visit madrid conde nast

The best things to eat, see and do in Madrid

By Agnish Ray

January in Madrid is a time for hearty stews, fresh churros, frosty walks in El Retiro Park – and looking forward to spring. This characterful destination outranks other European capitals with its quality of life, welcoming size and warm, down-to-earth spirit. With an increasingly vibrant cultural scene, a wave of new hotels and a gastronomy offering bursting with interesting flavours, it’s leading the way as one of the continent’s number-one city breaks. While Madrid and its greater region are rich in their own identity and customs, it’s also a melting pot where cultures from various corners of this diverse country converge, so put this urban and rural escape on the list for 2024, to see Spain at its finest.

Puerta del Sol

Smugly boasting about 300 days of sunshine per year, Madrid is best explored on foot – start at the Puerta del Sol (“gateway of the sun”), said to be the central point of Spain. Walk towards Plaza Mayor, one of Europe’s largest public squares, to admire the Baroque architecture, before continuing to the Royal Palace, where a set of new galleries has opened to display more than 650 pieces from the royal collection of art, design and furniture. Soaking up this rich heritage, it’s easy to see why Madrid attracts arts and culture lovers.

The Prado museum houses more than 9,000 historic paintings and sculptures ranging until the 20th century, while Arte Reina Sofía, just a short walk down the Paseo del Prado promenade, displays modern and contemporary masterpieces across its five floors, with must-sees by Dalí, Miró, Picasso and more. And if this double dose of mega museums isn’t enough, sports fans should take a tour of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium and marvel at its fancy new retractable pitch.

Tot-Hom offers timeless, elegant pieces

While shopping, keep your eyes peeled – and purses open – for brands that epitomise Spain’s shifting role on the world stage: Loewe, once a local collective of leather artisans, has evolved into a global platform for cutting-edge creativity, while Ecoalf is pioneering all things circular and sustainable, and Tot-Hom offers timeless, elegant pieces created by the deft hand of founder Marta Rota. The Salamanca neighbourhood is home to other renowned Spanish fashion houses, from Balenciaga and Manolo Blahnik to Adolfo Dominguez and Delpozo, while the new Galería Canalejas houses Hermès, Cartier, Jimmy Choo and about 40 other luxury brands under one roof. If you’re not sure where to start, the luxury department store, housed in a historic building, offers personal shopper services, which are also available at El Corte Inglés.

The Malasaña neighbourhood is full of trendy concept stores, but if furniture is more your thing, browse antique and designer pieces around El Rastro on a Sunday morning. As evening descends in Spain, music and dance transcend all language barriers – and Madrid has provided a world stage for some of the greatest artists of our time, not least at Tablao de la Villa, one of the city’s most prestigious and popular tablaos (a traditional venue offering both meals and flamenco performances). Here, guests are beguiled by the intense emotion of this complex art form, which is steeped in Arab and Romani influences.

Madrid is home to an exciting array of local and international designers

Look beyond Gran Vía, Malasaña and the rest of Madrid’s urban environment – the surrounding region is home to charming towns and villages, offering an escape from the city to more rural locations. Start by exploring Madrid's UNESCO Triangle. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Thia majestic complex, surrounded by sprawling gardens and fountains, served as a summer residence for the Spanish royal family. Immerse yourself in its rich history, marvel at the elegant architecture, and wander through the lush greenery, once a playground for kings and queens.

Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of literary legend Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote , invites you to trace the "path of the Spanish language". Every corner contains forgotten stories and every shadow dances with the ghosts of the poet's past.

The magnificent 16th century monastery and royal residence in San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a gem of the Spanish Golden Age, mixing Italian and Flemish styles. Conceived by King Philip II and built between 1563 and 1584, the vast complex is one of the most significant monuments of the Spanish Renaissance. It is anchored by four statuesque towers at each corner, creating a quadrangle that's home to a church, monastery, royal palace, college and library. Frescoes and artworks by important Renaissance and Baroque artists adorn the interiors. Beyond grand monuments, the charming lanes of San Lorenzo de El Escorial reveal hidden treasures. Peek into quaint shops, savor flaky pastries or warm your hands with decadent chocolate con churros.

