An ex-local's guide to Chamberí, Madrid
Plaza life, where to eat and drink, a bookshop to fall in love with, and a ghost station
Welcome to the very first Senses of Spain newsletter! 🥳 I’m so pleased you’re here. If you found your way here via my Instagram or TikTok, don’t forget to subscribe (it’s free!) and head to my About page if you’d like a bit of background on the whole thing.
Back to the start
I’m kicking off this project with a guide to the neighbourhood of Chamberí for the simple reason that it’s the first place I lived in Spain when we moved here back at the start of 2020.
In those days, the rents weren’t as crazy as they are now, and my husband and I had our eye on this area for its good transport connections, leafy, bookish vibe (excuse the London-centrism but if there’s an Islington of Madrid, it is surely Chamberí), and the fact that it’s away from the crowds of the historic centre.
It’s also home to some great cultural attractions, a myriad of interesting places to eat, and one of the city’s nicest plazas.
Read the whole guide on sensesofspain.com.
Congratulations Amy on your first newsletter! I really enjoyed it and agree, it's a wonderful barrio. Love the Museo Sorolla and of course the Mineral Museum. I look forward to reading many more! 💃
Spot on about Olavide - there’s nothing fantastic there, bar the ‘there’. But the whole effect is just lovely.
Surprised at no love for Oh! Mandril or Ni Subo Ni Bajo. Bonus prospects of sighting Ayuso at the latter. Actually, wait a minute…