Madrid | Issue #169
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Good morning and Happy Friday!
Hurray, us! Itâs another long weekend in Madrid! Another great excuse to not work out, drink and be merry, just before the holidays.
Personally, Iâll probably stay in all weekend because I have a cold (Iâm regretting those early morning walks at the Retiro Park when itâs 4ÂșC outside).
Even though right now Iâm feeling like this, Iâm still happy to bring you our weekly list of cool things to do (and eat) in the city.
Happy long weekend!
1. đ Are you ready for some football? The NFL is back in Madrid for some reason!
Get ready, everyone! Madrid is about to experience something truly American. (If you thought I was talking about the impending arrival of Waymo, I donât blame you.) I am talking, of course, about the NFL, baby!
Goooooooal (or something like it)! American football is returning to the city this weekend, and the Santiago BernabĂ©u (that's a stadium, obvs) is once again hosting a game between two teams that Iâve never heard of, but thatâs probably because I donât follow organized sports. All I know for sure (because Iâve seen tons of American movies taking place in high school) is that there will be cheerleaders.
Itâs a second regular-season game, apparently. Look, I have no idea what any of this means. Iâm just doing my job here, so bear with me.
Last yearâs debut saw the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders. This year, itâs the Atlanta Falcons taking on the Cincinnati Bengals.
And these arenât just any two teams. According to the press release (sorry, I sort of copy/pasted), the Falcons, who will technically be playing at home, are led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and feature running back Bijan Robinson, one of the NFLâs most exciting offensive players. On the other side are the Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, one of American footballâs biggest stars. (I googled him; apparently thatâs true).
Thereâs also a halftime show! Colombian superstar Manuel Turizo (him, I know) will take over the field with his blend of reggaeton, pop, and tropical rhythms.
The Madrid game is part of the NFLâs biggest international expansion yet, with nine regular-season games being played outside the United States this season, including destinations such as Paris and Melbourne.
My advice? If you can get tickets, go for the spectacle as much as the sport. And maybe the hot dogs.
đ What: NFL Madrid 2026: Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals
đ Where: Santiago BernabĂ©u Stadium, Avenida de Concha Espina, 1, Madrid
đ When: Nov. 8, 3:30 p.m.
đïž Tickets: Check official website
2.đ Open House 2026: Madrid is opening its doors to architecture fans & intruders (and you can be one of them!)
Ever walked past one of Madridâs gorgeous buildings in Salamanca and wondered how youâll exactly seize it once societal collapse finally arrives, courtesy of our tech overlords? Well, this weekend you have the chance to get a sneak peek and start thinking of ideas (bring a tape measure!).
Open House Madrid is back for its 12th edition, inviting
future warlordscurious locals to explore more than 100 buildings and architecture studios across the capital, including spaces that are normally closed to the public.Youâll have access to historic palaces, architectural landmarks, contemporary offices, and hidden gems. Itâs a good opportunity to discover Madrid from the inside out and, trust me, thereâs a lot more to this cityâs architecture than the Palacio Real and El Corte InglĂ©s.
But wait, thereâs more! The program also includes guided tours, architectural walks, and visits to studios where you can meet the people responsible for shaping Madridâs skyline. Itâs basically an architectâs wet dream! Oh, and itâs also a great opportunity to ask who approved of the monstrosity known as the Mirador de Sanchinarro, a building so ugly it looks like my first experiment with Legos when I was 2 and high on LSD.
The best part? Itâs (mostly) free! The catch is that some of the most popular visits require advance registration, and places tend to disappear faster than your latest Tinder match. So check the program before heading out, especially if thereâs a particular building youâve been dying to explore.
My advice? Pick a neighborhood, choose a couple of buildings youâve always been curious about, and spend an afternoon playing architectural detective. The ones with fallout shelters are super aesthetic! (Iâm kidding, of course. There are none in Madrid.)
