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This family-run restaurant serves grilled meat and fish dishes cooked to perfection. Try the red bream (besugo ).

The space beneath the magnificent iron-and-glass canopy at Madrid’s central railway station is occupied by a miniature botanical garden, replete with palms and tropical plants (see Estación de Atocha).

The venerated Real Madrid football club celebrated its centenary in 2002, although this 75,000-seater stadium was not completed until 1946. It is named after Santiago Bernabéu, the club president who brought the team five successive European championships in the 1950s. This success has continued – in 1998 FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, voted Real Madrid the “best club in the history of football”. Their tally to date includes a further 4 European cups, as well as 17 domestic cups and 28 league championships. Visitors can inspect the winning silverware by visiting the sala de trofeos (trophy room) at the ground. The club also has its own website and television station, broadcasting 20 hours a day from the training ground. The players are known locally as merengues (“meringues”) because of their all-white strip.

Real Madrid’s arch-rivals, Atlético de Madrid, play across the River Manzanares in a 55,000-seater stadium, completed in 1966. For most of its history, the club has lived in the shadow of Real Madrid, but all is forgotten when the two clash in annual matches, billed as the “dual of the gods”. The club’s best season was in 1996 when they brought off a league and cup double, but four years later they suffered the humiliation of being relegated to the second division. Atlético’s fans are known as the colchoneros (mattress boys) after their red-and-white striped shirts.

A bar with a touch of sophistication, not least in its selection of imaginatively prepared tapas such as French toast with apple compote. The desserts to die for.

This high-rise north of the city was designed with business customers in mind. The facilities include 20 conference rooms, a business centre and interpreting services, while each bedroom has internet and fax. The Palace of Congresses is only a short walk away and the IFEMA Exhibition Centre and Barajas airport are 15 minutes’ drive away. Clients can relax on the terraces, by the pool, or in the gym and sauna.

Stylish shoes, boots and other fashion accessories for both men and women by top Catalan designer Muxart.

African arts and crafts including woven baskets, rugs and colourful patchwork quilts. Also recycled drink cans, ingeniously transformed into CD racks, boxes, briefcases and other useful items.

Asturian farmers swear by this nourishing bean soup as the best way of keeping out the cold. Served piping hot, the other main ingredient is morcilla (black pudding). Ideally, wash it down with a glass of Asturian cider.