Agbar Tower
Avenida Diagonal, 211, Barcelona
The outrageous, bullet-shaped Agbar Tower, designed by a French architect in 2005 for the Agbar Corporation, can be seen from the Barcelona flea market.
Alejandro Fauquie Antiguedades Diseño
Quevedo, 6, Madrid
Antiques and interior design - designs his own collection of furniture and custom pieces for clients
Alma Sevilla Hotel Palacio Villepanés
Calle Santiago, 31, Seville
Originally a private mansion for the Marques de Villapanés in the 18th century, now a 5 star hotel; historic elements are beautifully combined with 21st century technology and luxury.
Ana Abascal – Patricia Medina Antiguedades y Decoracion
Calle Fernández y Gonzáles, 15, Seville
Antiques (mostly from France) and interior design firm; some tasteful new home accessories
Bakelita
Cervantes, 26, Madrid
European antiques and contemporary art
Bar La Bulla
Calle Dos de Mayo, 28, Seville
Best tapas in town - menu written on blackboard in entrance; modern space, lively atmosphere.
Bar Lobo
Carrer Pintor Fortuny 3, Barcelona
Breakfast, lunch, tapas, dinner, drinks - in other words, great food and drinks, anytime of the day. Cozy wooden tables with mismatched chairs and a long leather banquette with throw pillows; high ceiling hung with paper lanterns and industrial pendants. Outside seating, too.
Barcelona Cathedral (Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia)
Plaça de la Seu, Barcelona
The 14th century cloister of Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, in Barcelona, is an enchanting oasis of palm trees and lush gardens encircling a mossy pond. The geese there are descendants of geese that have lived there for five centuries. Legend has it that there have always been thirteen white geese, each goose representing one year in the life of the martyr Saint Eulàlia, the young virgin tortured to death in 303 by the Romans for her Christian religion, and for whom the cathedral is named. Her body is said to be buried beneath the altar.
Barcelona Flea Market [Mercat Els Encants Vells
]
Carrer Dos de Maig 186, Barcelona
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 9 - 15:00 Said to have its origins in the 14th century, this crazy flea market is in a large parking lot, where old and new merchandise is piled up and strewn over the ground. The backdrop is the outrageous, bullet-shaped Agbar Tower (designed by a French architect in 2005 for the Agbar Corporation.) Don’t miss the funky buildings adjacent to the open market, with open stalls jammed, floor to ceiling, with odds and ends.
Batavia
Calle de Serrano Anguita, 4 28004 Madrid Spain
Contemporary furniture and home accessories
C42 Retro Design
Calle Correduria, 42, Seville
Antiques and handmade jewelry out of chandelier crystals Jewelry: www.cocotears.com
Café Lisboa
Calle Reyes Católicos, 67, corner of Plaza Nueva
Tourists and locals alike share the outside tables at Café Lisboa, on the busy, people-watching corner of Plaza Nueva. I highly recommend breakfast (of the English or Spanish variety).
Open 7.30am – 11pm
Carmen Muñoz
Calle Justiniano, 8, Madrid
Bespoke hand painted porcelain and ceramic dinnerware, and glassware - classes available to paint your own.
Casa Anselma
Calle Pagés del Corro, 49
Not to be missed local flamenco bar. Doors open just before midnight on Saturday night. (Don't be alarmed when you get there 10 minutes early and the building is shuttered and silent.) Enter into a high-ceilinged room where every inch of the walls are covered with paraphernalia from the history of Sevilla. Take your seat in the rows of wooden chairs, order a drink, and prepare to be dazzled by the local musicians, singers, and flamenco dancers, led by Anselma. Stay until the end, when the lights go out and the entire room sings “Ave Maria” to the lighted Madonna statue. Sat: 12:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Casa Batlló
Passeig de Gràcia 43, Barcelona
Casa Batlló in Barcelona is not just a house, it is evidence of the exhuberant vision of a genius. Antoni Gaudí's extraordinary 1904 project is referred to by the locals as Casa dels ossos or the House of Bones, because of the bone-like stonework on the exterior. Gaudí’s inspiration for Casa Batlló was the sea, so he designed a house with no straight lines…The walls are undulating curves, tiles are rounded, wood is carved into smooth, rounded shapes. Not to be missed.
Casa Camper
Carrer Elisabets 11, Barcelona
You’ve got to love a hotel where you get two rooms for the price of one: a bedroom with en suite bathroom, and a lounge across the hall…with a hammock. In the arty El Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. 24-hour buffet in the lobby where guests can help themselves to fresh fruit, salads, and sandwiches, hot soup, desserts, snacks, and a variety of hot and cold beverages.
