Paris1972-Versailles2003

I have done quite a bit of shopping over the years as always went along with my Mom or Wife. I am a lousy shopper just come in take pay and go, but they were much better, they knew where to get a bargain and good quality/price ratio items. Therefore, I am condensing several posts into one on my shopping in Madrid, part I !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

Madrid is a very compact city, most of the stores are located in the Centro or city center area,and for more upscale by the 
Salamanca district between Castellana and Principe de Vergara, and from calle de Alcalà to Calle Maria de Molina. The stores open from 10h to 21h with some open continuosly and others closing from 14h30 to 17h30 everyday, most however close on Sundays. You will see the hours are not all fix nor care for although they have improved over the years lol!

So let me bring you onwards to my shopping of many years or just new ones. The ZapShop at the Puerta Del Sol; it so happen this is now their newest and flagship store with the admin office on the upper levels! The prices were great as I got my pair of shoes ,and they were very comfortable!   The chain ZapShop has managed to sneak in the last year in the ‘prime’ areas of the center of Madrid. Zapshop, specializing in low cost footwear, has ten stores in the capital, almost all located in city center/downtown. However, it also occupies its lines with Pepe Milan, a brand based in Almansa (Albacete), with a higher price than its chain footwear. The company carries out its production in Elche (Alicante) and in Asia, mainly in China and introduces between twenty and thirty new models in stores every week. Webpage: https://zapshop.es/

The Moda Shopping Mall is located in the heart of AZCA, right between the emblematic buildings of Torre Picasso and Torre Europa very close to the Palacio de Congresos and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.  It is exactly on Calle General Perón, 40, semi-corner on Paseo de la Castellana 95, (where I always go in) in front of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. It has a convenient parking to facilitate the visit to the center that offers free stays depending on the days of the week.   It can be reached on foot on entrances at Paseo de la Castellana Castellana, 95, Calle deOrense, 22-24 , Plaza Carlos Trías or Calle General  Perón, 38-40. Moda means fashion, and that’s basically the kind of shopping this mall specialises in The 50 or so stores are not all for human fashion. Home decor features as well, and all the latest home fashion items are available. There is an antique gallery to add taste to your home decor, and contemporary Spanish art for that final perfect touch.  There are also several restaurants and cafés to relax in while you wonder how you managed to spend so much. I have come several times but to be honest never shop that I can recall,  just go for a relax AC period and eat out at Casa Carmen webpage: https://casacarmenrestaurant.com/restaurantes/moda-shopping/

The official Moda Shopping Mall: https://www.modashopping.com/en

The Calle Fuencarral is a commercial street in Madrid that runs from South to North between the neighborhoods of Chueca and Malasaña, from the Gran Vía to the roundabout of Quevedo, in the districts of Centro and Chamberí. It takes the name for being one of the roads that communicated with the village of Fuencarral . The City/town hall of Madrid adapted part of its route as a pedestrian zone , See at No 78, occupying the noblest part of the former Royal Hospice of San Fernando, the Museum of History of Madrid, created in 1929 and turned into a museum of history of Madrid in 2007, The anecdote here is my twins boy purchase their Iphone covers with designs I cannot describe lol !! This was at La Casa de las Cascasas no 9.

The  Casa de Diego another generational store since 1858 in the Puerta del Sol with my from generations since grandparents and now my sons. Come here for umbrellas, hand fans, and canes all hand made lovely. The official Casa de Diego: https://www.casadediego.es/

Since its founding in 1923, Casa del Libro has strived to foster the publishing world by stocking the widest range of titles from across Spain, The Casa del Libro since 1923 in Madrid, we have gone to the Calle de Alcalà 96 store but our favorite over the years and now close was at Calle Maestro Victoria near El Corte Inglés, and the Monastery of the Royal Discalced Nuns (see post) the pic below is from the former Calle Maestro Victoria. If you need to find a book go here first! The best !!! The official Casa del Libro:https://www.casadellibro.com/nosotros/nuestras-tiendas/madrid/28

Some all time favorites to check are Mariano Madrueño, the best Spanish wines you can find in Madrid, all prices even from 2€! even liquors. Calle Postigo de San Martin, 3, Metro Callao lines 3,5. https://marianomadrueno.es/

Bodegas Santa Cecilia for wines, I had my personal well wishes always at Santa Cecelia better, find the other a bit too commercial, so Santa Cecilia stays for me. You go to store at calle Bravo Murillo,50 metro Rio Rosas line1 or Cuatro Caminos lines 1,2,6. Open Monday from 17h-20h30. Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10h-14h and 17h-20h30. https://www.santacecilia.es/santa-cecilia/tiendas-de-vino-madrid

El Arco Artesania, in the Plaza Mayor, several Spanish artists to sell you authentic jewerly, vases, ceramics,lamps,engraving etc; located at Plaza Mayor 9, Metro Sol lines 1,2,3.and Cercanias trains. https://www.artesaniaelarco.com/contacto