Manzanares El Real

Perched proudly on a hill, Mendoza Castle is one of the highlights in Manzanares El Real. Theatrical performances and family workshops bring the history of the former palatial residence, with its crenellated towers, private chapel and dramatic Gothic arches, to life. The structure underwent a major restoration in the 1960s, overseen by architect Manuel González Valcárcel, and is where the where the Statute of Autonomy was approved in 1983.

Around the town of Patones, a picturesque jumble of black-slate architecture and cobbled streets where the Lozoya and Jarama rivers meet, make sure to take the steep walk up the El Barranco path, with archaeological remains from the Iron and Bronze Ages to be found in the nearby caves. Alternatively, head up to Cancho de la Cabeza, 1,264 metres above sea level, for bird's eye views of Sierra Norte, the surrounding countryside and the glimmering blue of the Atazar Lake.

Thyssen-Bornemisza

Where to stay

One place that’s had Madrid’s fashion, music and artsy crowds talking ever since it opened in 2022 is The Edition. With two restaurants (serving Mexican and Peruvian cuisines respectively), a cocktail bar and an achingly hip lounge area complete with a marble pool table, this hotel is the place for lovers of edgy glamour and eye-catching aesthetics – don’t miss the white spiral staircase, a trademark piece designed by John Pawson. This is just one of many new luxury hotels that have set up shop in Madrid over recent years, like the Mandarin Oriental, which reopened Madrid’s Ritz in 2020, with a renovation that’s worth seeing, if just for the stunning new glass roof, designed by architect Rafael de la Hoz, flooding the lush, opulent interiors with natural light. Ibiza-born Ocean Drive now has a chic new property in Madrid and Barcelona-based designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán has crafted the interiors at the new Hotel Montera, while Thompson and JW Marriott also arrived in the Spanish capital last year.

Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid

Step away from the city and trade busy streets for the breathtaking environs of Parador de Alcalá de Henares, which extends across three restored 17th century convent schools. While away the hours exploring the building's former cloisters, Jardín Tallado and spa, which is to be found beneath the vaults of the old church. Building on its reputation of creating properties in truly unique locations, Parador has also converted the 15th century monastery of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso, founded by the first lords of Chinchón, into a unique place to stay in the heart of the medieval town. Features of the original building remain, including the cloister and the old church, which was converted into a suite, a typical monastic kitchen garden that is now brimming with fruit trees and swimming pool within the former stables.

Meat lovers certainly feel at home in this city – at places like Súa, Rural, Roostiqand Leña

Where to eat

Forget everything you thought you knew about tapas; there’s so much more to learn from Madrid’s dining scene, which is raising the bar for creativity without compromising on tradition. Coque, run by the Sandoval brothers, has long been a champion of innovative haute cuisine, while Saddle, a grand affair in elegance and seasonality that opened in 2020, has quickly achieved similar must-do status. Gofio is a culinary voyage through the Canary Islands, while Sala de Despiece appeals to hip, adventurous crowds in a visually striking space that’s part science lab, part meat market. Meat lovers certainly feel at home in this city – at places like Súa, Rural, Roostiq and Leña, succulent cuts are served grilled, roasted, stewed and more. But despite being the most land-locked part of the country, Madrid also has a surprisingly good reputation for seafood. Water-borne delicacies find their way here from Spain’s various coasts in the hands of chefs like Barcelona’s Rafa Zafra at Estimar and Marbella’s Dani García at Lobito de Mar, while Desde 1911’s homage to fishing has won a Michelin star for 2024.

Amidst this stellar line-up, a hidden gem awaits. Nestled in the heart of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 10 minutes from the famous monastery, Montia is more than a mere restaurant. This one-Michelin-starred eatery boasts unique “wild cuisine” that champions local, seasonal ingredients and foraged finds. Chef Daniel Ochoa crafts two tasting menus – Largo and XL – that showcase the bounty of the surrounding mountains and plains. Flavours from regions across Spain can be found in the capital and the greater region: scoff down some Valencian paella in a casual setting at Socarratt, or try Galician fare at Alabáster and Ribeira do Miño. Madrid is where old and new collide: classics like Lhardy, Casa Alberto and Bodegas La Ardosa are worth a visit if even just to admire the historic decoration, while recent arrivals in town include Tramo, a social enterprise combining elegant dining with environmental and social consciousness, and Playing Solo, a space for eight covers where chef Luis Caballero works magic right in front of his guests.