Casa de Madrid
Calle Arrieta, 2, Madrid
Stay in the apartment of designer, architect, and curator, Marta Medina - in a landmark 18th century building on the Plaza de Isabel II, around the corner from the Plaza de Oriente and Royal Palace. Seven rooms, each decorated in exotic decor inspired by Medina’s travels, including India, Japan, Greece, and Syria. Every inch of this delightful house is stacked with books or filled with fascinating art and collections. With the use of the lounges and library, you are a houseguest in the most delightful home.
Casa de Pilatos
Plaza de Pilatos, 1, Seville
15th century Moorish palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli; you are free to explore the main level, but have to join a (short) guided tour of the upstairs (no photos allowed).
Concha Ortega
Moratin, 14 (and across the street), Madrid
Great collection of European antiques - also restores furniture
Don Flamenco
Leon, 17, Madrid
Handmade flamenco shoes
El Contenedor
Calle San Luis, 50, Seville
Delicious restaurant (menu changes daily) with funky decor
El Imparcial
28012, Calle Duque de Alba, 4, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Beautifully designed restaurant with fantastic food in the historical building of the 1930's newspaper, El Impartial. Intimate rooms, stunning painted paper and in one corner, a shop full of "cultural artifacts" that catch the —kitchenware, decoration, editions of photography and artist's books.
M-F 12:00 to 8:30
Sat, Sun 11:30 to 8:30
El Ingenio
Carrer Rauric 6
, Barcelona
Rumored to be artist Salvador Dali’s favorite Barcelona store - Floor to ceiling shelves overflowing with all things magical: papier-mâché masks and puppets, wigs and costumes, clown apparatus, balloons and bags of confetti, and all the trappings and trickery needed to become the next David Copperfield.
El Mentidero Café
Huertas, 68, Madrid
Drinks and tapas bar
El Pianillo Antigüedades
Calle Feria, 15
Small antique store along the market route
El Rastro Flea market
Barrio de Embajadores, Madrid
Said to be the largest flea market in Europe, with up to 3500 different stalls, it extends through several streets in one of the city's oldest working-class neighborhoods. For antiques, start at Plaza General Vara de Rey, and work your way around the streets in that area.
El Transformista
Mira el Rio Baja, 18 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Fastvinic
Carrer de la Diputació, 251, Barcelona
Gourmet fast food - local, seasonal ingredients - great sandwiches, salads, and desserts and, the best part, a wine dispenser with a selection of local wines-by-the-glass - decor is mix of contemporary with rustic wood tables and vintage linen slipcovers.
Fernán Caballero
Pasaje de Vila, 13, Seville
Locally-made decorative paper products; stationery items. Don’t miss the marbleized paper fans.
Flash Flash Tortillería
Carrer de la Granada del Penedès 25, Barcelona
Hamburgers, steaks, salads, and 70 types of tortillas (omelets) are served up in a contemporary setting - white walls painted with black fashion model silhouettes and white leather banquettes. (Leopoldo Pomés, a well-known fashion photographer, is part owner.)
Fundació Joan Miró
Parc de Montjuïc, Barcelona
The works of Joan Miró, one of Barcelona's most famous 20th century artists, are displayed in this building in the Parc de Montjuïc. (The gallery itself is a piece of modern art.) Be sure to get the audio guide to get the full experience.
Gallery Travesía Cuatro
San Mateo, 16, Madrid
Opened in 2004 by Inés López-Quesada and Silvia Ortiz. Represents emerging international artists.
Gallio Ristorante
Plaza de Bib-Rambla, 14, 18001 Granada, Spain
Italian and Spanish cuisine. Good homemade pizza.
Hotel Casa 1800 Granada
11, Plaza Benalúa, 18010 Granada, Spain
Housed in a charming 17th-century building, this upscale hotel is a 6-minute walk from Granada Cathedral and sits in a quiet neighborhood just below the medieval Alhambra palace. It's on a tiny pedestrian street, so take a bus or taxi to Plaza Nueva and walk from there.
Hotel Claude
Casco Antiguo Calle San Francisco No.5 , Marbella, 29601
Once the summer residence of Empress Eugenia de Montijo ( wife of Napoleon III), it became an artist's club in the 1970s and 80s. The name "Claude" is in memory of the late opera singer Claude Devoize, who lived here back in the 70s and 80s, hosting countless soirées and cultural gatherings.
