Winter in Madrid is very inviting: When I was there over the holidays, the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and it was in the sixties some days. One of the most happening areas to explore is the Las Salesas district. Just north of the well-known Chueca neighborhood, it's home to a new crop of design-oriented restaurants, shops, and hotels. Let me take you to five not to miss.
Photography by Pauline Egge.
Best Design Spot
Above: Definitely the most beautiful concept store in Spain, Do Design showcases art, fashion, and housewares in an airy space with a front counter set inside a wooden house and dressing rooms that look like striped beach cabanas. It also has a small cafe where you can drink coffee, take in a print show, and meet some of the most creative people in Madrid. Photograph via Do Design on Petite Passport.
Best Restaurant
Above: The Table By is a cool new pop-up restaurant in a grand 19th-century neoclassical building that was recently converted into the luxurious Hotel Urso. Every month, a different star Spanish chef presents the signature dishes of his or her restaurant. Through January 30, it's Fernando Canales of Etxanobe in Bilbao. The place is popular: Be sure to make a reservation. Photograph via The Table By on Petite Passport.
Best Breakfast Spot
Above: Whenever I go to Dray Martina, I find it hard to leave. They serve a good breakfast at the counter (I get the yogurt with granola, fruit, and honey), and the all-white space with its amber globe lights is equally a draw. And to keep customers lingering, there’s a reading table stocked with the latest magazines. Photograph via Dray Martina on Petite Passport.
Best Fashion Store
Above: Across the street from Do Design is Pez, a spacious store that sells women's fashion brands such as Humanoid, American Vintage, and IRO. I recommend the fluor sneakers by Golden Goose. In the basement, Pez offers things for the home, and Pez also has a superb menswear store just down the street. Photograph via Pez on Petite Passport.
Best Hotel
Above: The glam Only You Hotel & Lounge is the work of Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán. I like the check-in area the most: Old white suitcases are piled in a wall behind the desk, and the elevators are surrounded by blue-and-white Chinese tiles. Photograph via Only You Hotel & Lounge on Petite Passport.
Our new Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline lives in Barcelona and the Netherlands and spends much of her time crisscrossing the globe. For Remodelista, she'll be sharing her favorite design addresses, city by city. Have a look at her recent guides.
Go to our Design Travel posts for more.
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