The Gran Vía of Madrid in 78 numbers
The scene of movies, the epicenter of demonstrations, the target of bombing in times of war... Always, always, in the spotlight of the history of Madrid. But also of their day to day, because the Gran Vía is an obligatory part of the daily routine of the people of Madrid. And that this street it is neither the longest nor the widest nor the oldest. What will you have? We go through it whole:
A tour of the most emblematic street in Madrid
**nº1. Grassy**. Mythical jewelry founded in 1952 , which occupies the lower part of the Grassy building -it took its name after the jewelry store opened-, very recognizable, because it is built on a triangular plot with façade on Gran Vía and corner with Calle de Alcalá; it's like the New Yorker Flatiron, but in reduced and castiza version . It is one of the iconic images of the city and few know that it hides a museum of old clocks inside, with pieces from the 16th to the 19th century.
If we look at the first floor, **we miss the sign that advertised Gula Gula **, a restaurant that has been playing Celestina among strangers for years, before the age of the Badoos, Grinders, Tinders or POFs.
nº2. Headquarters of the Great Rock, one of the most traditional companies in Madrid. The upper floors are occupied by The Principal Hotel - you enter through the Marques de Valdeiglesias street. Until recently it was the Hotel Ada Palace and the views from its roof terrace -one of the must-sees among the coolest summer terraces- are well worth a visit, with the addition that this year Ramon Freixa he has installed his new restaurant there: Ático.
**#3. It is the Citizen Attention Service **, the first administrative building that we find on the street. And they are enough.
nº7. sanz jewelry, another of the representatives of luxury on the Gran Vía . It's been there since it was opened in 1946 . It shares a number with the affordable Muy Mucho, a shop for capricious household items. What if candles, what if zinc flowerpots, what if mirrors, what if gadgets to make cupcakes... Everything fits in this megastore of things from home.
No.8. LOEWE store, founded in 1939 with four windows facing the street . If you don't dare to enter, you can look and look again , like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany 's . Like Grassy, too hides a museum inside , this dedicated to luxury and leather and guarded by a sculpture of his famous amazon bag , created in 1975.
**#9. The Hotel Catalonia Gran Vía ** -formerly called Catalonia Gaudí-, stands in a building from the beginning of the 20th century and is the second hotel to be found on this stretch of Gran Vía.
No. 10. Queen's Market. That it is not a market but an inspired restaurant, yes, in the market cuisine and traditional stalls. It hides two things inside: a tree planted in front of the bar and a gin club on the ground floor.
No.12. A portal and a pharmacy separate it from the mythical Chicote Museum, which is not a museum either, but a garito of those of all life . A classic cocktail among the classics standing for 84 years and that has now been transformed into a music club. On Sunday brunch and DJ sessions with people like Bimba Bose or Sofia Cristo puncturing.
No.11. Opposite, the ** Hotel de Las Letras and its restaurant Bocablo ** - how well brought the play on words.
The Ático De las Letras, in the centrally located Hotel de Las Letras.
n13. Cultural Center of the Armies, or Military Casino or Army and Navy Center . Better known lately for the recreational events that are organized inside, such as the cat market. Just opposite, a couple of telephone booths. And they work!
No.14. Second administrative building. It is dedicated to Information for citizens and the Madrid Institute for the Family and Minors.
No.15. Well seen, sport can also be glamorous, that's why the exclusive New Balance Store is not out of place at all.
No.16. One of the many stores of **souvenirs and more or less kitsch memories.** If you don't have cash to buy them, next door is the local exchange and currency exchange of Western Union . They share a number with the restaurant bar Quilombo Cerveza de Bodega -Estrella Galicia-.
And ** Alehop , the other low-cost version of gadgets and household items store.** It occupies the space that decades ago ran the textile and leather goods business of Children of Rafael Sanchez , person who commissioned the construction of the building in 1914 . A sign on the facade reminds him. The store has a façade on Gran Vía and Calle Clavel , the same one that gives access to the well-known Vazquez de Mella square -one of the hot spots during the Madrid Gay Pride festivities-.
No.17. Royal Knight of Grace Oratory. Striking neoclassical-style building reminiscent of a Roman basilica. It was the only church of all those that were in this area that was saved from being destroyed by the construction of the Gran Vía . Of course, to align it with the new street, it was necessary to make a new facade, hence it has two.
nº18. General Directorate of Relations with the Administration of Justice.
