Sometimes you walk into a restaurant and you can just sense that somebody has put their heart and soul into it. That’s exactly how I felt last Tuesday evening when visiting Atlantik Corner for the first time. From the little details, to the big concept that envelops their entire menu, no aspect of the dining experience had been overlooked; no aspect deemed too trivial.

Atlantik Corner is a Portuguese restaurant, but with a twist. There’s no cliched chicken peri peri on offer here. This is fusion cooking at its best. Unbeknown to me, Portugal has strong historical links with Brazil (that part I knew) but I wasn’t aware of their ties with Africa and India. So with flavours from these foreign lands having been thrown into the mix, the result is a menu that can only be described as a masterclass in uniqueness.

In Madrid there are hundreds, if not thousands of things to do on any given weekend. Doing a quick Google search for live music, for example, will show you multiple Top Ten lists of the most well-known spots. However, you won’t find a live music venue more intimate than that of Living Room Concerts. It’s just like it sounds: concerts held in people’s living rooms and you’re invited.

Born in, yes, a living room, it was Nichole Hastings’ idea to bring emerging and little known artists and their original music into the spotlight. In nomadic spirit, LRC moves around Madrid to different pre-approved flats in all barrios spreading new independent music around the city to as many guests as the particular living room (and guest list) can hold.

LRC has even put down roots in one fixed location in Malasaña, a cultural community center called el Salón del Artista. On arrival, be prepared to be ushered in with a warm welcome from the owner of the flat and then find a seat so you can comfortably listen to the original music and stories behind the songs from, often bilingual, artists.

Once inside, it’s easy to see that the diverse crowd has arrived expecting to meet new people and listen to original music that they couldn’t hear anywhere else.

During any given concert you could hear independent Spanish artists singing in English or a multicultural group singing in some combination of languages. Because of this, the concerts feel inclusive and not limited to any particular group or musical taste.

If you’re in Madrid alone or with friends, LRC will sit you within feet of an independent artist and among members of the Living Room Concerts’ community in Madrid.

Info

• Follow LRC on Facebook & Instagram
• To attend, the reservations work on the honor system but you do have to sign up through their Facebook page or their MeetUp.com page.
• Price: The event has a very reasonable cover which can be turned into a “cover + open bar” for 3 euros more. Towards the end of the concert you can make a donation which goes right to the artists you’ve just met.
• Links to artists who’ve recently performed: Taiacore, BeMyFiasco, David Roma 

By Caitlin Mackenzie

They say that practicing an attitude of gratitude is the key to a calm and content life. I’m never quite sure who “they” are when I make reference to them in this sort of context. I guess what I’m trying to say is that gratitude continues to be a buzz word for 2018, along with self care and lagom. Trust me, look ‘em up.

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Gracias Padre

• Facebook, Website & Instagram: @gracias.padre
• Address: Calle de José Ortega y Gasset, 55
• Phone: 910 66 00 85
• Metro: Lista

We also had a lagarto ibérico (a special cut of Iberian pork) served on top of a rich, velvety layer of yuca purée with white truffle. If you’re into truffle, this is your dish.

We rounded off the savory part of our meal with the Sicilian-style Iberian burger that was topped with provolone cheese and grilled onions, and came with a side of homemade fries.

Feeling completely satisfied and not overly stuffed, we couldn’t have asked for a better pork-filled experience! That is, until dessert came.

The chocolate salami cake with ice cream was the perfect finish – don’t worry, the only nod to pork in this dish was the fun presentation. After devouring every bite, we slowly finished off the delicious bottle of red. I don’t remember what type of wine it was, but it came recommended by Alex as a house special that night. So just make sure to ask your server for a suggestion!

So pork fans, La Porcinería should definitely be on your list.

Info

• Instagram, Website, Facebook
• Address: C/ Lagasca 103, Madrid
• Metro: Núñez de Balboa
• Phone: 910 33 38 74

Ever miss recess? Family game nights? Dedicating a whole day to just having a good time?

I don’t blame you—adulting is hard. Sometimes all I want to do is go back to being a kid, when I could completely lose myself in a game of cards or kickball and momentarily forget about the rest of the world. I miss the carefree way I made new friends and laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe—even with people I’d only just met.

Apparently, I’m not the only one suffering from this particular brand of nostalgia. A few years ago, the lovely and talented Majida Mundial (a longtime Madrid resident who hails from New York) decided to do something about it.

She created Let’s Go Ánimo, a company dedicated to helping people have fun, meet new friends, and release the inner child that lives on inside us all.

Majida, the founder of Let’s Go Ánimo, cracks up with The Playground participants.

Every month, Let’s Go Ánimo hosts The Playground, a night of board games and friendly competition that’s every bit as fun as it sounds. At first glance it may seem like your average expat networking night; it’s held on Thursday evenings on a trendy Malasaña street, everyone speaks English, and yes, there’s wine involved. But the similarities end there.

