Welcome to Primera Persona, a new section of Platea where we explore reflections deeply connected to Puerto Rico, the kind that give you a warm feeling in your chest.
,
Finding great spaces in Madrid is easy, but finding places where you feel at home, that you only find when you surround yourself with a crew of Puerto Ricans.
That's why I teamed up with Las Cosmos, a platform for Latinos in Spain, to discover some of these spots that remind us of the warmth, the rhythms of the Caribbean, and the flavor we carry inside.
Cafe Dieli, at calle Mesón de Paredes 16, a few steps from plaza Tirso de Molina, has been one of the "refuges" for Puerto Ricans in Madrid since it opened in 2022. Here we can let loose, dance, and connect with our roots no matter how far we are from the island and from home.
"The weekly plena nights at Cafe Dieli have become a meeting spot for many Puerto Ricans and for anyone who wants to learn a little more about our culture."
Every Thursday at 9 p.m., the group Pleneros del Exilio opens the doors of their rehearsals and invites anyone to join in, playing panderos and singing along.
We can confirm that it doesn't matter how long it's been since you last heard a good plena, and even if you've never played before, the moment they hand you the pandero you feel like a pro. Music is one of those things that transports you, and the atmosphere they create at Cafe Dieli is unlike anything else. For a moment, you forget you're in the middle of the Lavapiés neighborhood in Madrid.
The perfect combination of music, food and community
But a hangout isn't a hangout without good food. Cafe Dieli is also one of the few places in Madrid that serves Puerto Rican dishes, like their tostones (with mayoketchup, of course), or on special occasions, alcapurrias.
That, along with a nice cold beer, transports you to a little kiosk by the beach (only the Medallas are missing).
This is one of the places you have to visit if you're in Madrid, or if you're a Puerto Rican in the diaspora. It's clear that no matter what part of the world we're in, Puerto Ricans know how to get the party going anywhere.
The author is a Puerto Rican creative and podcaster who has lived in Madrid since 2023.
Cover photo: Zira RM
The holidays are here!🎄 — Explore here
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
