Situated beside the Puerta de Alcalá and next door to Hospes, one of Madrid’s best boutique hotels, Ramses is an exciting 4-in-1 socialising space, in one of the most fashionable and upmarket postcodes of the Spanish capital. Designed by renowned French product designer Philippe Starck (who also created Café Costes in Paris) and with Miguel Angel Jimenez (previously at El Amparo in Madrid) as Head Chef, Ramses has impeccable design and food credentials.

Arriving in the restaurant, you can’t help but imagine that Ramses is probably the official hangout for the Real Madrid team, as well as the city’s most fabulous fashionistas. Chic, elegant and sexy, Ramses’ minimalist champagne bar is the first stop, and has a real Manhattan cocktail lounge feel to it – the SATC girls would feel very much at home here. The Strawberries and Cream shots are fairly pricey at €10 a pop, but the combination of rum, strawberries and cream shoots and scores as smoothly as Cristiano Ronaldo.

It’s a game of two halves (well, four actually…) and Ramses’  tapas bar area, Petit is up next. This is upmarket tapas, served in a dimly-lit, seductive setting furnished with a cooler-than-school collection of luxurious fabrics, urban graffiti and baroque touches. Throne-like chairs transform what would be a crowded, noisy space into the perfect spot for a tête-à-tête, and are reminiscent of another chichi European eating destination; London’s Sketch. Funnily enough the two restaurants have a lot in common; they are both exciting entertaining spaces with unisex lavatories and hefty prices. And contrary to what most people might expect, you won’t leave either place with your stomach grumbling.

The portions at Ramses Petit are generous and the oysters, tuna sashimi platter and black cod served with cauliflower mash were simply delicious, although the rocket salad dressed with black truffle vinaigrette was rather forgettable. Our dessert of chocolate trilogy cake lacked punch, but its accompanying  crunchy-sweet walnut ice cream was perfection.

The extensive wine list, with an emphasis on national vintages, was overshadowed by the wide array of cocktails and spirits available. A Mecca for gin lovers in the city, G-Vine, Wet, Hendrick’s, Citadelle  and Tanqueray Ten are on offer. Ramses cocktail selection was nothing short of remarkable; it has never taken me longer to decide which caipirinha (classic, fruits of the forest, orange, mango, melon, watermelon or strawberry) to go for.

If you’ve managed to chow through enough tapas to satisfy Ronaldo and his teammates, head to Ramses’ club to dance off the calories. The dancefloor occupies the basement space, but is often out of bounds as Madrid’s fashion pack like to reserve it for a private parties. The fourth element at Ramses is the  second floor bistro which serves haute cuisine with a Madrileño twist. The restaurant is lavishly decorated and the menu features modern classics such as sea bream carpaccio or garlic soup. If money is no object, treat yourself to a meal in the private dining room where a dedicated chef will cater to your every gastronomical whim.

Overall, Ramses oozes sophistication with a clientele of beautiful people, movers and shakers and the odd middle-aged businessman hoping to run into a much, much younger female companion.  And keep your eyes peeled for Señor Ronaldo  shooting and scoring – whether it be Strawberry and Cream shots or gorgeous Madrileñas!

www.ramseslife.com