{"id":212375,"date":"2025-06-25T05:52:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T05:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/212375\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T05:52:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T05:52:19","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-madrid-10-quirky-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/212375\/","title":{"rendered":"Best things to do in Madrid: 10 quirky ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Capturing the essence of La Movida Madrile\u00f1a \u2013 a countercultural movement that emerged during Spain<\/a>\u2019s transition to democracy in 1975 \u2013 is as challenging as defining the buoyant creative scene shaping Madrid<\/a> today. Both resist simple categorisation, united by an unyielding forward-looking spirit. The best way to experience the city\u2019s modern-day zeitgeist is by exploring its next-generation galleries, bold hospitality ventures and disruptive cultural hubs. While the city is justly celebrated for its Beaux-Arts architecture, centuries-old art collections, and vibrant tapas culture, Madrid continues to reinvent itself. Here are ten things to do to tap into the city\u2019s newfound energy.<\/p>\n

What to see and do in Madrid, SpainWhere to stayThe Madrid Edition<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Nikolas Koenig)<\/p>\n

The Madrid Edition<\/a> heralds a new chapter in the capital\u2019s luxury hospitality scene \u2013 more outr\u00e9 and colourful, yet no less detail-driven. Its 200 rooms and suites, some with terraces, showcase the Edition brand\u2019s unmistakable bold, contemporary style. Also present are vibrant food and beverage offerings, which include Oroya, the rooftop restaurant helmed by chef Diego Mu\u00f1oz. Dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, raw textures, and refined finishes define the property\u2019s visual language. Spearheading the design: founder Ian Schrager<\/a>, minimalist maestro John Pawson<\/a>, and Paris<\/a>-based designer Fran\u00e7ois Champsaur, whose combined genius brings fresh energy to the old heart of Madrid.<\/p>\n

The Madrid Edition<\/a> is located at Pl. de Celenque, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Where to eat and drinkGilda Haus<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Photography by German Saiz. Courtesy of Gilda Haus)<\/p>\n

Madrid-based Codoo studio might have been inspired by Gianfranco Frattini<\/a>, Nanda Vigo<\/a> and other 1970s Italian design pioneers, but this Madrid cocktail bar<\/a> is perhaps most distinctive for the metallic, high-gloss shade of pearl orange that floods its floor, walls and ceiling. Complemented by mirrored surfaces and touches of electric blue, the space is vivid, voluminous and seductive, its decoration celebrating functional urban design, from the office-style tube lighting to the stainless steel furniture, while carpeted floors and velvet curtains add a warmer touch. AR<\/p>\n

Gilda Haus<\/a> is located at C. de San Mateo, 6, 28004 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Mo de Movimiento<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Lucas Mu\u00f1oz Mu\u00f1oz Estudio)<\/p>\n

Bringing a flavour of environmental consciousness to Madrid\u2019s dining scene, the Lucas Mu\u00f1oz-designed Mo de Movimiento focuses on adaptive reuse and sustainable energy. The upcycled interiors include lighting pieces recovered from junkyards and seating forged from rubble and wood reclaimed during the site\u2019s renovation. A low-consumption temperature system uses water-filled terracotta pots to cool the air, while energy from the kitchen is reused for underfloor heating during colder months. AR<\/p>\n

Mo de Movimiento<\/a> is located at C. de Espronceda, 34, 28003 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n

SDD2<\/p>\n

Experimental sharing plates are served in this startling environment that mixes the energy of a slaughterhouse and a science lab with its white polythene counters, freezer-style lighting and multicoloured industrial boxes in the ceiling. Besides raw tuna jerky, aubergine with eel or cockles with seaweed, cuts of veal and Iberian pork go well with the display of meat hooks and butcher\u2019s knives. The owners also recently opened Sala Cero \u2013 a severe, stainless steel dining space designed with Madrid-based studios Yyplusplus and Caliper. AR<\/p>\n

SDD2<\/a> is located at CC. de la Virgen de los Peligros, 8, 28013 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

What to doAlbarr\u00e1n Bourdais<\/p>\n

Housed in a former Loewe <\/a>atelier dating back to the 1920s, Albarr\u00e1n Bourdais maximises the use of its high-ceilinged, multi-level, 600-square-metre space to present cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions, with artists often invited to create site-specific installations or immersive experiences. Superflex, H\u00e9ctor Zamora and Pedro Cabrita Reis have been exhibited over recent months, while a new solo show by Polish artist Angelika Markul \u2013 known for her large-scale installations that range from sculpture to video \u2013 is open until July 2025. AR<\/p>\n

