We're going on holiday for a while

I harvested your tips for Madrid for the post I’m writing now. Use them: they’re good. I’ll add Casa Mingo and La Venencia as non-beery unmissables in Madrid, but you probably know about them already.

Have fun.

Never been to either, so thanks. Sherry is definitely the way forward in Spain.

Madrid cider tip: they seem to think that tourists want the sweet fizzy stuff that comes in a champagne bottle. Always ask for a bottle of “Sider Seco” or “Sider Natural”, and if the barman still approaches with a champagne-looking bottle, stop him.

You’ve probably gone now, but for Madrid:

La Gloria De Montera, (Calle caballero de gracia 10). Contemporary
local food, good reviews. Went here twice, very impressive and great
prices – would def recommend (just off the Gran via at the top of the crest of the hill).

Casa Granada, (calle del doctor cortezo 17 near Plaza De La Puerta Del Sol)
Lovely terrace with excellent views. Decent tapas and full of young hipsters. It’s on the top of a nondescript office block. Press buzzer to be let in (it’s the fifth or sixth floor – try both if one doesn’t work). Dodgy lifts (we walked up).

Casa Mingo is worth a punt, definately. The chicken is great, and so are the old waiters. We also liked Museo Del Jamon (umpteen branches, can be very busy).

San Seb: Hard to go wrong in the old town, but we especially liked Bar Tamboril on Calle Pescaderia and Bar Aralar (and the place next door, the name of which I’ve forgotten) on Calle Puerto. Bar Txepetxa has some good, sour sidra.

Don’t punch one of your bosses before running away, jumping in the harbour, swimming to a yacht and remaining there until police are called to drag you away. That’s what a former colleague of mine did when we went on a department retreat to Malaga.