Now a boutique hotel with seven uniquely designed suites and a fabulous roof garden.
Hotel Hospes Madrid
Plaza de la Independencia, 3, Madrid
Boutique hotel near Parque del Retiro; walking distance to Prado
Iglesia de Santa Ana
Vázquez de Leca, 1 Triana, Seville
Oldest church in Seville, dating from 1280. Tradition has it that every woman who kicks ‘El Negro’, a 16th-century tomb that has tiles depicting a recumbent knight, will find a husband. (Needless to say, the tomb has a lot of broken tiles.)
Il Tartufo
Calle Tetuan 9 bajo Tel. +34 951 08 73 23 Tel. +34 635 347 391 Marbella 29600, Spain
If you need a change from tapas, check out this fantastic Italian restaurant on charming Tetuan Square.
Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 11.30pm. Reservations recommended.
Il Tavolo Verde
Calle Villalar 6, Madrid
Cozy coffee shop in the lovely neighborhood of Salamanca. Homemade organic food. Decorated with antiques and art that are also for sale.
Indigo 50
Moratin, 59, Madrid
Mid-century modern antiques; new shop; view to cellar at entrance
José Onieva
Pardo Bazán, 27, Madrid
Bronze sculptor; gallery/shop in house. Call for appt.
La Brocanterie
Rodrigo de Guevara, 2 El Rastro, Madrid
La Cacharreria de Seville
Calle Regina, 14, Seville
Cozy café serves up food with organic ingredients. Don't miss tostada caliente (hot toast) with cheese, ham, and a sprinkling of raisins, nuts, and herbs - choose your condiments from two different kinds of homemade jam, honey, and homemade salsa. Add to that a cup of tea with fresh mint and lemon.
La Europea
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 11 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
La Musa Latina
Costanilla de San Andrés, 12 Plaza de la Paja, Madrid
Fabulous contemporary tapas (including sliders, BBQ, Asian-inspired empanadillas, and french fries with various dips). Rustic wood tables and chairs and tile “bleachers” surrounding a slick modern stainless steel bar.
La Rambla
Between Barri Gòtic and El Raval, Barcelona
Large pedestrian boulevard - lined with shops, restaurants, flower stalls, and many costumed characters hoping to make money by having their photograph taken.
La Recova
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 7 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
La Sagrada Família
Corner, Carrer de Mallorca & Carrer de Sardenya
Hands down, a MUST SEE. The magnificent basilica has been under construction since 1882 and was Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí's life work.
Living like a pauper, Gaudí devoted the last twelve years of his life to the structure. When he was run over by a tram in 1926 just a few streets from his beloved building site, his body was mistaken for a beggar’s and he was left to die.
Only one facade of the basilica was finished when Gaudì died. It is scheduled to be completed in 2026—the centennial of his death. Gaudí said that his client, God, was in no hurry—but I'm sure he couldn't imagine it would take 100 years to finish.
Once complete, it will feature eighteen towers dedicated to religious figures including the Virgin Mary and the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Their varying heights are designed to reflect their hierarchy.
Buy tickets online ahead of time.
LA Studio
Calle Arganzuela, 18 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Le Café du Belle Bonbon
Huertas, 69, Madrid
Try the “roscon de reyes” - cake layered with fluffy cream.
Lio Vintage
Calle Bastero, 21 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Lola Caótica
Moratin, 26, Madrid
Shop filled with Lola’s fabulous art - painting, lithograph, etchings, and multi-media. She’s a great character.
Lou & Hernandez Objetos Y Decoration
Arganzuela, 13, El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Mercadillo de los Jueves
Calle Feria, Seville
Thursday mornings, starting at 7, until around 2
Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza de San Miguel, Madrid
Former 19th century iron and glass Beaux-Arts market, renovated in 2009. 33 vendors - selling all varieties of tapas, wine and beer, pastries, produce, fish - hunt and gather and then sit down at one of the picnic-ready steel tables and stools - most inexpensive eating option in Madrid.
Mercado La Boqueria
La Rambla 91, Barcelona
Large, colorful food market with origins in the 13th century.
