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Our favourites
The painted façade and arcades of the Casa de la Panadería on the Plaza Mayor

Neighbourhood guide · Madrid

Centro & La Latina: Our Favourites

The Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and the Almudena, cocido at La Bola and Malacatín, and the taverns of La Latina.

The back story

  1. Neighbourhood guide

    Centro and La Latina: the back story

    Centro·In depth

    Habsburg Madrid: the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, the Cava Baja and El Rastro.

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What to see and do

  1. Patrimonio Nacional

    Palacio Real de Madrid

    Palacio·Royal palace

    The Royal Palace, above the Campo del Moro, run by Patrimonio Nacional.

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  2. Beside the Royal Palace

    Galería de las Colecciones Reales

    Palacio·Museum

    The museum of the royal collections, beside the Royal Palace.

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  3. Facing the palace

    Catedral de la Almudena

    Palacio·Cathedral

    Madrid’s cathedral, facing the Royal Palace across the Plaza de la Armería.

    Calle de Bailén 10, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  4. The arcaded square

    Plaza Mayor

    Centro·Square

    The great arcaded square at the heart of old Madrid.

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  5. Kilometre zero

    Puerta del Sol

    Sol·Square

    The square at the centre of Madrid and of Spain’s road network.

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  6. Sunset over the Casa de Campo

    Templo de Debod

    Parque del Oeste·Egyptian temple

    An ancient Egyptian temple in the Parque del Oeste, opened to the public in 1972.

    Calle de Ferraz 1, 28008 MadridExplore View on map

  7. On Calle de Alcalá

    Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando

    Sol·Art academy and museum

    The royal academy of fine arts and its museum, near the Puerta del Sol.

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  8. Opera and ballet

    Teatro Real

    Ópera·Opera house

    Madrid’s opera house, facing the Royal Palace across the Plaza de Oriente.

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  9. Below the Royal Palace

    Campo del Moro

    Palacio·Palace gardens

    The gardens below the Royal Palace, entered from the Paseo Virgen del Puerto.

    Paseo Virgen del Puerto, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

  10. Templo de Debod and the rose garden

    Parque del Oeste

    Moncloa·Park

    The hillside park above the river, with the Templo de Debod and the rose garden.

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  11. Old Madrid

    Habsburg Madrid: the Plaza Mayor to the Royal Palace

    Centro·Town walk

    From the Puerta del Sol through the Plaza Mayor to the palace and the Almudena.

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  12. Sunday morning

    La Latina and El Rastro on a Sunday

    La Latina·Town walk

    El Rastro’s stalls in the morning, then the Cava Baja for vermouth and tapas.

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  13. Complete and open

    Canalejas

    Canalejas·Restoration

    Seven historic buildings between Sol and the Paseo del Prado, restored as a hotel and a galleria.

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Where to eat

  1. Two MICHELIN Stars

    Paco Roncero

    Sol·Creative

    Creative cooking at La Terraza del Casino, on Calle de Alcalá.

    Alcalá 15, 28014 MadridExplore View on map

  2. One MICHELIN Star

    Corral de la Morería Gastronómico

    La Latina·Modern cuisine

    Modern cuisine cooking with One MICHELIN Star, in La Latina.

    Morería 17, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

  3. One MICHELIN Star

    Gofio

    Centro·Contemporary

    Contemporary cooking with One MICHELIN Star, in Centro.

    Caballero de Gracia 20, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  4. Since 1870

    Taberna La Bola

    Centro·Cocido madrileño

    Cocido madrileño in clay pots, cooked over holm-oak charcoal.

    Calle de la Bola 5, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  5. Since 1895

    Malacatín

    La Latina·Cocido madrileño

    A family tavern in La Latina, serving cocido since 1895.

    Calle de la Ruda 5, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

  6. Since 1839

    Lhardy

    Sol·Traditional

    A 19th-century dining room and shop on the Carrera de San Jerónimo.

    Carrera de San Jerónimo 8, 28014 MadridExplore View on map

  7. Founded in 1725

    Restaurante Botín

    Centro·Traditional

    Roast suckling pig and lamb in a dining room founded in 1725.

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  8. Cava Baja

    Casa Lucio

    La Latina·Traditional

    The Cava Baja tavern known for huevos rotos.

    Cava Baja 35, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

  9. Bib Gourmand

    Trèsde

    La Latina·Contemporary

    Contemporary cooking at moderate prices, in La Latina.

    Cava Alta 17, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

  10. Since 1894

    Chocolatería San Ginés

    Sol·Chocolate and churros

    Chocolate con churros in a passage off the Calle del Arenal, since 1894.

    Pasadizo de San Ginés 5, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  11. Since 1894

    La Mallorquina

    Puerta del Sol·Pâtisserie

    The pâtisserie on the Puerta del Sol, famous for its napolitanas.

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Bars

  1. Since 1931

    Museo Chicote

    Gran Vía·Cocktail bar

    The classic cocktail bar on the Gran Vía, opened in 1931.

    Gran Vía 12, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  2. Above the Círculo de Bellas Artes

    Azotea del Círculo

    Calle de Alcalá·Rooftop bar and restaurant

    The rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, with views along the Gran Vía and Alcalá.

    Calle de Alcalá 42, 28014 MadridExplore View on map

  3. Shows nightly

    Corral de la Morería

    La Latina·Flamenco tablao

    Flamenco on Calle de la Morería, with a MICHELIN-starred dining room.

    Calle de la Morería 17, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

Shopping

  1. Luxury houses and a food hall

    Galería Canalejas

    Canalejas·Luxury galleria

    A luxury galleria in a 19th-century bank between Sol and the Paseo del Prado, with a food hall.

    Plaza de Canalejas 1, 28014 MadridExplore View on map

  2. Since 1901

    Capas Seseña

    Sol·Capes

    The Madrid house of capes, making them since 1901.

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  3. Sundays and holidays

    El Rastro

    La Latina·Street market

    The Sunday street market of the Ribera de Curtidores.

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  4. Beside the Plaza Mayor

    Mercado de San Miguel

    Centro·Food market

    An iron-and-glass market hall beside the Plaza Mayor, now a food hall.

    Plaza de San Miguel, 28005 MadridExplore View on map

Where to stay

  1. In the Canalejas block

    Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

    Canalejas·Grand hotel

    A grand hotel in the Canalejas block, between Sol and the Paseo del Prado.

    Calle de Sevilla 3, 28014 MadridExplore View on map

  2. Plaza de Celenque

    The Madrid EDITION

    Sol·Design hotel

    A design hotel on the little Plaza de Celenque, steps from the Puerta del Sol.

    Plaza de Celenque 2, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  3. Private and shared rooms

    Generator Madrid

    Gran Vía·Hostel

    A hostel just off the Gran Vía, with private rooms as well as dorms.

    Calle de San Bernardo 2, 28013 MadridExplore View on map

  4. By the Plaza Mayor

    The Hat Madrid

    La Latina·Hostel

    A hostel on Calle Imperial, a minute from the Plaza Mayor.

    Calle Imperial 9, 28012 MadridExplore View on map

Health and wellness

  1. Beside the Plaza Mayor

    Hammam Al Ándalus Madrid

    Centro·Arab baths

    Arab-style baths of warm, hot and cold pools, by the Plaza Mayor.

    Calle de Atocha 14, 28012 MadridExplore View on map

Share your Centro & La Latina tips

Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.

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