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I was only there briefly and many, many years ago, but the Prado is a must for the Goya room alone.

The place I think about most often from our Madrid visit - aside form the museums and such - is La Venencia, an ancient sherry bar that used to be a left-wing hangout and which has a menu that consists of literally just sherry.

We'll spend five days in Madrid, starting late next week, as a prelude to six weeks in Morocco (see relevant thread). Wondering if anyone either living in the city or relatively familiar w/it has any specific bars (especially for Spanish natural wine), record stores (specifically for secondhand and rare punk/indie/postpunk/noise vinyl and CDs--bootlegs, too), restaurants, neighborhoods (thoughts on Malasaña and Lavapiés?), etc. to recommend. Definitely planning to eat at Angelita, Maitia, Sacha, and a natural wine bar called Bendito. Maybe hit the Thyssen and Prado if not a mob scene. Any thoughts on the various markets in the city? Oh yeah, the San Isidro festival will also be taking place. Thoughts on that? I should mention that I speak Spanish, as well, so potential language barriers at smaller businesses won't be an issue.Thanks.

Some genuine, popular Madrid food for locals (not gourmet/posh stuff): ¢ Brava sauce with potatoes and spanish omelette in Las Bravas, Ãlvarez Gato St ¢ Squid sandwich (do it!) in Botoneras St (several places) ¢ Chocolate and churros in Valor, Postigo de San Martín St ¢ Snails (yep!) in Los Caracoles, Toledo St ¢ Battered Cod in Casa Labra, Tetuán St ¢ Callos with chickpeas in El Lacón, Manuel Fernández y González St ¢ Cocido in La Bola, Bola St ¢ Fabada beans in Casa Hortensia, Fuencarral St

Prado - absolutely, for Goya and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights alone, and the rest of the collection is great.Reina Sofia - If you like Dali, Miro, Picasso it's a must. It's free on sundays, use the entrance on the Ronda de Atocha, for some reason the line next to the plaza is always huge.

Thanks for the museum info, particularly the Reina Sofia tip. I almost never visit museums when traveling abroad but the Prado, Thyssen, and perhaps Reina Sofia, as well, seem almost unmissable.Was La Venencia filled w/tourists, was it primarily local people, or was it a mix? I ask only b/c another friend of mine also recommended the place. I love sherry. Zipped thru Jerez back in 2001, and I drink a fair amount of it at home. It appeals to me far more than a gin tonic as a prelude to big, meaty Castilian meal.

agiant wrote:Some genuine, popular Madrid food for locals (not gourmet/posh stuff): ¢ Brava sauce with potatoes and spanish omelette in Las Bravas, Ãlvarez Gato St ¢ Squid sandwich (do it!) in Botoneras St (several places) ¢ Chocolate and churros in Valor, Postigo de San Martín St ¢ Snails (yep!) in Los Caracoles, Toledo St ¢ Battered Cod in Casa Labra, Tetuán St ¢ Callos with chickpeas in El Lacón, Manuel Fernández y González St ¢ Cocido in La Bola, Bola St ¢ Fabada beans in Casa Hortensia, Fuencarral StFuck, yeah. This is just what I needed, tío (or tía).Squid sandwich is already on my radar. Sounds like the best thing in the world to eat after bar-hopping, while on the go, or to/from the airport. And I have zero problems w/snails or tripe, so bring on the hangover-curing soul food. I'm gonna guess these are local tapas places? Or is this more like street food? Either way, I'm there...

OrthodoxEaster wrote:agiant wrote:Some genuine, popular Madrid food for locals (not gourmet/posh stuff): ¢ Brava sauce with potatoes and spanish omelette in Las Bravas, Ãlvarez Gato St ¢ Squid sandwich (do it!) in Botoneras St (several places) ¢ Chocolate and churros in Valor, Postigo de San Martín St ¢ Snails (yep!) in Los Caracoles, Toledo St ¢ Battered Cod in Casa Labra, Tetuán St ¢ Callos with chickpeas in El Lacón, Manuel Fernández y González St ¢ Cocido in La Bola, Bola St ¢ Fabada beans in Casa Hortensia, Fuencarral StFuck, yeah. This is just what I needed, tío (or tía).Squid sandwich is already on my radar. Sounds like the best thing in the world to eat after bar-hopping, while on the go, or to/from the airport. And I have zero problems w/snails or tripe, so bring on the hangover-curing soul food. I'm gonna guess these are local tapas places? Or is this more like street food? Either way, I'm there...Some are restaurants and others are bars. Squid sandwiches are usually takeaway (if you want).

OrthodoxEaster wrote:agiant wrote:Some are restaurants and others are bars. Squid sandwiches are usually takeaway (if you want).I don't suppose you'd know of any record shops that fit the criteria stated in my original post? We're staying near the Puerta del Sol, but we don't mind long walks one bit.Nope. I know several record shops but they are small and nothing special... My favourite one is Escridiscos, in Calle de las Navas de Tolosa. There are two more in this area, RNR Circus (it's ok) and Metralleta (I don't buy there, but you can try). In Conde Duque area (nice place), Radio City is also ok.

I also know where you can find a black TB500 hahaha(not kidding)