Madrid
Lisbon
Mezklum
€€
€€
(
16 Calle de Principe, +34 915 218 911
)
We all enjoy the odd breakfast in bed, so how about
extending the concept to lunch and dinner? At Mezklum,
you can recline on one of their giant mattresses, while
scoffing back plates of tapas.
La Castafiore
€€€
€
(
5
Calle del Marques de Monasterio, +34 915 322 100
) Do
you prefer tenor or soprano with your food? Find out at
this smart restaurant. All the waiting staff are classically
trained opera singers who love nothing better than
providing a different kind of accompaniment to your meal.
El Chapandaz
(
77 Calle de Fernando el Católico, +34 915
492 968)
Hide out in this upbeat ‘cave’ bar, complete with
low ceilings, jagged walls and dripping faux stalactites.
It’s a favourite among the student crowd due to the buzzy
atmosphere and cheap, giant goldfish-bowl cocktails.
Madrid Christmas market
at the central Plaza Mayor
is not short of a trinket or two. More than a hundred stalls
line up to sell all kinds of gifts and festive wear. A day’s
browsing should leave no stocking unfilled.
jack palfrey
Zaafran
€
€€€
(
7 Largo Dona Estefania, +351 213 558
894
) In a tale of two former Portuguese colonies, Zaafran
restaurant presents an exotic fusion of Goan India and
Mozambique cuisine. Have the
matapa de galinha
, a zesty
almond-milk-based chicken curry.
Restaurant Eleven
€€€€
(
Rua Marques Fronteira,
+351 213 862 211
) Named for its 11 founders, this gourmet
Mediterranean restaurant is celebrated for its daring
cuisine. The codfish in a confit of olive oil, pumpkin,
passion fruit and cumin is utterly devine.
Ze Dos Bois
(
59 Rua da Barroca, +351 213 430 205
) The
haphazardly-put-together look of this artsy space will
inspire and relax. When you’ve had your fill of people-
watching, check out the concert area after 11pm for some
alternative tunes from hip local indie bands.
Vasco da Gama Centre
For a wardrobe revamp, take
the metro to the Oriente stop and visit this vast, indoor
mall. It has all the big fashion labels.
suchi rudra
Find our full
guides on
easyJet.com/
guides
Get swept up in one
of Madrid’s many
Christmas fiestas
Head to the Vasco da
Gama Centre for some
retail therapy
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T H E G U I D E S