Hi cruiseluv,
If you want casual and you're willing to walk 5 blocks due south,
I'd head to our favorite pintxos (Basque tapas) bar in the Retiro neighborhood, Neguri Etxea, on Menorca 44. We go there often and have pintxos or cazuelas (little casseroles) at the bar, or one can dine in the back on a menu of small plates. We like it so much because it's casual, the chef is Basque (and has trained/worked with the best) and prices are affordable.

Or behind the Palacio de Deportes you have another very reliable tapas bar, De Pura Cepa, on Fuente del Berro 31, which opens at noon and doesn't close until 1 am. It's a tapas bar/wine bar, also a favorite, that serves canapes and raciones (small plates) with a creative touch.

The latter might be your best bet since it's so close, but after the concert on a Sat. it may be packed.

Another thought-
If "De Pura Cepa" is packed and the concert runs very late and Negur Etxea is closed, just walk down Calle Menorca to our favorite Asturian cider house, Carlos Tartiere at Menorca 35 (on opposite side of the street from Negur Etxea). It keeps later hours, is extremely popular with a neighborhood crowd and is just great, both price-wise and food wise. I introduced one of my former students to it (a 21 yr. old) who was staying in the area, and he loved it. There are tables next to the bar or a back room for dining. It opens at noon and closes at 1 am.

In any event, Calle Menorca is our new favorite restaurant row, with Galician, Basque, Asturian, Leonese, Manchegan and Andalusian spots-plenty of offerings for every taste/budget.

Great recommendations, thank you! The concert is on a Sunday night, so I don't know if some of these places might be closed? Will check and see if they have websites.
Would you say it's ok to walk late at night from Palacio de Deportes to Menorca? Easy to catch a cab from there to go back "home"?

Funny, if I had rented the apt from Friendly Rentals which was located on/just off O'Donnell I would be right there!

Yep, you would have been right there! Hope you like your Plaza de la Paja apartment.
Don't think they have web sites, but oops, I do notice in my Madrid Metrópoli that De Pura Cepa closes on Sundays.

Negur Etxea closes for Sun. lunch, and Carlos Tartiere never closes, not even during Holy Week. I think that it would be the best crowd pleaser for your kids with its friendly waiters, typical Asturian cider house atmosphere (but they do have a wine list), fairly gentle prices for this upscale neighborhood, casual atmosphere, great salads and raciones (large portions). And the typical frixuelos (crepes) for dessert or an almond tart.
And NO tourists!

It's perfectly o.k. to walk from the Palacio de Deportes to Calle Menorca after the concert. We take that walk every night when staying in the Salamanca neighborhood at our favorite Hotel Hermosilla. And it will give you a taste of another neighborhood of Madrid, a very upscale one to boot.

You can taxi home-catch a taxi from the intersection of Calle Menorca and Avda. Menéndez Pelayo, but it's quite a looooong walk back to Plaza de la Paja.
We make ourselves walk back to the Calle del Prado, just for the exercise, but I wouldn't suggest trying to walk all the way back to your apartment!!

If the metro is still running, you could take it from the Ibiza station at Menéndez y Pelayo.

By metro, at Ibiza you'd take line 9 to Núñez de Balboa then change to line 5 to La Latina-about 30 min.

Oh no, don't worry, I will not be attempting that walk !! Taxi will probably be the way to go.

I was looking at your Madrid guide. You talk about La Colonial de Goya, at Jorge Juan 34. What about that one?

Thanks again!

I love Colonial de Goya too but....alas, it closes on Sundays. Sunday nights are really tough in that area, since lots of places do close.

Another in the swank Salamanca quarter that's a staple for us on Sun. nights is La Taberna de la Daniela on General Pardiñas 21, a walk of about 5 blocks, 4 blocks west, then one north. They just opened a sister Daniela near the Hotel Prado on Calle Cervantes. They also have great canapes (the best tostas), great ensaladilla rusa, canned goods like bonito and anchoas, empanadas, raciones, salads and great beer on tap. They close at midnight. Very, very popular neighborhood spot. Also one of Madrid's best spots for cocido during the week for lunch. Really charming old Madrid atmosphere with ceiling fans, azulejos, marble top tables.

You won't find the Calle Menorca ones in my guide because I thought I should keep some to myself, but then, I seem not to!

Thanks Maribel, sounds like somewhere in Calle Menorca is the best bet. Another one I saw on your guide that could be a possibility is La Panicoteca D'E in Goya (thinking maybe my daughter would go for that?) Unless we decide just to cab back to our apt right after the show and find someplace there.

As always, thank you for your help!

Hi cruiseluv,
La Paninoteca D'E is a place I call "very upscale, gourmet fast food" in a hip, minimalist designer setting.

These 3 outposts, one on Velázquez 32 (closest to the Palacio de Deportes, an 8 block walk due west), another on Juan Bravo 12 (Salamanca quarter) and another near the Estadio Bernabéu, were started by Michelin starred chef Sergi Arola as a new concept to fast food. They served creative sandwiches, like paninis filled with quails' eggs, white truffles and Camembert, cocapizzas (that your daughter would really like) and a Prosciutto Tartuffo with Parma ham, brie, tomato, arugula and Alba white truffle oil. Also creative salads (but smaller portions). When I'm shopping in the neighborhood, I stop and have a bite there among the fashionista (ladies who lunch) crowd.

