Districts

SALAMANCA: DAYS OF WINE AND SHOPPING

The most fashionable neighbourhood in town offers endless options for luxury, gastronomy and nightlife. If style was contagious, just one day in the Salamanca neighbourhood would suddenly make everyone more elegant. Sadly, this is not the case, but if we pay attention we might find we’ve caught some of it symptoms at the end of the day.

Some of the most exclusive local and international luxury brands come together on its sidewalks. In Salamanca we can find the famous Milla de Oro (Golden Mile), a “brand” that encompasses shops in the Serrano, Velázquez, Ortega y Gasset and Juan Bravo streets.

Let’s imagine we start our day after a wonderful night in the apartment on Serrano Street, or in any of our flats that Flatsweethome has in the neighbourhood. If we wake up hungry, we just have to go down to Magasand, a gorgeous and original café in Columela Street. Here we can enjoy a varied menu of sandwiches, smoothies, coffee and tea, and we can also buy and read stimulating magazines.

Do we want to devout our morning to fashion? (One morning might not be enough). Then, let’s be on our way! On Serrano Street we can find Gucci, Prada, Loewe, Manolo Blahnik; and in Ortega y Gasset Street we come across Dior, Hèrmes, Dolce&Gabanna, Chanel, Armani, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton. Other symbols of Spanish luxury that we can see in this golden mile are Elena Benarroch, Elio Berhanyer, Josep Font, Hanibal Laguna and Ángel Schlesser.

Regarding multi-brand stores, it is essential to visit Delitto e Castigo, considered one of 25 Top Shops in the world by Vogue USA magazine! It’s on the Claudio Coello Street, and in it we can find ultra-trendy garments by Balmain, Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Haider Ackerman, Yohji Yamamoto, Jean Paul Gaultier o Phillip Lim.

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Foto: J Morán Moya

 Did the morning pass by in a blink? That’s the fashion virus! It’s midday, and it’s time to replenish strength. How about visiting Streetxo? It’s the “street” version of three-star (and Diverxo’s chef) David Muñoz’s kitchen, located at the Corte Inglés on Serrano Street. In this restaurant we can taste eclectic dishes such as crab chili with bell peppers, chipotles and palo cortado; or a Madrid-Hong Kong stew with tamarind on the grill. Are we looking for something more traditional but just as delicious? Mila’s grocery store is the best option!

We could go for a walk after lunch — After all, not everything’s going to be just shopping! The Salamanca neighbourhood, planned on the 19th century, has wide sidewalks and incredible mansions. From here we can see the square of the Marquis that gives its name to the neighbourhood; the Escoriaza, Saldaña and de los Castanedo palaces; and the Villota and de Taviel de Andrade mansions, just to name a few.

But who are we trying to fool, though? We’re in Salamanca, and we want to feel like Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s; so, we go to number 10 Ortega y Gasset Street to surround ourselves with the glow of diamonds. If jewels are our weakness, we can find Cartier, Bvlgari, and Suárez y Wempe on Serrano Street.

If we’re into gourmet shopping, then Mantequerías Bravo has everything we need. It’s a venue that’s been around for 84 years selling delicatessen liquors and wine. We can also find them in Lavinia, which has an extensive offer with the best local and international wineries.

Platea.NancyGreen

Foto: Nancy Green

Speaking of gourmet shopping… isn’t it time for dinner? Paraguas is a wonderful choice to taste the exquisite Asturian gastronomy. If we want to live a unique experience, we can visit Platea Madrid: a 6.000 m2 space located in an old theatre converted into a gastronomic market where we can eat, enjoy a concert, have a drink, and even dance. This venue houses a huge gastronomic offer. Also, it has 6 Michelin starts and 12 Repsol suns.

It’s time to rest. Tomorrow will be another day, and Salamanca will still be there.

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