I was in search of an art print for my girlfriend as a gift. After unsuccessfully trying the gift…read moreshop in CaixaMadrid, I found this place walking down the street and decided to give it a try. I was so glad that I did. Nacho, the store operator, was very helpful. He not only cut me a deal on the perfect print, but also wrapped it extremely well for the trip home. This store has a big selection of books. Not just art books but also kids and literature. They had small gift items like cards and posters. However, the service I received here as a tourist was unparalleled. I could not believe how helpful Nacho was. If you are looking for a unique gift (and perhaps some original art) give this place a try. I am still so thrilled that I was able to get something for my girlfriend. Thanks so much!

Everything we had here was excellent - from the veal carpaccio to the salads and the pastas. We…read moreeven stopped in for coffee one morning and the cappuccinos were just right. This is a nice little place if you are looking for a casual but classy lunch. However, make sure that you make reservations ahead of time or they will tell you to drink your coffee and get out quick.

This is a new business that has been open for about a month. I noticed it on my way home from work,…read moreand later that afternoon came back to check it out. The format they've chosen is unique in Lavapies: it's cafe and bookshop (for art books, graphic novels, etc.) and downstairs, in the simply finished basement, is a gallery for edgy/protest/nonconformist art (3D and 2D). The bookshop is well-stocked and laid out, with an attendant on duty to make recommendations or help you find a title. The cafe offers a variety of coffees from some of the world's more prolific coffee-producing regions, with prices ranging from 1.70 - 2.50 at the time of writing. The ambiance in the dining room toes the line between "classy" and "hipster"; the result is a room that promotes conversation with its offering of visual stimulation while soothing the clientele's aesthetic sensibilities. We found the staff prompt, friendly, and quite happy to leave us to enjoy our visit. This felt very much like American coffee-house culture translated well. The gallery area is lovely too, if not a little poorly lit in places. Hard to say, though, whether that was part of the installation at the time. The art itself was pretty cool: a local graffiti artist hung several pieces sprayed onto flattened cardboard boxes and the 3D stuff, the sculpture, while bizarre at times fit well with the gallery's theme. TL;DR: Great place for coffee and conversation, and cheap to boot. Worth a stop!

My three stars go to the three times I've been here and had a lovely experience. It's a hipster…read morecafe with cool books and decorations. I've always done homework there, ordering a coffee or tea and never had any problems... until today unfortunately. After working there for an hour, one of the guys working there came up to my friend and I and said, "Como lo que he dicho las otras chicas-- no es una biblioteca. Es una cafe." (Like what I told the other girls, it's not a library. It's a cafeteria). Well, we were paying customers, I got a tea and a tostada, my friend a coffee and a cookie. But I've never been to a cafe where I wasn't allowed to do homework... We felt very uncomfortable after that so we paid and left. Sorry, but I won't be returning if I'm not allowed to do work in there.

The last time Jamie W and I vacationed in Madrid over 15 years ago, we made the big mistake of…read moretrying to squeeze this museum and the Prado into the same afternoon. We had to race through the Reina Sofia without allowing the requisite time to appreciate the masterworks constantly hidden by the crowds. We didn't make the same mistake last week and decided to focus a full afternoon here. There was no avoiding the long line that snaked around the plaza even though we bought the 32,8€ Paseo del Arte passes which covers all three of Madrid's essential museums. We still had to redeem our passes to get our museum tickets. It only took about 25 minutes before we made the beeline to the museum's spotlight masterwork, Picasso's "Guernica" on the second floor. Viewing was packed and unmovable, but it's still the definitive visualization of the horrors of war made striking by the monochromatic palette (Video 1). The building was once an 18th-century hospital before it became an art museum as recently as 1988. It houses Spain's most significant collection of 20th-century art. Along with Picasso, other contemporary masters are also on display here. Artists represented include Salvador Dali (Photos 3 & 5), Joan Miro (Photo 2), and Rene Magritte (Photo 7). Up on the third floor is even more contemporary art dating back only to 1975 including works by Andy Warhol (Photo 6) and Robert Mapplethorpe (Photo 4). This was our favorite of Madrid's Golden Triangle which includes the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Definitely take your time perusing. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qwUK6nAE-z

I was very excited for my visit here as I wanted to see a Picasso piece in person, as well as take…read morein some more modern contemporary art. They had great pieces and I enjoyed my time. The staff were friendly and helpful with my questions and the museum was clean. I was disappointed to find that both the garden and third floor were closed the day I visited, so I felt like I missed out on some things.

Very nice art gallery. Owner knows English, is very…read moreknowledgable, helpful and friendly. We have been in Spain a month, keeping our eye out for a quality piece that represents the country, and found it here. On a quiet side street next to the Thyssen on the North.