No.19. In this number is one of the darkest buildings -in the literal sense-. It houses the Administrative Contentious Courts.
nº20. More administration: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (from 1939 to 1990 it was the Museo Alfonso studio, headquarters of great Madrid photographers). Next door, Information and Citizen Services.
#22 . Yet another hotel. This is the H10 Villa de la Reina, boutique hotel. Share number with Bravo Java shoe store , of those that sell moccasins of a thousand colors for people with class . Next door, the mini store oink , onomatopoeia that serves as a name for sell Iberian ham sandwiches 24 hours a day. And the TGB franchise, acronym for The Good Burger, little brother of 100 Montaditos and La Sureña.
No.22 duplicate. Portal with several companies, one of them destination , the first travel agency we found on the street.
rooftop pool
nº24. For years it has housed the Circle of the Mercantile and Industrial Union of Madrid . But now it is the Gran Casino Gran Vía. To play poker, roulette, black jack, machines... almost at any time, because It opens from 10 to 6 in the morning. And if you are not a fan, you can enter to see the exhibition of old photographs of Madrid and the construction of the Gran Vía - smile, because they make you a token as soon as you enter.
nº26. other jewelry , something more affordable, which is about to open its doors. It is Aristocrazy , Suárez's prèt-â-porter_ signature. And next to it, another pharmacy . By the way, in this building there is a flat for sale, only suitable for pockets with a lot of zeros on their account. Share a number with Papizza : unlike other places of pizza al corte sign, this one has seats and space to sit . The best, their happy hour: t Everything for 1 euro from 5 to 7 p.m. And next to it, the Swiss Union, there since 1840.
we arrived at largest zebra crossing in the entire street. We are in the area known as the Saint Louis Network , confluence between the Fuencarral, Hortaleza and Montera streets. This area represents the beginning of the second section of the Gran Vía: fewer historic buildings, more offices. At this point is the only electric bike stop that we find on the street , in addition to the Gran Vía metro entrance.
nº21. McDonald's mythical opened in 1982. In fact, it was one of the first franchise restaurants in Spain. Open 24 hours a day.
**#25. Hotel Gran Vía **, legendary since 1920 and now a member of the Tryp group. in the bottom is Bershka , known to be the squat of the mythical Madrid Rock . Rarely the day that they are not around Alcazar brothers , two heavies who refuse to forget the old record house. Next door, a low cost makeup store Kiko.
**#28. Telephone building. ** Was the first skyscraper built in Europe and the tallest in Madrid until 1953 (was surpassed by the Spain Building) . There are constant exhibitions inside, and almost all of them are good or very good. This is one of the meeting points, next to the exit of the Gran Vía metro station.
nº27. Matesanz House , that's the name of this building, the first built in the style of fashion malls in the US , with a facade full of glass windows . The year was 1923. It houses the headquarters of the Madrid newspaper and the Madrid School of Decoration. Below is the Julián López fabric store. And a plaque recalls its past: in the 16th century it was one of the few buildings designed by the architect Juan de Herrera in the capital, and the sculptor of Philip II lived there Giacomo da Trezzo, or, as he was known to posterity, Jacometrezo . And on the corner Cortefiel store. Opposite, a souvenir kiosk with a Spanish flag with the bull.
The Alcazar brothers
nº29. The book house , there since 1923. On the upper floors, the Hotel Arosa, the Mari Blanca hairdresser (since 1957) and next door, Yves Rocher. On this same sidewalk, a tobacconist kiosk version.
**#30. Sphere **, the first fashion store on this sidewalk (just above the Pereda pension, one of the first on the street). and behind her, Stradivarius, beginning of what is the golden mile of Amancio Ortega. double-agent , one of the newcomers to Gran Vía; she makes clothes for cute girls. Starbucks, with a terrace at street level. Calzedonia . And Pans and Company, also with a terrace at street level - difficult to understand the attraction of terraces like these right next to an avenue full of cars.
nº31. This is the José Miguel de la Quadra-Salcedo building , and on the bottom are the Real Madrid Store , flanked by a typical Madrid scaffolding, the Clarks shoe store and a Pull & Bear . And no, there is no longer the administration of lotteries nº67, the most famous in Madrid, Dona Manolita . It was there from 1931, until its transfer in 2011 to Calle del Carmen, 22.
nº33. oysho , on the corner, and opposite, another souvenir kiosk. Next to, Rome Point , with the image of the forever young Norm Duval. And on the upper floors, the Hostal Andorra.
nº32. gigantic h&m , the first to arrive on Gran Vía to replace the mythical Almacenes SEPU (until 2002) . A huge poster announces the forthcoming opening of the flagship of Primark in the same building as the Rush Group Y which is now owned by Amancio Ortega . Next door, Mango and Lefties, also from Amancio.
nº34. Zara. Three floors dedicated to the flagship brand of the Inditex empire.
nº36. House of Hoops , of FootLocker , point of sale dedicated exclusively to the footwear, clothing and accessories for basketball and the only one that the company has in Spain under this concept.
