pmsmartinsblog

[pmsmartinsblog]

Rear Window

Cafeteria Marbella - The name is from a know town in the south of Andalusia, Spain but this is place is right in the heart of Madrid in one of the most authentic and gentrified neighbourhood of the Spanish capital - Lavapiés.

On the corner of Calle Mesón Paredes and Calle Encomienda, only 20 meter from my first house - the number 44 of Calle Encomienda - Cafeteria Marbella is one of those classic old style Spanish bars that insists in surviving in a capital transforming constantly in which Coffeeshops, stylish wine bars and hipster brunch restaurants.

Usually crowed on La Liga big matches or every Atletico de Madrid games, it mixes a bunch of different nationalities who attend there to yell at the screen; play cards; or just enjoy a good old caña with a quick tapa. Now that I don’t live in Madrid anymore, it always feels right to come back to this place, where I still feel recognised, and capture the pulse of the barrio from the window.