2022 discoveries: Madrid, Spain

Madrid is a great destination to visit in vibrant Spain. The capital city has a rich history. There is also gorgeous architecture, amazing restaurants, and incredible museums. It’s one of the many destinations that we personally visited this past year.

Over the past several weeks, we have been sharing with you some of our personal discoveries in 2022. These are places we have visited before – some are new hotels, new restaurants, but some are reliable favorites we love to see every time we visit. One of the reasons that Bella Vita does what it does so very well is that we are a travel planning company that works from personal experience. We have traveled to these places ourselves, eaten at these restaurants, slept in these hotels. The tours we recommend to our clients are ones that we’ve done with our partners, our families, our best friends. This ensures that any trip you plan with us will be seamless. Our decades of experience and knowledge as locals mean that your dream trip is something we can make come true.

Madrid is one of our favorite cities in Spain. It’s also the most visited city in this special country. There are endless amounts of great restaurants, bars and nightlife. The sites and things to see are plentiful, with something fro everyone from history to soccer buffs. There are also accommodation choices for any travel style and budget. This year, Bella Vita Travels visited Madrid. Here are a few of our personal favorites and new discoveries from 2022.

Hotels in Madrid

Urso 

This is a very special elegant and well appointed hotel. A great location in the Malasana district close enough to everything without being caught up in the crowds. There is also a lovely bar and restaurant plus great staff – the personalized attention makes it feel like they are there just for you. The JS Palace Suite, which we we personally stayed in, is a true experience itself.

Villa Magna

Beautiful, well-designed, recently re-opened property. Details like the special attention to clients from the service at the front desk to the restaurant staff make this place stand out. Amazing interior design (the showers are spectacular) and a standard that Rosewood properties always deliver. W love the neighborhood as well, a part of Madrid great for walking, shopping, and dining. Rosewood Villa Magna is a reason to make a stop in this wonderful city.

MO Ritz, Madrid

Truly one of the most elegant hotels in Europe. At this level a lot is expected but the MO Ritz Madrid exceeded all expectations. The staff were welcoming and friendly. The building is breathtaking, with all fittings feeling luxurious, modern and perfect. The rooms and suites overlooking the Prado have a ton of light. We also cannot forget the gorgeous indoor pool (and these adorable bathrobes).

Restaurants in Madrid

Ático Restaurant, The Principal Madrid

Ático is the “little sister” of two-star Michelin chef Ramón Freixa. However, though its in a luxury hotel, it delivers great food and a wonderful experience without the formality (and price) of what this impressive pedigree would indicate. It manages to be comfortably informal and elegant at the same time. Menu highlights include the strawberry gazpacho. We also loved the decadent suckling pig with grilled sweet peppers and eggplant. If you come before dark, diners will have a wonderful view over rooftops of Gran Vía in The Principal Hotel.

CEBO

The name of the restaurant, Cebo, means “bait.” The name is especially apt, as this place lures you in and gets you hooked. Think of Cebo as a buffet for all the splendors the Iberian peninsula has to offer. Try their Somos menu, expertly curated by chef Aurelio Morales, for a taste of the region’s best seasonal products elevated to their highest form.

Activities

Tablao Flamenco de Leones

Flamenco is a complex art form incorporating poetry, singing (cante), guitar playing (toque), dance (baile), polyrhythmic hand-clapping (palmas), and finger snapping (pitos). Flamenco began in southern Spain and after a long and very turbulent and often controversial history, it is now enjoying a cultural and artistic renaissance in Madrid.

Located right by the Puerta de Alcalá, this new flamenco venue and restaurant recovers the essence of the Cafés Cantantes of yesterday to offer a complete and exclusive experience of flamenco, popular art, and fine food, with daily performances of flamenco singing, music, and dance.

Under the artistic direction of Jonatan Miró, performances span all styles of flamenco, with a modern approach that unites tradition with avant-garde artistry thanks to leading international artists. As for its culinary proposal, it offers a selection of the best tapas as well as the purest Andalusian flavors of traditional Spanish cuisine.

Madrid, it is always a pleasure

Madrid is a cannot miss stop on your tailor made trip to Spain!

We hope that our new discoveries provided some travel inspiration for a future holiday. As always, its our mission and promise to make your Mediterranean travel dreams come true!

Contact us to start planning!