Fighting back for this amazing city – support Madrid’s local businesses and community

We’re gradually reclaiming the streets — but something’s missing. From the traditional taverns of Huertas to the high-end cocktail bars of Chueca, many of our favorite hangouts remain shuttered from sight. 

We can finally see some socially distanced light at the end of what has been an unprecedented tunnel, but the sad truth is that many small businesses just can’t keep their doors open much longer. Those alfresco cañas might (almost) be within touching distance, but strict capacity regulations mean our local haunts won’t be able to survive on in-house activity alone. 

So the question is, what can we do to stop our favorite tapas bars disappearing from the Madrid landscape? 

For starters (no pun intended!), ordering takeout a couple of nights a week is a great way to help keep the cash flowing. And with most places having hooked up with the likes of Deliveroo and UberEats, you won’t even need to run the face-masked gauntlet.

But if you think ordering in your usual Friday night ración of patatas bravas might be a little too much for your emotions to handle right now (cue memories of balmy nights on outdoor terraces with friends flooding back), then check out the Cuando Volvamos scheme. 

This ingenious, non-profit initiative is the brainchild of a group of experts from the business design company Igeneris. Here, you can purchase all manner of activities and products from small businesses across the city that can be used (or collected) once things get back to normal. 

And the good news is we’re not just talking food here (let’s be honest: lockdown hasn’t done our waistlines any favors). There’s everything from driving lessons to furniture restoration courses available. 

We reckon the platform also makes for a great source of original, altruistic birthday presents. After all, who’d say no to a massage once all this is over? You could say, they’re the very definition of gifts that keep on giving.

Of course, it’s not just small businesses that need our support, it’s our community too. The sad reality is that ordering takeout couldn’t be further from the minds of so many people in Madrid right now.

Dragones de Lavapiés is just one food bank that has sprung up since the pandemic took hold. What was once a local football club for migrant children, is now a precious lifeline for endless counts of vulnerable families in the neighborhood.

With demand showing no signs of waning and charities pushed to the limit, these places desperately need our help more than ever. Let’s be honest: if we can afford a chai latte to-go, then what’s a couple of bags of rice?

So, let’s dig deep. With Madrid’s official food bank having set up an online donations page, you don’t even have to risk an extra trip to the store. It’s time for us all to pull together.

By Helen Hadley (LinkedIn)

• Contact Jorge (+34 695 973 652) from Dragones de Lavapiés to find out more about volunteering opportunities, or make a donation via bank transfer (ES9000730100510503058640).

• Feeling hungry? Check out my top choices for vegan and vegetarian takeout during lockdown.

• Also follow our top choices for takeaway and delivery in Madrid!

Know of any other ways to support Madrid’s local businesses and community? Get in touch with daphne@veracontent.com