Hotel Oscar - Madrid

Room Mate Hotels

Sevilla

El Buli

For culinary enthusiasts who consider Molecular Gastronomy a religion, Chef Feran Adria is the Messiah. Adria is credited with putting foam (and the small town of Roses, Spain) on the map. And although it might sound like a case of The Emperor’s New Clothes, people make pilgrimages from far and wide to taste dishes garnished with ‘Cordoba air’. The menu changes constantly based on what the mad scientist is destabilizing in the laboratory.

To reserve: Visit the ‘Reservations’ department on the restaurant’s site and you’ll read that, “The restaurant is fully booked for our season 2007… but we will be at your disposal to revise if cancellations are produced…” Meaning: Keep your Learjet at the ready during ‘the season’ (April to September) and call or e-mail each day to check for cancellations. To secure a slot in 2008, launch a heavy contact campaign the second week in October.

My new investment - Madrid

Ramses - Madrid

Ramses - a bar, a restaurant and a club - is the most recent creation of a designer-hooligan - Philippe Starck. Expanding on three floors and opened just in December 2007, it outshines any of Starck's latest designs, including Bon restaurant in Moscow or a hotel Fasano in Rio de Janeiro.

Though, a bar occupies a large space in the centre of the first floor, do not rush to associate it with a lounge. Old guy Starck has found again an opportunity to play around with his favorite interior object - a chair. Scalps are split off not to garden gnomes at this time (as at St.Martins Lane hotel, London), but Oscar statuettes - at least gold-color faces seem to have exactly the same features as the famous Hollywood movie award. Someplace else guests may plop down on small rocking-chairs, with seats bearing cheeky posteriors' imprints! Despite this minor recklessness, Starck reveals his presence just in few more details there - leaving the overall ambience of the bar light and tastefully minimalistic.

The dance club, too, located in the basement floor, does not present much surprise to Starck's style connoisseurs - a small bar, dim lighting and an excellent nightclub atmosphere. The true Starck's extravaganzas start at the second floor restaurant, lavishly garnished with flaunting decadent elements. Pompous candelabra, eclectic sofas and an absolute mixture of styles in chair design - some being upholstered with black and white fur even. Also a bar design stirs a peculiar sensation, as you savor a drink sitting on a bar stool with broken off arm supports and a word "DEAD", as if with a designer's own thumb, daubed on its back...

Along with the main restaurant area there are two smaller dining-rooms - the biggest of which may seat no more than twenty guests. It's almost impossible not to put your nose in the air there, as an impressive El Greco copy stretches all over the ceiling. Another, the smallest one, meant for just ten people, features an autonomous kitchen, with a chef cooking according to particular wishes of the guests only.

And, yes, a visit of a restroom! As in most of Starck's restaurants, it is an experience in itself. A marble washbasin bears an amazing resemblance to a table used in forensic medicine, while a graceful swan neck stretches out instead of a water tap - much like the ones of the hotel Faena in Buenos Aires (priding in Starck's interior, too).

Cuisine, although seemingly disregarded (quite often being the case at Starck's restaurants), is outstanding, too. It features a creative approach in vast variety of international dishes, including Middle East hummus and beef tails.

Hotel Santo Mauro - Madrid

The Dior Party - Madrid

Madrid

Why am I investing in Madrid apart from being Spanish? Here is why:

1.Madrid is an economic, political and administrative hub with a solid and diversely structured economy, and a truly dynamic city. In 2005, Madrid's growth has reached 4.0 percent, the highest amongst all Spanish regions and 6 tenths over the national growth.

2.Diversity and differences co-exist with social harmony and institutional stability. Madrid is renowned for its generosity and hospitality. The political framework is peaceful and offers guaranteed growth and stability.

3.Situated in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid has a privileged geo-strategic position and is the natural link between Europe, Latin America and North Africa. Naturally, the top foreign companies setting up in Spain have chosen Madrid as the base for their head offices.

4.The hospitable administrative, fiscal and political environment encourages investors and the availability, price and quality of land and offices are amongst the most competitive in Europe.

5.At the forefront of scientific and technological innovation, Madrid has one of the most advanced regional networks of science and technology in Spain, and indeed Europe.

6.Madrid offers a highly qualified work force yet considerably lower labour costs than cities such as London, Paris or Amsterdam. It is an ideal space for creativity as its young, vibrant and intellectually inclined population is coupled with an extremely dynamic and consolidated business culture.

7.It has modern, high-quality infrastructure where innovation is the common denominator.

8.Its cultural heritage is among the most important in the world in terms of art, culture and monuments.

9.It is a cosmopolitan city embracing new cultures, where visitors quickly feel at home and where more than six million people from 172 different nationalities live side by side harmoniously.

10.Madrid is not only the gateway to the South American, North African or European markets, but also the largest local market in Spain.

Marbella 2000

La Notte

Barcelona

A city of split personalities—at once trendy and traditional, upscale and down-to-earth. It is also Spain's most fashionable city, where inhabitants pride themselves on their style. On an evening stroll along Passeig de Gràcia, couples gaze into shop windows and at the buildings' grand facades. It can be a pricey city, but if you book well in advance, you can find smart accommodations that won't break the bank (V.F.)

Hotels:
Arts (the most expencive coffee I ever had!!),Hotel Omm, Axel (Hetero friendly!) Prestige Paseo de La Gracia, Casa Fuster and 1898

HOTEL ARTS


Restaurants:
A Contraluz, Abac, Aqua, Arola, Can Sole, Quimet I Quimet, Thai Lounge and Ximei.


Nightclubs:
Amber Lounge, b-ROOM (b-ROOM is a Private Members' Network), Club Fellini, La Terraza, Satom and Club.

THE HOLY TRINITY PROJECT @ CLUB FELLINI

Madrid

Flying to Madrid is always a good idea! Can’t get fed up with it. Love it all! The shops, bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Sadly the Hotel Villa Magna was sold and is about to close. For that I have a list of some other hotels that you might enjoy.
Hotel de Las Letras, great for the gay guys, next to La Chueca.
Wellington Hotel
Santo Mauro
Hotel Ritz Madrid, a Ritz!

Get fat in Casa Lucio, Iroco, La Maison (great design and very trendy), Cafe Oliver, Piu di Prima, Astrid y Gaston and the Paradise @ the Tyssen Museum (open only for summer).
Also...
The terrace in the Urban Hotel for drinks. Archys and Suite to burn that fat!

Ibiza

Restaurants:
Array S'esparta
Balafia
Juan Y Andrea
El Torrent.

Get a sunbed in Sa Trinxa and a nightbed in Las Brisas.
If you are loaded and into yaghts ask for Patricia @ Windrose.Int