**#35. Palace of the music ** . After 80 years as a movie theater (it was built in 1926 by the architect Secundino Zuazo Ugalde ), ceased its activity in 2008. And, if no one fixes it, it will surely end up becoming just another clothing store. Opposite, another phone booth.
nº37. It was the Avenida Cinema -in its basement was the mythical party room Pasapoga - and now it's a H&M. Another one. The building dates from 1928 and is also by De la Quadra-Salcedo. Next to the door it is usual to find shoeshine, a profession that only survives here in the center of the city . And opposite, one of those kiosks that sell tickets for the tourist bus.
**#39. Allianz Building **, from 1926. A mysterious animal presides over its façade: it is a winged lion of saint mark holding a book whose inscription reads: "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus" ("Peace be with you, Marco, my evangelist"). The ground floor is occupied by a store Swarovski and one of Ulanka shoes.
Gran Vía is the Spanish Broadway
nº38. Jules, boys clothes. The Atlantic Hotel and the Nike store. Just ahead, an officers' newsstand. It is beautiful, despite its somewhat baroque design.
No.40. Springfield Woman, Burger King -it could not be missing, and it will not be the only one we meet on this street- and Solo Io, the tie shop.
nº42. Various hostels and pensions in this building that has a ground floor Coffee and Tapas. And an Orange store. On the upper floors, language school maryland.
And we have already arrived in Callao. End of the second section and beginning of the third, where the real estate use will be the tonic of all the buildings. The square is flanked by the Cinema Callao (another of the few historical ones that resist), a Desigual and FNAC macro-store . Although it seems to us that the French flag has always been there... what's going on; in fact it was the company that replaced the warehouses Galleries Prized in 1993 , after being absorbed by El Corte Inglés in the 90s. Curious fact: this square has become regular parking for motorcycles and private bikes.
**#41. Carrión ** building, on the ground floor of which is the store Benetton . In this same issue, also the Hotel Vincci and the Capitol Cinema, the benchmark for previews in the capital. And this is the building schweppes poster . Installed in 1969, another of the iconic images of the Gran Vía and protagonist in films such as El Día de la Bestia.
Gran Via from Callao
nº43. The first Vips - Gino's of the street and the Iris shoe store , although in reality the building is historic because the Spanish Association for European Cooperation was founded there in 1954.
nº45. Another missing person, Rex Cinema. The one that does still hold is the Hotel Rex, just above it. And new businesses, like an optician's Alain Affelou and a free buffet of those of 'All you can eat', with a terrace at the door and everything.
nº46. The Palace of the Press, one of the first to be built in this area and the highest until the arrival of the Telefónica building. Until recently, he still sported the hand painted premiere posters ; they have now been replaced by electronic screens. Above, the Hostal la Prensa and a Psoe headquarters. Below, the ohm nightclub.
And sharing a number, a small Women's Secret and one more Papizza. In addition to another super low cost makeup store, Flormar, and Le Pain Quotidien, an elegant and organic bakery.
nº48. This is the only building built in the 21st century. It is the work of the architect Rafael de la Hoz. On the ground floor there is a C&A clothing store.
nº49. The first white clothing store , with several plants and a lot of fur: fur Jacinto Rodriguez and the old Rustarazo, for those who like bags and shoes from another era.
