NEIGHBORHOOD AFTERNOON IN CHUECA
An afternoon in the neighborhood of Chueca.
You start by eating at Casa Salvador , which is one of those places where you don't need to invent anything: it's cool and you experience Madrid. It's a haven of authenticity amidst franchises, sex shops, and cocktail bars where, before you even step inside, you're offered an army of free shots in English. There you'll find Ángeles, Pepe's daughter, who continued what her uncle Salvador started in 1941. On the walls, you'll see pictures of Hemingway, Dominguín, a sheet of paper signed and dedicated by Anthony Bourdain, photos of all sorts of celebrities who keep coming back, and lots of bulls—paintings of bulls everywhere, a tribute to their signature dish, oxtail. You're unlikely to see more bullfighting in the neighborhood.
You approach Chueca Square , observe the atmosphere a bit and continue walking through Hortaleza , where there are always small shops worth looking at.
At Rughara you'll find clothes and quirky items; at Isolée , perfumes and designer goods; and a very special one at 13 Almirante Street: Tintoremus. We know you've been, but it's always worth going back.
For a coffee, there are many options: Café de la Luz, quiet and cozy, or the more modern HanSo .
If you like to read: Berkana is a classic; Tipos Infames combines bookstore and wine: get to know it before it closes, the news is that it has not survived its neighborhood, a shame; and if you walk a little further, Cervantes y Compañía is very special.
Looking for a cultural touch? The Museum of Romanticism is nearby and can be explored in a short time, or you could pop into one of the galleries in Salesas, where there are always small, unique exhibitions. If that doesn't appeal to you, the neighborhood's street art scene has plenty to offer.
To round off the afternoon, you can stop by a vinyl record shop near Gran Vía or head to Libertad 8 if you fancy listening to live music.
A whole afternoon: eat well, stroll, look at shops, have coffee, see some art and let the neighborhood do the rest.
