Shop local: 15 Madrid gift shops to find the perfect presents this holiday season

At Naked Madrid, we love supporting the city’s local, independent businesses. And fortunately, the holiday season is a wonderful way to give our favorite shops a shoutout and also let you know where to find the perfect items for your loved ones.

Check out these 15 small shops in Madrid where you can find one-of-a-kind gifts, from clothing to jewelry, craft beer and wine, artisan coffee, and much more.

1. peSeta

A fan-favorite located in Barrio de Las Letras (formerly located in Malasaña), here you’ll find an array of unique gifts made from fabrics from all around the world, transformed into one-of-a-kind products including bags, garments and accessories.

  • Address: C. de las Huertas, 37, 28014 Madrid
  • Website
  • Instagram: @pesetaofficial

2. ANCLADEMAR

One of Madrid’s standout concept stores located in the heart of Chueca, here you’ll find all sorts of high-quality odds and ends including candles, vases, decorative dishes, and much more.

  • Address: C. del Barquillo, 37, 28004 Madrid
  • Instagram: @anclademar

3. DESPACIO CONCEPT STORE

Another concept store in Chueca, here you’ll find an assortment of items for everyday living such as backpacks, journals, organizing trays and other pretty yet functional items.

  • Address: C. de Belén, 10, 28004 Madrid
  • Website
  • Instagram: @_despacio_

4. Folklores

Located in Lavapiés, here you can find all sorts of eco-friendly, handmade garments created from 100% cotton that feature stunning African prints.

  • Address: C. Meson de Paredes 20 , esquina Calle Dos Hermanas, 28012 Madrid
  • Website
  • @folklores.es

5. Lefrik

Located right off of Calle Fuencarral in Malasaña, here you’ll stumble upon bags, backpacks, and other smaller items made entirely of recycled plastic bottles which are lightweight, sustainable and sleek.

  • Address: C. de Colón, 4, 28004 Madrid
  • Instagram: @lefrik

6. Gracias Mamá

Located just behind Plaza Mayor, this shop has an eclectic mix of household goods, knick knacks and souvenirs, including a variety of Spanish olive oils, seasonings, and sweets, plus other odds and ends.

  • Address: C. Mayor, 32, 28013 Madrid
  • Instagram: @gracias_mama

7. La Mary

Funky, handmade earrings in bright colors and bold designs. Frequently found in weekend pop-up markets in La Plaza de San Ildefonso and Dos de Mayo, or at the Malasaña brick-and-mortar location on Calle San Andrés.

  • Address: C. San Andrés, 30, 28004 Madrid
  • Website
  • @lamary_shop

8. Eturel Madrid

Located in the heart of La Latina, a collection of household goods and accessories—from blankets to bags to totes—handcrafted in Spain with beautiful patterned textiles.

  • Address: C. de la Ruda, 8, 28005 Madrid
  • Instagram: @eturelmadrid

9. La Positiva Concept Store

Located in Lavapiés, this concept store describes itself as “art and magic.” It offers a beautifully curated selection of jewelry, clothing, accessories and home decor.

  • Address: C. del Ave María, 27, 28012 Madrid
  • Website
  • @lapositivashop

10. La oficial

One of Madrid’s dreamy ceramic shops, with a range of traditional items and other rare handcrafted pieces.

  • Addresses: C. de Sta. Ana, 6, 28005 & C/ Pelayo 43, 28004 Madrid
  • Website
  • @laoficialceramica

11. La Fiambrera

A pint-sized Malasaña-based art gallery and shop that features works by both Spanish and international artists who specialize in surrealism, urban art and other genres. Prints for sale, plus other amusing items!

  • Address: C. del Pez, 7, 28004 Madrid
  • Website
  • @lafiambrera

12. Desperate Literature

An international bookseller smack dab in the center of the city offering new, used, and hard-to-find works in Spanish, English, and French.

  • Address: C. de Campomanes, 13, 28013 Madrid
  • Website
  • @desperateliterature

13. Labirratorium

Craft beer bottle shop (and brewery!) in Chamberí with a large assortment of domestic and imported beers, home brewing kits, and gift boxes.

  • Address: C. de Vallehermoso, 34, 28015 Madrid
  • Website
  • Instagram: @labirratorium

14. Super by Dot (by Dot Café Bar)

A micro supermercado located in Legazpi with household decor such as pottery, candles, silverware, tablecloths and napkins, plus a variety of artisanal products including natural wines, craft beers, and more.

  • Address: C. de Eugenio Sellés, 6, 28045 Madrid
  • Instagram: @super_by_dot

15. Specialty coffee

If there’s one thing Madrid isn’t lacking, it’s specialty coffee shops. Grab a loved one a bag of artisanal coffee from any of these shops sprinkled around the center of the city:

  • Toma Café | C. de la Palma, 49, 28004 Madrid | C. de Sta. Feliciana, 5, 28010 Madrid | C. de Raimundo Lulio, 16, 28010 Madrid
  • Hola Coffee Roasters | C. del Dr. Fourquet, 33, 28012 Madrid
  • Misión Café | C. de los Reyes, 5, Local Izquierdo, 28015 Madrid
  • Pastora – Specialty coffee and natural wines | Carrera de San Francisco, 12, 28005 Madrid
  • Randall Coffee | C. de Vallehermoso, 36, 28015 Madrid
  • Naji Specialty Coffee | C. del Cardenal Cisneros, 39, 28010 Madrid
  • HanSo Café | C. del Pez, 20, 28004 Madrid

What are your favorite independent shops in Madrid? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!

