Moving to Madrid’s La Latina

Matthew’s article this week concentrates on moving to Madrid’s La Latina

Moving to La Latina: making a home in Madrid’s birthplace

Ups
There’s something about the way Madrid comes to life on the city’s first sunny day of the year. As the crowds spill out from the bars onto the pavements. And this transformation is most evident in the central neighbourhood of La Latina.

Downs
Like many an old-school Madrid barrio, gentrification’s at tipping point. Prices in some bars match that of the Spanish capital’s most notorious tourist traps. The neighbourhood’s drainpipe-jeans-style streets make on-street parking nigh-on impossible.

In and out
From 28042, as in Madrid-Barajas airport, to 28047, as in La Latina, it’s around a 20-minute drive along the M-40. There are two Metro stations, La Latina and Puerto de Toledo, and plenty of buses serving the area. Although, by far the best way to enjoy La Latina is to walk it.

Education
La Latina’s home to state Spanish schools. For an international education, King’s College is your best. They have three different centres in Madrid, the nearest being the infants’ school in Chamartín.

Shop until you drop…
For vintage clobber, head to Bastero’s Underground Moda. The mood’s similar retro at antique furniture emporium, El Transformista. And the Sunday market of El Rastro is a great place to pick up bargains.

Property types
Although La Latina is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Madrid, the properties for sale tend to date back to the 19th century as the earliest. Holiday rentals are as easy to find as for-sale signs. A sign of our Airbnb times.

Market watch
If you can put up with no mod cons, you can pick up a one-bedroom for less than €50.000. Although those in rather better condition go for up to ten times that. There are quite a few loft conversions on the market in La Latina.

In Praise Of
“La Latina’s abundance of bars, narrow streets, and charming plazas keep the authenticity of old-world culture while continuing to attract a diverse crowd of residents and visitors. The famous street of Cava Baja resides in the neighborhood and is known as the go-to spot for tapas bars in all of Madrid. Evening tapas may give La Latina its claim to fame, but the character and tradition of this neighborhood is evident even on a quiet afternoon stroll.” Kelsey Ohleger (Route Words)

• Are you an expat in La Latina? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know below.

Matthew Hirtes

Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.

Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews