đ§ââď¸What's on in Madrid: October 3
Wicked lands in Madrid, the International Week of Architecture and a Grand Flamenco Gala.
Madrid | Issue #116
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Happy Mean Girls / new Taylor Swift album day!
Itâs quite an eventful week, not just because itâs October and the witching season is upon us, but also because there really are tons of things to do this weekend.
Yes, itâs October 3. Youâve got Broadway blockbusters like Wicked opening, the circus acrobatics at Circo Price, and Michelin-starred chefs cooking over fire in a botanical garden (yes, thatâs a thing).
Weâve also scouted the latest foodie and coffee haunts: a vermouth classic in La Latina, and a design-forward cafĂŠ in Salesas.
Get ready, itâs getting crazy in here!
Happy weekend. đ
1. 𧚠Broadwayâs blockbuster Wicked finally lands in Madrid
Move over, Dorothy! The witches of Oz have finally arrived.
The Broadway mega-musical Wicked is finally opening in the city with all the emerald sparkle youâd expect.
If somehow youâve avoided it for the past two decades (last yearâs movie doesnât count), Wicked tells the story of two young witches â Elphaba, the green-skinned outcast destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the bubbly blonde who ends up as the Good Witch of the North.
The story deals with universal themes such as friendship, rivalry, and what happens when
the Wizard of Oz is a douchethe world punishes you for being different. There are flying monkeys, sequins, and also Defying Gravity, one of the most iconic songs to come out of Broadway in the last few decades.Wicked is a global juggernaut. With over 100 international awards and more than 60 million people having seen it, Wicked has been running non-stop on Broadway for 21 years and in Londonâs West End for 18.
This is definitely one of the biggest cultural openings of the year, so do not miss it.
đĽď¸ What: Wicked
đ Where: Nuevo Teatro AlcalĂĄ, Calle de Jorge Juan 62, Madrid.
đ When: From Oct. 3 (shows TuesdayâSunday). Check website for schedule.
đ Tickets start at âŹ29
2. đď¸ Madridâs International Architecture Week: 300 ways to snoop inside the cityâs best buildings
Madrid is turning into one big open house, as the city hosts the International Week of Architecture, giving everyone from archi-nerds to curious neighbors a chance to peek inside buildings that are usually off-limitsâand take part in nearly 300 free activities across the capital.
There are exhibitions, talks, guided urban walks, kidsâ activities, and, of course, those golden-ticket building tours. If youâve ever walked past a grand old façade and wondered âquĂŠ habrĂĄ dentroâ, this is your chance to find out.
Portugal is the guest country this year, with a special focus on the celebrated architect Ălvaro Siza, plus an anniversary tribute to Madridâs own Luis GutiĂŠrrez Soto, marking 125 years since his birth.
There are exhibitions in El Retiro, lectures, and more opportunities to brush up on your architectural trivia before boring your friends at brunch, telling them about aedicules and other things no one cares and/or understands.
In short: 10 days, hundreds of events, and the kind of insider access that makes you feel like you suddenly belong to Madridâs architectural inner circle.
đĽď¸ What: Semana Internacional de la Arquitectura 2025
đ Where: Multiple venues across Madrid
đ When: Oct. 3â13. Check website for additional information.
đ Tickets: Check website.
3.đĽ Chefs on Fire: Michelin stars, live music, and a whole lot of smoke
Start salivating, people. Madridâs tastiest bonfire is back. The Alfonso XIII Royal Botanical Gardens are once again hosting Chefs on Fire tomorrow, the festival where top chefs ditch their kitchens to cook exclusively with fire and wood.
Never been? Shame! There are barbecues, grills, open flames, and asadores, all set in a leafy garden turned foodie paradise.
This yearâs lineup reads like a Michelin Guide reunion: Javier Aranda, IvĂĄn CerdeĂąo, JoĂŁo Oliveira, Coco Montes, Marlene Vieira, Gil Fernandes, Rafa Zafra, Ricardo Acquista, and many more big names from Spain, Portugal, and beyond.
In total, 15 chefs will serve up live-fire creations, from meats and fish to vegetables, pizzas, sushi, and even dessertsâbecause yes, anything tastes better with smoke.
The festival also features live music, with six different artists performing throughout the day. On top of that, there will be a dozen restaurants serving their signature âbitesâ reimagined for the grill.
Chefs on Fire has become an big international thing in foodie culture, and after the success of its first Madrid edition in 2024, itâs clear the city wants to keep its global culinary crown. Donât miss it.
đĽď¸ What: Chefs on Fire 2025
đ Where: Real JardĂn BotĂĄnico de Alfonso XIII, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Complutense, s/n, Madrid.
đ When: Oct. 4, 2025. 5 p.m. to midnight.
đ Tickets: Price varies by package but the cheapest option is âŹ50.
4. đŞ FIRCO: the best of Ibero-American circus lands at Circo Price
Get ready for three days of pure adrenaline under the big top. The Circus Iberoamerican Festival (FIRCO) is back for its eighth edition, taking over the Teatro Circo Price this weekend.