Need even more holiday gift guide inspiration? Also check out Nest Boutique Gift Shop




Sustainable holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees

After a year like this one, supporting our local businesses, artists and community is more important than ever. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Madrid For Refugees (MFR) to put together this gift guide to help you buy sustainable, ethical, eco-friendly and local products for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.

To compile this list, we called on our audience to share their favorite small businesses and local artists with us. Thank you for participating!

You can also take part in our holiday raffle (€6) for the chance to win one of the gifts featured on this list. All of the proceeds will go to Madrid For Refugees, a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to aiding refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Madrid since 2015 through numerous volunteer and community-led initiatives. 

10 small businesses offering great holiday gifts in Madrid 2020:

These ten businesses are all independent, family-run, and committed to sustainability, community and local products. Don’t hesitate to purchase a wonderful gift from them! They’ve also kindly agreed to donate one of their gifts to our raffle.

1. Yerbas Vivas 

Yerbas Vivas is an honest brand offering handcrafted cosmetic products, which has been committed to caring for the environment and sustainability for more than 40 years. They produce certified organic soaps, solid sulfate-free shampoos, creams, perfumes and much more, all made with natural and quality raw materials.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

  1. Luna de Valencia (Valencian moon) massage oil
  2. Jabón mar muerto (dead sea soap)
  3. Jabón rosa mosqueta (pink mosqueta soap)
  4. Champú sólido coco (solid coco shampoo)
  5. Tónico facial naranjo (orange facial tonic) 

Contact info: 

2. Vajillas By Nuria Blanco 

Artist Nuria Blanco crafts unique, hand-painted dishes, made of porcelain, earthenware and other materials. Each set comes with an exclusive and personalized design, which aims to compose a pictorial picture on the table.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

A hand-painted white plate with a fish on it.

Contact info: 

3. SAC Studio

SAC Studio makes hand-sewn, sustainable pieces of lingerie that celebrate the female body and mother earth collectively. The designs are made to be flattering for all women, irrespective of age or body shape. All of SAC’s pieces are handmade by Sophie in her Barcelona studio. Since the pieces are made-to-order, there is practically no wasted fabric, no environmentally or ethically damaging production processes, just Sophie and her sewing machine. All fabrics are sourced within Europe from other small, independent businesses, or are deadstock fabrics from warehouses. All packaging is 100% recyclable and made locally using recycled materials.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

Handmade masks with three layers, including a filter layer in the middle. Each design is washable, reversible and made with deadstock fabric (shop cut-offs, old clothes, curtains etc). Check out their whole mask collection.

What’s more, SAC has teamed up with @baobabbooks who have given recommendations of their favorite Black, female authors, and each mask is named after one of them. 10% of all revenue made on masks will go to BLM charity “Trans Housing Coalition,” which is dedicated to helping get Black, trans women off the streets and into safe housing. Read more about the charity here.

Contact info: 

4. Nest Boutique

Nest is a cozy gift shop where you can find original items for family, friends or just something special for yourself. They have a wide selection of greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, home decor items, stationery and even a corner dedicated to the little ones. Now they also sell Christmas decorations.

Holiday gift raffle donation:

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

Christmas decorations, lavender-filled Christmas sachets, mini Christmas cards and a leopard snow globe. Everything comes wrapped inside a gift bag and the total value is €30.

Contact info: 

5. MAD Lola 

Whether you’re looking for a piece of jewelry for a special occasion, someone special, or to treat yourself, MAD Lola’s silver- and gold-plated jewelry might just be the perfect gift. MAD Lola believes in women power and in accessories that inspire you to be yourself and love yourself madly.

Holiday gift raffle donation:

Two pairs of  gold-plated earrings.

Contact info: 

6. Usar y Reusar online store

Founded four years ago in Barcelona, Usar y Reusar is a cooperative workspace and online store that aims to spread awareness about the Zero Waste movement across the globe. It provides sustainable, responsible and beautiful products for a zero waste life. You can find organic shampoos, cleaning products, reusable water bottles, an informative blog, and much more. 

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

A book entitled Residuo Cero. Comienza a restar desde casa (in English: “Zero Waste. Start reducing from home”) by Yve Ramírez, co-founder and author of the organization’s blog La Ecocosmopolita.

“Start reducing from home” is the guiding mantra at Usar y Reusar. This simple, entertaining and very light book is written with honesty. It aims to empower you to lead a life free of garbage and waste. From the first page, the book reminds you of the value of small actions and why putting them into practice can make a difference. More than a book of magic solutions, it’s an invitation to reflect on the way we consume food, fashion, cosmetics, and more. It will help you start consuming in a more responsible, critical and transformative way, based on reducing waste.