Get to know more about Madrid here.

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13 Best Things To Do In Madrid, According To Locals 

• Destinations

Madrid is Spain’s second-most visited city after Barcelona, but it’s the country’s largest and most diverse. It’s no surprise, then, that Madrid is full of tourist attractions. Some are forgettable, others are worth a detour if you’ve got extra time, and some are must-sees for any trip to Spain’s capital. The latter are favorites even among locals and make for a more authentic experience of Madrid.

Separating the made-for-tourism from the worthwhile can be tricky. For example, Plaza Mayor looks like a convivial spot for lunch, but the authorities — read: my husband, Floren, who was born and raised in the city, and his friends and family who still live there today — say only tourists dine there. To see Madrid like a local, follow their recommendations.

Pro Tip: For an excellent overview of iconic places in Madrid, download a copy of the city’s new Icons of Yesterday and Today map . It displays the locations and walking routes between many popular attractions and is a great way to orient yourself in the city.

1. Retiro Park

Retiro is more than just Madrid’s prettiest park; it’s also part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses the Paseo del Prado and the Jerónimos neighborhood. Some of the city’s best-known sights are located here, including the Alcalá Gate, the Alfonso XII monument, and the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, which depicts the fall of Lucifer in Paradise Lost.

You can make an entire day of exploring the 350-acre park, from its scenic promenades to its gardens and sculptural pavilions. Velázquez Palace, erected in the early 1880s to host industrial exhibitions, now features temporary displays by modern painters, photographers, and sculptors. The instantly recognizable, tile-lined Glass Palace, built in 1887 as a conservatory, also houses temporary exhibitions overseen by the Reina Sofia Museum.

2. Royal Botanical Garden Of Madrid

Clocking in at 20 acres with seven distinct sections and five greenhouses, the Royal Botanical Garden is located along the Paseo del Prado. Within its confines are an estimated 90,000 plants and flowers and more than 1,500 trees.

Follow the suggested route through the garden for insight on the plants, local history, and the importance of these living, “breathing” species in our lives. Highlights include the rose garden, the wide variety of exotics in the greenhouses, the herbarium, and the library and archive, which contain almost 10,000 botanical drawings.

3. La Casa Encendida

Less than a mile from Retiro Park, this cultural and social center is beloved among residents for its avant-garde exhibits and its programs in four topic areas: culture, solidarity, environment, and education. Inside the accessible-retrofitted historic building, you’ll find exhibition spaces, an adult and a children’s library, media rooms, a café, and a charity shop that specializes in eco-friendly items. Use the Google Translate app to interpret the signage, which is usually in Spanish.

La Terraza, a plant-filled rooftop bar, offers some of the best views in the city. It’s also a great spot for breakfast and brunch.

4. Casa Mingo

In operation since 1888, Casa Mingo is arguably the country’s first cider house. Casual and affordable, it specializes in Asturian-style dry cider, although sweet varieties are also available. Most people come for the succulent roasted chicken, but the menu has other no-frills selections like green salads, potato salad, chorizo cooked in cider, and roasted red peppers.

The restaurant gets crazy-busy on weekends. Skip the lines by arriving before 2:30 p.m. for lunch or before 9 p.m. for dinner. Head to the upper level for seating on the outdoor terrace.

5. The Cable Car (Teleférico) At Casa De Campo

For a unique view, take the Metro to the Casa de Campo urban park. Here you can board a cable car for a narrated tour of the city’s green spaces and historic landmarks. The 1.5-mile journey takes about 10 minutes.

When you’re finished, explore Casa de Campo’s green spaces and family-friendly amusement park, zoo, and aquarium. Stop along the lake, which is ringed by bars and restaurants, for a quick bite or sip. On summer weekends, Madrileños arrive in droves to jog, play soccer or tennis, ride bicycles, or swim in the public pool.

