A Paseo Around Madrid

Sandra Zobel takes us on an insider's tour of Madrid to reveal a treasure trove of exciting places and a feast for the senses Photography

- Sandra Zobel

People often ask me why Madrid... why I don't choose to live in Manila, closer to my family. When I visit, it's usually during vacation, and I get to go straight to the beach and barely get out of the water, as diving is my passion. The city is another story. The Philippines is my happy place, but Madrid is my home. I love that I can put my AirPods in, choose a playlist depending on my mood and walk anywhere.

If I leave Madrid for any period, food is what I usually miss the most; so, I would like to take you on a walk around Madrid, to my favourite restaurants, and share a few other nooks that make this city so special to me.

When I have a morning meeting or brunch with a friend, I find Donde Mónica (@dondemonica) offers an unexpected secret-garden vibe. The Salamanca area is always lovely, and I tend to walk through Claudio Coello for its great variety of stores where I always find an excuse to buy something, or get a monthly facial in Maison Sisley Madrid (@sisleyparisofficial). The same goes for the streets of Ayala, Hermosilla and Don Ramon de la Cruz, where I also pop in every now and then to Galería de Arte Herraiz (@galeria_herraiz) to discover new artists.