: FRIDA

This was the first brunch we ever had in Madrid so talking about it brings back a lot of memories. Located in the trendy neighborhood of Chueca, Frida is where all the cool Madrileños hang out. Highly instagrammable and delicious food, I think that sums it up pretty well. Frida is one of the trendiest places in Madrid at the moment so if you like that kind of spot be sure to make reservations before you go.

Read the full post about Frida

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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: FEDERAL CAFE

Federal is one of the most popular brunch spots in Madrid. It's on the top 5 of every brunch list you can see out there. We loved the food and the nice staff.
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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: ZENITH BRUNCH & COCKTAILS

Zenith cafe was born in Portugal, it was so popular that the opened one in Madrid and it was probably the best idea ever. This place is so popular you have to queue for 1 hour on Sundays because they don't take reservations but the wait is totally worth it. Their decadent dishes will leave you wanting for more. Their motto is "brunch all day, everyday!" Who can resist?
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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: THE TOAST CAFE

This American cafe serves delicious, trendy, fresh and homemade dishes. The brunch menu is 16€ and is available during the weekends from 11 am to 17 pm. I suggest you try their amazing burgers as well, all of them have a veggie alternative. They also have craft beer!
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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: RAW COCO

Raw Coco can be found in Madrid (2 locations) Gijon and Valencia. This cafe, bar and restaurant offers organic products and is famous for its cold press juices and smoothies. We love the Caribbean style decor as well!
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BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: HOTEL ORFILA

This was a brunch to remember. We had brunch at Holet Orfila last summer to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It's the most luxurious brunch we've had to date and one of our favorites both because of the quality and the fact that we were celebrating such a special occasion. This is one of the most elaborate weekend brunch in Madrid, it doesn't consist of a menu like the previous ones, it's a savory-and-sweet self-service buffet and the price is 59€.
Read the full post about Hotel Orfila

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ON MY LIST
We are always looking for new brunch and breakfast restaurants to try in Madrid. Some friends have recommended the following and we can't wait to try them ourselves.

• Carmencita Bar
• Cafe Comercial
• Propaganda 12

BEST BREAKFAST IN MADRID: MAP

OUTFITS FOR BRUNCH

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Best Day Trips from Madrid: All You Need to Know About Toledo

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Best Day Trips from Madrid: All You Need to Know About Toledo

May 13, 2019

Toledo is one of Spain’s most popular cities. In 1987 it was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations because of its wide variety of historical monuments, most of which are religious and show the city’s cultural diversity over the centuries. Being only one hour away from Madrid, Toledo is an essential day trip from the capital of Spain.

We took advantage of the recent Bank Holiday to revisit breathtaking Toledo and on this post I'm telling you all about it. This is the ultimate travel guide to visiting Toledo. Here you'll find all you need to know about this Spanish city to plan a day trip. It includes a brief history of Toledo, things to do and see, a review of the luxurious Parador hotel, tips on the best gifts to buy and advice on getting there.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOLEDO
Toledo is one of the most important cities in the history of Spain. It's often referred to as the City of Three Cultures: Islamic, Jewish and Christian. In this melting pot these different cultures left their footprint in various ways. One of the most famous examples of cooperation was the creation of the School of Translators in the 12th century, which helped to preserve a significant amount of knowledge.

The origins of Toledo can be traced back to Roman times. In the 6th century the city converted to Catholicism and became the capital of Hispania (Spain). In the year 712 AD, Toledo was conquered by the Moors. That is the same year when Jewish people are believed to have arrived. In the year 1085, Toledo was retaken by Christians but many people from the other cultures chose to stay. All three cultures lived in harmony until 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, expelled the Jews from Toledo. Moorish legacy began to fade in the 15th century as well.

In 1519, under the rule of Charles V, Toledo became the most important city in the world, known as the Imperial Capital. This period was brief but very beneficial for the city in terms of heritage. Finally, in 1561 King Philip II decided to move the court permanently to Madrid.

EL GRECO
Doménikos Theotokópoulos a.k.a. El Greco (The Greek) is one of the most important painters in Spain. He moved from Greece to Spain in the 16th century and in Toledo he produced his most famous paintings. He was ahead of his time and gave a personal and unique touch to Rennaisance style.

In Toledo you can visit El Greco Museum and see his best-known work, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, in Santo Tome's church.

EL PARADOR HOTEL AND VANTAGE POINT
If you follow the blog, you know about our passion for luxury hotel chain Paradores. They are much more than hotels, they are landmarks and in Toledo's case, also a vantage point.

Parador de Toledo is far from the Old Town which allows it to have the best views of this beautiful city from its cafeteria. We started our day in Toledo by having a snack there before having a wonderful meal at the restaurant.

Paradores never disappoint. We loved the restaurant with its private social club vibe and nature inspired decor. The food was delicious too and the staff couldn't be kinder and more professional.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN TOLEDO
Toledo’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with heritage from all three cultures: Jewish, Islamic and Christian.

These are the best things to do in Toledo:

• Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes: commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs, this monastery houses the most beautiful cloister I've seen so far. 

• Iglesia de Santo Tome: the architecture of this church has both Islamic and Christina influence while being located in the Jewish Quarter. Here's where you can see the Burial of the Count of Orgaz painting by El Greco.
• The Cathedral: this example of Gothic cathedral was built on what used to be a mosque, like many other Christian churches across the country.

• Plaza de Zocodover: Toledo's lively main square.
• Alcazar of Toledo: alcazar is an Islamic word that means palace or fortress of Moorish origin. The one in Toledo is the highest point in the city and it was meant as a royal residence for Charles V. Nowadays it houses a public library and the army museum.

• Visit El Greco Museum
• Don't forget those jaw-dropping views from El Parador!

WHAT TO BUY
Toledo has been known for sword-making and steel-working for century. One of the most popular things to buy in Toledo are swords and steel figures.

If you are not a GOT fan, but have a sweet tooth, you should know that marzipan from Toledo is very famous in Spain. We usually eat it during Christmas but here you can find it all year long.

Our favorite place to buy sweets are convents and in Toledo we fixed our cravings thanks to Convento de San Antonio de Padua.

GETTING THERE
There are buses and trains going from Madrid (see Google Maps), however the fastest option is by car. The problem is parking, as usual. The best thing to do is to use one of the parking lots outside of the Old Town. There's a free one opposite the bus station called Safont but gets full quickly on weekends and holidays so go there as early as possible. There's a car-park attendant at the gate and you are expected to give him a few coins but you don't have to pay anything else.

GET THE LOOK
You can find my shorts here and me sneakers here.

I hope you enjoyed this guide with all you need to know about Toledo. If you liked this post, spread the love by pinning and sharing it!