6. Beer And Tapas At Bar Alonso

Petite and perennially popular, Bar Alonso is usually packed after work or just before dinner (9 to 10 p.m.), when residents gather for beer and tapas with friends. While I can’t vouch for it myself, the tripe is universally raved about by our Madrid-based friends. What I can recommend: the salmorejo , a cold Spanish soup made of tomato, garlic, and bread; and the patatas bravas, fried potato wedges topped with a spicy paprika sauce.

7. Plaza De Santa Ana

Santa Ana, located in the Huertas district, is a nightlife hotspot. Sandwiched between the Teatro Español and the stunning Reina Victoria hotel, it’s jam-packed with bars, cafes, breweries, and restaurants, including colorful Irish pubs. At sunset, the best seats in the house are on the Reina Victoria’s swanky and fashionable rooftop bar.

On Sunday mornings, families take a fresh-air stroll around Santa Ana and stop at a panadería or two for bread and pastry.

8. Temple Of Debod

You’d be forgiven for wondering what an Egyptian temple is doing in Madrid’s Cuartel de la Montaña Park. The structure was built in the 2 nd century B.C.E. and abandoned when the Nubian empire converted to Christianity. In 1907, to save Nubian monuments during the flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam, Egypt donated four temples to different countries. Debod was dismantled, stone by stone, and reconstructed in Madrid. It reopened to the public in 1972.

The Temple of Debod sits on a stone platform over a small pond to mimic its original location along the Nile. It’s decorated with a variety of reliefs, many originally polychrome, although the colors have long since faded. At night, the buildings are lit from below with an otherworldly glow.

9. Chocolate And Churros At Chocolatería San Ginés

Just outside Puerta del Sol lies San Ginés , the original outpost of a café that has been selling Spanish chocolate and churros since the 1890s. San Ginés has been covered in many Spain guidebooks and can get packed, especially on New Year’s Day and on weekend mornings.

For a quieter experience, go on a weekday and sit at one of the old-school green banquettes in the tiled interior or pull up an outdoor table so you can dip your churros in thick, decadent chocolate while people-watching. Pick up a bag of chocolate mix to take home at the across-the-street retail shop.

10. Tortilla Española

Meaning “little cake” in English, tortilla is Spain’s national treasure of an omelet. The traditional versions are egg-only and tortilla de patatas, which are filled with potatoes cooked in olive oil.

Perhaps the most famous Spanish tortilla is made at Méson de la Tortilla, a cavelike restaurant beneath the Plaza Mayor. But Casa Dani ’s has won a number of awards, and Txirimiri , a Basque-inspired restaurant, serves a memorable tortilla de patatas with truffles and caramelized onions.

As for the eternal debate on whether a tortilla should include onions, you’re either team cebollistas or team sin cebollistas. Floren’s friend Elena says, “I vote ‘with’!” He counters, “I can’t stand onion in a potato tortilla.” For the record, I’m team cebollistas ; the addition of tender sauteed onions really makes the dish sing.

11. Capricho Park

Capricho , in the Barajas district, is both one of the most charming and least known of Madrid’s superb parks. It was built in the late 1700s and early 1800s under the direction of Doña María Josefa de la Soledad Alonso Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna, a benefactor of artists and intellectuals during the Age of Enlightenment. On her estate, she created a natural paradise where the city’s great thinkers and artists could get away from city life and stoke their creativity.

The park fell into decline after the duchess’s death in 1834. In 1974, the Madrid City Council purchased Capricho and rehabilitated it. Many of its historic structures survive, including fountains, pavilions, and hermitages. Capricho has three gardens — French, English, and Italian — as well as a labyrinth of laurel shrubs. Currently, the park is open only on weekends and holidays. The beautiful Palace of the Dukes is undergoing renovation, with plans to reopen it as an interactive art space.

12. El Rastro

On Sundays and public holidays in Madrid’s La Latina neighborhood, the streets transform into one of Europe’s largest open-air flea markets, in operation since the 1730s.

