🍸 The Tapa Weekend: October 25
Aperitifs, patatas bravas, an artisans fair and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | October 25, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #72
🎉 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
Happy Friday, everyone!
Except for (now former) Sumar MP Íñigo Errejón, but we’ll take care of that next week.
🥔 Your many options this weekend feature a patatas bravas festival, ballet and a lot more. So if you’ve been on a diet lately, time to have a cheat weekend because trust us, it’s worth it.
Enjoy!
1.🍟 Bravas Fest, a Patatas Bravas Festival, Arrives in Madrid
Influencer Edu González’s popular Bravas Fest, a patatas bravas festival that’s been killing it in Barcelona for the last two years is finally arriving in Madrid (the footage from the video above is from the most recent edition in Catalonia, which saw an attendance of 30,000 people).
The Madrid debut brings together delicious food, live music and tons of fun, with the capital’s best restaurants serving their signature bravas, and festival-goers voting on which one is their favorite.
Other excitement? A wide range of culinary offerings, popular tapas, and activities such as interactive workshops and raffles.
You can also get a “Bravas Passport”, with which you can win prizes (like your total weight in beer).
The participating restaurants include Docamar, Santerra, Taberna dNorte, Casa Sotero, La Sucursal Chamberí and Bestial by Rosi la Loca. Put on your sweat pants for this one. You’ll need them.
Bravas Fest. Autocine Madrid. Isla de Java, 2, Madrid. Through Oct. 27. Check website for schedule. Free admission (but you need to download a ticket from the website).
2.🩰 Montdedutor’s Danzas Románticas
The Catalan duo Guillem Mont de Palol and Pau Caselles are performing in Madrid this weekend, and presenting a reinterpretation of romantic ballet with a modern twist.
Their performance explores 19th-century ballet classics like La Sylphide, Giselle, and Coppelia, reimagining them through a contemporary, critical lens.
What’s it about? In an age marked by new social and cultural sensibilities, the duo “challenges traditional scenic conventions, highlighting the often-problematic portrayals of women as delicate and subordinate in classical ballet”.
Mont de Palol and Caselles, who have been pushing the boundaries of performance art since 2009, continue their experimental journey in this piece.
If patatas bravas are not your thing, this one is definitely for you.
Danzas Románticas. Centro Cultural CondeDuque. Calle del Conde Duque, 11, Madrid. Oct. 25 & 26. 8 p.m. Tickets: €14.
3.🍸 Shaken and Stirred: Martini’s Master del Aperitivo
Rejoice! Madrid is set to once again celebrate the art of aperitivo in style with Martini’s Aperitivo Weekend in La Latina. During classic aperitivo hours (12:00 - 15:30), attendees can enjoy a selection of Martini vermouths at special prices in some of the area’s trendiest spots around Plaza de la Paja.
The event embraces Martini’s iconic aperitivo lineup. From the traditional, deep flavor of Martini Rosso to the zesty Martini Fiero and non-alcoholic options like Floreale and Vibrante, there’s a drink for every palate.
And…food! Alongside these vermouths, you can enjoy popular bar snacks and pairings, all within an atmosphere of live music that captures the spirit of Madrid. Participating bars inlcude La Esquinita, La Mulata, La Quintería and Tío Simón.
Besides live music, the “Masters of Aperitivo” quiz and prize giveaways give attendees a chance to take home exclusive Martini merchandise.
So, gather friends, grab a terrace seat, and toast to the weekend with Martini’s signature flavors and a dash of local charm. (BTW, this isn’t a Martini ad, but if they want to advertise with us we’ll gladly take the money.)
Master del Aperitivo. Selected bars around Plaza de la Paja, Madrid. Check website for additional details. October 26 & 27, 12:30 p.m. Free admission.
4.👹 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the Wizink Center
If you’re a fan of the Scream franchise, you will probably know this band. If you’re not, you will still probably know this band.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are set to take the Wizink Center stage in Madrid tonight. With the release of their new album Wild God, a follow-up to the hauntingly beautiful Ghosteen from 2019, Cave and his band are ready to perform an electrifying show, promising an emotional journey through both new tracks and fan favorites.
Known for his intense stage presence and raw lyrical storytelling, Nick Cave is not just performing—he’s there to create an experience featuring soulful ballads and an impressive orchestra. The setlist will likely blend songs from Ghosteen and Wild God, touching on themes of love, loss, and redemption.
So get ready for a night of music that resonates deep in the bones thanks to Cave’s rich vocals and profound lyrics.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Wizink Center, Av. de Felipe II, s/n, Madrid. Oct. 25, 8:30 pm. Tickets start at €70.
5.🛍️ Feria Mercado de Artesanía de Otoño
Madrid invites you to celebrate the art of craftsmanship with the sixth autumn edition of the Madrid Craft Market (Feria Mercado de Artesanía), held at Paseo de Recoletos.
Hosted by the Madrid Association of Artisan Crafts (AMOA), this open-air market showcases the finest in local craftsmanship alongside special guest artisans from across Spain. It’s the perfect opportunity to see authentic, high-quality handcrafted items, from jewelry and fashion to unique home decor—and best of all, it’s free admission!
This year’s fair will feature 52 stalls, each offering a glimpse into the world of the Spanish artisan. Discover sustainable fashion with Olek’Arte’s hand-painted textiles and natural fabrics, or explore Albaca Artesanía’s delicate silver accessories encasing real flowers and leaves.
Other highlights include Meiro Joyas, with quirky pieces like octopus-shaped rings and sharpener-style earrings, and Rodolfo, a master carver known for his intricate works in ivory, bone, and wood.
For everyone. Whether you’re looking to support local makers, find unique gifts, or simply enjoy the sort-of-depressing but also vibrant atmosphere of the fall in Madrid, this Craft Market offers something for everyone.
Feria Mercado de Artesanía. Paseo de Recoletos 21, Madrid. Through Nov. 3. Check website for additional details. Free admission.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
🐗 The wild boar chasing the police in Vallecas is classic.
Jabalí 1: Police 0. Well, except for the boar getting shot in the end.
🫒 BCN v MAD. Are Barcelona bar owners cheap, or those in Madrid just bad at making money? You be the judge
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🔔 A Message From Our Sponsor
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Located on Calle de Moratín 7 — a few blocks away from the Prado Museum — and with over 20,000 new and used books, Secret Kingdoms has something for everyone.
Find out more at www.thesecretkingdoms.com
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We’ll be back next week with more.
The two types of people according to the Tapas: those who like potatoes, and those who like ballet.