Casa Hernanz, the best Spanish espadriles sandals (alpargatas) over 150 yrs doing it; located at Calle de Toledo,18. Metro Sol lines 1,2,3. Open monday to fridays from 9h-13h30 and 16h30-20h, Saturday 10h-14h. https://casahernanz.es/en/inicioen/

The best public market or flea market is El Rastro, there for years and years around Plaza Cascorro and the Calle Ribera de Curtidores, this is a tradition every Sunday morning until 15h-16h, best way there is metro La Latina line 5, Puerta de Toledo line 5, or just descend from Plaza Mayor. https://www.elrastro.org/

Another popular flea or market I like to go is the one by Anton Martin, this one is every day from 9h-14h except saturdays afternoons and Sundays. It is a covered market of food,fruits,vegetables and very typical Spanish , calle Santa Isabel,5, metro Anton Martin line 1. https://www.mercadoantonmartin.com/

Another one of my favorites in Madrid is the Mercado de San Idelfonso in the Calle Fuencarral, open everyday from 1àh-22h, in barrio Chueca, all types of clothing ,shoes,artistic creation all around a metal stairs; here you can continue your shopping around small boutiques of the Calle de la Hortaleza,Pelayo,and plaza de Chueca. metro Chueca line 5, and Tribunal lines 1,10. https://www.mercadodesanildefonso.com/

Cortefiel , mens clothing at its best, the best location is calle Serrano. Other locations in Madrid. Also in France. https://cortefiel.com/fr/en/stores

Zara, the leading Spanish ready to wear chain, also in France, in Madrid it was just a few meters from my piso or apt at Calle Alcala, 365 metro Pueblo Nuevo line 5. The best for woman really, classy look, my mom favorite. https://www.zara.com/ic/es/z-tiendas-st1404.html?v1=11108

Antigua Casa Talavera, its a wonderful place for the lovers of ceramics from all periods of Spanish history. They come from all  corners of Spain from the best masters. located at Calle de Isabel La Catolica 2, metro Santo Domingo line 2. Open every day except Saturdays afternoons, Sundays ,and holidays, from 10h-13h30 and 17h-20h. http://www.antiguacasatalavera.com/

Plaza Arturo Soria, calle Arturo Soria 126-128, metro best by bus from Plaza de Castilla No 70 or from intercambiador Ave de America bus Nos 122,322. https://www.arturosoriaplaza.es/index.aspx

ABC Serrano, Calle Serrano,61 metro Ruben Dario line 5 exit paseo de la Castellana,or metro Nunez de Balboa, line 9 or Serrano line 4. upscale oasis in Madrid chic district, very elegant stores, eateries for a nice indoors city break.  https://www.abcserrano.com/

And if one to go to a pharmacy which of course usually is not the best shopping to do, but with history go to the oldest one in 
Madrid since 1578!! Farmacia Real Botica de la Reina, Calle Mayor 59. It has many unusual things such as recipes by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Don Quijote) and Calderon de la Barca etc. A bit of history I like, Its apothecary provided service to Isabel de Farnesio, for which reason, since then, it has used the royal coat of arms and the name ‘Botica de la Reina Madre’. It was acquired in 1931 by José Cid Guerrero and, since then, has belonged to his heirs. The counter is made of carved mahogany, with ornaments of angels and a series of geometric drawings that limit a relief where the name ‘Reina Madre stands out. The panels show in blue tile the date on each one: 1578, the year the pharmacy was founded, and 1914, the date on which it moved to its current location, on Calle Mayor. The establishment preserves the furniture, much of the Talavera ceramics, porcelain from the Buen Retiro factory and glassware, part of it from La Granja de San Ildefonso, It also keeps an interesting file and library and instruments: hoppers, baby-scales, etc. The Madrid tourist office on the pharmacy : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/shopping/botica-la-reina-madre

And finally, two for the memories of always now closed. Calzado Los Guerrilleros, (see post) a shoe store for all the family there over 50 years. Now closed but by the early  1970’s, it was my mom favorite too, and then we came in too. It had a funny commercial “dont buy here its too expensive” !! The main store was at Puerta del Sol . metro Sol lines 1,2,3. Here just for the memories of wonderful Madrid of old

Objetos de Arte Toledano, Paseo del Prado, 10-12, right front of museum of Prado, metro Banco de España line 2 or Anton Martin line 1. All about the universe of swords, medals and medieval military artifacts, souvenirs , best of Spain.  This is another that say adios, sadly it was a nice place shop. Here just for the memories of my wonderful Madrid! And even found a picture from 2013 which for the memories of always will include here,

The Madrid tourist office on shopping areas: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/shopping-madrid

There you go folks, a dandy choices for your shopping pleasure in my dear Madrid. You ought it to yourselves to check these place out once in Madrid, you will be delighted. Again, hope you enjoy the post on my shopping in Madrid, part I !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!