You probably know all this, but:
I thought getting some Euros beforehand was the move too, but did some research and ended up hitting up an ATM after I checked into my hotel (Santander) and paid no fees (ATM OR exchange/transaction fees) using my CapitalOne 360 Checking Debit Card. CC-wise I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve, also no foreign transaction fees. Purchases were definitely WAY cleaner compared to last time I travelled abroad pre-pandemic.
Also, they don't have Uber there, but they do have Lyft. So make sure your app is updated or you d/l it if you need it.
Moving on: The city was cool to me. I didn't see a ton of other black folk (chopped it up for a sec with some Africans outside of San Miguel Market), otherwise I just did my thing minded my own biz and no one really gave me eyes or came off any type of way. This being my first trip out there everything was new to me so it was cool to just try to vibe out. I stayed at the Hard Rock (Atocha), did a lot of walking in that area, hit up the big park over there (Retiro) and took the subway to other neighborhoods to visit some spots that I bookmarked on Google Maps or IG.
Food was decent. Had tapas a few times, did a Wine and Tapas Tour one of the last nights, ate a lot of fast food too though. Here are some links:
El Retiro Park
Mas Al Sur
San Miguel Market
Burnout Burgers
Takos Al Pastor
Wine & Tapas Tour - this is that tour I mentioned, and here are the spots included if you wanted to do them on your own:
Plaza Mayor
La Casa De Abuelo
Casa Toni
Mesón del Champiñón
Casa Labra
Royal Armoury - I wanted to go here but it was closed for a special event the day that I went (my last day there). But it's at the Royal Palace and I think the grounds themselves are still always open to the public.
Finally: the chicks weren't all that to me. At all. Everyone kind of looked the same and I didn't find myself breakin' my neck anywhere close to a regular day here in NYC. And I do be reckless-eyeballing HARD AF. But I def felt like Madrid was lacking or maybe I was in the wrong spots.