OCCUPATION: Owner and director of Travesia Cuatro gallery
MY STYLE: Minimalist but feminine. Lots of Isabel Marant, Marlota, Yellow and Stone, Alexander Wang, Carven, and Margaret Howell. At home, I mix old furniture from flea markets with Danish design, contemporary art, and fabric with soft colors.
I LOVE MADRID BECAUSE: The weather is very good, and the light is beautiful. There are amazing museums, and the food is good. It’s not big, it’s not small; it’s the perfect size for a family. The countryside is close, and the ocean is not so far away.
Mamá Framboise
Mamá Framboise has fresh fruit tarts, flaky croissants, and all the other trappings you’d expect of Madrid’s first Parisian-style boulangerie. Tables in the small seating area can be hard to come by, but always worth the wait. If the choices overwhelm you, the toasted brioche with butter and marmalade is always a favorite!
Nextdoor
“Fusion” takes on a deeper meaning at Nextdoor, where chef David Muñoz melds traditional Japanese and Southeast Asian flavors with Korean-, Peruvian-, and even Creole-inspired elements. White lanterns glow from the ceilings, illuminating blocky wooden tables, exposed brick walls, and artfully presented dishes. “Very cool Japanese-Peruvian spot, and a great place to take clients and artists,” says Inés López-Quesada.
Travesía Cuatro
Still in its first decade of operation, Inés López-Quesada’s gallery, Travesía Cuatro, has already made a name for itself as a leading showroom for emergent and mid-career artists. López-Quesada and her business partner make a point of showing local work, but the gallery is ultimately international in scope.
In Bicycle We Trust
This full-service cycle shop offers electronic bikes, fixed gear styles, and cool vintage models in seafoam green and canary yellow. For those who already have a set of wheels, In Bicycle We Trust also offers technical services and a range of accessories—baby chairs, heavy-duty locks, Yakkay helmets, saddlebacks, and baskets among them. “We love to take our bicycles to Retiro Park,” says Inés López-Quesada. And conveniently, In Bicycle We Trust has a storefront right by the park, where you are free to test out the bike selection before buying.
Atrio
This Michelin-starred restaurant, housed within the Atrio Hotel, is certainly not lacking in culinary expertise, but its primary lures may be the modernized interiors and one-of-a-kind wine cellar. Once a 16th-century Iberian palace, the building has been respectfully modernized by the award-winning and Madrid-based architecture firm Mansilla + Tuñón. To compliment the ever-changing seasonal entrées is a selection of over 2,500 wines from 20 different countries—including a French bottle circa 1806 worth over €110,000!
Bar Tomate
At Bar Tomate, crispy duck, paper-thin pizza, and tapas are served out of a cavernous yet elegant space. Most of the tapas (including fried baby artichokes and panko-crusted asparagus) are only €8 each, so you can try lots of different varieties. If you’re into people watching, the rustic wooden tables at Bar Tomate may be packed with fashionistas, but you’re likely to see a foreign diplomat or two as well, as the restaurant is located near many of the city’s embassies and ministries.
Retiro Park
One of Madrid’s most popular attractions, Retiro Park, was once home to King Felipe IV’s 17th century royal palace. Since it became a public park in the 19th century, thousands have flocked to the beautiful grounds, taking in the monuments, sculptures, historical architecture, rose gardens, and even paddling in the boating lake. In the summer, Retiro Park offers free concerts and also hosts an annual book fair.
Clarita
Located in the up-and-coming TriBall area(short for the Ballesta Triangle), this bohemian café is sparsely furnished with long wooden benches and the occasional antique birdcage or flowerpot. Many come just for the coffee or a cocktail, but the menu also features kid-friendly hamburgers, cheese fondue, and brunch items. And while gin may not be a quintessentially Spanish drink, Clarita has an entire menu devoted to gin and tonics.