The neighborhood

The budding Lavapiés neighborhood is one of Madrid‘s coolest areas to eat, drink, and wander. The name Lavapiés, meaning “wash your feet”, is rumored to have a variety of origins: some say it comes from the hilly streets that eventually head down towards the Manazares River, others think it related to the streams that once ran through the neighborhood, or some say it simply relates to locals washing their feet in the fountain that was once located in the main plaza until the 19th century.

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Thanks to the new trend towards chic bars and diverse restaurants, Lavapiés is now a cool, bohemian neighborhood, full of culture and street art. In fact, it’s often called the Triangle of Art, known for its three famous art centers, La Casa Encendida, La Tabacalera and, of course, the famous Museo Reina Sofía, which sits on the edge of the neighborhood. However, with the change also brings an increase in rents, driving out some of the previous inhabitants, for better or for worse.