Exploring Eclecticism

If New York has its Meatpacking District, then we could say Madrid has its Fishmonger District. It is a fairly new concept of a neighborhood that started out as hype and has now turned into a full blown fashionista’s dream. The Fishmonger District idea was thought up by local expats because of the Fernando VI Fishmonger, which happens to be a Madrid classic and has been open for over 50 years. It is very popular with high profile politicians, celebrities and jet setters who are looking for the best produce in town for their dinner parties. The official name for the neighborhood is ‘Las Salesas’, taking the name from the square where we find the Santa Barbara church.   The news must have reached the States as the very Marc Jacobs himself decided to open his first Marc by Marc Jacobs shop in Spain right here on Marqués de la Ensenada, 2. Other high end stores include Yube (Fernando VI, 23. Tel. 91 319 7673), Benny Room (Conde de Xiquena, 17. Tel. 91 702 2529), Mage (Conde de Xiquena, 7. Tel. 91 522 8737) and Baruc Corazon (Piamonte, 19. Tel. 91 310 2559). Fashionable meeting places include the Starbucks on Fernando VI with its own terrace, Cosmen & Keiless (Plaza de las Salesas, 8. Tel. 91 319 6742) for their homemade carrot cake, El Pepinillo de Barquillo (Barquillo, 42. Tel. 91 310 2546) for their steak tartare, Pulcinella (Regueros, 7. Tel. 91 319 7363) for their thin sliced pizzas, La Kitchen (Prim, 5. Tel. 91 360 4974) and Café Oliver for those who want to see and be seen.