Tom Codd doesn’t approach Madrid like a tourist checking boxes. He moves through it the way locals do, seeking spaces where genuine connections happen, where quality matters more than hype, and where the real rhythm of madrileño life quietly unfolds. A visual artist and filmmaker born in Argentina and shaped by time spent across different cities, he has always been drawn to how places are actually lived in rather than how they are presented. Tom’s Madrid is one of intentional choices: the barber who listens, the café where the espresso tastes like it should, the restaurants that have earned their reputation through consistency rather than Instagram aesthetics.
Restaurants
From long-running Madrid restaurants to trendy Michelin-starred eateries, when Tom chooses where to eat, he chooses with ambience in mind.
Bodega de la Ardosa
Some restaurants work because they understand their purpose. In this more than 130-year-old staple, Madrid’s classics live: tapas, traditional dishes, all executed with taste. It’s not trying to be anything other than excellent at what it is.
Tramo
Date nights require restraint and execution. Calm spaces where the décor adds to the dishes. Tom appreciates restaurants that understand ambience isn’t decoration; it’s part of the meal.
Coffee + Brunch + Sweet
Madrid’s brunch hotspots are just as important as its sit-down restaurants … and like many locals, Tom values a leisurely coffee, a moment to breathe and a sweet treat.
Pan y Pepinillos Café
Tom doesn’t compromise on espresso. A macchiato here is taken seriously, pulled with precision, served without ceremony. This is where the day starts right.
Crepes y Waffles
If you’ve spent time in Colombia, you know what this means. Tom returns here for the simplicity: good ice cream, proper desserts, no pretence. Just execution.
Chia
Tom avoids the trap of “healthy” food that tastes like compromise. Here, salads arrive alive with flavour: vegetables treated like the main event, not an afterthought.
Bars + Nightlife
Madrid’s trendy nightlife is a staple of the experience of the city; unique bars, special drinks and sharing a moment with friends are quintessential to Tom’s Madrid lifestyle.
ChinChin
Tom seeks bars where you can actually talk. Intimate lighting, chill music, and an eccentric grandma’s-house-esque interior. This is where a drink becomes an experience rather than just alcohol.
Gilda Haus
For nights that build. Starts mellow, finds its energy as the evening deepens. The flashy ambience works because it’s earned, not forced.
Beauty + Grooming
You’ll find Tom in places where the service is excellent and the products have quality; where personal grooming is not a chore or a thing to mark off the To-Do list, but an experience.
The Mad Barber
Tom trusts places where they listen. This isn’t about following a trend; it’s about understanding what you actually want and having the skill to deliver it. The Mad Barber gets that distinction.
Le Secret du Marais
Fragrance is personal, and Tom knows the difference between simple browsing and discovering a signature. Here, the staff genuinely guide you through the world: niche perfumes, unexpected combinations, and the kind of olfactory journey that changes how you think about a scent.
Shopping
When Tom shops, he does so looking for Madrid hotspots that value brand identity and quality over Instagram likes.
Gafas Galore
Iconic vintage sunglasses, as a collection. All styles, all eras. The kind of selection that makes choice an actual experience rather than resignation.
Melt
Unique jewellery design that’s earned its reputation. Tom supports craft that’s going somewhere, not only because it’s local, but because it’s genuinely good.
Culture + Architecture
Famed for its architecture, Madrid has no shortage of must-see structures. Here, Tom gets lost in the intricate details and appreciates the big picture, too.
Golden Hour at El Retiro
Tom strolls without concerns. The lake, the boats, the light changing … this is where Madrid reveals itself at its most unhurried.
Torres Blancas
Brutalist architecture that refuses to blend in. Pure white modernism on Gran Vía would be predictable. This building contrasts everything around it, and that’s exactly the point.
Where to Stay
After a long day of touring Madrid’s wondrous eateries and landmarks, Tom knows the importance of slowing down and coming back to centre in a comfortable hotel.
Hotel Urban
Tom understands that design isn’t decoration. This hotel balances colour, symmetry, proportion: the kind of aesthetic clarity that makes a space feel intentional rather than crowded.
Gran Hotel Inglés
Character accumulates. One of Madrid’s oldest hotels, and it wears its history without trying. This is where age becomes an asset.
Madrid’s Best Neighbourhood to Stay In
Depending on the neighbourhood, Madrid comes alive with activity and colour. Here is where Tom observes the city’s beating heart.
Malasaña
Central, alive, surrounded by restaurants and real energy. Tom doesn’t need isolation, he needs proximity to where the city actually lives.
Madrid’s Emerging Neighbourhood
As Madrid’s population grows, so does its hubs. Tom keeps an eye on emerging trends and popular hangout spots in bustling neighbourhoods.
Tetuán
When it comes to Tom’s neighbourhood of choice, Tetuán is up-and-coming without losing its pulse. Working artists, active studios, and real-life energy woven through; this is local change that doesn’t erase what came before.
Life in Madrid is all about learning to stop, take a moment, and breathe amid the hustle and bustle. Tom has learned to do exactly that.
Follow Tom on Instagram: @tomcodd
