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The Campus Corner: Books, Balloons & Battle Scenes 🎈⚔️

Marina Maeso - Wednesday, April 22
 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 Lula

Hi there! I’m Lula. My full name is Lucía but when I was six years old (and had main character energy) I decided I wanted everyone to call me a nickname, so I made it up myself and made all my friends
call me that way.

If you hear me speaking Spanish, you will probably guess where I’m from. I say “che” before telling you anything, turn every “ll” and “y” into a “sh” sound, and I might give you a deadly stare if you criticise Lionel Messi. I did my bachelor’s degree in Political Science in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and
came to Madrid to pursue a Master’s in International Relations. But after many sunny morning walks and a few (too many) tortilla de patatas, I decided to stay in this beautiful city.

I’m a Program Specialist for MCXI and MDCB on the Business Masters Team. If I had to describe what that means, I’d sum it up as “multitasking.” I handle logistics, administrative tasks, and plan events, but my favorite part is working with students: getting to know their multicultural backgrounds,
academic and professional journeys, and being part of their experience, making their time at IE the best possible.

Are you more of a morning person or a night owl?
I’m definitely a morning person. My colleagues are always surprised by the amount of energy I have in the mornings (the reception team can confirm). If you’re in the office by 9:00, you’ll probably hear me singing while carrying my big water thermos, a signal that I’m about to prepare my matecito (a typical
Argentinian drink). I love going to the gym early, enjoying a long breakfast on my balcony, and sometimes even walking all the way from my house to campus.

What would your perfect day look like?
A perfect day for me always starts early and includes some kind of movement. I love pilates or dance classes at the gym. I’m not a picky (or fancy) eater, but I really enjoy good food, so after working out, I
like to grab a nice coffee in the sun. Madrid's terrazas are my favorite. A perfect day is not perfect without spending time with friends. I’ve made many in Madrid, and I love bringing people together. And as the cherry on top, there has to be music: a concert, live show, or even a music festival.

Bonus track:
I’m a big music fan. I always say that in another life, I would be a singer. My first job was actually as the lead singer in a cumbia band when I was 16. We played cumbia-style covers of popular songs and were quite well-known at the time in my city. We performed at weddings, graduation parties, birthdays,
and events; and even traveled to other cities to play!

If Coffee Runs through your Veins... And Campus Bites!

Zeri’s Specialty Coffee, in Diego de León (a sweet 7-minute walk), can do both: proper specialty coffee and a proper food menu that goes beyond pastries.
The coffee, roasted in Extremadura, is the anchor, but the surprise is the kitchen.
They offer a menú del día that actually makes sense for student life: dish, drink, dessert or coffee, plus bread for 15,90€, available from Monday through Friday.
The rest of the menu is a bit more brunchy, with toasts and light plates that work any time of day.

Recommendation: We're big fans of their filter coffee

Missing your English bookshelf?

With Book Day upon us, here are a few go-to spots in Madrid where you can actually browse (and buy) books in English without digging through one lonely shelf:

Pasajes: the go-to for range: fiction, non-fiction, everything in between.
Desperate Literature: small, curated, quietly addictive
J&J Books and Coffee: second-hand + café
Secret Kingdoms: fully English-focused, easy browsing, no guesswork
Grant: art books, comics, and many titles in original language
Panta Rhei: design, photography, and visual culture

Good to know (for when you feel like wandering):
La Buena Vida, Traficantes de Sueños, Ocho y Medio, Antonio Machado, La Casquería, Pérez Galdós, Berkana, Molar, Mary Read, Altamarea, The Maltese Falcon, Opar.

A literary picnic

Matadero Madrid is turning its plaza into a shared reading space for World Book Day with Meet & Read, a relaxed open-air gathering for book lovers.

The idea is simple: bring any book, sit down, and read alongside others, then chat, swap thoughts, or just enjoy the quiet energy of people doing the same thing.

It’s low effort, social without pressure, and a nice excuse to disconnect. Plus, there’ll be a live soundscape by a DJ and a host guiding light conversations around books.

📍 Matadero (Legazpi)
🗓️ 23 April, 19:00–22:00
💸 Free (registration here)
💡 Tip: bring a book you actually want to talk about for a good conversation.

A calm plan, for once.

Main Character Energy Only 🎈

Balloon Museum (back in Madrid for round two) is an immersive exhibition filled with giant inflatable installations that feel somewhere between art, playground, and “how is this even allowed?”

It’s not a passive museum plan, you walk through it, interact with it... and yes, take photos that look straight out of a Pinterest board (or your Emily in Paris era).

Best for a weekend slot or a weekday evening when you want something different from the usual bar plan.
Go with a friend who won’t rush you, half the fun is taking your time (and retaking the same photo five times).

