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Old-School Messages: Visitors Scribble Wishes on Paper at La Tienda del Deseo

The owner of the shop on Calle de la Escalinata, known locally as the “Calle de los Deseos,” came up with the idea to encourage visitors to live in the moment.
Jordyn Auerbach, Contributing Photographer
April 25, 2025
Andrés Cabrera ties a wish to the wall at La Tienda de los Deseos after visiting with his girlfriend. He noted that the visit brought a newfound sense of positivity into his day.
Andrés Cabrera ties a wish to the wall at La Tienda de los Deseos after visiting with his girlfriend. He noted that the visit brought a newfound sense of positivity into his day.
Jordyn Auerbach
Between the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor lies a tourist hot spot, La Tienda de los Deseos. Here, as implied by its name, people from around the world come to leave their wishes, scribbled on note paper. (Jordyn Auerbach)
Next Activity on the Tourist Itinerary? Leave a Wish
Luis Marín, a 32 year old from Spain, works at La Tienda de los Deseos. Luis said the concept for the shop was born three years ago, when the owner noticed everyone who passed by always looking down at their phones. She decided to put paper out for passersby to write down the text messages they would normally send and hang them on a nearby tree. It was a way to allow people to live more in the moment and think about how they communicate and connect with the people they care about. Later, this concept evolved: people started writing messages to their lovers and partners, and then eventually they sought out the store to write down their wishes. (Jordyn Auerbach)
It’s Better than Writing on a Screen
Now, people stop by the shop on their visits to Madrid to leave wishes like this one. The wishes often reflect positive hopes for the future, family and friends and the world. (Jordyn Auerbach)
“Joy, Love and Health for Everyone!”
Andrés Cabrera, a 29 year old visiting from Colombia, writes down his wish after his visit to La Tienda de los Deseos. He chose to come to the shop with his girlfriend, Ada, because they were interested in the shop’s “Wish Tours,” which showcase historically lucky spots around the city. The couple considered the tour and the visit to the shop a romantic experience where they could express positive feelings about the future of their relationship. (Jordyn Auerbach)
A Romantic Experience
Another couple is seen outside the shop sharing an intimate moment as the boyfriend photographs his girlfriend hanging her wish on the wall. (Jordyn Auerbach)
Couple Time without the Phone, or Not
A wish on the wall at La Tienda de los Deseos reads, "I wish for lots of health, love and happiness for my loved ones. And I wish for a world full of peace."
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