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I have been living in Madrid since 2015. I wrote this article about my favorites places to get inspired, be creative, write and read. Madrid is a unique and special city for me. I hope you enjoy this post!
The most creative museum or gallery
Undoubtedly the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Alcalá 13), which is little known to tourists. It has magnificent paintings, drawings, and engravings by Francisco de Goya, including engravings of Los desastres de la guerra (“The Disasters of War”).
Goya was closely linked during his long life to the Royal Academy, which retains an exceptional collection of paintings representing his various stages. In addition, the Academy offers cultural activities, such as concerts, lectures, courses, and research projects, alongside other great masterpieces by the likes of Velázquez, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Zurbarán.
The café where you go to read, write or be inspired
The Café de Oriente (Plaza de Oriente 2) means thinking about the history of Madrid. The views from its terrace of the Royal Palace and the Plaza de Oriente give it a unique status in this elegant city. It can be the perfect place to read a few pages of a book, inspire some writing, or meet in quiet and cozy surroundings with a colonial and authentic atmosphere.
A restaurant with a difference
Olivia Te Cuida (Calle de Sta. Teresa 8) serves healthy and ecological food as if you were at your grandmother’s house. The presentation of their dishes makes it special, as well as the delicacy in the choice, quality, and combination of foods.
This place is infallible for those of us who love healthy and homely fare. From the first thing, in the morning they are busy serving breakfasts with good coffee, red fruit tarts, lemon, and meringue or chocolate with saffron. They have homemade jams, yogurt with muesli and pastries. It’s the perfect place for vegetarians and non-vegetarians to spend some time together.
The most creative neighborhood
It’s difficult to choose a specific neighbourhood when you live in the centre of Madrid. Malasaña, Barrio de las Letras, Chueca and La Latina are all fantastic places with artistic and cultural inspiration on each corner.
The center of Madrid has a historical, creative and at the same time very cosmopolitan charm, which means its neighborhoods have become perfect spaces for inspiration and creativity, where it’s easy to get lost and hard to get tired of walking and watching.
The store you can’t pass without going in
I have two favourite places that I love visiting in the Malasaña neighborhood, and they’re both bookstores:
The Librería Tres Rosas Amarillas (Calle del Espíritu Santo 12) is a small place I love visiting to find new creative works, especially the pop-up books that remind me of my childhood and the admiration I felt for colorful, illustrated stories. I often buy small poetry books that are easy to carry in my bag and that I can bring out any time I’m bored or in need of inspiration. This is a magical place that will stir the imaginations of young and old.
Libros Para Un Mundo Mejor (Calle del Espíritu Santo 13). The best thing about “Books For A Better World” is their cat Preta: although I’m not a cat lover, I love to go in and see if I can spot the beautiful cat sitting very elegantly amid the bookshelves. The store offers reading and writing workshops, as well as highly original books and gifts inspired by sayings in favour of a better world. Meanwhile, the black and glossy cat silently observes the visitors’ every move.