This is how your weekend Madrid will be at its best

Some cities embrace you from the moment you set foot in them. Madrid is one of those. The wide avenues, stately buildings, tapas that always arrive just a bit late because the waiter first has a chat with you—everything in this city feels like a reminder that life should be celebrated. And believe me, you do that effortlessly here. Are you going soon? These are the places you really need to be.

Start with a dose of culture at the Prado

I'll be honest: normally I'm not the type to be at a museum at the crack of dawn, but for the Museo del Prado, I make an exception. You wander through halls filled with masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, and Rubens, and even if you don't usually swoon at a baroque painting, you'll discover something beautiful here. The golden tip? Go early. It feels like you've booked a private tour, and that adds just that extra touch of luxury to your morning.

Coffee and croissants that make you happy at Acid Bakehouse

After all that culture, it's time for something strong, and you get that at Acid Bakehouse. This is one of those places where you walk in and immediately know you're in the right spot. The smell of freshly baked sourdough bread, baristas who understand exactly how much foam you want on your cappuccino, and a display case that gives you spontaneous choice stress. The buttery croissants are perfectly crispy, and the cinnamon rolls? I would almost take them as carry-on luggage home.

Just letting the city be what it is in El Retiro Park

After coffee, you have two options: head to the shops or let the city be what it is and give yourself a break in El Retiro Park. I always choose the latter. This park is the green heart of Madrid and the perfect place to just sit and watch. Joggers running their laps, loving couplesin a rowboat, and old men playing chess at a Spanish pace as if nothing else exists in the world. Find a spot by the Palacio de Cristal and believe me, you won't want to leave.

Cocktail o'clock at Masaru

By the time the sun sets, there's only one place you want to be, and that's Masaru. This is a cocktail bar that has it all: cozy corners, beautiful people, soft lighting that makes everyone look their best, and cocktails that just hit the spot. No standard mojito, but surprising creations that you would want to take the recipe home. Start with a signature cocktail and see where the evening takes you.

Madrid as you want to experience it

Art, coffee, a park break, and ending with a cocktail that stays with you for a long time—that's how I prefer to experience Madrid. And believe me, on the way back, you'll be secretly checking your calendar to see when you can go again.