Time traveling to 1808

Join a full-on street reenactment of Madrid’s 2nd of May uprising fighting the French, right where it originally happened. This isn’t a quiet museum day, instead you'll find soldiers, horses, and actual battle scenes unfolding in Puerta del Sol. The city will feel like a movie set... except you’re inside it.

Practical details:
– Main spot: Puerta del Sol (arrive early for a good view)
– Extra scenes: Madrid Río / Puente del Rey area
– When: around May 2nd (part of the long weekend celebrations)

Get competitive: fast, strategic, or slightly chaotic 🏎️♟️🎲

F1 Arcade is the high-energy pick: a Formula 1 simulator spot on Castellana that turns a normal night out into a full-on race. It’s worth it for group plans where you want something interactive (and a bit dramatic). Best for evenings or weekends: go with friends, book ahead, and prepare for one person to take it way too seriously.

Gambit Café slows things down. A chess café in Malasaña where the boards are built into the tables, making it perfect for a relaxed afternoon or an easy first plan. You don’t need to be good, just order a coffee and pick your side: white or black? 

Replay Boardgame Café is the crowd-pleaser. Make it a post-Rastro stop or casual evening with friends, where you pick a game, sit down, and suddenly it’s three hours later. Go with 3–5 people and choose a game quickly, that’s half the battle.

Speed, strategy, or pure board game chaos... your study break is sorted.

Pinta Malasaña 🎨

If Malasaña feels creative on a normal day, imagine it with 100 artists painting at the same time!

Pinta Malasaña is back on Sunday, April 26, turning the whole neighborhood into an open-air art festival for just one day from 8:00 to 20:00. Artists take over shop shutters, walls, and facades; all painted live, all in real time.

It’s worth it because you don’t just see the final pieces, you watch them come to life, with the streets full of people, music, and that “something’s happening” energy all day.

One day, 100 artists, zero reasons to stay home 🎨

Lebanese Ice Cream Edition: Fre

This is a small spot near Moncloa bringing Lebanese-style ice cream to Madrid.
What makes it special is the Ashta. It’s creamy, floral, topped with crunchy pistachios, and honestly… not what you expect from ice cream, in the best way. It’s one of those things that makes me long for warm weather.

They not only have delicious ice cream, they also have outstanding specialty coffee (courtesy of 1000 Cups). Don't miss out on their Knefeh cookies and their cakes (frozen or not).

Recommendation: Halwa is good, but get the Ashta with pistachio. And yes, you need to take the picture.

Blind Book Swap Plan 📕

This Book Day plan mixes book swapping with a design market at Espacio Perón... plus a full lineup of coffee, sweets, and small bites!

It’s not just about books. You bring one, swap it, and find independent brands, good food, and an easy way to spend a Sunday afternoon meeting people without forcing it.

April 26 · 9€ (includes food + drink selection) · book here (only 100 spots)

What’s included:
☕ Coffee by @coolife_cafe
🍰 Cheesecakes by @cheesys___
🥟 Shiopan by @tike.tiko
🧁 Madeleines by @maison_ocraline
🌹 A red rose by @somosdomingaflores

Tip: bring a book you’d actually recommend to make the swap more fun

Student Recommendations:

ZenZoo Bubble Tea (Campus Corner Certified!)
"The best bubble tea in Madrid with so many options!"

Lolli Gelato (featured in the last edition, but if you don't listen to us maybe you'll listen to one of your own)
"Next to plaza de olavide!!! BEST ice cream i've ever had."

Good Chicken, No Drama 🍗

If you trust anything that comes out of Insurgente… this one’s an easy yes.

Pollos del Sur is their more casual, comfort-food spin, all centered around rotisserie chicken that’s juicy, flavorful, and done properly, with sides that actually keep up.

You get that same attention to flavor, just in a simpler, quicker format. Perfect for when you want something satisfying without turning it into a full plan.

Psst!

… if you know, you know 👀 Downstairs at La Intrusa, there’s a hidden outlet that only opens for a couple of days. Same style, better prices.

April 24–25 · 11:00–20:00 · go straight to the basement

Thursday Wine Tasting

Café Barbieri is hosting a relaxed wine tasting in Lavapiés... good bottles, good company, no pressure to “know your notes.”
You’ll try different wines, learn a bit along the way, and still keep it easy (this is not an exam). 

April 23 · 19:30 · 20€ · Register here

Art, a slow walk, and an aperitivo to match 🎨

NUMA Walk is a guided contemporary art stroll through Barrio de Justicia, with a final stop for an aperitivo.

Small group, easy conversation, and a different way to explore a neighborhood you’ve probably walked through… but not like this.

April 25 · 11:30 · Register here

📢 A call to YOU! 📢

Madrid is full of amazing spots, and you've bee here 7 months now so who knows them better than you? 😉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 ⭐

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