Madrid Travel Forum

Hi, I'll be spending a few days in Madrid by the end of April and am looking for vegan/vegetarian restaurants and stores (like organic stores?). Any suggestions?
Also, any recommendation of nice, not-too-expensive accommodation (by European standards!) is welcome!
I'll be meeting up with a VT friend from Quebec staying there, isn't VT fun? :-)
Hasta luego! (my Spanish is LOUSY!)
Cécile from Paris, France

Hi there, you probably already know www.happycow.net - but I'll give you the address anyway, just in case :o) Quite a few Madrid restaurants and health food stores listed there.

Hi, thanks a lot, I'll check it up! Actually, I only very RECENTLY turned vegan, reason why I still have a lot to learn - I appreciate the tip!! :-)

Ah ok, happycow is great, loads of veggie restaurants (all over the world!) listed there! I always check out that website when I'm travelling somewhere.

Have fun!

~Mette, another veggie ;o)

Hostal Madrid is a cheap hostal, rooms with balconery overlooking the calle postas. its in the heart of the city. the room is pleasant with a lot of light. it has a bath, tv, air conditioning, safe, free wireless internet, breakfast is not included. Address: C/Esparteros 6, 2...near sol

Hi Cecile, you should not have any problem as Sangria is vegan and you can find it all over the place. ;-) the Pizza Marzano at 69 Gran Via had many great salads. Also, in the basement of most of the El Corte Englis department stores are grocery markets with many great veggie stuffs (for a better word) and there is a mercado just West of Plaza Major. Several years ago we stayed at El Tiempo Busca (something like that - it is on my VT hotel page and Sir Richards) by Sol. Very reasonable, large rooms on a entertaining street. Karl

Hola! Muchas gracias for your help, I'm going to check these places out! :-) As for sangria... nice, but I may add some variety to my diet!! :-)
Thanks again & have a great day!
Cécile

Bonsoir Cécile

My favourite is the ECOCENTRO (http://www.ecocentro.es/index2.htm). They have store and supermarket too but it is a bit far from the centre.
There is a nice quick-food vegetarian in the very centre, 200 metres from Puerta del Sol, at calle Mayor: MAOZ (http://www.maozveg.com/59)
El Granero de Lavapies is a good one too, close to Reina Sofia Museum, if you happen to go there.

About hostels, some favourites for backpackers are:
METROPOL http://www.metropolhostel.com/index.html
POSADA DE HUERTAS http://www.posadadehuertas.com/index.html

Enjoy Madrid!

Joaquin

Allo Cécile!

When I was living in Madrid one of may favorite restaurants was La Isla del Tesoro (I'm not vegetarian, but I love eating vegetables, ad this place is lovely and had great food). you'll find the details in my Madrid page

You'll have choices of vegetable tapas in most bars, but better learn to say "soy vegetariana" (I'm vegetarian) and "sin carne, por favor" (without meat, please). And be aware that some people there do not consider ham or fish as "meat" ;)

Hola Isa!
'Isla del Tesoro', sounds promising!! :-) Thanks for the tip + advice (yeah, one more on my list!), and I love the blue tile decoration!! :-) I'll have to practice saying 'vegetariana' - not so obvious, maybe I should stick to 'sin carne', ha ha!! :-)
Also, I loved the '1st trip' picture and L'Avi story on your page - such a sweet evocation! Just reading it made me dreamy!! :-)
Gracias again! :-)
Cécile

Salut! ˇHola!

Just to add to the tip about what to say... Soy vegetariana (or vegetariano for guys), and sin carne ni pescado por favor (without meat or fish please)... You really have to be quite explicit, as I have experienced many vegetarians here order ´veggie meals´ that arrived with meat or fish in :(

However, there are some lovely veggie restaurants here - though sometimes a bit pricey - and I agree that la Isla del Tesoro has a great menu. It has some very creative dishes, especially good if you´re introducing a non-veggie to try out the food. Definitely reserve in advance though, and note they may be open only for a couple of hours on Sundays (22.00 - 00.00) plus closed Mondays.

Otherwise, I also recommend Viva la Vida! ....of which there are now two places to try (I´ve only eaten in the one near La Latina):

A café/buffet style with great organic food (price based on weight) and drinks, or a restaurant downstairs. Décor here is delightful, and they probably have the most beautiful toilets in Madrid! :)

Addresses:

La Isla del Tesoro:
Calle Manuela Malasańa 3
28004 Madrid
tel: 915 931 440
Metro: Bilbao

Viva la Vida! :
Calle Huertas, 57
tel: 913 697 254
Metro: Antón Martín

Costanilla de San Andrés, 16 (Plaza de la Paja)
tel: 913 663 349
Metro: La Latina

ˇBuen provecho! Bon apetit!
m.x

Our Victoria hotel was quite welcoming and clean. Right in the centre of Madrid, no need for a subway use for daily trips to museums and such.
See my Madrid page for tips and hotel details.

Thank you for the tip about the Victoria Hotel - I've found a hotel by now, and plenty vegetarian places! :-)
Thank you all!! :-)