Modernario
Santa Maria, 20, Madrid
Primarily mid-century modern antiques
Museo de Prado
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, Madrid
Don’t miss: Bosch “The Garden of Earthly Delights” and “Table of the Seven Deadly Sins”, Room 56A; Brueghel “The Triumph of Death” , Room 56A; Velázquez paintings, Rooms 9 - 12; Zubarán “Still Life with Four Vessels”, Room 10A; Rubens “The Adoration of the Magi”, Room 28; Goya paintings, Rooms 64 - 67 and 32 - 38; Rembrandt “Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes”, Room 16B; Temporary exhibitions in the stunning new Jerónimos Building; Lunch in the Prado Café; Make your own high quality digital prints in Prado Shop - Impresión a la Carta, Print on Demand - touchscreen where you choose the painting from the Prado’s Permanent Collection - select image size, material, finish and/or frame; select take away or home delivery
Museo del Romanticismo
San Mateo, 13, Madrid
Decorative arts museum in 18th century palace. Don’t miss the dollhouse towards the end, with its holographic residents dancing, sweeping the floors, preparing meals, playing the piano, and welcoming guests.
Museo Sorolla
Paseo del General Martínez Campos, 37, 28010 Madrid, Spain
Charming home and studio of artist, Joaquín Sorolla. Wonderful garden.
NH Collection Victoria
Puerta Real de España, 3, 18005 Granada, Spain
A magnificent early 20th-century corner building with a classical-style façade, the iconic NH Collection Granada Victoria is in the very heart of Granada, walking distance to all the sights and restaurants of Granada.
Nice Things
Calle Lagasca, 49; Calle Argensola, 3, Madrid
Spanish-designed women’s clothing
Non Vacui
Calle Mira el Rio Alta, 8 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Oliphant
Calle Santa Teresa, 7, Madrid
Women’s clothing
Olofane
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 11 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques and custom lamp shades
Park Güell
Carmel Hill
A public park composed of fanciful architectural structures and sculptures designed by Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí. In 1900, Count Eusebi Güell commissioned Park Güell and hired Gaudí to create a miniature city of houses for the wealthy in landscaped grounds.
Parole
Carcía de Vinuesa, 24, Seville
Clothing and accessories, some by local designers
Petit Appetite Bar/Café/Bistró
Monte Esquinza 1, Madrid
Fabulous made-to-order salads; organic ingredients
Pizza Ravalo
Plaça Emili Vendrell, 1, Barcelona
Fabulous pizza in cozy room with large wall of chalkboard graffiti, outdoor terrace seating
Populart
Pasaje de Vila, 4, Seville
Massive collection of vintage ceramics and antiques in a maze of tiny rooms
Redhouse Art and Food
Calle Amor de Dios, 7, Seville
It’s a restaurant, it’s an antique store (even the tables and chairs you sit on are for sale), it’s an art gallery - all in a lofty, industrial space; stop for pastries and coffee or tapas and wine.
Reno Antigüedades Siglo XX
Calle Mira el Rio Alta, 7 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Royal Alcázar Palace
Patio de Banderas, Seville
The historical evolution of the city in the last millennium can be seen within the walls and gardens of the palace, from the Arabic period, late Middle Ages, through to the Renaissance, Baroque and the 19th century. Not to be missed for the stunning iconic ceramic tile and lush gardens.
Sabater Hermanos
Plaça Sant Felip Neri 1, Barcelona
Run by the third generation of soap makers, it's like a candy shop of soap - every shape, size, and scent you can imagine.
Schilling Café-Bar
Carrer Ferrán 23, Barcelona
Trendy bar/ café during the day (perfect for a shopping break) and lively bar at night; also a gallery for work by local artists.
Tablao El Arenal
Calle Rodo, 7 Barrio del Arenal, Seville
Best formal flamenco show in Sevilla. You have the option of dinner and show, tapas and show, or drink and show.
Tesla Antiquedades
Santa Maria, 17, Madrid
Beautifully styled collection of unique European antiques
The Principal Madrid
Calle Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Located on the Gran Via, possibly the most well-connected street of the Spanish capital, The Principal Madrid is a stone's throw away from Puerta del Sol, the Fine Arts Circle, Cibeles, and Puerta de Alcalá as well as the renowned museums (Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen), important buildings, and parks. In short, this is the best address in town and with the best views. Housed in a 1917 Spanish Renaissance style building, the hotel is in line with the splendidly quirky Art Nouveau and Art Deco façades found on Gran Via (“the great lane”). My favorite design detail was the brilliant idea to hang random old portraits on the walls, in their original frames, some still with ancient price stickers on the canvas.
TRÄ
Calle Pelayo, 52, Madrid
Great men’s and women’s clothing store in former art gallery, European designers
“Attitude about forms, colors, structures, beauty, simplicity, quality”.
