7 things you should definitely avoid doing to have an authentic, memorable time. Venga, let’s go!
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00:00 Intro
0:42 Don’t eat in the Plaza Mayor
2:36 Don’t get stuck in Mercado San Miguel
3:19 Don’t feel bullied by the Prado
5:12 Don’t take taxis
6:11 Don’t eat any old paella
7:18 Don’t expect to get full for free
8:21 Don’t sweat the surly service
⏩ Watch Next: Eat in Madrid Like a Local: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWoKRXwP0XnIJ2woi5yeeMuWYdl19zdOn
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Great Prado tours
– Devour’s Prado Museum Tour & VIP Botin Lunch – https://swiy.co/pradobotin
– For just the museum, check out https://www.madsnailtravel.com/
Good Madrid paella places (keep in mind that paellas are like BBQs and part of the charm is being in someone’s back yard etc. etc.). But, these are some of the more well-respected paella spots in Madrid
– Marina Ventura
– Socarratt is more of a quick lunch place, where they’re constantly making big paellas and serve them for you
– Antigua Casa de la Paella (currently closed – may reopen after COVID)
How to tackle the Mercado San Miguel: https://youtu.be/bQIGoYaFbvM
WHO ARE WE? 🥝
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Hola, Spain lovers! We’re James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. And we both live in Madrid. This channel is all about giving you a local insight into life in Spain, and helping you experience this country like a local when you come to visit (or live!). If that sounds like your kind of thing, bienvenido!
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22 Comments
lier
Yep im an Australian with a Spanish esposa 😉 from Valencia, you're generally going to be committing blasphemy eating any paella not recommended specifically from a local in that region. You'll also find waiters are generally older, come with more pride and experience in their career, it's not treated as a part time job.
Glad you recommended Los Galayos. Have eaten there several and not bad meal. Enjoy the Aguadiente after desert! Awesome drink!
Got your book I will be going the last week of February do you have any info on segovia?
This video is great. James advice was in my head for my visit. Really good ideas.
Going to Madrid in February!
100% agree!
I totally love you guys…I will be in Madrid in April with my parents. Can you recommend a Paella place? We will not be able to make it to Valencia. And I would love for my dad to try it. …thank you.
wait a minute ..hehehe what's wrong with nymphomaniacs ..hehehe i love them all equally .. for me they better than nuns..hehehe just saying
Coffee should be drank without milk or sugar….. Tony Cuenca
Hola James I'm trying to learn Spanish myself however I do know a few words. I have a question about people with disabilities from blind, deaf, and physical handicapped. Dose Spain have the people with disabilities act, and are there cut away curbs for example someone whose in a wheelchair or uses a walker? The reason why I ask is because, I was born with Cerebral Palsy/ a visual impairment. The United States Passed a law for Disabilities Act in 1990. Garces Hillary Gwilt from the United States (Florida).
Isabel II abolió la esclavitud 500 años antes que Abraham Lincoln ….
So I guess, James, following your dad’s advice, you’ve never eaten in the revolving restaurant at the top of Sky Tower in Auckland? I did, near my 50th birthday celebration on Waiheke Island. Wasn’t too bad. Nice food and a fabulous view, so it’s possible to combine them (but definitely NOT Plaza Mayor!,). Obviously I didn’t pay the bill!
Great Vid mate! 🙂 Have wrote down your instructions! Btw. I didn't catch the word for traditional waiters, you know…authentic ones. I always find amazing how they serve and just don't care (well, that's how it seams) but i would really like to know how you call them in Spain. Thx!
@1:10 is that snow?
How do you spell that word you mentioned for “surly” service?
It is the truth! I am Madrid native person and I know that a lot of restaurants in Spain try to attract tourist people with "delicious" pictures of paellas and other stuff put on the wall of the bar. These pleaces are "fake" ones, the worst only trick you. I thing that tourist people shouldn't eat at these kind of pleaces, are the worst in all the cities, native people knows that and we have never gone to one of them. It is a good tip, you shoudn't enter of these pleaces.
One time I remember that I have seen in one bar the menus in two lenguages, spanish and english. I realized that the prices were diferent, english menu the same things but it had higher prices !! O.o
The zoo is alright, but madrid looks like a desert with council estates and twigs in it
Saludos desde Houston Texas. i was there ten years ago and would to go ago again. Thanks for the video.
"Relaxing cup of café con leche."
I never got this. Coffee is not relaxing, it's used to make you energetic and focused.
Official rule of thumb forever everywhere: NEVER eat at a restaurant with photos of their food outside.
In León they have this concept of "corto" (half of a "caña"; aka: around 15 CL of beer), and the tapa they give you with a corto is decent.
The way you go out in León is by getting 5-6 cortos (essentially, 3 beers split into 6), and eat your 6 free tapas. So you have the full package on a budget, and because this isn't Madrid, but a smaller province, the food is good. Each bar has their own tapa, too (usually, their "single/trademark" tapa that kind of defines that bar), so the whole experience is awesome and varied. Totally recommend León!