I had a lot of family stuff going on the last two months so have been unable to concentrate on trip planning. We leave in a month for Spain and would love suggestions. I have been reading so many Spain posts and have taken many notes.

We have 19 days in the following areas. I have all of our hotels and train reservations.

4 nights Madrid- Staying in the Huertas neighborhood

2 nights Granada- I have reservations for the Alhambra.

5 nights Seville- A day trip to Cordoba

5 nights Valencia- during Las Fallas

2 nights Toledo

1 night in Madrid



Do we reservations for restaurants?

What are some of your favorite places for a meal? Breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Markets to explore?

Any exhibits in Madrid for the beginning of March?

I also would love to get some tiles for a project at home. Any tile stores to recommend?


Thanks in advance

If you have certain restaurants in mind then you must book ahead. Where we recommend will depend on your budget---what is maximum total for one person without alcohol?

By markets do you mean food markets?

I would look in Sevilla for tiles. I remember one large tile shop on Calle Sierras, and others "across the river" in the Triana neighborhood.

Regardless of your method of transportation, I would consider staying overnight in Cordoba between Granada and Seville.

"Do we need reservations for restaurants?"

Yes, yes, and yes! In Madrid, certainly (where we joke about needing to have a reservation now to even have a beer at the bar!). And in Valencia as well during Fallas. Please note than during Fallas in many restaurants you may be forced into a special Fallas menu(or not...)
For example, in Madrid on Tues. we went into La Castela (where the Queen took Michelle for lunch) for a glass of wine before dinner at La Catapa, and even in the bar area, at 8 pm, every high top table was reserved. And this was at the very end of January, which is usually a slow night for restaurants but certainly not those super popular ones in the Retiro district.

"What are some of your favorite places for a meal? Breakfast, lunch or dinner?"
There are so many fine places for breakfast, lunch and dinner that it's really hard to give a list without knowing exactly where you'll be staying and how far you wish to walk, bus or metro for a meal from your lodging location.

"Markets to explore"
For a real, genuine indoor municipal market where locals actually do their shopping and not just a gourmet food court (like Mercado de San Miguel that receives 10 million visitors a year ), I would prioritize the Mercado de Antón Martín at the dividing line between Huertas (aka Barrio de las Letras) and Lavapiés (and downstairs with a wonderful small "restaurant" or better described as a gourmet dining space, La López Bar, run with aplomb by Maialen and Sergio---fantastic, creative food here in this small space, a place for "foodies in the know")...
and if you are willing to walk or take the bus to the elegant Salamanca neighborhood, the Mercado de la Paz, Madrid's prime and most upscale indoor market (also with a great place for tortilla española, Casa Dani).

"Any exhibits in Madrid for the beginning of March?"
See revulgo's post #2 on his thread here-
March 2024. Art fairs in Madrid

Eks- Yes, I meant food markets. I like to cook and would like to bring home things to enjoy.
As far as prices we are pretty open to the cost but probably $75 per person? I am guessing that we can have a nice meal for less than that? It we have a big lunch then we will probably want something lighter for dinner.

Michael- I was on the fence for staying a night or two in Cordoba. I am really looking forward to seeing it.

Maribel- Thanks for the markets. We don’t mind walking unless it’s pouring rain. Up to a 30 minute walk each way is fine.
These are the places I booked:
In Madrid we are staying at Room Mate Alba
Granada- Palacio Marina Pineda
Seville- Air BnB by Piaza del Cabildo
Valencia- Air Bnb by Esglesia de Santa Joan del Mercat
Toledo- La Posada de Manolo
Madrid- Abba

Thanks is for the market info and the links for revulgo’s post.

I would also recommend at least one night in Cordoba.
There is a great little museum dedicated to Las Fallas which is well worth a visit, it is just across the road from the City of Arts and Sciences.

Map. Room Mate Alba location:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...7i5dGBTBzX0kWk

@Paqngo
Regarding taking food with you to the United States, find out about the items allowed by the U.S. Customs
https://es.usembassy.gov/travel-information/

Paqngo,
As ekscrunchy has told you, look for tiles, not in Madrid but in the Triana neighborhood of Sevilla, where there are still ceramic shops of long standing along the streets of Alfarería (the street of the potters), Callao (Cerámica Triana), Castilla and Plaza de Altoona. This shop gives tile making classes.

