thanks...both from " matar " , I assume.
" mata" being the third person singular ...

Where does " dor". come from?

is it like " trabajar",,,to work
and " trabajador" ...worker. .?.?

Yes, "dor" similar to "er" in English (worker)

Although I have studied Spanish I never connected " matador"
to the real meaning. - a " killer".
Isn't there a chain of hotels named Mate...which means kill( imperative! )

The correct term for a bullfighter is a "matador de toros". A killer is an "asesino", an assassin. Mate is also a S. American drink and some other stuff. Who knows about those hotels.

matador means killer, so does asesino ( murdered, assassin).
I assume matador is used exclusively as "matador de toros "??

Yes, you would never find a newspaper headline saying, for example, The Young Girl Died at the Hands of a Matador.

Unless, of course, he was a bullfighter, haha.

The word matar means to kill, not matador. Matador means bullfighter (Spain, Portugal and France).

"Matadors" is also the name of the Bolsa Grande High School football team. I don't think you can call them "killers", at least not with their record.

I looked up the origin of the word:

"Word Origin and History for matador Expand
n.
man who kills the bull in a bullfight, 1670s, from Spanish matador, literally "killer," from matar "to kill or wound," probably from Arabic mata "he died," from Persian (see second element in checkmate)"

Apparently, there are several different meanings if used as adjective.

Obviously the word "matador" is only used for bullfighters. I only put the "literal" translation that comes from the verb "to kill" but matador has no connotation with murderer or anything like it. In any case, it would be related to a "ritual slaughter" or something like that. I did not think my comment was going to raise a controversy.

no controversy , just interest ...

learning something new is always appreciated

I usually forget to keep the names of the places where I eat in Madrid, but last November I got a list of the restaurants we were going to from the office that was hosting our visit. The hosts were young, as were the crowds in most of these places. I am not young, but didn't feel at all out of place. All very lively and fun.

Tita Rivera – off Fuencarral before Tribunal. Lively, good salmon burger, some beer variety, good salads.

Lady Madonna – near Alonso Martinez, Orellana 8. great tapas

Artemisa – vegetarian near Sol. Tres Cruces, 4. Excellent, if fried, antipasto plate. Good pizza

Lamucca de Prado, calle Prado 16. Near Plaza Santa Ana. Popular and lively. pizzas, salads, good meat according to one person.

Abonavida, organic, very good. Calle Navas de Tolosa, 3. Near Sol and convent of Descalzas Reales.

PATONES DE ARRIBA – And if you can get out of Madrid, head to this cutesy restored little town. We went for lunch during the week, I imagine it is mobbed on weekends. Great walking afterwards on several marked trails. La Cabana -- This restaurant specializes in meat. Solomillo was outstanding

Thank you Linca and LReynolds for the recommendations.

SIL is now in her temporary apartment just west of Retiro. Her search for a Remanent rental has been now narrowed to some places in Chueca and Malasaña. We shall see how that works out. The photos of the ones in Chueca are quite nice.

The chain of hotels is called Room Mate and I too always think of death or that horrible Argentinian drink. We stayed at the Hotel Alicia on Plaza Santa Ana October 2016. Uber hip with an accommodating staff.

We have been in Washington, DC just for fun all week. BTW, we ate at Jaleo, which is owned by José Andrés. We usually shun celebrity chef restaurants but wanted to go because of the work he has done in Puerto Rico and his refusal to open a restaurant in Trump's new DC hotel. Actually it was some of the best tapas we have had. We had Lomo ibérico de bellota Fermín with pimentón and garlic. Spectacular. My wife had Aceitunas 'Ferran Adrià' which is a spoonful of the essence that almost explodes in your mouth. Patatas bravas with both an aloili and spicy tomato sauce. Slightly different but very good. Pulpo a la gallega, very tender. And most airy flan for dessert. It a cavernous establishment and we were frankly surprised at the quality and the professional level of service for its size. Go if you are in DC.

Glad to hear Jose Andres's restaurant is good. I enjoy watching him on TV.

For how long does your SIL intend to stay in Spain ? For the duration or only a few years ? I ask because just this morning I received an email from the ex with a link to new tax laws there. Haven't had a chance to read it yet and perhaps this wouldn't apply to her. We'll see. He did say that it'll mean more hassle for expats.

Do you need accommodations in Madrid?

We like SpainSelect.com for apartments.

Appreciate all the recs on this thread.

José Andrés restaurants in DC were here way before he became a celebrity chef. Jaleo's has been a DC favorite since it opened in the early '90s. Hope you're enjoying DC.

She will stay a year and then reconsider everything. She knows the tax situation will be a bear.

No thank you, we will be staying with my SIL. (Just airfare and an concessional pick up the tab and cook a meal.)

Bedar, would you mind posting the link your ex sent you about the new tax laws in Spain?

We did enjoy DC. We live in Manhattan, where celebrity chefs are as dense as the bushes. In fact we stayed in area where there whole bunch of restaurants that first started in NY. We also tried an Ethiopian place called Chercher and a decent American style place called Clyde's.

But we clearly enjoyed Jaleo more than the others.

Last trip to Madrid, October 2016, we really liked the tapas on Calle de Libertad in Celso y Manolo and El Bocaito.

We also went to an expensive and old school paella restaurant called St. James. Very fine and refined.