march-2012

150 | DESTINATION GUIDES More free monthly guides available at traveller.easyJet.com
Madrid
Spain
EXCLUSIVE Tse
Yang (Villa Magna, 22
Paseo de la Castellana,
tel: 914 311 888)
Undoubtedly Madrid’s
best Chinese fi nedining
experience. The
lavish interior is divided
by exquisitely carved
screens, while graceful
imperial scenes adorn
the walls. The menu
includes fresh seafood
with soy and ginger,
dim sum, Szechuanstyle
spicy chicken and
a particularly succulent
Peking duck.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY La
Escalera de Jacob
(9 Calle Lavapiés, tel:
915 391 044) This
intimate bar is just on
the edge of Lavapiés,
Madrid’s most diverse
neighbourhood. Enjoy
a snack from the tapas
menu and a glass of
wine while sitting on
the outdoor terrace.
LIVE MUSIC La
Cueva del Bolero (1
Calle Cid, tel: 914 315
229) Some excellent
cover bands, as well
as local pop and
rock bands, get the
crowd moving in this
underground bar.
Quench your thirst
from a good selection
of beers and drinks.
LATE & LIVELY
El Perro (15 Calle
Puebla) Try as you
might, you won’t fi nd
a more hedonistic and
fun night out than at El
Perro, as DJ and host
Jamie mixes on the
decks and everyone
gets on the dancefl oor.
THIS MONTH
SHOP Take a stroll
along the length
of Calle Barquillo
to discover trendy
fashion boutiques. At
No.18 is Gion, which
sells oriental-inspired
garments; at No.30,
Santa Rita has original
outfi ts for women;
and at No.34 is Callate
la Boca, with a vast
range of fab T-shirts.
SEE Don’t miss the
landmark exhibition,
The Hermitage in
the Prado Museum,
which fi nishes on 25
March. More than
70 masterpieces,
including works by
Picasso, Rubens and
Caravaggio, showcase
the treasures of one
of Russia’s most
important museums.
GO After visiting
the Royal Palace and
Opera House, pop
inside the Opera Metro
station. You’ll fi nd
the archaeological
remains of Madrid’s
medieval water
system, as well as
stone walls and wells.
ESCAPE Catch the
AVE train at Atocha
and, in just an hourand-a-half,
you can
be in Valencia. Have
a swim in the Med, eat
a seafood paella and
explore the Old Town.
NO WAY!
Around 1,000 years
ago Madrid was a
thriving Arab town with
hundreds of mosques.
Scott Adams
Majorca
Spain
DIALLING CODE +34
CURRENCY €
FLY FROM
Basel, Belfast
(BFS), Berlin, Bristol,
Dortmund, Edinburgh,
Geneva, Glasgow,
Liverpool, London
(LGW, LTN, SEN,
STN), Manchester,
Milan (MXP), Naples,
Newcastle, Paris
(CDG), Rome
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs €20.
Route 1 goes to
central Palma.
Tickets: €2. For Arenal
take bus No.21.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €15 O’Neill’s
(Carrer de Paris, Palma
Nova) If you fancy
great pub food served
in comfortable and
friendly surroundings,
O’Neill’s is the place
to head to. Expect topquality,
homemade
food and great two-forone
deals after 6pm.
Kitchen closes at 10pm
Monday to Saturday.
UP TO €30 La
Boveda (3 Carrer
Boteria, Palma, tel:
971 714 863) Probably
Palma’s best-known
and busiest tapas bar,
which means you may
have to wait to get a
table, as it only takes
bookings for the fi rst
sitting at 8.30pm.
Busy with tourists and
locals alike.
UP TO €50
Il Paradiso (243 Joan
Miró, tel: 971 103 379)
This Italian restaurant
is truly splendid and
unique in style. The
main dining room
boasts fl oor-to-ceiling
windows from which
you can view Cala
Major Bay, or you
can dine al fresco on
the spacious terrace.
Samples from the
menu include penne
paridiso served with
sautéed beef strips.
The mouthwatering
dishes are all served
with a smile, making
this a truly brilliant
dining experience.
EXCLUSIVE Villa
Italia (13 Camino
de San Carlos, Port
d’Andratx, tel: 971 674
100) Chef Christian
Catrina creates the
perfect combination
of Mediterranean and
international dishes,
carefully prepared and
beautifully presented.
Indulge on house
specialities including
a tasty tuna carpaccio
or sole encased in an
almond crust while
overlooking stunning
views of the port.
A truly memorable
experience.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Era
Café and Bar (338
Avenida Joan Miro,
San Agustin, Palma,
YO YOU WANT IT, , WE GO GOT IT!
WHETHER LAST MINUTE OR PEAK SEASON, WE ALWAYS
GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY WHEN YOU BOOK ONLINE.
tel: 971 404 359)
The perfect place to
start your evening.
Enjoy a pre-dinner
drink in super-cool
surroundings.
LIVE MUSIC Exit
Rock Bar (60 Calle
San Magin, Santa
Catalina, tel: 971 287
721) A rock bar with
various live-music
events throughout the
week and weekends,
Exit also off ers a fully
equipped recording
studio upstairs, if
you’re feeling that
little bit songful.
LATE & LIVELY
Abraxas (42 Paseo
Maritimo) Formerly
known as Pacha,
Abraxas is a force
to be reckoned with
and is undoubtedly
one of Palma’s fi nest
nightclubs. It boasts
two dancefl oors,
three bars, several
private areas and a
huge outdoor terrace
on which to chill
out and watch
the sunrise.
HOTEL
ROC LINDA
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
By Ca’n Pastilla
beach and resort,
this hotel has great
amenities and cool
rooms. Breakfast
included. From
€33, book at
hotels.easyJet.com.
THIS MONTH
SHOP Knox Design
are one of the island’s
top specialists in
interior design,
off ering original and
hand-selected pieces
from furnishings
to objets d’art and
quirky gift items
(knoxdesign.net).
SEE Mallorca’s
International Classic
Car Rally attracts
rally teams and
motor enthusiasts
from all over Europe.
Vintage vehicles
race along a 600km
route, including
a scenic coastal
section. Prizes
are also awarded
for the most
beautiful cars.
GO Plaza Mayor in
the heart of the city
is the perfect place
to sit, chill and watch
the world go by. With
street entertainers
and market stalls,
there’s plenty to keep
you occupied.
ESCAPE Take a trip
to Puig de Randa,
which rises 542m
above the plains of
Lluchmajor, and visit
three monasteries
built in the 13th
century. From the
terraces of Nuestra
Señora de la Cura,
you will experience
impressive views over
the entire island.
NO WAY!
Some 1.8 million
cruise ship
passengers passed
through Palma de
Mallorca in 2011.
David Anderson
Europcar guarantees easyJet passengers
great car rental deals. For your discounted
price book at
easyJet.com or visit
the Europcar desk.