Now, this isnât your average clown-and-popcorn circus. FIRCO brings together some of the best jugglers, aerialists, acrobats, and balance artists from across Ibero-Americaâall competing for top prizes awarded by a professional jury. If youâve never been, FIRCO includes jaw-dropping stunts, amazing feats, and more than a few moments where you forget to breathe and cover your face.
Adding to the thrill, the audience itself gets a say: youâll be able to vote for your favorite act to win the much-coveted Audience Award. With live music and nonstop performances across three packed days, this is one of the cityâs most original cultural festivals.
Itâs for people who are into high-flying trapeze, gravity-defying (like in Wicked!) acrobatics, or just the spectacle of it all. Itâs your chance to see circus arts pushed to the limitâright in the heart of Madrid.
đĽď¸ What: Festival Iberoamericano de Circo (FIRCO) 2025
đ Where: Teatro Circo Price, Ronda de Atocha, 35, Madrid
đ When: Oct. 3â5. Check website for opening hours.
đ Tickets start at âŹ12
5.đź Iris: Mascagniâs dark, lyrical gem at Teatro Real
The Teatro Real is bringing back a rarely staged opera that dives deep into beauty, betrayal, and redemption. Under the baton of Italian conductor Daniele Callegari, Madrid will host a new concert version of Pietro Mascagniâs Iris.
Premiered in 1898, Iris is set in a mythical Japan where innocence collides with cruelty. The story follows Iris, a joyful young woman devoted to her blind father, who is deceived and kidnapped by a wealthy lord and a scheming geisha house owner.
Misunderstood, rejected by her own father, and trapped in despair, Iris ultimately throws herself into an abyssâbut finds spiritual peace in a mystical vision, transforming into the flower that bears her name.
The opera is a heady mix of symbolism and lyricism, exploring themes of innocence, exploitation, and personal reconciliation. Dark? Absolutely. Beautiful? Even more so.
For this production, the spotlight shines on soprano Ermonela Jaho, a favorite of the Teatro Real audience after unforgettable turns in Madama Butterfly, La traviata, and Adriana Lecouvreur.
đĽď¸ What: Pietro Mascagniâs Iris
đ Where: Teatro Real, Plaza de Isabel II, s/n, Madrid
đ When: Oct. 4 & 7. Check website for schedules.
đ Tickets: From âŹ15
đş What to watch if youâre staying in this weekendâŚ
đĽď¸ What: Yo, Adicto (I, Addict) | Miniseries | 2024
đWhere to watch: Disney+
âWhatâs it about: A man in his 30s voluntarily checks into a detox center in Barcelona to overcome his addictions to drugs, alcohol, and sex, beginning a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Itâs a dramedy for the ages.
𤊠Why you should watch: Because few shows manage to take something as raw and uncomfortable as addiction and turn it into a show thatâs both moving and unflinchingly honest. Mark our words, you will laugh and you will cry. I, Addict doesnât sugarcoat â it dives into the messy intersections of pleasure, dependency, and recovery.
đŹ English Subtitles: Yes.
𤤠Something to try this weekendâŚ
đ¸ Taberna La Concha: Madridâs vermouth classic on Cava Baja
What itâs about: Taberna La Concha is a Madrid vermouth institution located in the heart of the city. Since 1996, it has served fans of vermut and tapas in a charming space with light-blue naval dĂŠcor and walls decorated with classic cinema icons (Bogart, Bergman, Casablanca vibes). The house specialty is the âvermut Manuela,â a bespoke vermouth crafted in honor of the ownerâs daughter. Over the years, the place has expanded to include a full tapas menuâthink marinated salmon salad, white-gamba carpaccio, and duck ham with orangeâideal summer pairings for a chilled vermouth.
Why you should go: If youâre a vermouth lover (or curious about the vermut revival), this is one of Madridâs go-to spots. The vermut Manuela already has a local cult following, and the personal touch from the owner making the drink adds intimacy many bars lack. Plus, itâs in La Latinaâone of the cityâs most walkable and bar-dense neighborhoods.
Bottom line: Taberna La Concha is exactly the kind of classic Madrid bar you hope still exists: unflashy, warm, with a personality, and a signature drink that sets it apart.
đ Address: Calle de la Cava Baja, 7, Madrid.
âď¸ Casa Neutrale: minimalist design and mindful coffee in Las Salesas
Whatâs it about: Casa Neutrale is a cafĂŠ hot spot in Madridâs stylish Las Salesas neighborhood that blends Mediterranean minimalism with a conscious culinary approach. The space features ceramic and granite surfaces, a muted color palette, and a striking central bar serving specialty coffee, natural wines, and a carefully curated menu of toasts and sandwiches.
Why you should check it out: Because itâs a lot more than just another Instagram-friendly coffee shop. Itâs great for catching up with a friend or parking yourself with a laptop. Itâs a space that feels intentionalâwhere the details (like cashew cream on vegan sandwiches) show theyâve taken flavor as seriously as aesthetics.
Bottom line: Casa Neutrale is where design and flavor meet: a beautifully crafted space with substance behind the style. Come here not for a rushed caffeine fix, but to slow down, sip, and enjoy coffee thatâs every bit as considered as the space around it.
đ Calle San Mateo 22, Madrid
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Up to Madrid tonight. Look forward to a vermut and a coffee!
You may see some of us at the vermut!