Contact info: 

7. HOUSE OF BIBS

House of Bibs is a brand that was born in London and grew up in Madrid, offering a combination of British fashion and classic Spanish-style children’s wear. Their contemporary designs are made of timeless and practical materials. All their products are handmade in Spain with quality fabrics, certified by OEKO-TEX and GOTTS.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

Reversible bandana bib in blue organic cotton.

Contact info: 

8. Heppy Designs 

Heppy Designs is a Madrid-based family business that aims to bring environmentally friendly cosmetics and cleaning products to your home.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

A basket with moisturizer, lip balm, shower bar, hand soap and shampoo bar.

Contact info: 

9. Grabados Plaza 

Grabados Plaza is a family project that allows artist and mother Josefina Plaza to make her art known to the world. The engravings and the work that you can find on this website are all made by Josefina who, with the help of her son, has created her online store.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

Original monotype print, 28×18. This unique print belongs to the Horizontes collection where geometric superposition and imperfection of shapes transport us to the intersection of two worlds.

Contact info: 

10. Lambuza Tienda

Bar Lambuzo is a wonderful Andalucian eatery that’s lovingly run by a family from Cádiz. They prepare authentic homemade dishes that have been passed on from generations. All the siblings work alongside their parents at their two Madrid restaurant locations, as well as their store in Mercado Chamberí.

At Lambuza Tienda, you’ll find a selection of home-cooked stews made by the family’s mom (and with recipes from their grandmothers, from Villarmartín, in Cádiz). You’ll also find many classic dishes from their restaurants and delicious sweets. Everything is made daily with fresh products from Mercado de Chamberí, and ingredients brought straight from the mountains of Cádiz. They also offer delivery

Check out all of their different holiday gift baskets to choose from, which you can order online.

Holiday gift raffle donation: 

Sustainable Madrid holiday gift guide & benefit raffle with Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent

A basket with products from Lambuzo’s store (long-lasting products from Cádiz, which expire in about a year and a half). 

Organic olive oil (0.5 L. bottle with dispenser), Reserva Sherry Vinegar (390 ml glass bottle), mature goat cheese (1 kg.), can of red tuna loin in EVOO (320 gr. ) and can of mackerel in EVOO (320 gr.)

Contact info: 

Participate in our holiday raffle for the chance to win one of these gifts and support Madrid For Refugees!

If you’re on the lookout for unique gift items this year, and want to support sustainable, family-run and local businesses, then we hope this guide comes in handy! 

You can also directly support Madrid For Refugees by participating in our holiday gift raffle. By taking part for just €6, you’ll have the chance to win one of the items featured on this list, which have been donated from the businesses to MFR. 

What’s more, all the raffle’s proceeds will go straight to MFR so they can continue to develop their efforts to support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Madrid through ongoing education and training programs, donation drives and other community-led initiatives focused on employability and community integration.

Big thank you to all the businesses and artists that are participating, and to the volunteers from Madrid For Refugees, Naked Madrid and VeraContent for putting this together.

Happy holidays! 

See also:

Refusion Delivery restaurant: Where refugee chefs prepare family-style dishes from Syria, Sudan and Venezuela

VeraContent unveils shared office space & partnership with Madrid For Refugees




Beautiful blooms at Botanyco – a haven for flower fans in Madrid

Much to the dismay of my bank manager, it’s a given that I spend pretty much all my cash on fashion and food. (Sorry if you’re reading this folks, I promise the odd tenner gets bunged into savings). My monthly bank statement often reads like a roll call of where to shop and where to eat, but having bought a pad last year, there’s definitely been a shift in my spends – from fashion to furniture and more noteworthy, given the theme of this post, now to flowers.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

Over the past year I have gone hard on nesting. There’s no such thing as too many cushions or candles in my book, and blooms have become a weekly indulgence that I now pick up with the same level of regularity as I do milk, almond of course. This has largely been encouraged by the fabulous florist that’s now within walking distance of my casa, Botanyco.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

In a city which is often lacking in much other than fairly insipid-looking florals, Botanyco is a haven for flower fans and has real pavement appeal. For a start, the shop itself is stunning. You almost feel like you’re entering into someone’s gorgeous garden thanks to the patio area at the back that’s cutely concealed from street view.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

Now if you like your flowers, this is your one-stop shop. They whip up bouquets, stock insta-friendly blooms such as peonies (it can’t just be my ‘gram feed that’s littered with them come May time) and there’s a collection of cacti that wouldn’t be out of place in the desert.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

I’ve often nipped in to pick up a last-minute gift that always surpasses the price tag. Don’t get me wrong, the flowers aren’t cheap, but this is a swish little spot where you can sit and enjoy a coffee post shop on the house.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

I’m often berated by friends and fam for what on the surface might appear to be a rather frivolous and costly habit, my response – stop and smell the flowers, quite literally. Who doesn’t love walking into their piso to find a pretty little posey and of all the things that I splash the cash on (of which there are a few), a bunch of blooms that spark joy is not what’s going to break the bank.