About my favorite Madrid dining spots within an easy walk of the Room Mate Alba (most priced under 50 euros/p, w/wine)

In Cortes
Askuabarra, for meat lovers, great steak tartare, above Las Cortes
Casa Mortero, for great traditional dishes given a contemporary twist, handy to the Thyssen, yummy croquettes

In Huertas/Barrio de las Letras
Vinoteca Moratín, evening dining by candlelight, chef driven
LEV, La Escalera del Vino, new place with large wines-by-the glass list, tiny dining room
*Triciclo, wildly popular, very best in this neighborhood, chef-driven
Casa Alberto, century-old tavern from 1827, classic Madrid cuisine, vermouth on tap

In Jerónimos (behind City Hall, Palacio de Cibeles)
Hermanos García de la Navarra, for wine lovers, great vegetable dishes
Taberna Linaza, next door, new and noteworthy

In Lavapiés
La López Bar, best creative cuisine in a market, chef trained at Viridiana, you´ll be well taken care of by Sergio and partner Maialen, who speaks perfect English, in the mercado gastronómico section downstairs of Mercado de Antón Martín
María Sarmiento, for 5 different rice dishes, including vegetarian, mussel croquettes
La Caníbal, for hearty Galician fare, craft beer, natural wines, handy to the Reina Sofía Museum

On the eastern side of Retiro Park for rice dishes
Berlanga, best place in town for an authentic Valencian paella in a cozy, comfortable dining room with well spaced tables, chef owner, son of late film director Luis García

For a terrific small plates dinner in the Retiro district, the city's very best dining destination, but must reserve, even for a light meal at high tables in the bar area
Taberna La Castela
Castelados
Taberna Laredo (ekscruncy's fav)
Taberna La Catapa (voted number 1 tapas bar by gastro critic Maribona)
La Montería

I assume you booked the ABBA in Madrid for your last night, before your flight home, as it´s just a 15 min. taxi ride from Barajas (flat fare now 33 euros). Close to the ABBA. we go to Cañadío, the Madrid branch of the famous Cañadío of Santander. It´s an 11 minute walk from the ABBA. One of the city´s best tortillas is served here plus calamares (rabas), croquettes, veal meatballs, cheesecake----comfort food.

About brining home market purchases to the US--you can bring back as many canned goods (conservas) as you can put in your suitcase, now jamón ibèrico vacuum packed, cheeses vacuum packed, olive oils and vinegars, saffron....

Granada dining
wine bistros
Taberna la Tana (must reserve!)
Taberna Malvasía
St. Germain

for Alhambra views
Carmen de Aben Humeya near the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín for romantic evening dining

seafood
Oliver on the Plaza de la Pescaderia downtown; Bourdain filmed here; for sit down in back dining room or tapas at the bar (complimentary tapa served with each drink order)
Los Diamantes on Plaza Nueva for fried fish and other seafood dishes, another branch on Plaza Bib Rambla

churros y chocolate
Cafetería Alhambra on the Plaza Bib Rambla

Sevilla dining
Amara (Basque chef)
La Barra de Inchausti (seafood)
La Barra de Cañabota (seafood)
Espacio Eslava
La Azotea
Tradevo Centro
Bodeguita Romero (for pringá sandwich)
Bodeguita Antonio Romero (for priripi sandwich)
Casa Morales (a wonderful "time warp" 1850 tavern with great pricing, back room decorated with huge wine vats, very atmospheric)

churros y chocolate
Bar El Comercio, a classic, near the Plaza de la Encarnación, where you´ll find Las Setas, churros served all day

Valencia dining
During Fallas everything will be packed, but a stroll through the Mercat Central is an absolute must, as is having an esmorzaret (a mid-morning "lunch" between 9 and 12) at Ricard Camarena's Central Bar, in the middle of the market.
https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/wha...eat/esmorzaret

For rice dishes cooked over an open flame with orange wood, we enjoyed Quique Dacosta's Llisa Negra. (It's the more affordable Dacosta place along with his fusion-type Vuelve Carolina). You can dine a la carte or order a menú. Lavoe Arroz y Mar is also good, and either saves you a long trip out to the Albufera for paella.
Traffic comes to a stand still (or collapses) during Fallas with many streets closed, so it's good that you booked something central where you can walk everywhere.
If you can manage to hop on the trolley and get as far as the fishermen's quarter of El Cabanyal, a meal at the historic Bodega Casa Montaña is unforgettable. Every small plate served there, a treat.
Or if you can get over to the Eixample district, Camarena's casual place, Canalla Bistro, is fun. A Fodor's GTG was held there, organized by lincasanova.

For the traditional snack of horchata/orxata (a refreshing cold drink made from tigernuts originating in Alboraia) and fartons (a type of sweet pastry to dip in the horchata), the oldest horchateria is Santa Catalina, decorated with pretty tiles.

Toledo dining
La Taberna de Botero, very close to your lodging
Clandestina de las Tendillas, on the Plaza de las Tendillas

Revulgo- Thanks for the links.

Maribel- Thank you for all your ideas.

I appreciate all your help! Now to look everything up and mark my map.