When you walk in the door, you’ll be placed on a team with other attendees who you’ll compete with throughout the night. The games are different every time—you might play Jenga, Scattergories, Cards Against Humanity, Limbo, Twister, or an endless number of other classics. The winner of each game is awarded points for their team, and at the end of the evening there’s a challenge round to crown the overall champion. Expect plenty of fun, prizes, and unlimited surprises. 

A fierce Twister competition puts players’ balance to the test.

Of course, there are some things that set The Playground apart from the game nights of your youth: namely, alcohol. The €10 entry fee includes a drink and a few small tapas, and you can buy more throughout the night if you’re still hungry (or thirsty). Beer, wine and tinto de verano are usually on offer.

If you’re shy or nervous about meeting new people, The Playground will leave you no choice but to let loose and get out of your comfort zone. Awkward icebreakers, dance-offs, improv activities… everything is fair game.

Pro tip: you’ll have more fun if you go all out and really get into it—apathy and introversion might be acceptable at a normal bar or networking night, but here they just won’t fly.

In addition to the monthly Playground events, Let’s Go Ánimo organizes special activities and celebrations throughout the year. Sometimes there’s a particular theme; the Christmas edition held in December featured a white elephant gift exchange, an ugly sweater contest, and no shortage of holiday cheer.

Participants strut their stuff in an ugly Christmas sweater fashion show.

Other past events have included picnics in the park and Thanksgiving-themed fun. Let’s Go Ánimo also offers corporate team building workshops, and Majida even teaches Sevillanas dance classes in English, if that’s your thing!

Stay up to date on upcoming events by joining the brand new Facebook group, The High-Vibe Tribe. According to Majida, “This group is being created to build an international family-like community of passionate people all over the world who believe that being an adult does not have to equal living a dull life, and that living the fulfilling life you dream of is not only possible but necessary!”

So if you’re tired of the same old language exchanges and afterwork meet-ups, and you want to try something totally new and unique, mark your calendar for the next edition of The Playground—or any of Let’s Go Ánimo’s events—and get ready to have the time of your life.

Info

• Facebook, Instagram & Website
• Location: El Salón del Artista, Calle de la Palma, 50
• Metro: Noviciado & Tribunal

The run-up to Christmas is undoubtedly (if you’re anything like me) a social whirlwind. I’m not quite sure where the need came from to see literally *everyone that you know* before Santa arrives; it’s almost as though we feel like the world might implode come December 25th.

In light of this, I often wind up feeling as though I’m over stretched having over committed. And therefore – rather than be filled with “Christmas cheer” – this quickly turns to “Christmas fear” as I realise I’ve spent too much time partying and not enough time purchasing (other people’s gifts that is).

However, there are some dates in the old diary that are no hardship to keep. In this case, it was dinner at the recently opened Sargo. Located in Barrio Salamanca – not my usual stomping ground, but in an area that I do aspire to spend more time in and around – Sargo felt like the sophisticated older sister to many of the restaurants that I tend to frequent.

I met my friend at the bar for a sparkly start (some gin-based fizz) and began to peruse the menu. It quickly transpired that whilst there were definite crowd pleasers to be found, innovation was the buzz word at Sargo with plenty of inventive options, of which I’ll elaborate on later.

For me, I’m all about the “three S’s” when I go out for dinner, so let me explain. Style, service and (lip) smackingly good food. It wasn’t wasted on me that the decor at Sargo was Pinterest worthy in terms of its prettiness and if I’m going to be sat still for hours, then I want something nice to look at.

On that note, next comes the service. It didn’t go unnoticed on myself or my dining companion that our waiter was incredibly attentive and essentially, he could’ve been plucked from the beaches of Rio. Pau was everything you’d want in a server, knowledgeable but not pushy. Friendly but not overbearing. Gorgeous but not so distractingly so that our food would go cold.

So onto the food, it passed the “S” test and then some. As I went with a veggie friend (we cover all food group bases) and tried A LOT of different things – what can I tell you, we were warming up for Christmas.

The standout dish for me was the sashimi de atún rojo, which was a work of art – quite literally, it was served upon a pintoresco. The concept of the menu is undoubtedly unique though – split into easy-to-read groups such as “de machete” – perfect for meat lovers and “de cuchara” which is ideal for those seeking comfort – which to be honest in these tiresome temps, who isn’t?

We bid the team at Sargo farewell having tackled the menu as a tag team and safe in the knowledge that we’d given their marvellously Mediterranean menu a good old bash.

If you’re looking for a spot that definitely isn’t style over substance, give Sargo more than just a glance. Set to become a darling of the Salamanca scene, set up camp now before the hordes arrive.

Info

• Facebook, Instagram, Website
• Address: Calle del General Diaz Porlier 57
• Metro: Lista
• Phone: 910 1066 57