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Campus Corner: Witches, Workshops & Wicked Good Tapas

Marina Maeso - Wednesday, April 8
 Campus Corner 

Welcome back to The Campus Corner! Every two weeks, we bring you closer to the people behind your program—not just as your experience team but as locals who love sharing the best of Madrid. We want to build a more personal connection with you and help make Madrid feel like home.

In each edition, you’ll find our favorite spots, from hidden cafes to campus must-visits. Whether you're looking for a brunch spot or just curious about what we love around the city, we hope our picks add something special to your day.

Let’s keep exploring together—enjoy this edition and we'll see you in the next one! Guiño

Meet Deniz

Coming to you from the rocky mountains and fierce waves of the Black Sea coast, Deniz is Turkish, with ancestry and family members all over the place. That's why she has always liked surrounding herself with people from all over the world in her previous professional adventures, such as at the Cervantes Institute and UNESCO.

After 11 years of living in Madrid, she is a proud supporter of Madrid tap water (it's the best, and I won't take it any other way), gives addresses to people using metro stations (“meet me by Bilbao” — even though this is Madrid, if you know, you know), and insists that everywhere is “al lado — super close.”

Executive Director of Specialized Masters here at IE Business School, she enjoys working in higher education and helping our students become the next best version of themselves, while also quietly going on a caffeine overdose in her office.

What's your favorite board game?
Civilization by Sid Meier — in any format, any edition, anytime.

How do you enjoy spending your alone time?
I have a toddler, so I've forfeited the luxury of alone time. But every once in a blue moon, when the stars are aligned and I get to spend time by myself — just like any mother with a young kid would do — I WILL SPEND MY DAY SLEEPING ON THE COUCH WITH NO REGRETS.

What's your go-to karaoke song?
Big in Japan by Alphaville — which, funnily enough, was not in the karaoke songbook in any of the actual karaoke places I've been to in Japan, so that was a bummer.

How many hours do you get to the airport before a flight?
At least two hours. And yes, I'm the lady behind you sighing really loud because she’s bothered by how chill you are in the waiting lines.

Are you superstitious about anything?
The evil eye. Laugh as much as you want and call me crazy, but it’s a fact — and I swear by it.

What's the worst hairdo you've ever had?
When I decided it was a great idea to dye my natural ash-blonde hair black. Walked around like a vampire out of the Twilight franchise for the following year.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Enraizarte: Mexican folk art

Celebrate Día de Muertos the hands-on way with one of the workshops at Enraizarte, a vibrant folk art space in Barrio de las Letras. This month’s workshops are full of color, history, and heart: from painting catrinas and clay skulls to creating tin altars, embroidered pieces, and sacred hearts.

Led by Mexican artist Daniela Flores Magón and team, sessions include all materials, expert guidance, and plenty of café, té y galletas ☕🍪
Perfect for a friends meetup or a date, if you are up for it.

📍 Calle Lope de Vega, 3
📅 See their full calendar here
🔗 @enraizarte.artesaniamexicana

Pro tip: While you’re there, browse their shop full of beautiful handcrafted treasures from across Mexico. They make the most beautiful gifts.

Theme Park Terror 🎢🎃

Looking for Halloween with extra thrills? Madrid’s two biggest amusement parks have gone full monster mode:

🎬 Parque Warner (Sept 28–Nov 3): From The Conjuring to Dracula: The Musical, you'll find scare zones, haunted mazes, and this year’s big addition: Cronohorror, the largest and most terrifying experience yet. Go big with their VIP “Terror Experiences.”
🎟️ From €32.90 
 

👻 Parque de Atracciones (Sept 27–Nov 2): Zombies, witches, and live shows await in this urban fright fest. Try Nosferatu, El Viejo Caserón, or The Walking Dead Experience... if you dare. Don't miss their live shows!
🎟️ Get your ticket here

Pro tip: Don't forget your IE Perks discount before booking!

Witches & Beats 🧙‍♀️🎶

On October 31, the Círculo de Bellas Artes throws open its doors to the underworld for Noche de Muertos y Brujas, a wildly theatrical Halloween bash that blends glamour, chaos, and cumbia under one enchanted roof.
From 10:30 PM to 05:00 AM, expect a spellbinding mix of DJs, live performances, eerie surprises, and a dancefloor full of catrinas, witches, and creatures that refuse to rest.

Early bird tickets vanish fast, final day to grab them is October 16.

Tapapiés: The Bite-Sized World Tour

Madrid’s most awaited food crawl is back: Tapapiés 2025 is back (its 15th edition!), and the streets will buzz with flavor, music, and barrio pride. 

