about this guide
Meet Laura! She studied abroad in Madrid this past fall (and coincidentally stayed in the same homestay as the founder of Log). She's sharing the restaurants, cafés, nightlife, and gems that made her semester unforgettable.
the recommendations
Tramo
Really beautiful interior, fancier restaurant. Close to my homestay which was a nice find. Food and service were incredible but definitely a splurge meal.
La Casa del Abuelo
Close to the center of the city. A more local spot, not many tourists inside. Amazing Spanish tapas, the best Spanish tortilla I've ever had.
Laprospe Terraza Gastrobar
This is a bar/restaurant with outdoor seating. Great tinto de verano, a fun outdoor vibe, and a good place to start our evening. A cheaper choice 10–20 euros for dinner and directly by the metro.
Kohi
My absolute favorite coffee shop in Madrid. Definitely a hub with more international students because it is in an area where lots of study abroad kids frequent. Great coffee, really good pastries; however, there is limited seating. They have Wi-Fi but you are only allowed to use a computer on the weekdays.
En Bruto
Delicious café/brunch place. Computers also only permitted on weekdays and you have to sit at a designated table. Came here more for brunch than to work — was pretty affordable compared to brunch places in the U.S.
Salmon Guru
Famous cocktail bar in Madrid, very popular but not as fancy as I thought inside. Cocktails are 15 euros so they are more expensive. They brought us so many free potato chips, which was incredible.
Jack's Library
This is a speakeasy that we found. Ended up being super popular in our cohort. Sometimes it has an abysmal line and no photos allowed inside. Probably my favorite bar we went to. Comfy lounge inside but pretty expensive drinks. Worth going at least once.
Istar
Really expensive drinks (like 18 euros for a vodka soda) and really expensive tickets but if you know a promoter can get in for free. I actually really liked the interior (looks like a fancy cave), definitely a nicer club vibe so dress up a bit. Gets full really late (around 2ish).
Prado Museum
One of the most famous museums in Spain, went there with my drawing class and got to see beautiful famous paintings. This is a must-do at least once while you are in Madrid.
BAM Karaoke Box Luchana
A karaoke bar where each group gets its own room so you control the music you sing. Was a fun way to learn Spanish music.
El Rastro
Market that happens near La Latina metro stop on Sunday mornings. Get there right when it opens because the market/metro get really busy as the day goes on. Has vintage finds and also new clothes/things you can buy. Make sure to take cash.
★★★★★★4.6
Parque Retiro
Famous park in Madrid, great place to go to feel like you're away from the city. Really beautiful in the fall. You can row boats on the lake which is super fun.
Parque de Berlin
Smaller park near the neighborhood I stayed in. For a while they had a fair with rides in the fall. Was a nice place to sit and chill when there was good weather.
★★★★★★3.3
All of Laura's recommendations above are saved in this Google Maps list so you can use them while exploring Madrid. Soon on LOG, you'll be able to browse her full archive of experiences from the entire semester abroad.