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

Botanyco flower shop Madrid by Naked Madrid

In addition to being your neighborhood florist, Botanyco supplies flowers for events – weddings and the like. And if you fancy yourself as a frustrated florist in the making, they even do classes on weekday evenings where they’ll teach you the tricks of the trade. It’s a blooming lovely spot (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun) and I urge you to not leaf it out on your to-do list.

Botanyco




La Nodriza, Madrid’s loveliest health food store!

Around Christmastime I got an email from Terry and Charlotte who run Desperate Literature, an international bookstore that’s just a street up from Opera. Here’s what they wrote: “We came across a local health and organic food store that we fell in love with. The owner is great… and it’s a crying shame that locals and health-conscious expats don’t know about the place. It only has Facebook, but voila, now we’ve done our part and spread the good news,” inferring it was Naked Madrid’s turn to do the same!

Thank you, Terry and Charlotte, for sending me that email! I finally made it to La Nodriza today and I have to agree – how had I not known about it earlier? It’s just a few steps from plaza Opera and lovingly run by a woman named Lucía, who handpicks each item with careful consideration to customers’ requests and also speaks English. Originally from Spain, Lucía has lived all over the world, having spent years in England, Sweden (she speaks Swedish, too), Chile and even Kuwait and Oman. Long story short, she’s got a lot of stories. Eventually she decided to follow her passion and study nutrition, which led her to open La Nodriza two years ago, “her dream come true.”

La Nodriza health food store Madrid by Naked Madrid

Although La Nodriza is small, it offers an impressive selection of handmade and organic products, ranging from cosmetics and olive oil to fresh produce and yogurt. You can even get a weekly order of local fruits and vegetables. Chances are you’ll find that hard-to-find item here, or you can ask Lucía to order it for you! Not to mention, La Nodriza is also a great place to find a gift for someone back home (like locally produced olive oil or raw honey), or even for someone in town (like Burt’s Bees products).

La Nodriza health food store Madrid by Naked Madrid

What I bought

What caught my eye the most was her wide selection of raw honeys. She has two large containers of honey from local producers that you can purchase by the kilo: one is made with lavender (lavanda), and the other with heather (brezo). Lucía let us taste both of them, which were so pure and delicious. I bought a kilo of the heather honey (€10.50) because it was darker and richer, which is the kind I prefer, and I also got to pour it myself.

La Nodriza health food store Madrid by Naked Madrid

The next thing I bought was organic peanut butter by a brand called Monki. Although it wasn’t cheap (€7.20) and there was another less expensive option, Lucía assured me this one’s quality was well worth it. As I sit here with my Monki peanut butter on toast, all I can say is I second her opinion.

While browsing, Lucía gave us both a piece of dark chocolate with chilli peppers because, “it’s something different.” As we were leaving, she popped two bite-size red apples into our bag. “They’re small,” she said, “but totally fresh and pack in a lot of flavor.” And they do, indeed.

So, people of Madrid, if you’re looking for a place to get your supply of organic, fresh and local products in the heart of the city, you’ve found it. These products may be more expensive than what you’ll find at Mercadona, but they’re oh so worth it!

Info

  • Facebook
  • Hours: Open Tues-Sunday from 12pm-10pm
  • Phone: +34 912 50 29 65
  • Address: Calle Caños del Peral, 5

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Madrid’s Top Shopping Malls

Believe it or not, Madrid has some pretty fantastic shopping malls, with giant cinemas, mini-golf courses and even indoor ski slopes. And Ikea. If it’s raining out (or simply too hot to stay outside), don’t hesitate to check out one of our favourite shopping centres!

1. Centro Comercial Príncipe Pío

centro comercial

Principe Pio is one of my favorite malls in Madrid because it’s located right in the city center. I love it because you can spend the whole day here, shopping, eating and ending the day with a good movie. Among the many shops you can find here are Zara, Massimo Dutti, Mango, Oysho, Pull & Bear, Zara Home, etc. Restaurants: Vips, Burger King, MacDonald’s, Wok Wok, etc

Opening hours 

  • Monday to Saturday: From 10 to 22:00 
  • Sunday: 11 to 22:00

How to get there

  • Metro lines: 6, 10 or “ramal” (from Opera), Línea 6 – Circular
  • Cercanías lines: C1, C7, C10 
  • Bus lines: 25, 39, 41, 46, 75, 138, Circular 1, Circular 

2. La Gavia

Centro comercial

La Gavia is one of the greatest shopping centres in Spain and even in Europe, where you can find everything you want under the sun. Some of the most popular stores are IKEA, Primark, Zara, Massimo Duti, FNAC, etc.

How to get there?

  • Bus lines: 142 and 145
  • Metro line: Las suertes 

OPENING HOURS

  • SHOPS: *Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00 hours * On Sundays and holidays from February to November the center opens at 11:00
  • RESTAURANTS: Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 to 01:00 hours. Fridays, Saturdays and on public holidays from 10:00 to 03:00
  • IKEA: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00 hours. The restaurant is open from 09:30 to 21:30

3. La Vaguada

Centro Comercial Vaguada

La Vaguada is a large shopping mall located in Barrio del Pilar. It’s big enough to offer several shops and restaurants, but small enough so you won’t get lost and you can spend a quiet afternoon. 