đïž What: Open House Madrid (12th Edition)
đ Where: Various locations across Madrid
đ When: Nov. 6â8
đïž Tickets: Free admission; some visits require advance registration
3. đ The closest youâll ever get to owning a crown is eating one made of dough and sugar while crying in bed
Itâs a great weekend for cafeteria Catholics! You know, those who pick and choose which parts of Church doctrine to follow and which to ignore. (Follow: holidays and chocolate eggs. Ignore: everything else.)
The city celebrates the Virgen de la Almudena on Monday. That's its patron saint, with religious ceremonies, traditional music, colorful processions, and, most importantly, by eating a Corona de la Almudena (aka the cityâs answer to the RoscĂłn de Reyes).
Now, I know what youâre thinking. âPlease, Adrian⊠I canât keep trying some new calorie bomb every weekend! I still have some huesos de santo left over from last weekendâs Halloween party, and Iâm on Ozempic!â I hear you, but youâre the one who always insists on getting âthe real Spanish experience,â so donât @ me. If you want healthier options, go to an Honest Greens.
Back to the Corona de la Almudena. As I was saying, itâs a fluffy, golden, ring-shaped sweet bread topped with almonds and sugar, usually sliced in half and stuffed with generous amounts of pastry cream, whipped cream, or chocolate truffle. Unlike its Christmas cousin, it doesnât contain orange blossom water or candied fruit (which, btw, should be banned from existence).
A relatively new tradition. The pastry was invented in 1978, when Madridâs bakers organized a competition to create a dessert honoring the Virgin Mary (random, butâŠokay?), who also happens to be the patron saint of the cityâs pastry makers (also random). It wasnât an immediate hit, but today Madridâs bakeries can sell as many as 300,000 coronas in just a few days.
But thereâs more to the celebration than stuffing your face. Nov. 6 to 10, Madrid honors its patron saint with a series of events centered around the Almudena Cathedral. Thereâs a traditional floral offering Nov. 7 to 10, a concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band on Friday evening, another concert on Sunday, and a parade featuring traditional Madrid performers on Sunday afternoon.
The big party is on Monday. Nov. 9 is a public holiday in Madrid (another one!), and the festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with a solemn Mass at the Almudena Cathedral, followed by the traditional procession carrying the Virginâs image through the historic center (you can see traditional costumes and stuff).
Let them eat (free!) cake. Starting at 12:30 p.m., Plaza Mayor will host the preparation of a giant Corona de la Almudena, with approximately 1,000 free slices handed out once itâs ready.
The square will also feature traditional Madrid music and dancing, including chotis and zarzuela, from noon to 2 p.m., and then from 5 to 7 p.m.
Want more? Thereâs a free zarzuela concert at the Reina SofĂa School of Music at 7:30 p.m., featuring selections from classics such as Luisa Fernanda and Doña Francisquita. (Youâll need to reserve a ticket in advance for the concert).
Not into crowds or patron saints? Grab a Corona de la Almudena from a traditional bakery like El Riojano on Calle Mayor, and spend all day in bed watching Love Actually.
đ What: Virgen de la Almudena Celebrations
đ Where: Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, and bakeries across Madrid
đ When: Nov. 6â10; main celebration Nov. 9
đïž Tickets: Free festivities; pastries sold separately
4. đž No money to travel the world? You can look at some cool photos by SebastiĂŁo Salgado
Ever wanted to visit Antarctica, the Amazon rainforest, and the Himalayas but all you can do is look at YouTube videos (with ads, because who can afford Premium in this economy) and cry yourself to sleep? Well, Iâve got a much better suggestion that doesnât involve leaving the country but does involve leaving your couch.
Aqua Mater, a stunning new exhibit by legendary Brazilian photographer SebastiĂŁo Salgado, has arrived in Madrid. It features nearly 100 large-format black-and-white photographs and explores one of the most powerful and essential elements on Earth:
moneywater.Salgado spent more than 25 years traveling to some of the planetâs most remote locations, capturing extraordinary landscapes in Antarctica, Patagonia, the Amazon, Iceland, the Himalayas, and other places that appear on Lara Croftâs to-do list. There are icebergs, tropical rivers, and waterfalls. Itâs all really pretty.