Transit Concept Store
Calle Barquilla, 43, Madrid
Men and women’s clothing and accessories
Bar Lobo
Carrer Pintor Fortuny 3, Barcelona
Breakfast, lunch, tapas, dinner, drinks - in other words, great food and drinks, anytime of the day. Cozy wooden tables with mismatched chairs and a long leather banquette with throw pillows; high ceiling hung with paper lanterns and industrial pendants. Outside seating, too.
Fastvinic
Carrer de la Diputació, 251, Barcelona
Gourmet fast food - local, seasonal ingredients - great sandwiches, salads, and desserts and, the best part, a wine dispenser with a selection of local wines-by-the-glass - decor is mix of contemporary with rustic wood tables and vintage linen slipcovers.
Flash Flash Tortillería
Carrer de la Granada del Penedès 25, Barcelona
Hamburgers, steaks, salads, and 70 types of tortillas (omelets) are served up in a contemporary setting - white walls painted with black fashion model silhouettes and white leather banquettes. (Leopoldo Pomés, a well-known fashion photographer, is part owner.)
Mercado La Boqueria
La Rambla 91, Barcelona
Large, colorful food market with origins in the 13th century.
Pizza Ravalo
Plaça Emili Vendrell, 1, Barcelona
Fabulous pizza in cozy room with large wall of chalkboard graffiti, outdoor terrace seating
Schilling Café-Bar
Carrer Ferrán 23, Barcelona
Trendy bar/ café during the day (perfect for a shopping break) and lively bar at night; also a gallery for work by local artists.
Agbar Tower
Avenida Diagonal, 211, Barcelona
The outrageous, bullet-shaped Agbar Tower, designed by a French architect in 2005 for the Agbar Corporation, can be seen from the Barcelona flea market.
Barcelona Cathedral (Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia)
Plaça de la Seu, Barcelona
The 14th century cloister of Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, in Barcelona, is an enchanting oasis of palm trees and lush gardens encircling a mossy pond. The geese there are descendants of geese that have lived there for five centuries. Legend has it that there have always been thirteen white geese, each goose representing one year in the life of the martyr Saint Eulàlia, the young virgin tortured to death in 303 by the Romans for her Christian religion, and for whom the cathedral is named. Her body is said to be buried beneath the altar.
Casa Batlló
Passeig de Gràcia 43, Barcelona
Casa Batlló in Barcelona is not just a house, it is evidence of the exhuberant vision of a genius. Antoni Gaudí's extraordinary 1904 project is referred to by the locals as Casa dels ossos or the House of Bones, because of the bone-like stonework on the exterior. Gaudí’s inspiration for Casa Batlló was the sea, so he designed a house with no straight lines…The walls are undulating curves, tiles are rounded, wood is carved into smooth, rounded shapes. Not to be missed.
Fundació Joan Miró
Parc de Montjuïc, Barcelona
The works of Joan Miró, one of Barcelona's most famous 20th century artists, are displayed in this building in the Parc de Montjuïc. (The gallery itself is a piece of modern art.) Be sure to get the audio guide to get the full experience.
La Sagrada Família
Corner, Carrer de Mallorca & Carrer de Sardenya
Hands down, a MUST SEE. The magnificent basilica has been under construction since 1882 and was Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí's life work.
Living like a pauper, Gaudí devoted the last twelve years of his life to the structure. When he was run over by a tram in 1926 just a few streets from his beloved building site, his body was mistaken for a beggar’s and he was left to die.
Only one facade of the basilica was finished when Gaudì died. It is scheduled to be completed in 2026—the centennial of his death. Gaudí said that his client, God, was in no hurry—but I'm sure he couldn't imagine it would take 100 years to finish.
Once complete, it will feature eighteen towers dedicated to religious figures including the Virgin Mary and the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Their varying heights are designed to reflect their hierarchy.
Buy tickets online ahead of time.
Park Güell
Carmel Hill
A public park composed of fanciful architectural structures and sculptures designed by Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí. In 1900, Count Eusebi Güell commissioned Park Güell and hired Gaudí to create a miniature city of houses for the wealthy in landscaped grounds.
Barcelona Flea Market [Mercat Els Encants Vells
]
Carrer Dos de Maig 186, Barcelona
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 9 - 15:00 Said to have its origins in the 14th century, this crazy flea market is in a large parking lot, where old and new merchandise is piled up and strewn over the ground. The backdrop is the outrageous, bullet-shaped Agbar Tower (designed by a French architect in 2005 for the Agbar Corporation.) Don’t miss the funky buildings adjacent to the open market, with open stalls jammed, floor to ceiling, with odds and ends.