There’s virtually nothing you can’t find at El Rastro — from clothing and textiles to ceramics, antiques, home goods, art, food, and collectors’ items — as long as you have the patience for combing through more than 1,000 vendor stalls. The largest portion is in Plaza de Cascorro, and the triangular block bordered by Calle de Toledo, Calle de Embajadores, and Ronda de Toledo. Although the streets are accessible, El Rastro gets busy, and hard to navigate with a mobility vehicle. Plan to visit shortly after opening, and avoid peak traffic, which begins around 11 a.m.

If you do go in the afternoon, stop at one of the many bars in La Latina for a vermouth, a typical Sunday tradition in Madrid, along with a calamari sandwich.

13. Sangria At Las Cuevas Del Sésamo

Spaniards are particular about sangria, their home-grown party punch. Taste the real deal at Las Cuevas del Sesamo , a dimly lit subterranean bar where Ernest Hemingway knocked back a few — okay, more than a few — in the 1950s.

While Las Cuevas attracts tourists, its entrance is often obscured by the crowds at the restaurants around it. A set of stairs leads into the barrel-shaped bar, which is crowned by a series of arches stenciled with quotations. There’s a piano on one side, where a musician taps away nightly. Grab a table and sip some sangria, which is exclusively sold in pitchers and has an excellent balance of the sweet and acidic.

For more ideas and inspiration on Madrid , explore these articles:

• Beyond The Prado: 10 Best Museums To Experience In Madrid
• Why This Will Always Be The Most Unforgettable Meal I Had In Madrid
• The Best Things To Do In Madrid, Spain In Every Season

A specialist in coastal travel, the northeast U.S., and Spain, Robin is a travel journalist and the writer behind the travel blog Once More to the Shore . Her work has appeared in National Geographic , Travel + Leisure , TIME , Smithsonian , Conde Nast Traveler , AFAR , Hemispheres , and a range of other publications, both national and regional.

A New Englander by birth now living in the Hudson Valley, Robin understands the call of the sea, and the allure of rock-strewn beaches and shrouded forests. She also knows that a Maine-style lobster roll — the one true lobster roll — is best paired with a crisp hard cider, and that nothing beats a Rhode Island clam cake.

An honorary Spaniard by marriage, Robin visits Spain at least once a year, and has never met a town or tapa she didn’t like. When she’s not writing about travel, she can usually be found exploring regional lakes in her inflatable kayak, hiking the Taconics, or attempting to snap the perfect photo of the wildlife around her home.

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Inside Madrid's Most Exciting New Hotel — With Exceptional Design and Restaurants

The newest pearl in the Edition Hotels collection.

Central Madrid — steps away from Plaza Mayor — is now home to the newest pearl in the collection of Edition Hotels ; a necklace of sophisticated, party-prone properties that wraps around the planet from New York to Shanghai. Its Spanish-capital location is the best one yet, offering an unprecedented look at Marriott's playbook as it rapidly expands Ian Schrager's brand : to go, full-throttle, in the opposite direction of its competitors.

While the other big names in hospitality take a stab at downtown luxury using architectural nods to the past, the Edition seeks to become a part of a destination's future with its signature palette of clamshell whites and bouclé creams — thoughtful minimalism — plus winky nods to its surrounds, like mod headboards in the 200 rooms and suites that echo the shape of the porticos outside.

And, unlike the other industry players trying out private club membership models (think: Chateau Marmont or Casa Cipriani), Schrager — who famously founded Studio 54 — is leaning hard into an "all are welcome" mantra, cultivating desirability, not exclusivity within the Editions' four walls.

The price of a cocktail is all it costs to gain access to the Madrid flagship's two supper-club restaurants, both of which eschew jamón ibérico in favor of international flavors. The first, Jerónimo, is the latest iteration of chef Enrique Olvera's imaginative Mexican fare that put Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City on the culinary map. Upstairs, on the fourth floor, Oroya offers flavors from another corner of the Latin world — Peruvian fish dishes and Pisco-forward beverages by chef Diego Muñoz. In good weather, enjoy your ceviche out on the slatted terrace where the signature skyline of church spires, TV antennas, and terra cotta tiles is reflected in the city's largest rooftop pool — designed, like the rest of the hotel, for hotel guests and Madrileños in equal measure.

You will, however, be seduced long before reaching the rooftop — the entrance boasts an architectural flourish that's poised to be the next iconic backdrop on every influencer's 'gram: a stairwell that swirls like a Nike swoosh, leading guests up to the lounge lofted above. It's well worth a glimpse, even if you're not calling the property home while in town, but fair warning: once you start collecting Edition editions, you'll want to visit them all.

21 Best Restaurants in Madrid

The city's food scene is an ever-expanding patchwork quilt of cuisines and cultures waiting to be gobbled up.

Saddle Madrid

Dos Cielos Madrid by Hermanos Torres

El Cisne Azul

Sala de Despiece

Cruz Blanca de Vallecas

Corral de la Morería

El Paraguas

La Tasquería

Restaurante Casa Benigna

El Rincón de Jáen

Mo de Movimiento

Bodegas el Maño

FAYER Madrid

Restaurante Casa Lafu (closed)

Casa Hortensia Restaurante & Sidrería

Restaurante Casa Lafu

Condé Nast Traveler: 17 Best Things to Do in Madrid

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24 April 2024

IHG’s Upper Luxury Portfolio Recognized By Top Travel Editors

Nine top titles awarded to IHG properties – A total of four Six Senses and two Regent hotels are featured in Condé Nast Traveler Hot List, Travel + Leisure’s It List and AFAR’s Best New Hotels.

24 APRIL 2024, LONDON: IHG Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the significant achievements of its upper luxury portfolio today following the announcement of three of the industry’s most coveted awards selected by leading travel editors. A collective showcase of the crème de la crème of the global hospitality industry, Condé Nast Traveler Hot List , AFAR’s Best New Hotels of 2024 and the Travel + Leisure ‘It List’ have awarded nine notable titles to properties within IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, now the second largest in the world.

A summary of the inclusions are as follows:

Since 2015, IHG Hotels & Resorts has doubled its Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio to become recognised as one of the industry’s most innovative players. Strategic acquisitions and new brand launches over the past five years have transformed IHG’s portfolio from 1 to 6 brands, spanning 499 properties and some 114,570 rooms in 80 countries. IHG is now the second largest in the sector by number of rooms and hotels, whilst continuing to drive high-value growth at an impressive pace.

Since its acquisition in 2018, IHG has embarked on a carefully curated reimagining of Regent to reclaim its place in the hearts of the modern luxury travellers. A legendary innovative luxury brand since 1971, Regent reimagines modern hospitality by sparking fresh perspectives across its growing number of hand-selected hotels and resorts. Several flagship openings in 2023 ushered in a new era for the brand with the grand return of Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel in March following a two-year redevelopment, closely followed by Regent Hong Kong’s return to Victoria Harbour in June that year. Both properties received recognition within this year’s awards announcement.

Six Senses is world-renowned for providing the ultimate luxury wellness and sustainable experience. The brand is experiencing exciting growth with some 42 hotels in the pipeline which will almost double today’s existing portfolio. Part of IHG since 2019, last year saw the opening of Six Senses Rome, its first urban expression of the brand and Six Senses Crans-Montana and Six Senses Southern Dunes. All three properties proudly receive recognition by the top global editors overseeing this year’s lists.

The spotlight now turns to the 37 th annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards with more than 200 IHG properties shortlisted and gathering votes. The longest running recognition in the travel industry, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards is voted for by global readers of the magazine worldwide. To vote, visit: UK voting site | US voting site .

For further information please contact:

Ellie Mainwaring Global Senior Communications Manager Luxury & Lifestyle Brands [email protected] +44 (0) 7823 372 559

About IHG ®

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards , one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,300 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,000 properties.

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Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards . To download the IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.

For our latest news, visit our Newsroom  and follow us on LinkedIn .

Conde Nast named this MA island one of the best places in the world to travel to this May

Looking for a world class trip without having to leave New England in the next few weeks?

There's an option, and one that just so happens to be a favorite spot of President Joe Biden.

Conde Nast Traveler recently released its list of the 13 best places in the world to travel in May, and a popular New England destination made the list, alongside places like Zambia, the Cyclades, and Sicily.

May, they said,  "is one of our favorite times to roam the world because the weather is usually ideal no matter where you go—whether in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern, and the crowds are much thinner than during the summer months when most families and their kids are off for holidays."

