DK Travel : Madrid

Madrid’s three world-class art museums and two royal palaces alone would set the pulses racing, but there is more to this exciting and diverse capital than its tourist sights. The fashion boutiques of the Salamanca district showcase Europe’s top designers and are just the tip of a shopping iceberg, perfectly complementing the informality of the fascinating El Rastro market, while Madrid’s world-famous tapas bars vie for attention with gourmet restaurants and humble tabernas in a city which never sleeps. To simply watch the world go by, head for the supremely elegant Plaza Mayor.

Law of Desire

Almodóvar’s 1986 film explored obsessive homosexual love and starred the young actor Antonio Banderas. It is Spain’s top-grossing film.
Lhardy

This famous restaurant has hardly changed in more than 150 years. Some customers never get further than the tapas counter downstairs (see Lhardy).
Lhardy

Another Madrid institution, founded in 1839, Lhardy’s upstairs dining rooms are wonderfully intimate and more than a touch elegant with belle époque gilded mirrors, wainscoting, Limoges china and Bohemian crystal. The cooking is madrileño rather than French, the house speciality being cocido (chickpea stew) (see Lhardy).
Liabeny

Close to Sol, Gran Vía and the shops of Calle Preciados, this modern 4-star hotel has wooden and leather furnishings throughout. The rooms are on the small side, but clean and comfortable. Service is attentive and there’s a certain old-world charm about the place.
Little Elvis Bar

The framed picture of Elvis greets you at this friendly bar, decorated in minimalist style. Comes alive after dark. Games room
Loewe

Loewe may not sound Spanish, but is in fact one of Spain’s longest established names – the first Madrid store opened in 1846. Renowned for accessories, especially leather.
Lope de Vega

Lope de Vega (also Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio or Lope Félix de Vega Carpio) (25 November 1562 – 27 August 1635) was a Spanish Baroque playwright and poet. His reputation in the world of Spanish letters is second only to that of Cervantes, while the sheer volume of his literary output is unequalled: he is estimated to have written between 1,500 and 2,500 fully-fledged plays – of which some 425 have survived until the modern day – together with a plethora of shorter dramatic and poetic works.
Los Arcos

This Castilian restaurant, with traditional wood-fired oven, is as good a place as any to savour roast lamb, suckling pig or kid.
Los Gabrieles

The walls of Los Gabrieles are decorated with superb azulejo tiles, dating from the late 19th century when the bar was a brothel and gypsy dancers performed Flamenco here. To appreciate the decor, arrive early; around 11pm the lights are dimmed and Los Gabrieles is transformed into a music bar serving copas and cañas (spirits and beer) to people in the mood to party. Flamenco shows Tuesday nights (see Los Gabrieles).
Los Gabrieles

A 19th-century bar with tile-lined walls, popular with locals and visitors alike (see Los Gabrieles).

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