El Ingenio
Carrer Rauric 6
, Barcelona
Rumored to be artist Salvador Dali’s favorite Barcelona store - Floor to ceiling shelves overflowing with all things magical: papier-mâché masks and puppets, wigs and costumes, clown apparatus, balloons and bags of confetti, and all the trappings and trickery needed to become the next David Copperfield.
La Rambla
Between Barri Gòtic and El Raval, Barcelona
Large pedestrian boulevard - lined with shops, restaurants, flower stalls, and many costumed characters hoping to make money by having their photograph taken.
Mercado La Boqueria
La Rambla 91, Barcelona
Large, colorful food market with origins in the 13th century.
Sabater Hermanos
Plaça Sant Felip Neri 1, Barcelona
Run by the third generation of soap makers, it's like a candy shop of soap - every shape, size, and scent you can imagine.
Casa Camper
Carrer Elisabets 11, Barcelona
You’ve got to love a hotel where you get two rooms for the price of one: a bedroom with en suite bathroom, and a lounge across the hall…with a hammock. In the arty El Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. 24-hour buffet in the lobby where guests can help themselves to fresh fruit, salads, and sandwiches, hot soup, desserts, snacks, and a variety of hot and cold beverages.
Café Lisboa
Calle Reyes Católicos, 67, corner of Plaza Nueva
Tourists and locals alike share the outside tables at Café Lisboa, on the busy, people-watching corner of Plaza Nueva. I highly recommend breakfast (of the English or Spanish variety).
Open 7.30am – 11pm
Gallio Ristorante
Plaza de Bib-Rambla, 14, 18001 Granada, Spain
Italian and Spanish cuisine. Good homemade pizza.
Hotel Casa 1800 Granada
11, Plaza Benalúa, 18010 Granada, Spain
Housed in a charming 17th-century building, this upscale hotel is a 6-minute walk from Granada Cathedral and sits in a quiet neighborhood just below the medieval Alhambra palace. It's on a tiny pedestrian street, so take a bus or taxi to Plaza Nueva and walk from there.
NH Collection Victoria
Puerta Real de España, 3, 18005 Granada, Spain
A magnificent early 20th-century corner building with a classical-style façade, the iconic NH Collection Granada Victoria is in the very heart of Granada, walking distance to all the sights and restaurants of Granada.
El Imparcial
28012, Calle Duque de Alba, 4, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Beautifully designed restaurant with fantastic food in the historical building of the 1930's newspaper, El Impartial. Intimate rooms, stunning painted paper and in one corner, a shop full of "cultural artifacts" that catch the —kitchenware, decoration, editions of photography and artist's books.
M-F 12:00 to 8:30
Sat, Sun 11:30 to 8:30
Il Tavolo Verde
Calle Villalar 6, Madrid
Cozy coffee shop in the lovely neighborhood of Salamanca. Homemade organic food. Decorated with antiques and art that are also for sale.
La Musa Latina
Costanilla de San Andrés, 12 Plaza de la Paja, Madrid
Fabulous contemporary tapas (including sliders, BBQ, Asian-inspired empanadillas, and french fries with various dips). Rustic wood tables and chairs and tile “bleachers” surrounding a slick modern stainless steel bar.
Le Café du Belle Bonbon
Huertas, 69, Madrid
Try the “roscon de reyes” - cake layered with fluffy cream.
Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza de San Miguel, Madrid
Former 19th century iron and glass Beaux-Arts market, renovated in 2009. 33 vendors - selling all varieties of tapas, wine and beer, pastries, produce, fish - hunt and gather and then sit down at one of the picnic-ready steel tables and stools - most inexpensive eating option in Madrid.
Petit Appetite Bar/Café/Bistró
Monte Esquinza 1, Madrid
Fabulous made-to-order salads; organic ingredients
Gallery Travesía Cuatro
San Mateo, 16, Madrid
Opened in 2004 by Inés López-Quesada and Silvia Ortiz. Represents emerging international artists.
Museo de Prado
Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, Madrid
Don’t miss: Bosch “The Garden of Earthly Delights” and “Table of the Seven Deadly Sins”, Room 56A; Brueghel “The Triumph of Death” , Room 56A; Velázquez paintings, Rooms 9 - 12; Zubarán “Still Life with Four Vessels”, Room 10A; Rubens “The Adoration of the Magi”, Room 28; Goya paintings, Rooms 64 - 67 and 32 - 38; Rembrandt “Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes”, Room 16B; Temporary exhibitions in the stunning new Jerónimos Building; Lunch in the Prado Café; Make your own high quality digital prints in Prado Shop - Impresión a la Carta, Print on Demand - touchscreen where you choose the painting from the Prado’s Permanent Collection - select image size, material, finish and/or frame; select take away or home delivery
Museo del Romanticismo
San Mateo, 13, Madrid
Decorative arts museum in 18th century palace. Don’t miss the dollhouse towards the end, with its holographic residents dancing, sweeping the floors, preparing meals, playing the piano, and welcoming guests.
