Food & Drink Archives - The Making of Madrid

A Foodie’s Guide to Usera: Madrid’s Hidden Culinary Paradise

Leave a Comment / Food & Drink, Neighborhood guides, Places to visit / 18th August 2025

The final instalment in my three-part series exploring Madrid’s vibrant Usera neighbourhood After exploring Usera’s fascinating history and must-see attractions in my previous posts, it’s time to dive into what might be the neighbourhood’s greatest treasure: its incredible food scene. As one of Madrid’s most multicultural districts, Usera offers an unparalleled culinary journey spanning continents—from […]

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Madrid’s Most Overrated Attractions

Leave a Comment / Art, Food & Drink, Places to visit, Practicalities / 31st March 2025

What’s Not Worth the Hype (and Where to Go Instead) Madrid is a stunning city brimming with history, art, and culinary delights, but let’s be honest—not every so-called “must-see” spot lives up to the hype. In my recent podcast, which you can listen to by clicking on the audio below, I explain why these overpriced

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A Wine Lover’s Guide to Drinking in Madrid

Leave a Comment / Food & Drink / 24th March 2025

Madrid is an excellent place to enjoy wine, not only because of the variety on offer but also because of the unbeatable prices. It’s a subject that came up when I recently interviewed Luke Darracott for my podcast. “Spain and actually, I would say Portugal are probably the best two in the world for price

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Madrid’s Unsung Wines

Leave a Comment / Food & Drink, Hidden Madrid / 17th March 2025

Most people associate Spanish wine with the Rioja or Ribera del Duero regions. So it comes as a surprise that Madrid DO (Denominación de Origen) produces some truly exceptional wines that deserve more recognition. This topic was top of the agenda during my recent podcast interview with Luke Darracott, co-owner of Madrid & Darracott –

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Madrid vs. Barcelona: Beyond Football

Leave a Comment / Architecture, Food & Drink, Language, Lifestyle / 11th February 2025

When you hear “Madrid vs. Barcelona,” the first thing that springs to mind is football, but if you look beyond the rivalry on the pitch, the competition between these two cities is equally fierce with residents of both convinced their hometown has the other beat. Having lived here for 12 years, I’m firmly team Madrid

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Madrid for Foodies

1 Comment / Food & Drink / 13th January 2025

Madrid’s culinary scene is constantly evolving, and there’s no better guide to the city’s food than Joy, a tour guide and Instagram star who has spent years exploring its markets, restaurants, and tapas bars. I recently interviewed her for my podcast, which you can listen to below but if you’re short on time, here’s a

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Why Is the Madroño Important to Madrid?

Leave a Comment / Church, Food & Drink, Legend, Medieval Madrid, The church / 23rd December 2024

The bauble-like red berries from the madroño tree emerge right around the time Madrid’s Christmas lights get switched on, making them seasonal but extremely easy to miss against the neon blare. However, if you look carefully you can find them all around the city. And you can certainly spot representations of the tree on everything

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Halloween vs Día de Todos los Santos

1 Comment / Food & Drink, Legend, The church / 28th October 2024

I love autumn in Madrid, the brutal summer is now an unpleasant sweaty memory and the scent of roasted chestnuts wafts through the crisp air reminding everyone that Día de Todos los Santos is drawing near. While Halloween dominates much of the Western world at this time of year, in Spain, a much more important

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A Romantic Weekend in Madrid

Leave a Comment / Food & Drink, Itineraries, Music, Places to visit, Practicalities / 2nd September 2024

Madrid is a city where romance thrives: from rooftop bars with breathtaking views, to passionate flamenco performances, to hidden gardens steeped in history. This guide to a romantic weekend in Madrid has everything you need, whether planning a surprise proposal, celebrating an anniversary, or just looking to escape together. From charming inns to candlelit dinners

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What to do on a layover in Madrid

Leave a Comment / Food & Drink, Infrastructure, Itineraries, Places to visit, Practicalities / 5th August 2024

Visiting Madrid but short on time? Whether you’re about to take a connecting flight or are in town for a conference at IFEMA, there are ways to maximise your precious few hours. All the itineraries suggested here take into account transport links ensuring you can easily whizz back to the airport at the end of

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