This exhibit is special because Salgado died in 2025, making it the first major exhibition dedicated to his work since then.
Appropriate setting. The whole thing takes place inside a former 19th-century water reservoir featuring 144 enormous brick arches. (Right? Itâs gonna look great on your Instagram feed!)
đž What: Aqua Mater: SebastiĂŁo Salgado
đ Where: FundaciĂłn Canal, Paseo de la Castellana, 214, Madrid
đ When: Through Jan. 31, 2027. Open 10 a.m.â10 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
đïž Tickets: âŹ15
5. đš Madrid Hotel Week 2026: I guess itâs been a year already
Another year, another chance to enter one of Madridâs luxury hotels without being asked to leave as soon as you walk in the door! (Seriously, for some reason I thought we just covered this, but turns out I was wrong).
Madrid Hotel Week is back for its 10th edition, with more than 50 hotels opening their doors to locals and visitors for around 100 special activities.
And no, you donât need to book a room to participate (lol, can you imagine). The whole idea is to turn Madridâs hotels into destinations in their own right for those of us who are not sociopathic trillionaires.
But wait, thereâs more! The program also includes more than 40 gastronomic and cocktail experiences, giving visitors the opportunity to discover hotel restaurants and enjoy some cocktails.
Participating hotels are offering tours of their interiors and live music while you explore the history and architecture of some of Madridâs most interesting buildings. (Sounds like thereâs some overlap with Open House 2026. I wonder if itâs on purpose.)
My advice? Check the website and pick a hotel youâve always wanted to visit. Then you take a few photos and put them on your Insta feed so people think youâre doing well.
đš What: Madrid Hotel Week (10th Edition)
đ Where: More than 50 participating hotels across Madrid
đ When: Nov. 6â15
đïž Tickets: Check official website.
đș What to watch if you donât want to leave the couch this weekendâŠ
đș Movie: Collision Course (ColisiĂłn) | 2026
đWhere to watch: Netflix
âWhatâs it about: Spain, 2013. After robbing a bank, a getaway crash reveals each thiefâs hidden side, exposing betrayals and lies that began long before the heist.
đ€© Why you should watch: Because it stars Laia Costa, Luis Zahera, and Karra Elejalde. Also, this twist-filled crime thriller marks acclaimed Spanish director Daniel SĂĄnchez ArĂ©valoâs first venture into the genre, promising plenty of suspense and unexpected turns.
đŹ English Subtitles: Yes.
đđ» Places to try this weekendâŠ
đ Bresa: New Contender for Madridâs Hottest Restaurant?
Whatâs it about? Bresa is the latest restaurant from brothers Javier and Paco Aparicio, the team behind Madrid favorites La Raquetista, Cachivache, and Salino. Located in Salamanca, it focuses on seasonal ingredients and a more ambitious, contemporary approach to Spanish cuisine.
Why you should go: The menu features smoked bluefin tuna collar with pickled carrots, Motril shrimp with ajoblanco and black grapes, and Burela hake stuffed with cabbage. Seafood takes center stage, but there are also meats, vegetables, and cheeses.
Bottom line: With the Aparicio brothers behind it, Bresa could be one of Madridâs most interesting new openings this fall. Worth checking out!
đ Address: Calle Villanueva 21, Madrid
đž Fatale: Korean food with a naughty side
Whatâs it about? A new Korean bar in La Latina from chef Lis Ra, the woman behind Na Num. Fatale combines contemporary Korean cuisine with creative cocktails, a moody atmosphere, and the kind of late-night energy that makes you forget you have plans tomorrow.
Why you should go: Expect playful dishes like Korean rice cakes with cheddar and bacon, fried sweet potato with tikka masala mayo, and a beef milanesa sandwich with kimchi. The cocktails, designed by Diego Cabrera of Salmon Guru fame, are equally adventurous, featuring ingredients like gochujang, sesame, and soju.
Bottom line: Come for the Korean food, stay for the cocktails. Perfect for a date night that might get a little out of hand.
đ Address: Calle de la Ruda 2, Madrid
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