FAQ + TIPS
5th May
On Friday evening, for those who would like to join, we will have a smaller get together for all of the guests to come together and socialize before the big day. Details will be coming shortly and this page will be updated. The location will be in central Madrid, close to where the majority of guests are staying.
Wedding day
1:00 PM - Ceremony - Calle de Santiago, 24, 28013 Madrid
The wedding ceremony will be held at a church in the center of Madrid called Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista. The address is Calle De Santiago, 24, 28013 Madrid. The service will begin at 1 PM on 06 May. The church is within very easy walking distance of most anywhere in central Madrid, 5 minutes from Plaza del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Callao etc. We expect the service to last around 45 minutes.
3:30 PM Reception - Paseo la, Av. de la Fuente del Chorro, 1, 28976 Batres, Madrid
Upon the completion of the service, we will direct the guests to a group of buses waiting a short walk from the church to take us to the reception venue, which is called Castillo de Batres. Address: Paseo de la Avenida de la Fuente del Chorro, 1, 28976 Madrid. There will be a welcome period with hors d'oeuvres and drinks for 90 minutes, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
5:00 PM Lunch (Dinner for the Americans)
A meal will be catered for the guests in honor of the union of Isa and Shawn. Any dietary restrictions can be entered on the RSVP
7:00 PM - Celebration
Music and Dancing! Cocktails will be served and a DJ will play music for several hours. We will have staggered bus departures after dinner returning to central Madrid to allow you to choose the one that best suits you.
Transportation
From the airport, taxi is the easiest way to get to central Madrid. It is a flat rate of 30 Euro, credit cards are accepted.
Within Madrid, there are many options for getting around: Taxi, Uber, Bus, Subway. It is not recommended to rent a car if you are staying in Madrid, parking is difficult and expensive, and the other options are much preferred..
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Uber is less expensive than taxis by generally about 25%, but if you don’t have far to go, Taxis are not unreasonable.
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Buses accept contactless credit cards upon entry and are an easy way to travel around the city.
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Subway (metro) requires a ticket to be purchased prior to entry. It can be a quick way to travel, but likely not necessary for most of you.
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Walking! Madrid is a very walkable city, and often is faster than taking a vehicle.
Tipping
Tipping in Spain is very different from tipping in the USA. Servers make a normal wage, and tipping is not generally expected. Our recommendation is that when out at a nice formal meal, you can tip 5-10 Euros total, or a maximum 10% if you thought the service was great. If you don’t feel the service was good, there is no need to tip.
Tipping taxi drivers, bartenders, or anyone else is not expected and is not part of their culture. If you are at a 5 star hotel and want to tip the porter carrying your bags, 1-2 euros is acceptable.
Recommendations
This section is still on progress, but here the basic information about Madrid. We will complete with more details soon.
MADRID IN 3 DAYS
Day 1
Sol: Km 0 and “The bear and the arbutus”
Plaza mayor: Chocolateria San Gines or calamary sándwiches.
Mercado de San Miguel
The Edition (our favorite spot with a cool rooftop bar for a quick drink)
Day 2:
Opera
Cathedral
Royal Palace
Plaza de España
Templo de debod: beautiful sunsets on an Egyptian temple
Day 3
Gran via
Cibeles
Museo del Prado
Los jerónimos
Puerta de Alcalá
Retiro Park
Extra days
If you have more days in Madrid another areas/interest could be:
La Latina: fun area full of terraces with young people. Vibrant atmosphere specially on Sundays when they have the street market.
Plaza de Colon
Calle serrano; luxury shops.
More museums:
Reina Sofia
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Daytrips from Madrid (by train)
Segovia: beautiful city with a spectacular roman aqueduct dated from the 2nd century. If you go there, don’t forget to eat the amazing “cochinillo”.
Toledo: city 40 min away from Madrid. Was one of the most important cities for the Catholic Kings. This city is well known for being a mix of cultures: Arabic, Jewish and Catholic all lived happily together.
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Restaurants
There are an incredible amount of phenomenal restaurants in Madrid. It is known for its tapas, small plates which are ordered and shared with the table. Some of our favourites are:
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Restaurante Botín - oldest restaurant in Madrid
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Streetxo - Run by the chef in the world, no reservations allowed and always a long wait. Also owns Diverxo, consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in the world, 3 Michelin star, but very expensive
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Restaurante Rosi La Loca - Eclectic restaurant with creative drinks and great food
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Brutal Incla - Unique and vibrantly decorated restaurant with great food and drinks
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Casa Gonzales - Great selection of meats, cheese, and wine
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Madrid Edition Roof Top - Upscale venue with nice outdoor space, cocktails, and finger foods
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El Corte Inglés Roof Top - Indoor gourmet food court with great views
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Yakitoro (Japanese)
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El Buddah Feliz (upscale Chinese)
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San Miguel Market - famous market with dozens of options
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Casa Ciriaco
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Arrabal
Breakfast and Sweets
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La Rollerie - Very nice breakfast spot, there are several of them in central Madrid
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Federal Café - Nice, simple Spanish style breakfast
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Zenith Brunch and Cocktails - American style breakfast with cocktails
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San Gines Chocolatería - famous for Churros and Hot Chocolate