OCCUPATION: Co-founder of Baby Deli
MY STYLE: Our home is a mix of classic and contemporary. We love art and have a number of pieces by Spanish artists. During the day, I dress for style and comfort: shoes from Lubna and a chic dress from Zadig et Voltaire. I’ll dress up in Missoni and Christian Louboutin at night.
I LOVE MADRID BECAUSE: Madrid has great weather for spending time outdoors with kids. The city is full of outdoor restaurants and cafes where children are always welcome. I love how, on a cool summer evening, you will see families—children, parents, and grandparents—all dining al fresco at eleven o’clock at night.
Baby Deli
Pretty much a mother’s dream come true, Baby Deli is comprised of three components: a retail space for toys and clothes, a snack bar with healthful bites, and an educational center where children can engage in activities galore. Stacy Knoell, one of the founders, recommends some of her favorite edibles: “Make sure your snack includes my favorite vanilla PurNatur yogurt and a Natur-Frisk lemonade. Also take some organic and healthy snack foods with you for later like Organix’s Goodies Cheese and Herb Puffs and a Kidz fruit bar.”
Museo del Ferrocarril
Once a fully functional train station offering routes throughout Spain, Portugal, and beyond, this Railway Museum now showcases kid-friendly exhibitions of 19th century trains, clocks and engine parts, models, and historic footage. “There’s also a train for your child to ride!” says Stacy Knoell. Fun fact: the station’s façade also incorporates ironwork (circa 1880) by Gustave Eiffel, the structural engineer credited with designing the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
CaixaForum
This electric power station-turned cultural center is relatively new—especially in relation to its neighbor, El Prado; nevertheless, CaixaForum has quickly become a distinctive city landmark. Inside, you’ll find an auditorium, media library, bookshop, café, several exhibition spaces, and beautiful conference rooms available for rent. Especially eye catching is the “vertical garden” designed by French botanist, Patrick Blanc, whose other projects include the Quai Branly Museum in Paris and the New York botanical gardens, among countless others.
Living in London
Next time you need a break from café con leche, try getting your midafternoon pick-me-up at this authentic English tearoom. The painted china, Victorian décor, no-crust sandwiches, and over thirty varieties of tea will make you feel transported to the English countryside—if only for a couple of hours. And, you’ll be happy to know, a portion of the proceeds help support a school and hospital in Tanzania.
Isolee
This eclectic store conveniently combines fashion-forward clothes (including Maison Martin Margiela and See by Chloé), beauty items, groceries, music, coffee, and lots and lots of gift-worthy knickknacks—not to mention a Segway dealership. The lunches and snacks (think sushi, bagels, and smoothies) are on the pricey side, but the coffee is delicious and the Moët & Chandon champagne lounge, “Bubble Bar,” is an absolute must.
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.
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.
Chi Spa
Chi Spa offers a wealth of high-tech services—from vitamin-packed facials to rejuvenating peels to LPG cellulite treatments—not to mention good, old-fashioned waxing for women and men! The experts can advise on which services would be best for your beauty and wellness goals.
El Paraguas
El Paraguas’ focus on traditional Asturian cuisine (sourced from Spain’s northnmost coastline) might explain the abundance of clams and cod on the menu. Despite how crowded the place can get, serviced is known for being friendly and swift. Stacy Knoell loves to start the meal with the patatinas con yerna de huevo y trufa (patatin with egg yolk and truffles) and end with crema de yogur semihelada (semi-frozen yogurt).