One of Madrid's most important streets, financially, historically and culturally, Gran Vía is busy 24 hours a day. A great place to admire early 20th century architecture, if you get the chance to stop and look!
Location:
Gran Vía runs from Calle de Alcalá (near Plaza de Cibeles) to Plaza de España, with metro stations Banco de España (M2), Gran Via (M1, M5), Callao (M3, M5), Santo Domingo (M2), and Plaza de España (M2, M3, M10) nearby.
Shopping:
One of Madrid's major shopping areas, Gran Vía is teeming with all the major high street stores and some unusual boutiques. From the ubiquitous brands we all know and love to one-off speciality stores, you can surely find what you need here.
Places to visit:
The huge Telefónica building, a skyscraper built between 1926 and 1929 for the Spanish telecommunications company. The building would not be out of place in Chicago, and was built by an American, Louis S Weeks.
Famous Monuments:
The first eye catching building starting from the Calle de Alcalá is the most famous of all, the Edificio Metrópolis or Metropolis building, built by architects Jules and Raymond Février.
Nightlife:
Chicote on Grand Vía 12, is Madrid's most famous cocktail bar and has preserved its 1930's interior.
El Sol sponsors more than twenty-five concerts a month, and that is just part of the fun! Come strut your stuff to the funk, hip-hop, and acid jazz music that fill this disco club early into the morning. Plan for a late one, because the fun keeps going well after the sun comes up.
Gastronomy:
Paellería Valenciana is a lunch-only restaurant which ranks as one of the best values in the city. The specialty is paella, which you must order by phone in advance. Delicious homemade soups, paellas and salads followed by tempting desserts with sinful sauces....rum, coconut, raspberry sauce...the l¡st is almost endless. A carafe of house wine is complimentary with the set menu and you may even meet the owner dispensing free cognac. Telephone: 91 53 11 785.
Mesón las Descalzas serves Spanish and Portugese cuisine and is a highly recommended tavern-style restaurant. The tasty tapas attracts a large crowd in the evenings, and specializes in seafood. Postigo San Martín, 3.
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