La Caja Magica Sports Fan Tips
La Caja Magica is a venue in or near Madrid that is most often used for Tennis
Best restaurants near La Caja Magica?
The closest cluster of restaurants is a few kilometres up the road towards Moscardó. Once there, you've got a good array of choice, whether this is pre-tennis or following a long day of aces and double faults. Royal Cantonés is a lovely, modern option, whereas la Casa del Pulpo is a classic Spanish eatery to its core. If you haven't ever eaten Spanish octopus (pulpo) then you have to give it a try before you leave!If you want a vibrant atmosphere (and bars to head to after dinner), then it's probably best to head back into the city centre!
What to expect from the La Caja Magica crowd?
La Caja Magica is home to numerous tennis events, but by far the most spectacular is the Madrid Open, forming part of the ATP World Tour in the professional men's circuit. The crowd is massive by most tennis standard, with the main court reaching over 12,000 spectators for most of the week. They are also, however, very respectful of the players; there's quiet while players prepare to serve, and unless the excitement reels us in, it's best not to cheer too loudly mid-rally.Be prepared for some biased supporting at times - we want a Spanish champion, after all!
How do I get to La Caja Magica?
As with most places in and around Madrid, you can get to La Caja Magica pretty easily using the public transport system. Simply hop on Line 3 and alight at San Fermín – Orcasur station for the tennis. Simple! You can also get the Line 23 and Line 78 buses.You're welcome to drive, and there is a car park at both the east and west side of the complex; some fans have suggested the eastern car park is safer (it's also bigger) so probably best to head that way if you're parking for the day/evening.
Things to check out around La Caja Magica?
If there's one thing we can all agree that we love about Spain, it sure isn't football; it's wine! What better way to enjoy Spanish wine by being driven around the city on a guided tour, while being supplied with delicious wine as you go? The Winebus will pick you up, drive out through the city to a local winery, where you'll spend the afternoon having lunch and drinking (I mean err, learning about) wine. Then the bus drops you back off in the city centre - it's a great day out.
Best Food and Drink at La Caja Magica?
One thing that's worth noting is that unlike some other tennis venues, you can't take any of your own meals into the stadium - you gotta buy what's inside! Bottles are permitted, but the caps must be removed at the door. In recent years the catering has been done by an American company, so you're looking at burgers, pizza, hot dogs and beer, rather than tapas and wine.That said, the food is much less important than the tennis! It's reasonably priced and should keep you full until you can escape to a nice restaurant in Madrid after the day's action, so not too big a deal.
La Caja Magica seating?
There are no bad views at La Caja, even though there are 12,000 of them, though it sort-of depends on your preference. The very back rows of the highest tiers are quite far removed from the action, but you generally pay a lower ticket price and can still see the match perfectly well. Tickets for the Madrid Open can cost as little as €20 for the earliest rounds - for both ATP and WTA matches - and several hundred for centre-court tickets in the late stages. Big games will sell out fast, so get on it early!
Best Bars around La Caja Magica?
La Caja is situated to the South of the city centre, in quite a residential area. Accordingly, there aren't many bars within arm's reach of the venue; if you're willing to widen the net a little, we can make some progress! Royal Cantonés, Bar La Peña Soriana and Pub Astral are all a few kilometres away, but closer than most else in the area.If you're settling down for the evening after the tennis is over, I'd suggest heading straight back into the city centre - you will be surrounded by more bars than you know what to do with!
Best Insider tip at La Caja Magica?
I know it's very hard to predict, but try and sit yourself wherever Rafael Nadal is going to be. He's back on the pro circuit now after a lot of injuries, and being amongst a Spanish crowd with the King of Clay is like nothing else in the world - he is venerated by Spanish fans, and the noise, tension and excitement when he steps on the court will be better than any other match. He IS Spanish tennis, and watching him on home soil will be unforgettable.