👗The Tapa Weekend: February 16
Madrid Fashion Week, Japan Weekend and a Cocido route that's not to miss.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | February 16, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #41
🎉 Welcome to a new issue of The Tapa: Weekend Edition! An English-language newsletter about what to do this weekend in Madrid (plus memes!)
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
We’re turning one this week! So thank you for the memories. We’re going to celebrate such a historic landmark in style.
Also, it looks like the warm weather is making a comeback this weekend (18ºC on Sunday!), courtesy of climate change.
So get your wallet ready because there are many options for you this weekend (three of them at IFEMA, which we know is out of your literal comfort zone but they are totally worth it).
Have fun!
1. MBFWM: Fashion Week Madrid 2024
Get in, loser! We’re going looking at beautiful people wearing stuff we will never be able to wear and/or afford.
That’s right, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid is back (though you can just call it Madrid Fashion Week), lighting up the catwalks and our Instagram stories.
Experience the epitome of elegance and innovation this weekend and see the world's most celebrated designers unveil their latest creations. This is Madrid’s premier fashion event, and like every year it promises a pretty cool fusion of artistry and style.
Pretend you’re in a Gossip Girl episode (the original show, not the lame reboot) and immerse yourself in this dynamic sartorial atmosphere where fashion aficionados, trendsetters, models and A-list influencers unite in celebration of couture craftsmanship. (See? We can write some distinguished prose from time to time. That’ll be €5.).
Expect garments, accessories, special edition collections and maybe some free drinks. If you’re drawn to the world of Spanish designers or iconic luxury brands, the MBFWM is your thing to do this weekend. Join the catwalk.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid. IFEMA. Avenida del Partenón 5, Madrid. Through Feb. 19. Check website for hours. Tickets start at €10 (fashion shows are €45)
2. Japan Weekend Madrid 2024
If haute couture is not your thing, why not try cosplaying instead? Or light saber fights? Prepare for a cultural journey to the heart of Japanese culture during Japan Week, a captivating celebration of art, pop culture and tradition.
This spectacular annual Madrid event is a bombardment to your senses and invites people to experience the “rich tapestry” of Japan through multiple activities.
J-pop performances, video games, traditional music, cosplayers, anime. It’s all there, no matter your age. This year there’s a list of spectacular guests such as illustrators Refrainbow and Gyung Studio, singers Takayoshi Tanimoto and Kiki Vivi Lily and many (many!) voice actors.
It’s not just cultural showcases! Madrid’s Japan Week also fosters cross-cultural exchange and understanding, strengthening the bonds between Japan and Spain. So whether you're a seasoned Japanophile or simply curious about the Land of the Rising Sun, we guarantee you’ll have a good time.
Japan Weekend Madrid. IFEMA. Avenida del Partenón 5, Madrid. Feb 17 & 18. Check website for hours. Tickets start at €19.
3. 14th Route of the Cocido Madrileño
All hail cocido! Finally, a non-pretentious option for those of us who like to indulge in binge eating—without feeling any shame or regret. Yup, the Ruta del Cocido Madrileño is here. Back for it’s 14th edition, this ruta celebrates one of Spain’s most popular and traditional dishes.
The cocido, which is typically served in three courses, is made with a variety of ingredients, including chickpeas, meats, vegetables, and spices. The dish is known for its rich broth and tender, slow-cooked meats, which can include pork, beef, chorizo, and sometimes chicken or other meats depending on the recipe.
37 restaurants located in the Madrid central area are offering their best versions of the cocido at a special price this year, so head over to their website and make a reservation because they usually get busy quickly.
From quaint family-owned taverns to chic urban eateries, the Ruta del Cocido Madrileño offers a diverse array of dining experiences, each serving up their own unique interpretation of this iconic dish.
Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavors (how you do this preparation is up to you) as you indulge in the delicious broth, tender meats, and hearty legumes that make this such a special dish.
14th Ruta del Cocido Madrileño. Through March 31. Multiple locations around Madrid (and Spain!). Check website for participating restaurants and opening hours.
4. Catch Up with the Goyas’ Most Celebrated Movies
Now that the Goyas are over and you’ve watched Society of the Snow on Netflix, why not see some of this year’s other strong contenders?
Sala Berlanga, in Chamberí, is screening all of this year’s nominees until March, with a few options each day.
Best pic nominee: This Saturday night, it’s your chance to see the Spanish drama 20,000 Species of Bees, which was nominated for best movie and revolves around a transgender girl and a quest for her identity (and the effect this has on her family).
Best song nominee: Also on Saturday, there’s an early screening of Spanish-French dramedy The Permanent Picture, which was nominated at the Goyas for best original song. The film is about Antonia, a teenage mother in Southern Catalonia who disappears in the middle of the night and Carmen, an introverted casting director who 50 years later comes across a mysterious woman.
Because it’s not all Marvel movies and rom-coms.
Ciclo Premios Goya 2024. Sala Berlanga, Andrés Mellado 53, Madrid. Through March 23. Check website for schedule. Tickets: €3.50
5. Coffee Fest: Madrid’s International Coffee Festival
(If you’re complaining about yet another event that takes place at the IFEMA Exhibition Center, don’t look at us, it’s not our fault that they got the cool ones.)
Coffee Fest, aka Madrid’s international coffee festival is back to celebrate coffee culture in all its forms.
This annual festival brings together coffee lovers, talented baristas, coffee producers, and industry enthusiasts in an energetic atmosphere (so much caffeine!). CoffeeFest is not only an opportunity to taste a wide variety of coffee beans from around the world, but also to explore the latest trends in coffee preparation methods, equipment, and related technologies.
There will be educational workshops, barista competitions, and latte art demonstrations, creating a space for you to learn, share knowledge, and immerse yourself in the rich history of coffee. With coffee tastings, interactive activities and the probable presence of your favorite coffee shop in Madrid, CoffeeFest is a sensory feast and a must-have experience for those who find true passion in coffee.
Just don’t go overboard with the caffeine. There’s no shame in getting decaf.
Coffee Fest. IFEMA, Avenida del Partenón 5, Madrid. Feb. 17-20. Check website for hours. Tickets start at €18.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
🐂 +🥘 The most Spanish thing ever…
A Madrid bull eating Valencian paella, is dubbed “The most Iberian thing you will see today” by El Español. We agree.
🧥 Remember: Jacket in winter, and waiters are people
Let’s delve into the historic TikTok genre of “Americans telling you what’s different about Spain.” The first finds it odd, but heartening, that Spaniards treat waiters and other service people as human beings, and strange that Spaniards dress for the season, not for the temperature of the moment. The second? She feels Spanish because she now dons a jacket in winter even when it’s hot. So much to learn!
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🔔 A Message From Our Sponsor — With a Coupon!
MEAT MADRID is your carnivorous stomach’s home away from home in Spain’s capital. Seriously, look at the name. And we’ve got an offer to prove it.
Hungover? Not yet? Come celebrate making it through Dry January with Wet February at MEAT. Tell your waiter you're with The Tapa or show him this coupon on your phone for two free drinks (beer, wine or soft drinks) with your meal (€15 min. check/diner). Valid through February.
MEAT is located on Calle de Santa Teresa 4, just off Plaza Santa Bárbara, and open every day from 13-16:30 and 19:30 to midnight. Reservations: 91 029 60 41.
Follow Meat Madrid on Instagram.
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We’ll be back next week with more.