The Hovse 2015: Christmas Calling, and better than ever

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! The wind in the air and the need for big coats further emphasize the fact that the holidays are indeed upon us. This means that the days are being counted down to vacations or trips to various destinations with our families.

The Hovse Madrid

The Hovse Madrid Pop-up by Naked Madrid

The Hovse

Last year I discovered The Hovse, the pop-up Christmas market from Better Pop-Ups located in a vacant mansion mere minutes from my apartment in Chamberí.

The Hovse Madrid

The Hovse Madrid Pop-up by Naked Madrid with La Vermutería and Better es Mejor

The Hovse Madrid

After making weekly pilgrimages to the house throughout most of the holiday season, I managed to touch down in New York with amazing original Chrismukkah presents for the family, my ride-or-dies, and for myself as well (spread out for Hanukkah, Christmas, and one to open for Reyes just so I don’t feel left out while jet-lagged on January 6th). I went on my first scouting mission of many to The Hovse of the year, and here’s my report back:

The Hovse Madrid

The Hovse Madrid

In what looks just like any typical Chamberí mansion, you walk into this three-story house and are transported into a spacious holiday area with lots of different vendors, greeted by holiday lights and papers reminiscent of snow. Many of last year’s vendors are back for another round (including Helena Rohner, Ouibyou, Mr. Boho, and our beloved Mr. Wonderful), but there are lots of newbies as well.

The Hovse Madrid

Here are the lists of the first-floor and second-floor vendors:

The Hovse Madrid

But there’s more…

You’ll also find Mercado de Motores‘ mainstays La Mantika in case you need to get a blanket for your apartment to deal with the cold, Katie Leamon stationery, and lots of leather goods in case you want a perfect Made in Spain leather bag, pouch, or wallet. And below is a photo of handmade jewellery by Helena Rohner, a Madrid-based jeweller whose store in La Latina I wrote about in a previous post.

The Hovse Madrid

There are even some really cool aprons (I think I may have just given a spoiler alert about somebody’s present, but sorry not sorry)

The Hovse Madrid

This year, the biggest innovations come in two forms:

Innovation #1: The Food

As always, The Hovse has dining spaces where hip eateries set up shop and you get the benefit of trying eats from these places without having to fight with all of Madrid to grab a table. Two of this year’s players are in Salesas, aka the area behind Calle de Génova and the Plaza de Santa Bárbara in between Alonso Martínez and Chueca that’s becoming Madrid’s Soho: Olivia Te Cuida, known for it’s healthy offerings (as the restaurant’s name implies), and MEAT, acclaimed and written about all over town for its burgers (MEAT’s space is up on the terrace).

The Hovse Madrid Pop-up by Naked Madrid

If juicing or health food is more your style, you’ll also find a temporary outpost of Fit Food – where you can try a big selection of the juices on offer (and perhaps tempt you to try a Detox treatment in January so you can fit into clothes you buy during rebajas).

The Hovse Madrid

Innovation #2: Sybilla Atelier

This year’s Premio Nacional de Moda winner, Sybilla, has taken over the entire top floor of The Hovse with a temporary atelier. You’re transported deep inside her world, with samples of all of her different cuts with colors. The clothes look absolutely dreamy, as well as the collaboration with a French accessories label.

The Hovse Madrid

And the best part?

The team at the Atelier will take your measurements and you can get something custom-made. Talk about something TRULY made just for you!

So run over to The Hovse and get the coolest Madrid holiday gifts for everyone on your list –from family, friends, ride-or-dies, and anyone else who you may find special.

The Hovse

Info

Web: The Hovse by Better
Address: Calle General Arrando 40
Metro: Alonso Martínez, Rubén Darío, Iglesia
Hours: open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM until December 24th (Christmas Eve)

The Hovse

For more on holiday shopping in Madrid, check out:

Helena Rohner, handmade jewelry in the heart of La Latina

When you think of La Latina, you generally think of tapas, vermouth, the tortilla de patata with caramelized onions at Juana La Loca, and of course, El Rastro. You wouldn’t normally think of handmade jewelry, but on Calle del Almendro, just off of Cava Baja (by way of Grafal), you’ll find the Helena Rohner showroom.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Originally from the Canary Islands, Rohner bases her designs on the simplicity of shapes and pure lines. She mixes silver (there are gold-plated pieces as well) with a variety of materials (some of her pieces use porcelain, wood, and stones) to create simply beautiful designs. In addition to jewelry, Rohner has designed a variety of other products for companies such as Bodum and Georg Jensen. She’s also the 2014 winner of the Medalla de Oro en Bellas Artes.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Over the holidays, I stumbled upon her jewelry at The Hovse, an amazing pop-up shop a short walk from my then-apartment. I’m always on the lookout for something different, especially things made in Spain. And this is where it all began. I’m a sucker for jewelry since it’s normally something you can’t outgrow, well at least in theory. I was looking for little presents to bring to my parents and sister in New York and I love bringing things that they can’t get there.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

What captivated me when I stumbled upon her station that very fateful day? Bracelets with simple silver or gold-plated pieces on colored cord. I began trying everything on, and I was sold. I also found a gold-plated ring that was a band in the form of a fishtail braid; it was just my style and fit on the exact finger I was looking a ring for. After picking up some items for my parents, sister, and one of my best friends from home, I snagged most of my made-in-Spain Chrismukkah loot.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

Once I got back, I knew that I wanted more and decided to take a trip to the studio and store. As you enter, you can see the center displays with all of the different styles with the workspace on the left and offices on the right.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

On my first visit, I was first drawn to the selection of bracelets that I had seen at The Hovse in various colors with simple shapes. There was a bright blue that I’m absolutely in love with (I have several pieces in that color), but the saleswoman guided me towards the granada cord (it’s a very pretty pink that contrast well, in Spanish, granada means pomegranate).

The bracelets on the colored cords are okay to wear in the shower and one of the saleswoman proudly reported that the silver pieces can be worn while swimming in the summer and can hold up well. In addition to those bracelets, I then got a bangle with a noted etching to fill a void left by one of my presents that broke. On subsequent visits, I got more bracelets like this, including a gold-plated circle on red cord. I also got a pair of small studs in the form of a knot (most earrings are sold individually). Other pieces I’ve snagged are a necklace with a knot pendant and another that can be worn as a headband (something I’ve definitely done to dress up my late-day ponytail on occasion.

Helena Rohner handmade jewellery store in La Latina by Naked Madrid

When you go to Helena Rohner, you’ll come out with more than you planned on getting, but trust me, you’ll never want to take them off.

Info

Website

Facebook

Calle del Almendro, 4
Metro: La Latina
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM-8:30 PM; Saturday 12:00-2:30 PM and 3:30-8 PM; Sunday 12-3 PM

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