The best of the barrios: La Latina

La Latina is synonymous with going out for beers in Madrid. Weekends mean trying to get an elbow in to order at a bar, and booking in advance or arriving early for a table in a restaurant. The two main streets that are home to the majority of bars and restaurants are Cava Alta and Cava Baja, where the legendary Casa Lucio is located, made famous for their 'huevos estrellados' (eggs fried and broken up with other tantalising accompaniments, often potato and sausage). Walking through the barrio in summer you'll find it hard to walk a straight line without bumping into tables and chairs set out on the always-busy terraces. You’ll also find great bars for getting the drinks in, and venues where you can enjoy good music while you're prowling around at night.

Although in recent years it has become one of the more popular (and expensive) neighbourhoods in Madrid, La Latina is one of the oldest and most traditional areas in the Spanish capital. The proof is in the city walls, the tiniest to largest churches that seem to spring up out of nowhere along the streets, and even the Segovia viaduct and the Puerta de Toledo that mark the district limits. The Mercado de la Cebada, one of the biggest markets in Madrid, is the perfect fusion of all things traditional and modern that characterise this barrio.

If you stray from the main streets of the district, you’ll discover the squares that are La Latina's hidden treasures. The most well-known is, without a doubt, Plaza de La Cebada, but it’s worth your time to seek out others, like Plaza de La Paja, Plaza del Humilladero, Plaza de San Andrés and Plaza de Puerta Cerrada. The best time to go exploring is on a weekday morning when there isn’t much going on rather than the weekends when they're filled with locals and visitors.

If there's one time of the year to enjoy this barrio in all its glory, it’s summer. The terraces are in bloom with tables, chairs and umbrellas, the servers are rushed off their feet, and La Latina becomes the stomping ground for locals and well-informed visitors. The district's fiestas are known throughout the city: the party for La Paloma on in August with free outdoor concerts, 'chotis' competitions (a traditional Spanish dance in Madrid), a parade, and big celebrations at all the bars that make space outside for their clientele. A bit earlier in the year, in May, are the Fiestas de San Isidro, the patron saint of Madrid, at the Vistillas gardens.