Giorgio Jovani di Salvatore

We visited this place based on a recommendation. The setting is lovely, colorful and idyllic, the best qualities Alfama has to offer. They sat us down quickly even though they were busy. Unfortunately, there were only 2 servers working. Both gentleman were continuously in motion, taking care of clientele needs. However, after taking an order, it took one hour before food was received. If you have a drink and finish it beforehand, good luck stopping someone to get more drink. They are hustling with food service taking menu of other tables. The service staff spoke very basic English. Once the food came out, although edible and not offensive, it certainly required seasoning. A pinch of salt and pepper would have gone a long way. At least, the setting offered a pleasant space to visit, but the wait, food and price did not align. I do believe that it's worth a visit if you are not in any hurry. It took us 2 hours from arrival to departure. There are other restaurants with tastier foods and faster service just around the corner.

We attended the theater to watch L'Orfeo. That is a beautiful work with a great message of loss, love, and living. The venue is beautiful and regal. The seating area has a grand chandelier hovering over the audience. The theater seats were comfortable and enough for a big guy like myself. The balconies are gilded and beautifully detailed. The royal box balcony is front and center. It's majestic quality makes for a perfectly romantic and exquisite night out. You can reserve a table to sit during intermission in a gorgeous room with spectacular paintings of the royal family. The venue is accessible to those with wheelchair use. The taxi hub is conveniently located behind the theater. I purchased the tickets online and felt the process was easy and convenient. The problem is here: I purchased the tickets based on its recommendation of best seats at the time. When we took our seats, we noticed jumbo screens placed around the theater for patrons to watch. Unfortunately, even though we purchased front row balcony seats to the left of the stage, we could not see the theater actors. We relied on the screens to see what was going on below us, which was a huge disappointment. If we wanted to view the stage actors, we had to lean over the balcony. The people behind us had to stand to catch a glimpse over us. That was the case all around the theater. Unless you purchase seats that are directly facing the theater stage, straight on, and within the middle third, you will not have a visible position. The jumbo screens show video but they do not capture the essence or the detail that the human eye can capture from the seats. I spent 80% of the time reclined in my seat, watching the screens and wishing the theater had disclosed the limited visibility when tickets were being purchased. I would recommend this venue, but be conscious of the limited visibility issue when purchasing tickets. It's better to buy the less expensive tickets up high that are centrally located than the closer, side balcony seats.

This mercado is very nicely sourced. All are farm raised ingredients and they have freshly made food offerings. The vegetables and fruit are quite large and organic. The meats are well-packaged and beautifully displayed. #1 rated tortilla de patatas in Spain is at Casa de Dani, but try all other foods as well. They have a variety of ethnic restaurants including Mexican, Italian, Argentine, Mediterranean, and others. It is in the middle of the Salamanca district, surrounded by luxury retail stores, and it is a 10 minute walk to Retiro Park. A quick stop for a bite to eat here makes for a nice addition to any trip.