The 3 Paninoteca D'Es are open daily from 9 to 1 am.
www.elpaninode.com

And for dessert, there's a branch of the high concept Argentine-Italian artisan ice cream emporium, Giangrossi, on Velázquez 44 (same side of street, one block up). But you'll have a Giangrossi near your apartment on Cava Baja, and their ice creams are now sold at many of the Café y Té stores.
www.giangrossi.es

I originally didn't think of Calle Velázquez because I was thinking somewhere closer, but across the street and north on #57, you also have Lateral, another fashion, minimalist, designer tapas place which now has 5 Madrid branches, including a new one on the Plaza Santa Ana.
www.cadenalateral.es

If you don't know this very upscale, pretty and safe neighborhood, this would be a chance for you to get acquainted with it (my old 'hood), and you might even like to stay in the Salamanca quarter some day! Many of the facades have been meticulously restored, Calle Velázquez is gorgeous, and it all has a very attractive feel to it.
If you choose D'E, to reach it, be sure to walk down tony Calle Jorge Juan (rather than commerical and busy Goya) for the elegant boutique window gazing. It's the snappiest street in this very snazzy neighborhood.

If we had only 1 night rather than 3, we'd splurge on the 5 star Wellington or the Hospes up there because I love their beautiful locations. But money saved at the Prado just paid for our Sara Baras tickets!

We have been enjoying this thread, since we are in the process of renting a Madrid apartment for Semana Santa. Knowing how much Maribel likes Calle Menorca, this apartment is very appealing:

http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/apartments/madrid/apartment-1294-33.htm

It's located at Calles O'Donnell and Lope de Rueda, 2 blocks from Menorca, equally close to Retiro Park (we're traveling with our kids!) and not far from Salamanca.

We're also considering: http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/apartments/madrid/apartment-831-33.htm which is near Sainz de Baranda metro. Seems quiet but a bit out of the way?

And http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/apartments/madrid/apartment-455-33.htm which is near Islas Filipinas. Seems like lots of hospitals--and ambulances?--but seems like a nice neighborhood with plenty nearby.

We're quite familiar with renting European apartments. We like somewhat quiet neighborhoods close to metro/bus stops with a nice "high street" of shops, cafes and food markets. Your description of the tapas places on Calle Menorca sounds great. As always, your thoughts are so appreciated!!

Great Maribel, I jut printed this whole thread, and taking it with me. It is very helpful!

Alamedada,

That first apt is the one we originally thought of renting!Now I'm almost regretting we didn't, it would have worked perfect. I'll let Maribel give further comments, but I remember she thought the location was very good.

Good luck!

Hi alamedadan,
Of the 3, I definitely prefer the O'Donnell location! The other two are just quite a major hike from sightseeing, and I'm afraid you'd really feel out of the loop in either one.

The Retiro neighborhood is really quite upscale, very "real" with old time neighborhood, still family owned shops, lots of restaurants and bars frequented mostly by locals. You have buses that run along Avda. Menéndez Pelayo and the Ibiza metro station. Also you have the Retiro park at your doorstep, plus to the north are all the very ritzy shops of the Salamanca quarter on Ortega y Gasset, Claudio Coello and Serrano, plus the tapas bars mentioned above, plenty of restaurants, the big El Corte Inglés branch on Goya and my favorite gourmet delicatessen, Mallorca.

The run down of tapas bars/restaurants in that 'hood (which I posted on another thread but of course now can't find!)

Galician sea food (pricey! but good empanadas, caldo gallego and albariño wines at the bar):
O'Grelo-Menorca 37

bar/restaurant/gourmet shop from León/Zamora with terrific value 20 euro menú del día (including wine and a digestif!!), changing daily, for lunch, Mon-Fri:
Barandales-Menorca 33
www.barandales.es

typical, atmospheric, friendly Asturian cider house:
Carlos Tartiere-Menorca 35

very dependable & reasonably priced, authentic Basque pintxos bar/restaurant:
Negur Etxea-Menorca 44

one of Madrid's very top wine bistros:
Taberna Laredo-Menorca

Andalusian tavern/restaurant (pescaito frito, calderetas de arroz):
Taberna del Puerto-corner of Menorca/Fernán González

tiny and charming Manchegan wine bar & deli:
Venta la Hidalguía-Menorca 15

Andalusian tapas bar/modern bistro:
La Montería-corner of López de Rueda/Dr. Castelo
www.lamonteria.es

Typical "taberna ilustrada" with zinc bar, mirrors, marble, serving great beer and vermouth on tap:
La Castela-Dr. Castelo 22
www.lacastela.com

And for just great Iberian ham purchases, you have
"El Capricho Gourmet" on Dr. Castelo 13. The Bellota ham comes straight from the factory in Extremadura, so prices are more reasonable. Shop also sells wines and cheeses.

Hope this helps!

Yea Maribel! We had a feeling that the O'Donnell apartment was the best choice. We just put our deposit down and now it's OURS for Semana Santa! 5 days in Castilla Y Leon (Segovia, Lerma and Salamanca on Palm Sunday), then off to Retiro on Monday for a week. What fun! Can't wait!

Sounds really great! Wish I were doing that trip- Have a wonderful time!