Madrid Travel Guide 2025: Best Museums, Hotels, Restaurants & Nightlife
Written by Jules Lemaire, September 2025
Madrid moves fast—classic façades, modern energy, late nights. We visited in 2025 and traced the city through art, design hotels, comfort food, and rooftop sunsets. This guide blends insider tips with what we actually felt and did.
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Madrid Travel Guide
When to visit
We went in spring and loved the jacarandas, terrace life, and walkable weather. Summer is scorching by day, but we thrived at night—open-air cinema, rooftops, Veranos de la Villa. Autumn felt golden and less crowded; we museum-hopped without queues. Winter is quieter and perfect for long art days and cozy taverns.
February: ARCO Madrid (contemporary art fair)
May: San Isidro Festival (parades, music, food)
July: Madrid International Film Festival
July–August: Veranos de la Villa (citywide cultural program)
What to do (art and museums)
© Museo Reina Sofia
Museo Reina Sofía
Reina Sofía is modern Spain in a heartbeat. We faced Guernica and felt the room hush—scale, anguish, history all at once. Beyond Picasso, Dalí’s dreamscapes and Miró’s playful forms carried us deeper. The museum is part 18th-century hospital, part glass-and-steel addition. We loved how the architecture mirrored the art—history and reinvention side by side.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The Thyssen is a curated world tour. We moved from Van Eyck’s precision to Hopper’s loneliness and Lichtenstein’s pop clarity in a single sweep. The museum is less crowded and easier to breathe in; we took our time, doubling back to favorites without pressure. We loved its intimacy—it began as a private collection, and you still feel that personal touch.
Museo ICO
Museo ICO is small, sharp, and architectural. We explored exhibitions on cities, photography, and urbanism that made us rethink how we live in space. The museum is compact, clear, and often overlooked, which we loved after the grand intensity of Madrid’s “big three.” It’s the kind of place that makes you walk out seeing the city differently.
© Museo ICO
CaixaForum Madrid
CaixaForum is where architecture and programming dance. We came for the vertical garden and floating rust-red façade, then stayed for exhibitions that jump from antiquity to new media. The building itself is an artwork, but the shows inside are clever and stimulating. We loved how the space mixes spectacle with intimacy, giving us something unexpected on every floor.
Best Hotels in Madrid 2025
The Madrid Edition — Luxury Design Hotel
The Madrid Edition is where indulgence meets design. We checked in and were greeted by dramatic interiors: sculptural furniture, bold artwork, and lighting that made the whole space feel cinematic. Our room was sleek yet warm, with skyline views that pulled us toward the window each morning. We spent hours on the rooftop—swimming by day, sipping cocktails by night—watching Madrid shimmer. Service was precise without being stiff, making us feel at ease in a space that could have been intimidating. For luxury with personality, we’d come back in a heartbeat.
Other luxury hotels we recommend: Hotel Villa Magna, Gran Hotel Inglés, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Hotel Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá.
TÓTEM Madrid — Boutique Lifestyle Hotel
© TÓTEM Madrid
TÓTEM Madrid felt like slipping into a stylish secret. Tucked into the Salamanca district, it balances sophistication with warmth—modern design, rich textures, and an atmosphere that makes you slow down. Our room was minimalist but elegant, with just enough detail to feel personal rather than staged. We loved the cocktail bar downstairs, where locals mixed with travelers, giving the hotel a neighborhood energy. For us, TÓTEM was the perfect blend of boutique intimacy and urban chic, a hotel we’d happily recommend to friends who love design as much as comfort.
Other boutique hotels we recommend: Only YOU Boutique Hotel, Room Mate Macarena (Gran Vía).
La Troupe — Design Hostel with Social Vibe
La Troupe surprised us with how fresh and modern a hostel can feel. Located in a restored building near the heart of the city, it mixes dorms and private rooms, all with clean, design-forward touches. We loved the social spaces most—lounges, co-working corners, and a lively bar that felt more like a creative hub than a hostel. The crowd was international but easygoing, and it was the kind of place where conversations started naturally. If you want affordability without losing style, La Troupe hits the sweet spot.
Other design hostels we recommend: The Hat, The Loft, Bastardo Hostel, The Central House.
© La Troupe Madrid
Where to Eat in Madrid: Restaurants, Taverns & Local Flavors
Amazónico — Beautifully Designed Restaurant
© Amazónico
Amazónico is dinner as immersion. We sat under greenery and warm light while the room pulsed to live jazz; the space is glamorous but generous. We loved the Latin-leaning menu—grilled meats, bright ceviches, polished cocktails—and the way courses felt choreographed rather than rushed. Dining here was more than food; it was theater.
Casa Lucio — Traditional Eatery
Casa Lucio is the classic we finally understood. We ordered huevos rotos—runny yolks over crisp potatoes—and fell silent at the first bite. The restaurant is wood-paneled, lined with photos, and run by waiters who know the ritual. We loved how it resists reinvention—the dish is perfect because it hasn’t changed.
Chocolatería San Ginés — The Churros Classic
San Ginés is Madrid’s sweet ritual. Open since 1894, the café is tucked into a small passage near Puerta del Sol, and we went more than once. The place is simple—green velvet booths, tiled walls—but the real art is the plate: golden churros dipped into thick, spoonable hot chocolate. We loved going late at night, after bars, when locals and tourists queued together. It’s a tradition we couldn’t skip.
Mercado de San Miguel — Covered Food Market
Mercado de San Miguel is a feast for the senses. The iron-and-glass market near Plaza Mayor buzzes with tapas, jamón, seafood, and vermouth on tap. We wandered counter to counter—croquetas here, oysters there, a glass of Rioja in between. It’s busy and a little pricey, but we loved the energy. It felt like tasting Madrid in one delicious loop.
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© Mercado de San Miguel
Best Rooftops and Bars in Madrid 2025
Salmon Guru — Funky Cocktail Bar
Salmon Guru is nightlife turned theater. From neon signs to comic-book interiors, the bar is a playground for cocktails. We sipped from a dragon-shaped glass, laughed at the presentation, and stayed longer than planned. We loved how it was both inventive and unpretentious, with bartenders who made the experience part of the fun.
Azotea del Círculo — Rooftop with a View
Azotea del Círculo is Madrid from above. Perched on top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, it offers panoramic views of domes, rooftops, and mountains. We came at sunset and stayed until the city glowed. Stylish but relaxed, it’s our favorite spot for golden hour.
Bodegas Rosell — Local Tavern
Bodegas Rosell is the tavern we wish was on our corner. With tiled walls, wooden barrels, and vermouth on tap, it’s a step back in time. We squeezed into a table, ordered tapas, and felt at home within minutes. We loved the noise, the crowd, the sense of belonging. This is Madrid at its most authentic.
© Bodegas Rosell
Final Thoughts: Why We’ll Return to Madrid
We left Madrid with full stomachs, sore feet, and a list for next time. The city is rhythm: museums that overwhelm, hotels with personality, food that comforts, nights that stretch into morning.