How to get there?

  • Bus lines: 42 , 49 , 67,83 , 124, 126 , 127, 128 , 132, 133 , 134, 135, 137 , 147 , N18 , N19
  • Metro lines: 9 (Barrio del Pilar Herrera Oria) & 7 ( Peñagrande )

OPENING HOURS

  • Shopping area: Monday through Saturday: 10:00 h to 22:00h; Sundays and holidays: 11:00 h to 21:00 h
  • Dining and entertainment area: Monday through Thursday: 10:00 h to 01:00 h; Friday and Saturday: 10:00 to 02:00 h Sunday: 10:00 h to 01:00 h

4. Madrid Xanadú

Madrid

Xanadu is one of the best malls I have ever visited. They have everything you want, even a ski slope. In addition to clothing stores and restaurants, here you’ll find tons of fun activities like bowling, mini golf, a ski slope, and much more!

OPENING HOURS

  • Shops: Monday through Sunday from 10 to 22h
  • Entertainment and dining area: From Sunday to Thursday from 10 to 01h Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 03h

How to get there?

  • Bus: From Príncipe Pío:528, 534, 539, 541, 545, 546, 547 y 548

5. Centro Comercial Plaza Norte 2

Plaza norte Hola

Another huge mall located outside the center, Plaza Norte has tons of shops, restaurants, cinemas, you name it.

Opening hours

  • Shopping area: Monday through Sunday from 10 to 22h 
  • Entertainment and dining area: Sunday through Thursday from 10 to 01:30h; Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 03h

How to get there

  • Buses: 171 and 156 (from Plaza de Castilla)
  • Nearest metro: Reyes Católicos (Line 10)

6. Centro Comercial Plenilúnio

Centro comercial

Plenilúnio is also situated in the outskirts, it has more than 180 shops, in addition to numerous restaurants, as many cinemas.

Opening hours

  • Shops: Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 22h; on Sundays and public holidays from 12 to 21h
  • Restaurants: Sunday to Thursday from 10 to 01 h; on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 03h 

How to get there

  • Bus: From Avenida de America: 221, 222, 223, 224, 224A, 226, 227, 228, 229, 281, 282, 283 and 284 from Ciudad Lineal: EMT no. 77

7. Centro Comercial Parquesur

centro comercial parquesur

In addition to the usual, here you’ll find an Apple store outside the city centre.

OPENING HOURS

  • Monday to sunday From 10 to 22:00h
  • Restaurants: Friday and Saturday From 10 to 2.  Sunday from 10 to 1.

How to get there?

  • By bus: 432,481,483,485,488,497
  • Nearest metro: Line 12. El Carrascal

8. Islazul

OPENING HOURS

  • Commercial area: Monday through Sunday from 10 to 22h 
  • Entertainment and dining area: Sunday to Thursday from 10 to 01h; Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 03h

How to get there:

  • By Bus: 35 and 118. 5 minuts from the shopping center: 108, 155, 480, 484 and 485
  • Nearest metro: Line 11: La peseta, San Francisco and Carabanchel Alto Stations.

Pictures: Hola, Un Buen día, El país, flickr, AbsoluteMadrid, Dolce City, Urbanity




Got Milk? If not, get some at Cántaro Blanco Lechería

Got Milk? Every single American child of the 90’s remembers the commercials and print ads of our favorite celebrities with their milk moustaches aimed at increasing our dairy consumption. Flash forward 15-20 years and in Malasaña, America’s Dairy Farmers can find a place where Madrid-based expats can make up for what they didn’t consume in their early days. One random afternoon, I found myself cutting through Calle de Manuela Malasaña when I stumbled upon a lechería, Cántaro Blanco. While I’ve found my fair share of carnicerías, fruterías, charcuterías, and pescaderías, I had yet to come across a lechería. As El ComidistaEl País‘s gastronomy blog confirms, the lechería is now up-and-coming.

With its white façade and clean interior, it gives you immediate association with milk. As the owners, Nacho and Adrián aim, it’s like getting the fresh leche del pueblo (milk from the village). For those of us who’ve never had said experience (especially when your pueblo just happens to be one of the largest cities in the world), Cántaro Blanco gives you that fresh milk and much more.

IMG_2738

Cántaro Blanco stocks fresh milks, cheeses, yogurts, and milk-based desserts. Its main supplier, according to the El Páis article, is Los Combos, a farm in nearby Móstoles. The fact that the milk is super locally-sourced makes it so so fresh (the owners had actually planned on bringing it from the North, but keeping the suppliers as local as possible gives you the truely fresh taste). Other than from Los Combos, two brands you’ll most likely be famliar with are Xanceda from Galicia and Pastoret (a dairy from Lleida, Catalunya that makes the non-fat yogurt I mix with berries for breakfast each morning). Pastorert’s yofurt is perfectly smooth and creamy, even in it’s nonfat form.