A soft-boiled egg in the morning more than a breakfast seems like a plan.
nº51: A Bodybell store and a Lacoste firm. And at street level, Santo Domingo subway entrance , and more phone booths , that also do they work -Although it's been so long since I've seen someone using them that it's strange that they're still there-.
nº50. on top of one GEOX shoe store, the most advertised wig shop in Madrid, Soledad Cabello , and two more hostels: Excelsior and Hostal Lauria. In addition to a tiny ice cream parlor, Diamond, -of the few that we will see on the Gran Vía-, a Sportium Juegos betting room and again, one more McDonald's.
nº52. As if he had escaped from the noble part, here appears the Commercial Court number 1. In addition to a KFC, next to one Halcón Viajes Travel Agency -how difficult it is to see this type of business on the street- and the Golden Gran Via , a dance hall from before, for people from before, with an orchestra and everything.
nº54. The Rialto Theater ** inaugurates the area known as the Madrid Broadway . Next door, several shoe stores, such as the Bravo Java high-end shoe store, from the old days; Camper, one of today's shoe stores; and Adela Gil. Also a ** Palazzo ice cream parlor -typical of Madrid-, a franchise Llao Llao -the frozen yogurt fever continues- and opposite, another kiosk to buy a tourist bus card. Y Alaska and Mario Vaquerizo -It is usual to run into them here, they live right on the back street-.
**#53. Emperor Hotel. ** Not everyone knows the secret that it hides on its roof: a roof garden, or beach club. That is, one outdoor pool on the penthouse floor . Share a number with a brand new Tommy Mel's -reminds both the Peach Pit of Sensación de Vivir- and a Bingo.
nº56. More shops , Carmina Shoes, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.
The Gran Vía in the 1920s. In the foreground, a man wearing a beret, Pla
nº55. Jamón 55, inn and tapas bar. A Nebraska coffee shop, 'modern' since 1955 . Next door, another newcomer, the Portuguese patisserie that is invading the city with cakes from Belem . and a low Atresmedia Cafe , which just before celebrating its first anniversary, has closed its doors for good.
**#57. The Lope de Vega Theater **, which in recent years has only displayed the musical's poster The Lion King. And to eat, the new Happyness Station - Frigo ice cream shop - and a Rodilla with her new image.
nº59. An Italian Dibocca restaurant and the tapas bar El Jamón on Gran Vía. Recently opened, La Casa de las Carcasses is a place that constantly changes its business, according to trends.
nº60. The third tribute to the pig in this street, the Tapas bar Don Jamon , which for years has been touted as having the cheaper cane -0.70 euros-. And another classy shoe store, Lurueña Shoes.
nº62. We keep going down the street and more local food: Marisquería la Sirena Verde and Txapela , of Basque pintxos.
**#61. The Hostal Buenos Aires ** and several souvenir shops: Ole Madrid and Madrid Souvenirs.
nº63. A 100 Montaditos with super terrace , which goes from Ole Madrid to Salvador Bachiller.
nº64. Building of the insurance company España, S.A, acquired in 1931.
nº66. Compac Gran Vía Theater, Hotel Vincci Via 66 and La Sureña , with two floors, a terrace at street level and a security guard type wardrobe. To put order.
A door to heaven in Madrid
nº65. Espahotel apartments and other Vips. Unlike the previous one, this one does not have a store, it is just a restaurant, with a terrace on the street. and a store souvenirs marrakesh bazaar , whose souvenir items are the same as the rest, even though the sign says they sell leather bags, wallets and leather accessories…
nº68. Licensed Gutiérreza Hinojal Pharmacy , small and with sixties aesthetic signs.
nº70. Senator Beach Hotel. The best, your spa . Next door, the theater room La Chocita del Loro, known for its monologue performances.
nº69. Another Burger King, This one is really big, next to another telephone booth and a kiosk that sells tourist bus tickets.
nº72. Grilled meats at the De María Parrilla restaurant. And the Tryp Madrid Centro Hotel, next to a Ham Museum, the only one on this street, and another Tryp Hotel, the Plaza España.
nº74. National Geographic's flagship store, for adventurers and the fastest, because it is about to close.
nº71. Life Building, built in 1930. It is the last building on the street and its flowery attic is one of the most envied -who could-. On the ground floor, several businesses, such as Caps 44 (with terrace included), a restaurant Lupita Cuzco and a Starbucks. Opposite, the mouth of the Plaza de España metro.
nº76. Fridays, a Springfield for girls and a shop for the Migueláñez candy brand.
nº78. Coliseum Artery Theater. One of his most recent performances is the Mecano musical 'Today I can't get up'. To the side, the Brewery 78.
The point and end to this street is put by the colossal Spain Building , closed years ago and recently acquired by a Chinese businessman. Its future is to be a hotel-apartments-residential housing-shopping center. All together. But that's another story.
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Gran Vía, from top to bottom, in zigzag and vice versa