Three days in Madrid: an itinerary

A private transfer from Barajas or Atocha, arranged before you travel, and check-in at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz. Then a first walk to find your bearings: the Paseo del Prado is at the door.

The Prado with an art historian, at the time we have reserved: Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Third of May, 1808, El Greco’s Knight with his Hand on his Breast. Lunch, before or after, at El Jardín de Orfila, the Hotel Orfila’s restaurant, named for the garden around it, whose menu Mario Sandoval of Coque leads.

A drink on a rooftop terrace as the light goes, then dinner at Ramón Freixa Atelier, the chef’s two-star table on Calle de Velázquez: one U-shaped counter for ten guests.

Breakfast at Café de Oriente, across the square from the palace, under the vaults of the 17th-century convent of San Gil. Then the Royal Palace with a private guide as its doors open: the Throne Room, the state rooms and the Royal Armoury.

Lunch at Ten Con Ten on Calle de Ayala, a lively room with a well-travelled menu. Then the shops of the Salamanca district, Casa Loewe, the house’s flagship on Serrano, among them, with a personal stylist on request.

The royal tapestry works, making tapestries and carpets since 1721, seen on a guided visit we arrange: 45 minutes in the historic workshops, watching the weavers at work.

A walk through the Plaza Mayor to the Mercado de San Miguel, for ham, cheese and wine with a food guide, on request. Then flamenco at Tablao Las Carboneras, in the cellar of the old palace of the Count of Miranda: dinner first, then about an hour of the show, at seats we reserve.

A private yoga session in the Retiro and a picnic breakfast laid out for you, on request. Then the Thyssen-Bornemisza with a guide, seven centuries of Western painting; or the museum’s own visit before the doors open, which we arrange on request.

Lunch at La Burlona, a bar-restaurant on Calle de Santa Isabel. Then CaixaForum, a short walk away on the Paseo del Prado: a power station of 1900 that Herzog & de Meuron turned into an arts centre, beside Patrick Blanc’s vertical garden.

The farewell dinner at DiverXO, Dabiz Muñoz’s restaurant and the only one in Madrid with three MICHELIN Stars, over one long tasting menu. Then, if you wish, a nightcap at 1862 Dry Bar in Malasaña, named for the year the first cocktail book was published.