From Oct 16 to 26, over 100 bars and restaurants will each serve a special tapa (2,50 € solo or 3,50 € with a caña or botellín of El Águila). 

But this isn’t just about food — it’s a full-on street festival:

  • 30+ concerts and performances on plazas and sidewalks. 

  • Showcooking by Lucía Grávalos, the festival’s honorary chef, kicks things off. 

  • Tapas from everywhere: vegan, gluten-free, reinvented classics, world cuisines all mingling.

Pro tip: come hungry, wear comfy shoes, and don’t even try to pick a favorite tapa until round three.

Madrid’s tastiest street party is back. Bring your appetite — and maybe a napkin. 😉

Mexico in Madrid: Where to Find the Best Pan Dulce

Craving a proper pan de muerto this October? Madrid now has a handful of Mexican bakeries doing it right and serving handmade treats with serious flavor. Start with a pancito and a café de olla... and bring a friend, you’ll want to share!

Comadre
Bright, modern, and deeply nostalgic, Comadre is a bakery and café where Mexican tradition meets artistry. Try their Mexican shells, croissants, and special pastries baked with care. Their jurassienne, though french, is to die for!
📍C. de Andrés Mellado, 71, Chamberí

Molino Manuela
This panadería in Chamberí is a love letter to Mexican baking. Their display sparkles with conchas, pan de elote, bisquets, mantecadas, and classic garibaldis. They even make bolillos and tortas, and sell tortillas, salsas, and café de olla.
They also have aguas frescas, don't miss their rice horchata!
📍Calle de Fernández de los Ríos, 43

Pancito Perrón
Small but mighty, this café‑bakery specializes in pan dulce mexicano. Their conchas (vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, and filled variations) are a highlight. They also offer savory tortas (birria, tinga, avocado).
📍Ronda de Atocha, 14 

Campus Bites 😋 Aránzazu

This one is all about solid northern Spanish cooking and generous portions. Their croquetas are golden and gooey, it’s the sort of space where locals eat, and that says a lot.

Their menú del día is a standout: 14€ for two main dishes, a drink and dessert. Affordable, satisfying, and perfect for a midday break that feels like a reward. Check out this week's menus here.

  • Recommendation: Go with friends and split a few dishes over cold beers or a bottle of cider. Come hungry and try the cachopo (basically a giant, cheese-stuffed, breaded meat dream from Asturias). And yes, always say yes to dessert.

Pumpkin Carving at 9 Lives  🎃🥧

Carve out some Halloween joy at 9 Lives, the pie-slinging paradise behind Madrid’s best pumpkin treats. Their Pumpkin Carving Workshop is both crafty and cozy: sculpt your own spooky masterpiece while sipping mulled cider and devouring a slice of pumpkin pie so good it might raise the dead.

🗓️ October 17–31 | 🕢 19:30–21:00 | 💰 €25 (includes everything: pie, cider, and your pumpkin!). Spots are limited, don’t ghost this!
📍 Calle de Fernando el Católico, 6

Altar de Muertos at Casa de México 💀🎭

Each autumn, Casa de México unveils one of Madrid’s most iconic altars de muertos. Open from October 4 to November 9, the altar can be visited for free, but we recommended that you sign up to their guided tours by signing up to their newsletter. Find out how here.

Titled Cabaret El Recuerdo, the 2025 altar draws on the glamour and nostalgia of early 20th-century Mexican cabaret. A tribute to lives lived boldly and remembered beautifully.

📢 A call to YOU! 📢

Madrid is full of amazing spots, and you've just arrived... so tell us what you've found! 😉 Whether it’s your go-to café for studying, the best late-night bites, or a hidden gem for weekend brunch, we want to hear about it!

💬 Drop your favorite places by pressing the button below and tell us why you love them! We’d love to showcase student-recommended spots—because the best places deserve to be discovered and shared! 🔥

Thank you for spending a little time with us!
We hope these recommendations add a spark of inspiration to your week. Now it’s your turn – pause for a moment and reflect on your day.

Whether it’s a “10” kind of day or one that could use a little lift, remember that tomorrow is a fresh start. We’re here to help make your time on and off-campus feel like home, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or tips with us, too.

If you're having a rough day, here is a cat video to try and make your day a tad better. Ojos de sonrisa 

Until next time,  
⭐ Your Campus Corner Team ⭐

Psst… still here? Lucky you. The first 80 who ace (or nearly ace) this eaaaasy quiz get a mystery gift 🎁 Fill it out, then drop by MMB-704 next Monday Oct. 20, 2–2:30 PM. Fast (and clever) fingers win!

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