THE EDITORIAL

There is a specific quality to the light in Madrid come January. After the gold and red intensity of December, the city seems to exhale. The air is sharper, the shadows are longer, and the frantic pace of the holidays finally yields to something quieter.

We don’t view this month as a hangover to be managed, but as a necessary reset. It is the moment to trade the abundance of the playroom for the clarity of the concert hall.

This January, we are focusing on structure, acoustics, and the natural world. We are replacing the screen time with the slow, deliberate observation of art and sport. It is not about doing less; it is about doing things with more intention.

Here is your curation for the month of beginnings.

THE CURATION

1. HIGH CULTURE | The Private View

The Event: Prado Museum After Hours

Venue: Museo del Prado

The Context: The world’s finest collection of European art is usually swarming with crowds.

The Edit Move: Book a private, official after-hours tour - heres the link. It is an investment, but it is the only way to see Las Meninas in the silence it deserves, accompanied by an expert art historian. The absence of noise changes the entire experience of the art.

The Opera: Carmen at Teatro Real (Premium)

Venue: Teatro Real.

Dates: Jan 2, 3, 22.

The Context: Bizet’s classic, directed by Damiano Michieletto.

The Edit Move: Do not just buy a ticket. Book the “Menú Ópera” experience on Jan 22nd. This is the civilised way to do it: a curated dinner within the theatre before the curtain rises. It turns a show into an entire evening of high culture without the rush.

The Last Chance: Warhol, Pollock & American Spaces

Venue: Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum. Status: Closing 25 Jan.

The Move: Catch this major exploration of 20th-century American art before it closes. Combine it with a walk through the Royal Botanic Garden next door for a perfect Sunday morning of structure and colour.

The Morning Silence Venue: Reina Sofía

Best Time: Tuesday Morning.

Why: January is the quietest month for museums. Take a Tuesday morning off. Go to the Reina Sofía. Stand in front of the Guernica without 500 smartphones blocking your view. It is a rare luxury.

2. GASTRONOMY | Fire & Smoke

The Table: Smoked Room (2 Michelin Stars)

The Context: Dani García’s exclusive 14-seat Omakase bar focused entirely on fire and embers.

The Edit News: The restaurant’s Head Sommelier, Luis Baselga, has just been awarded the Michelin Sommelier Award for 2026.

The Strategy: January is the month to secure a reservation. The focus is on an intimate, technical culinary performance where smoke is a primary ingredient. It is theatre, but edible.

The New Arrival: Bambú (Salamanca)

The Context: A newly awarded Bib Gourmand for 2026, located near Plaza Mayor.

The Vibe: It is a gastrobar with the soul of a restaurant, reinterpreting traditional grilling with a modern touch.

The Order: Their award-winning “Pincho de lechazo” (suckling lamb skewer) is essential. A perfect, high-quality stop during a city centre walk.

The Trade Secret: Madrid Fusión / Off-Fusión

The Vibe: The global trade summit.

The Strategy: Avoid the IFEMA trade floor unless you are selling. Instead, book the “Off-Fusión” pop-up dinners happening in the Salamanca district. This is when the world’s best chefs are cooking in Madrid’s kitchens.

3. ATMOSPHERE | Acoustics & Light

The Experience: Candlelight Premium

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid (Sol).

Date: Jan 11 (Hans Zimmer Tribute).

The Edit Move: Ignore the standard venues. Book the “Premium” seating at the Four Seasons. The acoustics of the hotel’s salon combined with the visual spectacle of thousands of candles make for a deeply atmospheric evening.

The Festival: Inverfest 2026

The Context: Madrid’s winter music cycle.

The Edit Focus: Look for the acoustic sets at Teatro Circo Price.

The venue’s circular layout creates a unique intimacy between artist and audience that you simply do not get in traditional concert halls.

The Stay: Relais & Châteaux Hotel Orfila

The Vibe: A small, 19th-century palace tucked away in the aristocratic Chamberí neighbourhood.

It feels less like a hotel and more like staying at the home of a wealthy, tasteful relative. Quiet, classic, and deeply sophisticated.

The Drive: Pedraza (Segovia)

Distance: 1h 30m drive.

The Edit Plan: Go on a weekday in January. The town will be empty, silent, and cinematographic under the winter sky. Walk the ramparts in the biting cold, then retreat to a pre-booked table at Casa Zaca for roast lamb by a fireplace. It is the ultimate winter comfort ritual.

The Slow Travel: The Book Town (Urueña)

Distance: 2h drive (Valladolid direction).

The Plan: Urueña is Spain’s “Villa del Libro”—a tiny medieval walled village with more bookstores than bars.

Why: January is for reading. Drive out, buy a stack of second-hand books, walk the ramparts looking out over the endless Castilian plain, and drive back. It is melancholic and perfect.

5. FAMILY (Intelligent & Engaging)¹

The Context: One of the oldest natural history museums in Europe.

The Edit Vibe: It’s less frantic than other family attractions. The dinosaur skeletons and human evolution exhibits are presented with academic rigour that respects a child’s intelligence. A calm, educational morning.

Why: By Jan 7th, the crowds vanish. The “Naturaleza Encendida” lights usually run until mid-Jan. It is the only dignified way to do “lights” with children walking through illuminated ancient trees rather than noisy shopping streets.

The Context: Just outside the city limits, the expansive El Pardo forest is home to large herds of deer.

The Plan: Drive out at dusk to the “Cristo de el Pardo” area. In winter, the deer come down from the hills to feed close to the fences. It’s a silent, powerful encounter with wild nature, completely free and just 20 minutes from the centre.

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© City EDIT | 2026