What New England spot landed on the Conde Nast Traveler list?

Nantucket was ranked at number five for the best places in the world to travel in the month of May, according to Conde Nast Traveler.

Why did Conde Nast Traveler say this destination is great in May ?

The Conde Nast Traveler website stated, "So much more than just a summer town,  Nantucket  is a beauty in every season. But there are a few perks to visiting in May - namely, beating the summer influx of tourists. You won’t have to dodge quite as many crowds as you bike and sail your way around the island, and you can score some unobstructed views of the three million daffodils that bloom here in late April and early May."

Other tips from Conde Nast Traveler

If you go to Nantucket in May, Condé Nast recommended adding the following to your itinerary:

• Eat seafood at the many restaurants on the island.
• Try the oysters at  Cru  (open for the season in May) or Atlantic halibut at  Dune .
• Plan your visit around the  Nantucket Wine Festival , a four-day event happening from May 15-19, 2024.
• Stay at  The Wauwinet , a five-star hotel on the island that allows visitors some quiet isolation.

Biden visits: President Biden often goes to Nantucket for Thanksgiving

What other spots made the list?

Other places on the Conde Nast Traveler list include:

• Zambia, Africa;
• The Cyclades, Greece
• Holland, Michigan
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Healdsburg, California
• Sicily, Italy
• he Hamptons, New York
• Puebla, Mexico
• Nova Scotia, Canada
• Greenville, South Carolina.

Fun facts about this destination

The following are facts from the Nantucket Historical Association:

• While it's a tourist destination now, in the beginning sheep had the run of the island. "At the beginning of English settlement on Nantucket , most of the island was one unfenced common for the grazing of livestock, mainly sheep."
• It used to be that people used the moon to predict the weather. "In the days before modern weather forecasting, Nantucketers anticipated bad weather around the time of an underground moon. The  Inquirer and Mirror ’s 12-month calendar not only indicated the phases of the moon throughout each month but the dates on which an underground moon would occur. "
• Collecting seaweed is a right of the townspeople. "In 1904 a committee making recommendations for the management of the Cliff Bathing Beach included: 'The right to collect seaweed from the beach, subject to the direction of the Cliff Bathing Beach Commissioners, shall be reserved to the town’s people.'"
• "The first golf course was the Nantucket Golf Course on the north shore along Cliff Road." It was built in 1897, with a permanent clubhouse being built in 1899.
• One of the first industries on Nantucket  was silk, with the whaling industry taking off later that century.

Criss Crossing America to Visit Every Baseball Stadium Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler

• Places & Travel

Tiffany Mathias, a self-confessed baseball stadium chaser (and, incidentally, Lale’s sister-in-law), recounts her quest to visit every ballpark in the US, touring the stadiums, chatting to ushers and fans, and sampling the often eccentric local concessions—often as a solo traveler. To watch a game in a new stadium, says Tiffany, is “to be in her happy place.”

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The best restaurants in Madrid

By Lucrezia Worthington

These are the latest restaurant openings in Madrid to attract the foodie crowds. Unlike the backstreet tapas spots that can be sniffed out on a late evening walk, a visit to many of these Madrid restaurants requires some tactical planning.

How we choose the best restaurants in Madrid

Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing restaurants, our editors consider both high end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.

What's the best neighbourhood for food in Madrid?

Madrileños are flocking to the Almagro neighbourhood, home to restaurants such as Narciso Brasserie, Israeli-Argentinian Fayer, two-Michelin-starred Coque and Casa Sr Ito, a cross between an izakaya and a typical Spanish bar. Trafalgar is where millennials and Peter Pan over-40s want to live and work: it’s home to the Alma Nomad Bakery, the best in the city, and buzzy spots such as the Ostras Pedrín oyster bar and a new outpost of Hermanos Vinagre (pictured above) , a charismatic modern tavern with kitsch interiors and plentiful vermouth. Elsewhere in Chamberí, Calle Ponzano’s bar-crawl potential spawned its own verb, #ponzaning, thanks to its density of bars that offer everything from well-drawn draught beers at unpretentious bar El Doble to superlative shellfish at Fide. Salesas, a sliver between Paseo de la Castellana and Chueca, is an upscale den of young millionaires, with Mexican and Venezuelan influences. Boutiques and concept stores sit shoulder to shoulder with hotspots such as Los 33, the darkly cool restaurant at the epicentre of young, monied Madrid.