Albarr\u00e1n Bourdais<\/a> is located at C. del Barquillo &, C. de San Marcos, 28004 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Cine Dor\u00e9<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Madrid Design Festival)<\/p>\n

Cine Dor\u00e9 is likely one of the most striking neighbourhood cinemas in the world, with residents of Atocha-Ant\u00f3n Mart\u00edn fortunate to enjoy easy access. This Art Nouveau venue, which served as a set in Pedro Almod\u00f3var\u2019s Hable Con Ella (2002), was originally built in the early 20th century as a \u2018socio-cultural\u2019 hall. In 1922, Spanish architect Cr\u00edspulo Moro Cabeza transformed it into a cinema. After a 26-year hiatus, it reopened in 1989 as the home for Filmoteca Espa\u00f1ola, the national film archive \u2013 since when it has played host to a variety of Spanish and international films in their original versions. Its original brick-orange fa\u00e7ade, meanwhile, tells the story of resistance and renaissance of 20th-century Spain.<\/p>\n

Cine Dor\u00e9<\/a> is located at C. de Sta. Isabel, 3, 28012 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

La Capsule spa at Brach Madrid<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Photography by Guillaume de Laubier)<\/p>\n

Found within the bustling arteries of Gran V\u00eda, a moment of calmness awaits at Brach Madrid hotel<\/a>, the Evok Collection’s second outpost after Paris. La Capsule spa is a soothing sanctuary that boasts a 20-meter indoor pool and cutting-edge treatments marrying holistic practices with advanced technologies, including a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, infrared sauna or LED photobiomodulation therapy. The 400 sq m space is a vision of gold and pure white by Philippe Starck<\/a>.<\/p>\n

La Capsule spa<\/a> is located inside Brach Madrid, Gran V\u00eda, 20, 28013 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Solo Independencia<\/p>\n

Expanding on the capital\u2019s golden art mile (the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums), Solo Independencia takes a bold leap into contemporary art. Conceived as an \u2018international art project\u2019 by Spanish entrepreneurs Ana Gerv\u00e1s and David Cantolla, Solo is devoted to \u2018fostering, supporting, and sharing today\u2019s artwork.\u2019 Its collection spans figurative painting<\/a>, kinetic sculpture, sound art, new media, and AI<\/a> creations, forming an otherworldly universe showcasing over 270 artists, including established names such as Ai Weiwei<\/a>, Takashi Murakami<\/a>, and Kaws<\/a>, alongside rising talents like Filip \u0106usti\u0107, Ana Barriga and Smack. The gallery\u2019s futuristic yet versatile design is the vision of architect Juan Herreros.<\/p>\n

Solo Independecia<\/a> is located at Pl. de la Independencia, 5, 28001 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Where to shopGaler\u00eda Canalejas<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Photography by Daniel Sch\u00e4efer. Courtesy of Galer\u00eda Canalejas)<\/p>\n

Moments away from the emblematic Madrid de los Austrias (the city\u2019s old quarter), Galer\u00eda Canalejas rises within the same grand edifice as the Four Seasons Madrid, where we also recommend booking a stay if you are after unparalleled luxury. Once known as the Palacio de la Equitativa, the new shopping centre was brought to life by the Spanish firm Estudio Lamela, while the sophisticated interiors were created by Parisian studio Carbondale. Over 8,000 square meters of National Heritage fa\u00e7ades and more than 16,000 historical artefacts, including Art Deco stained glass, intricate railings, marble accents, and ornate friezes, were preserved during the development. At its heart, a charming caf\u00e9 pays tribute to the traditional kiosks of 19th and 20th-century Madrid. Meanwhile, three elegant floors showcase an array of upscale fashion, beauty and jewellery boutiques, including Herm\u00e8s<\/a>, Jil Sander<\/a>, and Rolex<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Galer\u00eda Canalejas<\/a> is located at Pl. de Canalejas, 1, 28014 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

Wow Concept Serrano<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Culdesac)<\/p>\n

A department store but not as you know it \u2013 this multi-brand retail project aims to merge physical and digital experiences for a new generation of shoppers, with desirable, independent fashion and tech labels housed in a visually striking environment. Barcelona<\/a>-based External Reference designed the original Wow on Gran V\u00eda, while a second, seven-storey outlet in the swish Serrano neighbourhood is the work of Madrid\u2019s Culdesac, who created sculptural shapes, ambient lighting, fluid spaces and modular furniture that allows for versatile displays.<\/p>\n

Wow Concept Serrano<\/a> is located at C. de Serrano, 52, 28001 Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

A version of this article appeared in the April 2025 issue of Wallpaper*<\/a>.<\/p>\n