From West To East

From West To East: Madrid

Lying between Madrid's sought-after Salamanca and the elegant Almagro district – this home has a fantastic address. Known as the "Golden Mile", Ortega y Gasset Street (twenty minutes on foot) has an array of fashion boutiques, art galleries and Michelin-starred restaurants. It's around the same distance to El Retiro Park with its pretty boating lake. Or, a six-minute stroll will take you to Almagro, with its embassies, museums and upscale Spanish, Italian, and Japanese eateries.

More Japanese influences can be found at this stylish apartment with its bamboo artwork, plants and oriental style prints, giving it a zen vibe. Put some vinyl on the record player and take a seat at the custom-built dining table for dinner – we love the attention to detail that has gone into this place. Then open up the French doors to the small balcony and let the evening air in. There's a communal gym here, too, if you want to keep up with your fitness regime. This home satisfies both body and mind.

Home truths:
*This home has a lift
*There is a small balcony here
*There's a communal gym if you fancy a workout
*This home has Netflix access and high-speed Wifi
*Madrid–Barajas Airport is a seventeen-minute drive away
*There is only air conditioning in some rooms
*Because of the location, some city noise should be expected – light sleepers might want to bring earplugs just in case