They don’t just stop at the stuff you can take home: they have some homemade products to satisfy your need for Vitamin D. First is the fresh frozen yogurt with your choice of toppings. My personal pick is the batido (or milkshake), which can be made with whatever type of milk you want in a variety of flavors. Since I can only drink skim milk, I was elated and enjoyed one with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Strawberry and frutos rojos; ñam ñam indeed

Strawberry and frutos rojos; ñam ñam indeed

There’s also ecological horchata (that tiger-nut drink from Valencia that tastes like almond milk with a touch of cinnamon), both to have on the spot or to take home.

Get yourself into Cántaro Blanco. Then you’ll be answering the question “Got Milk” with a resounding “¡Síííííí!”

Cántaro Blanco Lechería

Address: Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 29
Tel.: +34 91 029 66 39
Metro: San Bernardo (Lines 2 and 4), Bilbao (Lines 1 and 4), and Tribunal (Lines 1 and 10)
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Website




Espadrilles: 3 places in Madrid to get your hands on one of Spanish footwear’s greatest items

Summertime is here, and while many of us have already done a little bit of vacationing, there’s a little Made in Spain thing that is made for a truly authentic veraniego: the espadrille (alpargatas). Before I spent a lot of time in Spain, my summer footwear was just about limited to flip-flops and other summer sandals (and let’s face it, they really hurt your feet, and in my case, your tolerance for them stands at zero when your heel cracks for the first time). But then when I walked around major Spanish beach towns, it wasn’t flip-flops that were the main shoe of choice: they were espadrilles.

Now wait, you’re probably thinking: All Spaniards wear the wedge ones everywhere? Nope (except for the woman at my gym who wears them on the exercise bike and to lift weights); there’s actually a lot more variety of them than the ones you normally see in New York, Miami, LA, London, or Palm Beach. You can find them in just about every shoe store around (and even in Zara!), but as a true proponent of finding things that are really authentic and handmade, here are three places where you can get your hands on them in Madrid, some more traditional and others more modern.

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1. If you’re looking for something traditional… Casa Hernanz

A few years ago, when I was an alpargata novice, I checked, like any good New Yorker does, The New York Times. I had seen an article about Casa Hernanz, just off Plaza Mayor. And this is without a doubt the most emblematic place to get espadrilles in Madrid, While we often tend to get concerned about a place’s proximity to Plaza Mayor because of the fear of it being a tourist trap, coming here, like going to the rooftop bar at The Hat or eating your way through the Mercado de San Miguel, is absolutely worth it (while an expensive relaxing cup of café con leche is not).

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Founded in 1840, and in the fourth generation, you’ll find the wide selection of threads and fabrics the family produces. And of course, the star product- the espadrilles themselves. It’s no wonder you’ll find a line out the door onto the street

...on a Friday at 10 AM

…on a Friday at 10 AM

Be sure to try everything on! You want them to be snug at first because they stretch out over time!

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Casa Hernanz
Calle de Toledo, 18
28005 MADRID
Tel.: +34 913 66 54 50
Hours: Mondays and Fridays 9:30 to 1:30 PM/4:30-8; Saturday 10-2 Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Metro: Tirso de Molina (Line 1), La Latina (Line 5)
Website

 2. If you’re looking for a “capricho” (to treat yourself)… Mintandrose

Modeling my Skorpios along the Alameda de Apodaca in Cádiz

Modeling my Skorpios along the Alameda de Apodaca in Cádiz

Mintandrose is a fairly new player in the espadrille market, but their 100% handmade models are making a splash not only in the fancier parts of Spain, but also abroad, including in American retailers such as Nordstrom and Anthropologie. With single-soled and double-soled models in a variety of hues (such as all black, white with a black tip, or marine blue with a white tip), this is your go-to for a splurge.

The main way to buy them is online, but in my experience the best thing to do is to try them on. You want them to be SUPER TIGHT because since they’re all made by hand, they’ll gradually grow looser (my first pair is now a little too big for my feet). They also make canvas models and the line has expanded to include sandals and bags.

Should you want to try them on, the website offers a list of stockists. I went and got one of my pairs at Etbang in Chueca (which I will have to go and write about at a later date).

Some of the selection of Mintandrose at Etbang

Some of the selection of Mintandrose at Etbang

Mintandrose
Online Shop
stockists
If you want to try them on go to…
Etbang
Calle Pelayo, 66
28004 MADRID
Tel.: +34 626 56 04 82
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30-2:30 PM, 5 PM-8:30 PM
Metro: Alonso Martínez (Lines 4, 5, and 10), Chueca (Lines 5)
http://etbang.com/
 

3. If you’re looking to go where the locals go (and for other shoes all year-round, too)… La Alpargatería

IMG_2936They say that Chamberí is one of the city’s most castizo, or authentic, neighborhoods, in this ‘hood (which is my favorite to live in) there’s a hidden gem of a store at La Alpargatería. If you associate García de Paredes with the Extranjería office where your drop off your prórroga paperwork, than just know that this street is so much better than that. A lot of my haunts happen to be on this very street, and when it’s time for my pairs of espadrilles in the summer, this is my spot. I bought my family matching ones for our family vacation last year in Greece; let’s just say that I got them converted (or at least that’s what I’d like to believe).

