20250409 Spain Casa Suecia Restaurant, Futbol Factory

April 08, 2025

20250409 OMG it’s 1:30pm, no wonder I’m starving and we’ve been walking for ever, I swear Cristiano is taking us on a tour of the city, if he doesn’t get us to the restaurant soon I’m gunna start chewing on his arm. Yaa! We’ve finally arrived at Casa Suecia Restaurant and of cause the menu’s in Spanish. Wow! I thought Aussies had a reputation for talking fast but we have nothing on these guys as Christiano with his cheesy smile step’s in and takes control, ordering our meals and a nice bottle of Red, Sharyn and I are getting into the wine’s in Spain, it’s so smooth.

We finally settle in and our orders are on their way, I can see someone has taken a bite out of her burger already, until Mel decides it’s photo time, aww come on Mel we’re hungry.

Casa Suecia opened its doors in Madrid in 1956, it was the heart and soul of Swedish community and a meeting point for intellectuals and a particular favourite of Swedish royal visits and a place for writers like Cortázar, Sábato or Hemingway.

All the dishes Christiano ordered were amazing,

1. A creamy texture type of spread topped with thinly sliced cured meat and crispy elements.

2.A tomato salad, with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella or burrata cheese, and a vinaigrette dressing

3. Fresh squid with a dipping sauce.

The meals were delicious but that wine was devine.😋 🤤

Well I’m happy, we were given a magnum of red wine for the price of the small bottle and I was quite happy to stay and finish the bottle only my kill joy daughter took it away. I’m thinking of moving to Spain just for the wine not to mention how cheep it is.

Once again the coaches take control of their boys leaving the parents to their own devices, these guys are keepers.

Thank Christiano for an amazing lunch, the walk was worth it.

After lunch we take the lift up to the 11th floor to a most spectacular views of Madrid.

If you have time (which we unfortunately didn’t) there’s a great cocktail menu and mixed drinks, as well as a selection of snacks. An awesome place for a private events with an enclosure system for the winter months.

Now this I could get use to, comfort, a view to die for and great service, I’m definitely moving to Madrid.

We then leave the restaurant and head to the FUTBOL Factory while taking in the sites as we go. It hard to put into words the awesomeness of this place, the historic sites on every bend and the amazing buildings that line the streets. Rubbish is left on the streets and picked up daily and considering the amount of people in Madrid the streets are relatively clean.

The Casa de Allende, built between 1916 and 1920 and is renowned for its stunning facade and evocative presence, showcasing a blend of architectural style.

The streets are lined with guys like this, street vendors who sell fake goods like clothing and souvenirs but what I found interesting was the Manteros, meaning blankets. Manteros are often migrants who face legal challenges due to their informal street vending practices. They often sell in public spaces in major Spanish cities, once there day is complete they pull the string that folds all the items away and throw it over their shoulders for the trip home, now that’s a nifty idea.

We arrived at the Futbol Factory that supply high quality brands sporting cloths and equipment. The kids were all excited as we step inside to check out the gear.

Someone’s a happy boy showing off his new shirt, a Madrid Jersey with the added bonus of the boys name and number attached. I’m not sure it was cheap for us Aussies with the exchange rate being what it is, but the boys certainly walked out happy chappie’s.

Now for a long walk back to our meeting point to catch our bus back to our hotel and once again we take in the sites as we go.

Mario the mascot, for who I have no idea and Hamish certainly wasn’t interested but Mum jumps in to save the day and gives him a high 5, I think he would prefer a tip Sharyn.

Look out Sharyn, the Manteros is trying to scam you, run.

There’s always a catch when you take what you think is a free gift and I got scammed, I scored what he called a lucky elephant, ya sure it is. I would have walked off but he was a happy man when Sharyn gave him a tip.