Welcome to the new fashion street
THE IMPARTIAL
In the Number 4 rises this new restaurant, responsible for the most glamorous aspect of the neighborhood. And the amazing thing is that, despite its high-end style, it's not at all prohibitive, no way. **Its average price (20-25 euros)** has nothing to do with its aesthetics, more typical of a luxury restaurant. It is colorful, it is elegant, it is cosmopolitan and, in addition, it eats well . The menu is very up-to-date, with traditional dishes and other international ones brought from here and there: as soon as you can order some croquettes of oxtail or some bravas, like a salmon sashimi with wakame, a red tuna treat with avocado, or even why not an echo version of the popular Big Mac . But it is much more than a restaurant: it is also a cultural space and shop , with decoration items, natural and sustainable cosmetics, international magazines...
Former headquarters of the newspaper that bears his name
El Imparcial is a true disseminator of culture and gastronomy, and of history, because this building was the former headquarters of the 19th-century conservative newspaper The Impartial . Here it was from 1911 to 1933 and after that date, nothing. Most of its rooms have been in disuse for years , except for the part occupied by a bank and the X Alba cinema, which occupied the patio of the building and which closed its doors for good not long ago.
In addition to restaurant, shop and cultural center
DREAM TRAFFICKERS
The intellectual touch of the street is now provided by the bookstore - association Dream Traffickers , some old acquaintances of the city who have barely been in the neighborhood for nine months (Duque de Alba, 13), as far as they came from their old and almost clandestine location in the Ambassadors Street . Its shelves are home to books of essay and political, social and cultural thought . And although they are specialized in political currents, there is also room for novels. In general, they are considered disseminators of free knowledge; are publishers of their own books, because they are also editorial ; they are an independent stamp distributor; they are design workshop -especially book covers-; plus, they are a training classroom under the name of 'Common Projects' , with which they hold meetings related to singular themes, such as the love workshop -a complete success, by the way-.
The bookstore and association in which to lose yourself among books
KLING WEEKEND
There is also room for the most alternative and current fashion at number 10. But only for girls. This is the Spanish fashion firm Kling Weekend, which has opened a new store here in the neighborhood, far from its beloved Fuencarral, the street where it was born. "Let's say that this neighborhood has nothing to do with the atmosphere and aesthetics that are in Fuencarral, but the truth is that it is working very, very well, even on weekdays," the clerk tells me. And attention, attention, to the offers, because in addition to the new season collections, Kling usually has racks for outlet sales with garments that reach discounts up to 70% . Must visit.
pure vice
THE DUKE'S PASTRY
A recurring theme is heard between the conversations that take place on the -still open- terrace of this young pastry shop, located in Plaza Duque de Alba, 1 . "Look, this is the door to the Ministry of Time." Yes, the gate that presides over the little square is the same one that serves to locate the Madrid headquarters of the Ministry of Time (the series broadcast by TVE at the beginning of 2015). Ideal for breakfast first thing in the morning or for afternoon snacks , with traditional pastries, homemade cakes, muffins, toast with tomato and oil, coffee, smoothies, ... any time is a good time to treat yourself to a sweet treat. And if it's from their delicious chocolate cake with strawberries, even better.
The door of the 'Ministry of time'
THE TRAP: THE BOBBY
And although it is not exactly on Calle Duque de Alba, but in its continuation along San Millán street to La Latina, yes or yes we have to mention The Bobia (San Millán, 3) . For years, this place has been passing from hand to hand, with businesses that have not finished coming together, until finally in 2015 it has returned to recover one of the most famous names of its past: La Bobia, mythical bar of the Movida , protagonist even in one of the scenes of Almodóvar's film Labyrinth of Passions from 1982 and a meeting point for the neighborhood's punks.
Now he lives his second stage as a restaurant bar, but of Asturian inspiration ; It is appreciated in the menu more than in the aesthetics, although there is no lack of bottles of cider or giant barrels, now converted into semi-private dining spaces, which put the Asturian dot in the decoration of the premises . On Rastro Sundays one cannot leave without trying one of the most famous tapas in the neighborhood: authentic fabes, but in a mini version. And by the way, do not lose sight of the exterior mural of the premises, intervened by artists from the gallery Swinton and Grant of Lavapies.
No one would have said it just a few months ago, but the truth is that the coincidence of all these openings is helping Calle Duque de Alba come back to life, after years and years of constant decline. And everything indicates that they will not be the only ones… Interested entrepreneurs: there are more than a dozen stores closed waiting for a second chance. For them!
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