Museo Sorolla
Paseo del General Martínez Campos, 37, 28010 Madrid, Spain
Charming home and studio of artist, Joaquín Sorolla. Wonderful garden.
Alejandro Fauquie Antiguedades Diseño
Quevedo, 6, Madrid
Antiques and interior design - designs his own collection of furniture and custom pieces for clients
Bakelita
Cervantes, 26, Madrid
European antiques and contemporary art
Batavia
Calle de Serrano Anguita, 4 28004 Madrid Spain
Contemporary furniture and home accessories
Carmen Muñoz
Calle Justiniano, 8, Madrid
Bespoke hand painted porcelain and ceramic dinnerware, and glassware - classes available to paint your own.
Concha Ortega
Moratin, 14 (and across the street), Madrid
Great collection of European antiques - also restores furniture
Don Flamenco
Leon, 17, Madrid
Handmade flamenco shoes
El Rastro Flea market
Barrio de Embajadores, Madrid
Said to be the largest flea market in Europe, with up to 3500 different stalls, it extends through several streets in one of the city's oldest working-class neighborhoods. For antiques, start at Plaza General Vara de Rey, and work your way around the streets in that area.
Indigo 50
Moratin, 59, Madrid
Mid-century modern antiques; new shop; view to cellar at entrance
José Onieva
Pardo Bazán, 27, Madrid
Bronze sculptor; gallery/shop in house. Call for appt.
La Brocanterie
Rodrigo de Guevara, 2 El Rastro, Madrid
La Europea
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 11 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
La Recova
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 7 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
LA Studio
Calle Arganzuela, 18 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Lio Vintage
Calle Bastero, 21 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Lola Caótica
Moratin, 26, Madrid
Shop filled with Lola’s fabulous art - painting, lithograph, etchings, and multi-media. She’s a great character.
Lou & Hernandez Objetos Y Decoration
Arganzuela, 13, El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Modernario
Santa Maria, 20, Madrid
Primarily mid-century modern antiques
Nice Things
Calle Lagasca, 49; Calle Argensola, 3, Madrid
Spanish-designed women’s clothing
Non Vacui
Calle Mira el Rio Alta, 8 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Oliphant
Calle Santa Teresa, 7, Madrid
Women’s clothing
Olofane
Plaza General Vara de Rey, 11 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques and custom lamp shades
Reno Antigüedades Siglo XX
Calle Mira el Rio Alta, 7 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Tesla Antiquedades
Santa Maria, 17, Madrid
Beautifully styled collection of unique European antiques
TRÄ
Calle Pelayo, 52, Madrid
Great men’s and women’s clothing store in former art gallery, European designers
“Attitude about forms, colors, structures, beauty, simplicity, quality”.
Transit Concept Store
Calle Barquilla, 43, Madrid
Men and women’s clothing and accessories
Casa de Madrid
Calle Arrieta, 2, Madrid
Stay in the apartment of designer, architect, and curator, Marta Medina - in a landmark 18th century building on the Plaza de Isabel II, around the corner from the Plaza de Oriente and Royal Palace. Seven rooms, each decorated in exotic decor inspired by Medina’s travels, including India, Japan, Greece, and Syria. Every inch of this delightful house is stacked with books or filled with fascinating art and collections. With the use of the lounges and library, you are a houseguest in the most delightful home.
Hotel Hospes Madrid
Plaza de la Independencia, 3, Madrid
Boutique hotel near Parque del Retiro; walking distance to Prado
The Principal Madrid
Calle Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Located on the Gran Via, possibly the most well-connected street of the Spanish capital, The Principal Madrid is a stone's throw away from Puerta del Sol, the Fine Arts Circle, Cibeles, and Puerta de Alcalá as well as the renowned museums (Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen), important buildings, and parks. In short, this is the best address in town and with the best views. Housed in a 1917 Spanish Renaissance style building, the hotel is in line with the splendidly quirky Art Nouveau and Art Deco façades found on Gran Via (“the great lane”). My favorite design detail was the brilliant idea to hang random old portraits on the walls, in their original frames, some still with ancient price stickers on the canvas.
