Known for its museums and parks, Madrid is one of those typical cities for you to enjoy by foot. With one of the largest subway systems in Europe, you should definitely put on some comfortable sneakers and prepare yourself to discover special spots all by foot.
On this trip, we had the chance to interview people with incredible stories related to the world of sneakers (check here), but we were also able to explore interesting places. Therefore, we put together this guide with the highlights and places we recommend.
During our visit, we stayed in the Puerta de Toledo area, about 20min walk from the center. A great location, not so central but still close to everything. But if you want a younger and livelier neighborhood, we recommend Malasaña, which has more of a student vibe with cafes, bars, and nightclubs.
Photos and Content: Kickstory
Text: Ana Clara Melo
Text Revision: Leonardo Lira
Five days are enough to get to know and explore the city, which stands out for its cuisine and nightlife. The Spaniards love to stay out late and there are plenty of places to go at night. In addition, Madrid has great museums and parks for you to enjoy art and culture during your stay.
When it comes to sneaker and streetwear culture, we highlight that among the cities we visited (Amsterdam, Lisbon, Porto, and Milan), Madrid was the city with the most variety of products and stores to buy sneakers.
SHOPS
Nigra Mercato Located in the Las Letras neighborhood, this is the sneaker shop in which we interviewed Fran and it’s also his shop! It’s not just a sneaker and streetwear store, but a boutique with books, skate decks, clothes, and collectibles. All products reflect the lifestyle and promote their local sneaker community. It’s worth the visit!
Paracia Located in Malasaña, it is an independent brand that sells high-quality shoes and caps. We also had the opportunity to interview Knu Kim, one of the brand’s partners.
Consuela Also in Malasaña, it is a more modern streetwear store with a good mix of products.
welcome skateboarding Located in Malasaña. A skateshop with a lot of cool sneakers, skate decks, and skate magazines. They also have their own clothing line which is also really cool. It’s a super young neighborhood, much like New York’s Soho. Ideal neighborhood for those who like thrift stores.
Numbers Located in Malasaña. They have a mix of retail and resale sneakers. If that’s what you like, you can find various colorways of Dunks and Jordans, but all at resale value.
sivasdescalzo Located in Malasaña. One of the coolest and most complete stores. The environment is unique and the store space is very elegant, with a great selection of sneakers. Very different models and many collabs. An interesting fact is that this store was born in Barcelona and was one of the first boutiques in Spain.
Foot District Located in Malasaña. A super traditional store present in Madrid and Barcelona, it’s very large and modern. They have a room dedicated only to Jordan models! We highly recommend it.
WOW Concept Located in the Sol region. It’s a concept store like a gallery with several floors. Each floor has a completely different and super modern decoration. Go check out that experience and you’ll also find a good selection of sneakers, streetwear clothes, decor, jewelry, and even electronics.
GASTRONOMY
La Dolores Located in Las Letras. This is the bar that Fran took us to (check out his interview here). A super traditional tavern, from 1908. Taverns are important to Spanish culture, as they provide space for socializing, regional cuisines, and help stimulate the economy. They are an essential meeting point for Spaniards and an authentic experience for visitors. Our recommendation is to try the famous boquerones (anchovies in vinegar), but there are also tapas for all tastes, various beers, and wines. You can’t miss out on this one!
La Consentida de Doré Also in Las Letras. This bar was introduced to us by our friend Lucas Ribeiro. It has a downtown São Paulo vibe to it – in an alley, with no tables or chairs. You stay on the street eating and drinking, great price and quality.
Nomade Cafe Located in Chueca. Probably our favorite Café. Cozy space right on a corner, with a brunch style menu. Incredible coffees and drinks in a more residential part of Madrid. We highly recommend it.
SALA EQUIS Located in Sol. This was the bar we liked the most. With a differentiated atmosphere, before being a bar, Sala Equis was a cinema. They have good food and drinks at affordable prices. The space is full of film references, which makes everything more immersive.
ARTE E CULTURA
Parque El Retiro Located in Retiro. Being one of the largest parks in Madrid, it is a very pleasant place for taking a walk. It features pavilions and museums like the Velázquez Palace, with temporary exhibitions, and the Crystal Palace. Highly worth a visit.
Templo de Debod Located in Sol. We recommend this place because it has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the city. From the viewpoint, you can see the royal palace. It’s beautiful!
Most of our recommendations, especially gastronomic ones, take into consideration the Spanish culture. For example, the taverns, which, as mentioned earlier, are very important to the Spaniards, going through entertainment and the local economy. They are a night-loving people who value good food, so you will find many delicious bars and restaurants on your visit.
About the sneaker stores, give a chance to more local stores, like sivasdescalzo and Nigra Mercato. Among our destinations in Europe, these were the stores we enjoyed the most. If you like, Madrid also has great thrift stores in the Malasaña neighborhood.
We have some interviews for you to get to know the different places and people in the city better, so you can get to know each neighborhood in a “non-touristy” way in Madrid.
We hope you enjoyed our itinerary, and stay tuned for the next ones. Madrid was a city we loved exploring and we are sure you will also feel motivated to visit every corner of the city.
