In just one year, it has become one of the most fashionable places in Madrid. Every day, hundreds of university students, workers, families and even tourists congregate around the new and attractive space integrated in the Cuatro Torres Business Area of the capital, on the Paseo de la Castellana. It is called Caleido, an open place, outdoors and at different heights that, in addition to incredible views, has a wide range of leisure, restaurants, fashion, art and events.

More than 50,000 square meters of commercial space, terraces and green areas extend on both sides of the main building (known as the fifth tower, where the vertical campus of IE University and Olympia of the Quirónsalud group are located), with a different, modern and, above all, fun offer, which distances it from the classic shopping center.

Inaugurated on September 29, 2022, one of the strengths of Caleido, a project backed in equal parts by Emperador Properties and Incus Capital, marketed and managed by Gentalia, is its privileged location. Located in the Financial District, next to the hospital of La Paz and two key roads of the city, Paseo de la Castellana and M-30, Caleido is a meeting point for residents of nearby municipalities and neighborhoods with high purchasing power, with a floating population of more than 40,000 people within 10 minutes, in addition to IE University students and the hundreds of employees who fill the Cuatro Torres.

Sculpture of Nano4814 at the entrance of Caleido.

Design and sustainable architecture draw this new fashionable place in Madrid in which art also has a place. Sculptures, graffiti, murals and urban street by national or international artists dot the corners of Caleido. Highlights include the sculpture of bright colored balloons by Nano4814 at the entrance, always surrounded by passers-by taking pictures, and the huge aluminum ball that presides over the Garden Square owned by Spy.

Shops and restaurants

The commercial area is made up of thirty stores of recognized national and international brands, such as Barbour, Scalpers, Ecolaf, Hackett London, Roberto Verino ..., to which is added a gym and the cinema by the hand of Ocine, with films in original version. But what is really triumphing is the vibrant gastronomic area.

It is divided into two areas, on either side of the Caleido building: the Plaza de los Invernaderos, a quieter area with covered terraces with large glass roofs, and the lively Plaza de los Jardines, with outdoor terraces and food trucks. Both enclosures are crowned and surrounded by two spectacular rooftops, with incredible views, benches and full of plants and flowers that lend themselves to the walk or to sit quietly to enjoy the surroundings, since, despite being in the heart of Madrid, traffic goes completely unnoticed thanks to the large garden areas. The rooftop located above the Plaza de los Jardines, also called Plaza IE, also has more food trucks, benches, tables for students to eat and even a ping pong table.

The roof of Caleido on the terraces of the Plaza de los Jardines.

We enter Caleido and visit some of the most fashionable restaurants and bars at the moment.

BREAKFAST SHOP

This spacious and casual place is one of the busiest in the Plaza de los Jardines, no matter the time. Its American-style breakfasts, even for dinner, attract students, executives, families every day... The dishes are handmade and their specialty is pancakes and waffles, bathed in maple aroma syrup that they produce themselves. But there are also scrambled eggs with potatoes and sausages, fried eggs with bacon and cheese bars, bagels with cream cheese, French toasts with mushrooms, omelettes stuffed with cheese and vegetables, ham and cheese sandwiches... They are the typical essential recipes for lovers of authentic American breakfasts. As in the US, the size of the plates does not disappoint either.

Breakfast sandwich.

FIVE GUYS

The American hamburger restaurant boasts of serving up to 250,000 sandwiches, hot dogs and different burgers in its premises and terrace, depending on the topping to choose (jalapeños, pickles, onion, barbecue sauce ...). You can add up to 15 for free. The same goes for the shakes (up to 1,000 different combinations) and the 125 mixtures of soft drinks and juices proposed in the menu. The burgers, fries and smoothies are prepared with fresh ingredients and are made to order (it is company policy not to cook with frozen products).

GROSSO NAPOLETANO

Another of the busiest and with a waiting list to book, especially on weekends. And it is that the artisan pizzas of this Spanish chain born in Madrid were chosen last year of the best in the world by 50 Top Pizza, the most important guide in the sector (they reached third place). Its appetizing terrace is filled every day to enjoy the authenticity of its authentic Neapolitan pizzas, cooked in a wood oven with 100% Italian ingredients. They are famous from the Margherita to the Diavola... and always gluten-free.

HEALTHY HUNTERS

It does not have a terrace, but this place is one of the liveliest in the Plaza, especially on Thursdays, from 19 p.m. to 21 p.m., when it is filled with young people to take advantage of the promotion of two for one in drinks. Open every day from the morning, in this small place you can taste exotic dishes from all over the planet with fresh and healthy ingredients, from Hawaiian pokes to Brazilian açai, nachos with guacamole, hummus with crudites or wakame salad, accompanied by smoothies or tropical juices. The music is never lacking and neither is the rhythm.

