DEPARTURES 100 and fine,
DEPARTURES 100 and fine, English-inspired cuisine are also draws – and taste equally good with or without gin accompaniment. bristolbar.es The whitewashed, light-filled courtyard at Chueca's Only You a choice of hearty snacks in addition to a number of varieties of its namesake alcohol, vermouth, which is experiencing a renaissance across the city. plateamadrid.com 3 LA PANAMERICANA Peruvian cuisine is fusion at its best: first, the native and colonial diets melded; then came inspiration from Japanese, Italian and French immigrants – and it’s this mélange in dishes like octopus ceviche and sweet sushi that makes La Panamericana such a culinary delight, one heightened all the more by the simple, unpretentious surrounds. lapanamericana.es 4 LE COCÓ Hopping all day long, from breakfast to way past dinner, the airy atmosphere of Le Cocó offers soulful contemporary Spanish snacks, salads and delectable mains like grilled sardines with almonds or tuna tartar with avocado. Night owls will enjoy the stellar range of expertly mixed classic cocktails. lecocomadrid.com 5 MAMÁ FRAMBOISE It’s not just the savoury treats that are impossible to resist – sweets from the pâtisserie are also particularly difficult to forgo, especially those from perennially packed Mamá Framboise. Macaroons, pastries or fine cakes – almost every order here is torture because any choice made means missing out on all the other temptations. mamaframboise.com 6 DEL DIEGO Madrid’s nightlife options are ample and can be roughly divided into two groups: hyper-cool party destinations that disappear as quickly as they pop up, and places like Del Diego, a half-hidden treasure that’s now run by the second generation of the eponymous family. Unimpressed by gimmickry, Fernando del Diego and sons serve timeless classics with impeccable style – and the superb bartenders are always willing to create bespoke elixirs. deldiego.com 7 BRISTOL BAR Though some barkeepers are already foretelling the bust of the Spanish capital’s gin boom, at the moment the juniper-infused spirit is still the undisputed queen of Madrid’s nightlife, and nowhere serves it better – or in more varieties – than at British expat Ellie Baker’s Bristol Bar. And it’s not just the endless gin and tonic combinations that attract: brunch, tea The city at dusk as seen from The Balcony, the rooftop bar at Melia's Innside Madrid Suecia 8 THE BALCONY The 127-room Innside Madrid Suecia, a property by the Meliá group, may have just debuted, but its history beckons nevertheless: the edifice was once home to the storied Hotel Suecia, where Hemingway among others stayed, and which remains unbeatably central. Outfitted with contemporary verve throughout, its rooftop bar, The Balcony, is a magnet for locals who are drawn to the refreshing swimming pool, the extraordinary views and first-class cocktails on offer late into the night. melia.com 9 LE MARCHÉ AUX PUCES Translated directly from the French, this “flea market” is anything but: Swiss Armin Hildebrandt opened his boutique filled with stylish, offbeat men’s clothing and accessories on the site of a former book shop. The wood panelling and shelves have remained, but now they play host to Dries van Noten and Balenciaga in addition to a number of up-and-coming labels. +34 913 19 80 19 10 MALABABA A true Madrid original, Ana Carrasco and Jamie Lara’s Malababa is known across the country for its quirkily stylish handbags, jewellery and accessories. Every piece is made in traditional Spanish jewellery and leather workshops – and The soaring spaces at the new food market Platea international acclaim is slowly building. A shooting star. malababa.com 11 GUILLE GARCÍA-HOZ Mathematics-obsessed Guille García-Hoz has never forgotten his passion for numbers, and it remains obvious throughout his lighthearted interiors boutique, which boasts everything from unique wallpapers and contemporary Azulejo tiles to porcelain jewellery and modernised hunting trophies. guillegarciahoz.com 12 PEZ Ten-year-old Pez – comprising two shops, one for each gender, a stone’s throw from each other – has long been one of the city’s top addresses for stylish pieces from international labels like Humanoid or Masscob. Its carefully curated selections of jewellery, bags and accessories are also among the best in the city. pez-pez.es ♦ CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: © ONLY YOU HOTEL & LOUNGE , © PLATEA , DAVID RALITA 24 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM
DEPARTURES 100 GREEK CHIC Porto Heli, a Peloponnesian resort favoured by ship-owners and starlets in the 1970s, had slipped out of fashion until the arrival of Amanzo’e in 2012. Now the first ever Nikki Beach Hotel has upped the ante. The all-white resort overlooks a natural harbour big enough for superyachts. All 66 rooms have sea views, some with rooftop Jacuzzis, others with private plunge pools. The Beach Club takes laid-back hedonism to new heights, with its swim-up pool bar, leather daybeds lapping the water’s edge and private massage cabanas. Crisp, cool rooms have a retro feel, but come with high-tech touches: “high energy” and “low energy” mood lighting and music, a personalised mini-bar and unlimited free films. The Pearl rooftop lounge delivers top-notch sushi and mind-blowing sunsets – but in true Greek style, the party doesn’t get started until after midnight. Every night, the façade changes colour as resident and guest DJs play under the stars. nikkibeachhotels.com 16 STILL GOING STRONG The world’s oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botín, still serves up a rousing feast CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: HEINZ TROLL, © AVANTGARDE ACOUSTIC, JIMMY VILLALTA/VWPICS/REDUX/LAIF, JAMES RAJOTTE/NYT/REDUX/LAIF The Guinness Book of World Records authenticates the Madrid eatery’s claim to be the world’s oldest. What it doesn’t say is that this is also one of the city’s best nights out. Founded in 1725, and still using the original wood-fired oven, Botín serves tender suckling pig and lamb roasted in the Castilian manner – and not just to visitors: Madrileños cherish an ambience unchanged since Goya was a waiter here, and a hearty welcome from the third generation of the González family. botin.es 18 17 The new standard in digital all-in-one-horn systems, ZERO 1 is the latest in German brand Avantgarde Acoustic's long line of award winners. Uncompromisingly simple – and technically breathtaking – it offers the highest possible sound quality with extraordinary adaptability and ease of use. avantgarde-acoustic.de CONTACT PLATINUM CARD SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM 25