Madrid’s fast-evolving food markets have increasingly impressive dining options. Since launching Tripea in Chamberí’s lively Mercado de Vallehermoso in 2017, chef Roberto Martínez Foronda has won many plaudits. Spanish, Peruvian and Southeast Asian influences inform his vibrant tasting menus, with tiraditos, ceviche, stews and fragrant curries served to guests on communal tables from open kitchens.

Address: Tripea, Mercado de Vallehermoso, C. de Vallehermoso, 36, 28015 Madrid Website: tripea.es

Basque chef Diego Guerrero seems to have torn up the rule book with this playful, industrial space of battered exposed brick and Crittall windows. The constantly changing tasting menus are diverse, with dishes ranging from fermented yucca and octopus to roasted avocado. Guerrero’s other adventures include DSpeak, an informal offshoot, and DPickle Room, his womb-like, red-neon-lit cocktail bar collaboration with Madrid’s top mixologist, Diego Cabrera.

Address: Dstage, C. de Regueros, 8, 28004 Madrid Website: dstageconcept.com

Pictured above: Plaza Mayor

3. Sala de Despiece

Inspired by butcher’s shops and salas de despiece (cutting rooms), this vibrant, innovative restaurant, which opened a decade ago on Chamberí’s Calle Ponzano, was a pioneer in communal countertop dining. Even now, the place tends to be packed to capacity, with a dedicated local audience for chef Javier Bonet’s creative nose-to-tail exploration of Spanish gastronomy.

Address: Sala de Despiece, C. de Ponzano, 11, 28010 Madrid, Spain Website: saladedespiece.com

4. Smoked Room

It took chef Dani García six months to snaffle two Michelin stars in one go for this shrine to fire and smoke (which is essentially a special section of his steakhouse, Leña). Only 14 diners can gather around the Japanese-style bar to see the show every night: an up-close-and-personal chef’s table where flame-lashed meat, fish, eels and barnacles are finished on your plate, and a “todo es humo” (“everything is smoked”) tasting menu with a “Japanese spirit” is the order of the day.

Address: Smoked Room, Hotel Hyatt Regency Hesperia, P.º de la Castellana, 57, 28046 Madrid, Spain Website: grupodanigarcia.com

An opening from Michelin -winning chef Dani García, following BiBo Marbella and Lobito de Mar, has interiors by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, who set out to capture the essence of Andalucía – 7,000 light bulbs are used to reflect the Feria de Málaga, a statue of a blue-fin tuna surveys the dining room, while a hot-air balloon rises above the central bar, evoking the menu’s wandering sense of discovery.

Address:  BiBo, Paseo de la Castellana 52, 28046, Salamanca, Madrid Website:   grupodanigarcia.com

A second consecutive top prize at the Best Chef Awards last year helped seal Dabiz Muñoz’s outsized reputation for eccentric, attention-grabbing dishes. Set a short hop up the Paseo de la Castellana in the NH Eurobuilding hotel, DiverXo showcases Muñoz’s food-as-theatre across tasting menus that aim to surprise. Two further ventures in the city, StreetXo and the newly launched dumpling bar RavioXo, are more casual but equally clever.

Address: Diverxo, NH Eurobuilding, C. del Padre Damián, 23, 28036 Madrid, Spain Website: diverxo.com

7. Desde 1911

To create Desde 1911, the city’s restaurant du jour, an old bomb factory was transformed into a minimalist, timber-panelled modern haven on a small, unprepossessing street in out-of-the-way Cuatro Caminos. The venue is a jewel from the production line of Pescaderías Coruñesas, the most prestigious fishing company in Madrid, which has already created Lhardy, El Pescador, O’Pazo and Filandón. The group’s restaurants pay homage to the fishing and seafood traditions of La Coruña, with unrivalled access to the best supplies.

Address: Desde 1911, C. del Vivero, 3, 28040 Madrid Website: desde1911.es