HONEST GREENS

Another of the most successful places in the area with a terrace that does not go unnoticed between exotic plants and light woods. Inside, the spaciousness of the place with the kitchen in sight and also the ingredients to make the dishes is striking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served and the recipes are made right there live every day with genuine, unprocessed products, without artificial preservatives or refined sugars. They boast that more than 90% of the products they use are plant-based and prepare gluten-free, vegetarian, and keto diet dishes, although they also offer animal proteins accompanied by many fresh vegetables. In fact, one of the most demanded dishes is the Portuguese piri piri chicken.

KANBUN

Asia and the West come together in the proposals of this minimalist restaurant with an appetizing terrace. The fusion and very innovative cuisine with the most authentic flavors of East and West can be tasted, lunch and dinner, ordering a la carte and also through its two tasting menus (50 and 100 euros, respectively). They do not miss gyozas, edamame with Japanese pepper, sushi, kabayaki chicken, yakisoba noodles with egg and vegetables or Peking duck roll.

MAKAN SAJ

Authentic Lebanese home cooking in Madrid by this family restaurant. The so-called wraps (the Lebanese manoushe, made with whole wheat flour, without butter, without dairy, without eggs) can be filled with cheeses, chicken, minced meat, hummus or sirloin, and seasoned with different sauces or zaatar (mixture of spices typical of the Middle East). The dough is cooked in the typical saj, a dome-shaped grill. They also offer varied bowls form the menu.

Smoked Chicken Burger, from New York Burger.

NEW YORK BURGER

It is another of Caleido's gastronomic hits. Getting a table inside or outside on your terrace is a difficult task at peak times. As in the rest of its premises in Madrid, hamburger lovers can find up to 15 gourmet à la carte proposals, prepared with juicy grilled meats. There is also no shortage of smoked meats, barbecued ribs, gourmet dogs... For drinking, in addition to smoothies and a selection of cocktails, they have just introduced three different types of lemonade: pink, yellow and red lemonade.

SIBUYA

Sushi lovers have their place in this original place that goes beyond the traditional Japanese restaurant. Makis, uramakis, nigiris, gunkans, sashimi... Up to fifty of these appetizing snacks fill the varied bar of this sushi bar. The star of the house, the flamed rolls, flambéed sushi that is prepared in front of the diner. To complete the menu, there is no shortage of wakame salad, baos, noodles...

SECRETS BY FRAGA

Outside the Plaza de los Jardines, just behind the cinema, this place is located with an appetizing terrace in front of a pristine lawn overlooking the Cepsa tower and the inclinations that make up the Puerta de Europa, in the Plaza de Castilla. The place is ideal for a healthy quick meal or to have a drink after work or watching a movie. They are famous for their brunches, with fresh products, kilometer zero and seasonal.

OCine.

LATERAL

The chain of casual restaurants that triumphs among young people has also settled in Caleido. Located in the Plaza de los Invernaderos, in a slightly quieter place and close to the Gym, its recipes combine the traditional national and international with the most avant-garde cuisine, and are presented in a varied menu of individual skewers and ideal portions to share. Among the most demanded are the quail egg with Iberian ham, the sirloin with caramelized onion or the Lateral roll: smoked salmon stuffed with mascarpone, cooked ham and roasted apple.

SOON...

According to Caleido sources, 90% of the space is already covered with different leisure, gastronomic and commercial proposals, so there is still room for more. Among the most anticipated openings in the coming weeks are Ornella, with its traditional Italian cuisine to which it adds cocktails, ideal for afterwork; the multisensory experience Sinestesia, which combines haute cuisine with technology; the Anubis cocktail bar and a new headquarters of El Jersey Amarillo, a lively cocktail bar that triumphs next to the Retiro with good pop rock music from the 80s and 90s that nobody can resist after a long day of work.

The La Máquina group is also preparing the opening of a new restaurant in Caleido, with a large premises that will continue with the spirit and philosophy of a company that has been offering the best meat and fish for more than 40 years.

SpY sculpture.

Events

At noon, in the evenings and on weekends is when Caleido is busiest. Precisely on weekends, when the influx of families is greater, there are several children's activities, as well as live music, DJ sessions and other events. This Saturday, September 23 (from 17 pm), for example, Cars & Towers will take place, an exhibition of about 100 classic and sports cars.

From September 29 to October 1, Boca Market will take place, a festival of cocktails, music and gastronomy with free access. More information and agenda here.

Caleido has 2,000 free parking spaces every weekend and in certain time slots on weekdays. Learn more www.caleido.es.