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The most basic model, which comes in a whole plethora of colors, is €7.50. That’s what I call a great quality/price example. My favorite color is crudo (which is a type of off-white) because it’s the perfect neutral tone that goes with most of my wardrobe, and it deals better with urban wonders that would get a white pair very dirty in no time. I’ve also gotten my black wedges there, perfect for those who like the idea of tying the rope up your ankles, but would rather buckle in at the top.

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They even have new models, which you can see in the picture above, that have a rubber sole as opposed to the traditional one. This is perfect for city-dwellers who love their espadrilles, but want a little bit more safety in their step.

La Alpargatería isn’t just a place for summertimes espadrilles; they also have Victoria sneakers, ballet flats (aka manoletinas) in a wide plethora of colors and fabrics (suede AND leather), and if you need some zapatillas de casa (because going barefoot in your piso compartido really isn’t going to fly), they’ve got you covered.

La Alpagatería
Web
Calle de García de Paredes, 74
28010 MADRID
Tel.: +34 913 08 32 11
Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM-2 PM/5 PM-8 PM; Saturdays 10 AM-2 PM
Metro: Gregorio Marañón (Lines 7 and 10)
 

Check out our new Made in Spain category for more on local designers and producers. And feel free to make some recommendations!  

You may also like our previous post on: Best Gifts from Madrid




Stunning Local Olive Grove Tour, in English! – Proyecto Los Aires

In 2013, biologists Guillermo and Laura – Spain’s newest generation of olive farmers – took over the family business and embarked on an innovative mission: to connect the local countryside with the city of Madrid and make farming a sustainable way of life once again.

How it all started:

Over a century ago, in a small town in the region of Toledo, Guillermo’s great grandfather planted his first grove of around 200 olive trees, and between the evenly spaced olive saplings grew rows of sun-drenched grapevines.

A hundred odd years later, only the footprints of the old vines are visible, but the olive trees have grown beautifully gnarled and twisted, with silver miniature leaves and shiny hard fruit, ready for the annual harvest of some of the tastiest organic extra virgin olive oil in Spain.

The centenarian olive trees

Guillermo and Laura’s story:

Olive farming has been in both of their families for generations, inspiring them to study biology at university, which is where they met. From early on, they drew sketches on scraps of paper illustrating grand ambitions to re-bond our booming capital with its rural backyard, enthusiastically telling anyone who will listen about the genius that is the organic farming ecosystem (it’s genius).

By mid 2014, their dream had gathered enough steam for them to quit their jobs and make Proyecto Los Aires their life, and for being in the midst of an economic depression, it’s incredible how much they’ve already achieved.

The tour:

On Saturday, we headed out to their stunning olive grove in Arcicóllar, about an hour south of Madrid. When we arrived, we met up with our fellow tour buddies and set off on our educational meander through the olive trees.

Guillermo and Laura led us around their oldest plot and explained the process of creating olive oil: from planting and harvesting to filtering and bottling. Their scientific angle on the entire practice is fascinating, but I won’t say any more – the oohs and aahs are all part of the fun!

The walking tour begins

Taking a closer look at the trees

After the walking tour (and tanning opportunity), we sat down at a shaded table nestled idyllically among the centenarian trees. It was time for the tasting. This involved professionally sampling several olive oils in little blue glass cups, and learning how to tell the difference between generic supermarket oil and top-quality organic oil such as theirs.

And then came the food and wine. Through local connections and friends and family, Guillermo and Laura brought together a plethora of Iberian foodie gems for us to eat. A mercado on a table came to mind, and our tour companions’ similarly delighted reactions included lots of “mmm”s and “oh my God”s and jokey squabbles over who liked the pumpkin morcilla most. We chatted, talking about Guillermo and Laura’s endeavours as well as our own, then gratefully accepted Guillermo’s offer of a top-up of wine to accompany our final wander through the trees (and take a few grove-selfies). Finally, we had the opportunity to buy some of the delicious products we tasted that day.

The tasting (and eating and drinking)

The quaintest little market stall in the world

After an eye-opening and mouth-watering experience, we said our goodbyes to the lovely Guillermo and Laura and hopped on the bus back to Madrid, desperate to get the word out to you!

The project explained:

Proyecto Los Aires aims to promote local agriculture by running educational tours & tastings on their farm and forging a direct link between urban consumers and the rural economy. Their oil (Los Aires Extra Virgin Olive Oil) can be found in gourmet shops such as Oleoteca Murúa at Mercado San Antón. Guillermo and Laura also regularly sell their oil in markets across Madrid such as Mercado de Motores, Mercado Central de Diseño, Nómada Market and Gastro Market. Next time you’re there, go and say hello!

Los Aires olive groves

How to get there:

The meeting point for the tour is the bus stop in the town of Arcicóllar (see location here). Regular buses (see timetable here) will get you there from Madrid’s Méndez Alvaro bus station in just over an hour. If you’re driving, it takes around 50 minutes from central Madrid.

Details & Contact Info:

Tours run year-round on any day of the week or weekend and must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

Facebook & Web

The website is in English and Spanish! For more information about the tour, pricing, and to book, click here.