El Mentidero Café
Huertas, 68, Madrid
Drinks and tapas bar
Il Tartufo
Calle Tetuan 9 bajo Tel. +34 951 08 73 23 Tel. +34 635 347 391 Marbella 29600, Spain
If you need a change from tapas, check out this fantastic Italian restaurant on charming Tetuan Square.
Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 11.30pm. Reservations recommended.
El Transformista
Mira el Rio Baja, 18 El Rastro, Madrid
Antiques
Hotel Claude
Casco Antiguo Calle San Francisco No.5 , Marbella, 29601
Once the summer residence of Empress Eugenia de Montijo ( wife of Napoleon III), it became an artist's club in the 1970s and 80s. The name "Claude" is in memory of the late opera singer Claude Devoize, who lived here back in the 70s and 80s, hosting countless soirées and cultural gatherings.
Now a boutique hotel with seven uniquely designed suites and a fabulous roof garden.
Bar La Bulla
Calle Dos de Mayo, 28, Seville
Best tapas in town - menu written on blackboard in entrance; modern space, lively atmosphere.
El Contenedor
Calle San Luis, 50, Seville
Delicious restaurant (menu changes daily) with funky decor
La Cacharreria de Seville
Calle Regina, 14, Seville
Cozy café serves up food with organic ingredients. Don't miss tostada caliente (hot toast) with cheese, ham, and a sprinkling of raisins, nuts, and herbs - choose your condiments from two different kinds of homemade jam, honey, and homemade salsa. Add to that a cup of tea with fresh mint and lemon.
Redhouse Art and Food
Calle Amor de Dios, 7, Seville
It’s a restaurant, it’s an antique store (even the tables and chairs you sit on are for sale), it’s an art gallery - all in a lofty, industrial space; stop for pastries and coffee or tapas and wine.
Casa Anselma
Calle Pagés del Corro, 49
Not to be missed local flamenco bar. Doors open just before midnight on Saturday night. (Don't be alarmed when you get there 10 minutes early and the building is shuttered and silent.) Enter into a high-ceilinged room where every inch of the walls are covered with paraphernalia from the history of Sevilla. Take your seat in the rows of wooden chairs, order a drink, and prepare to be dazzled by the local musicians, singers, and flamenco dancers, led by Anselma. Stay until the end, when the lights go out and the entire room sings “Ave Maria” to the lighted Madonna statue. Sat: 12:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Casa de Pilatos
Plaza de Pilatos, 1, Seville
15th century Moorish palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli; you are free to explore the main level, but have to join a (short) guided tour of the upstairs (no photos allowed).
Iglesia de Santa Ana
Vázquez de Leca, 1 Triana, Seville
Oldest church in Seville, dating from 1280. Tradition has it that every woman who kicks ‘El Negro’, a 16th-century tomb that has tiles depicting a recumbent knight, will find a husband. (Needless to say, the tomb has a lot of broken tiles.)
Royal Alcázar Palace
Patio de Banderas, Seville
The historical evolution of the city in the last millennium can be seen within the walls and gardens of the palace, from the Arabic period, late Middle Ages, through to the Renaissance, Baroque and the 19th century. Not to be missed for the stunning iconic ceramic tile and lush gardens.
Tablao El Arenal
Calle Rodo, 7 Barrio del Arenal, Seville
Best formal flamenco show in Sevilla. You have the option of dinner and show, tapas and show, or drink and show.
Ana Abascal – Patricia Medina Antiguedades y Decoracion
Calle Fernández y Gonzáles, 15, Seville
Antiques (mostly from France) and interior design firm; some tasteful new home accessories
C42 Retro Design
Calle Correduria, 42, Seville
Antiques and handmade jewelry out of chandelier crystals Jewelry: www.cocotears.com
El Pianillo Antigüedades
Calle Feria, 15
Small antique store along the market route
Fernán Caballero
Pasaje de Vila, 13, Seville
Locally-made decorative paper products; stationery items. Don’t miss the marbleized paper fans.
Mercadillo de los Jueves
Calle Feria, Seville
Thursday mornings, starting at 7, until around 2
Parole
Carcía de Vinuesa, 24, Seville
Clothing and accessories, some by local designers
Populart
Pasaje de Vila, 4, Seville
Massive collection of vintage ceramics and antiques in a maze of tiny rooms
Alma Sevilla Hotel Palacio Villepanés
Calle Santiago, 31, Seville
Originally a private mansion for the Marques de Villapanés in the 18th century, now a 5 star hotel; historic elements are beautifully combined with 21st century technology and luxury.
