Where I like to get coffee: The Little Big Cafe: Tucked into one of the tiny streets surrounding the Moncloa metro station, I came upon this café with a friend after she found good reviews on Yelp, and it is my new favorite. There is no shortage of coffee shops in Madrid, but this place has the ambiance of a sweet and shabby chic place which serves not only coffee and pastries, but salads, sandwiches, french toast and smoothies. My usual order is a slice of coffee cheesecake, which pairs well with any coffee drink. Plus there’s a loyalty card which offers a free coffee drink after your tenth visit, and I think I’ll get to that sooner than I care to admit. The Little Big Cafe is where I go to pretend to homework during the week. Where I spend too much money: Zara, Lefties and Mango- The Inditex Trifecta that’s going to make me poor.
I may not know how to direct someone to a place that I should be familiar with here in Madrid, but I can direct you to the nearest Zara. Anytime, any day. I have some issue, I know.
I’m grateful my parents can’t talk to my friends here in Madrid because this way they don’t know how often I visit these stores (they can only see the damage that’s been done after it’s too late). Zara has been a favorite since I learned how to say “let’s go to the mall,” and I am just thankful that I arrived in the season of rebajas (discounts). So for now every time I swipe my card I’m telling myself that I am just helping the Spanish economy, and that if I were home I would be shopping during the semi-annual sales. Zara is where I window shop when I can actually show some restraint, and when I can’t I usually buy dresses and/or shoes.
Thankfully Lefties is the more inexpensive sister store of Zara, so when I buy three pairs of earrings, a new sweater and a pair of pants here, I can still afford to eat out on the weekend. This store is great for basics like jeans, t-shirts and jewelry. The style of clothes is pretty similar to what you might find at an H&M, so I frequent this store for the prices and because there aren’t any in the States. Earrings from Lefties
Mango is my happy medium between Zara and Lefties. It’s less expensive than Zara, but slightly more upscale than Lefties. At Mango I like to buy accessories like purses and everyday shoes, and they also have a great selection of casual dresses and basics. I found a pair of shoes that I wear almost everyday here, and I feel like a local when I shop at Mango because the clothes showcase Spanish trends. To the right are my shoes that were once new, but now very much used because they are a made of a comfortable platform that makes me feel tall.