Helena Rohner, handmade jewelry in the heart of La Latina

When you think of La Latina, you generally think of tapas, vermouth, the tortilla de patata with caramelized onions at Juana La Loca, and of course, El Rastro. You wouldn’t normally think of handmade jewelry, but on Calle del Almendro, just off of Cava Baja (by way of Grafal), you’ll find the Helena Rohner showroom.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Originally from the Canary Islands, Rohner bases her designs on the simplicity of shapes and pure lines. She mixes silver (there are gold-plated pieces as well) with a variety of materials (some of her pieces use porcelain, wood, and stones) to create simply beautiful designs. In addition to jewelry, Rohner has designed a variety of other products for companies such as Bodum and Georg Jensen. She’s also the 2014 winner of the Medalla de Oro en Bellas Artes.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Over the holidays, I stumbled upon her jewelry at The Hovse, an amazing pop-up shop a short walk from my then-apartment. I’m always on the lookout for something different, especially things made in Spain. And this is where it all began. I’m a sucker for jewelry since it’s normally something you can’t outgrow, well at least in theory. I was looking for little presents to bring to my parents and sister in New York and I love bringing things that they can’t get there.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

What captivated me when I stumbled upon her station that very fateful day? Bracelets with simple silver or gold-plated pieces on colored cord. I began trying everything on, and I was sold. I also found a gold-plated ring that was a band in the form of a fishtail braid; it was just my style and fit on the exact finger I was looking a ring for. After picking up some items for my parents, sister, and one of my best friends from home, I snagged most of my made-in-Spain Chrismukkah loot.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Once I got back, I knew that I wanted more and decided to take a trip to the studio and store. As you enter, you can see the center displays with all of the different styles with the workspace on the left and offices on the right.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

On my first visit, I was first drawn to the selection of bracelets that I had seen at The Hovse in various colors with simple shapes. There was a bright blue that I’m absolutely in love with (I have several pieces in that color), but the saleswoman guided me towards the granada cord (it’s a very pretty pink that contrast well, in Spanish, granada means pomegranate).

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

The bracelets on the colored cords are okay to wear in the shower and one of the saleswoman proudly reported that the silver pieces can be worn while swimming in the summer and can hold up well. In addition to those bracelets, I then got a bangle with a noted etching to fill a void left by one of my presents that broke. On subsequent visits, I got more bracelets like this, including a gold-plated circle on red cord. I also got a pair of small studs in the form of a knot (most earrings are sold individually). Other pieces I’ve snagged are a necklace with a knot pendant and another that can be worn as a headband (something I’ve definitely done to dress up my late-day ponytail on occasion. 

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

When you go to Helena Rohner, you’ll come out with more than you planned on getting, but trust me, you’ll never want to take them off.

Info

Website
Facebook

Calle del Almendro, 4
Metro: La Latina
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM-8:30 PM; Saturday 12:00-2:30 PM and 3:30-8 PM; Sunday 12-3 PM

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Salón des Fleurs – Flowers, Tea, and Vintage, Oh My!

Every day is Spring inside Salón des Fleurs. Step inside this quaint store that doubles as a florist and tea room, with a side of vintage products, and breathe in the fresh smell of flowers that are carefully displayed throughout the space.

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Twinkling lights adorn the large paneled windows, adding to the charm of this café, if you could even call it simply that. Bright pink, red, and orange flowers are displayed outside next to small tables for those wanting to soak up the sun in good weather.

Salón des Fleurs-Flowers, Tea, and Vintage, Oh My!-Naked Madrid

Sink into one of the comfy armchairs as you consider the all-encompassing tea list. There is nothing standard about the menu at Salón des Fleurs, descriptors such as “black tea,” and “green tea” are merely side notes offered to try to explain the flavoring of such teas as Apple Pie, Cookie, and Champagne and Strawberries.  Coffee is offered too, but with such exotic tea flavors, why bother?

Salón des Fleurs-Flowers, Tea, and Vintage, Oh My!-Naked Madrid

Served in beautiful painted mugs, the tea puts your morning Earl Grey to shame. If you’re looking for a side treat to indulge in, Salón des Fleurs offers cakes and desserts also, including a two-layered fluffy carrot cake topped with rich cream cheese frosting.

Once you have savored your tea as long as possible, explore the rest of the store a bit. There is more than meets the eye, and you might find yourself discovering little quirks throughout the store, such as the multiple clocks in unusual places, all displaying a different time.

Salón des Fleurs-Flowers, Tea, and Vintage, Oh My!-Naked Madrid

A spiral staircase leads to an upstairs vintage section, while the downstairs is more dedicated to the flowers, with a florist freshly cutting stems.

Like their alluring tea selection, Salón des Fleurs offers a variety of flowers, in bright colors, in pots, long stemmed; come here for any occasion and you won’t regret it. Don’t need flowers? Browse the vintage section or warm up with a mug of tea, any excuse to visit this charming spot will do.

Salón des Fleurs

Web & Facebook
Where: Guzman el Bueno, 106
Phone: 915 35 23 48
Prices: Tea, €2.6