Welcome to Locals Only. In this series, we're tapping notable locals in the style space to share a tight list of their top recommendations of what to see, eat, and shop in their home city. They'll share off-the-radar recs that you won't find in your average guidebook, resulting in digestible mini guides revealing where the city's most fashionable residents are actually hanging out.
If French style is synonymous with an effortlessly cool aura and British style represents a certain nerdy quirkiness, then Spanish style is the more eccentric, free-spirited of the three. It's a shame that the wider fashion world doesn't dwell on it as much as we do because the style set in Spain offers a wealth of inspiration—as long as you know where to look. If you take a stroll around a trendy neighborhood in Madrid or Barcelona, you'll find a savvy mix of indie labels like Paloma Wool, Siedrés, and Gimaguas and luxury labels like Miu Miu, Chanel, and Spain's own Loewe. There's no one who better represents this quirky-cool mix quite like sisters Lucia and Helena Cuesta.
For the stylists and Them Bones Jewelry designers, Madrid is and has always been home. Born and raised in the Spanish capital, their Instagram feeds may give a glimpse into the sisters' well-dressed lives in Madrid, but we wanted to dig deeper and catalogue their favorite spots that make the city a place they keep coming back to. "I travel a lot, and every time I come back, I realize how in love I am with my city," Helena muses. "It's full of culture and history." Lucia agrees—the two just can't imagine living anywhere else. Here, the Cuesta sisters are sharing their 14 essential spots, from where to find the best traditional Spanish cuisine to their no-skip vintage boutique.
What to Pack
Fresh seafood, local produce, and an intimate, low-lit atmosphere make Farah the ideal date-night Mediterranean dinner spot in La Latina. The cozy, minimally decorated space is the perfect backdrop to the fresh Mediterranean small plates, like wild sea bass and seared prawns, on the menu.
"Friperie Vintage is one of my favorite vintage stores in the city," Lucia tells us. "The owner has an amazing taste in vintage fashion, and you will find great treasures there." She says that her best pairs of Levi's jeans are from here and that the shop also has a great selection of leather jackets.
A chic night out for dinner and cocktails calls for a table at La Estrella. The hot spot opened last year by a team of Madrid's notable creatives behind some of the capital's coolest places for a night out—like Club Malasaña, which is also on this list. The move is to gather a group of friends for a late dinner at La Estrella to dine on oysters and sip martinis before keeping the night going.
Like many other European capitals, Madrid is filled with iconic art. Spend a day wandering through the galleries at the El Prado Museum, where you'll find some of the country's most notable paintings and sculptures. The Cuestas' insider tip? Head there in the last hour before closing when it's free, beginning at 6 p.m.
Every item at Cocol—from heirloom ceramics to esparto baskets to wool blankets—bears the name of an independent Spanish artisan.
Club Malasaña is one of the best nightclubs in the city, according to Lucia. If you want to dance and be seen, this is the place to do it. "The coolest people will be there, and they'll no doubt be playing great music," she insists.
After your night out at the club, a long brunch is in order, and for this, you'll want to beeline to Watts Cantina, an all-day café serving up brunch classics like eggs, bacon, and pancakes along with a natural-focused wine list.
You simply can't miss El Rastro Flea Market, Lucia insists. It's easily the most famous market here, and it's a very typical thing to do on a Sunday if you are Madrilenian, she explains.
A good coffee shop is essential to any Madrid city guide, and they had a hard time choosing just one favorite. HanSo Café, GoodNews Coffee, and Pastora were all at the top of their list.
Helena's favorite bookstore, Desperate Literature, is as quaint as it looks. "It's so charming and small," she says. "Best of all, I live in front!"
At the heart of Madrid is Parque de El Retiro, the city's largest green space and one that's brimming with history. It was once the exclusive property of the Spanish royal family.
Look no further than Hermanos Vinagre for traditional Spanish fare. The acclaimed restaurant has three locations around the capital, each serving classic tapas like anchovies, cold cuts, and Russian salad.
Plaza de Oriente is full of restaurants, gardens, and, of course, the royal palace, making it the ultimate meeting place in Madrid. It's a place where you can also do the best people-watching in the city. Lucia suggests having a paella or another typical Spanish dish while enjoying the view at one of the outdoor restaurants.
Helena named Zíngara as the spot that makes her favorite cocktail, but it's also a destination for some of the city's most elevated vegan cuisine with a moody, low-lit ambiance.
Here's the full list—screenshot away!
