For almost three years now, I've been exploring Madrid through my tastebuds and getting to know the city one bite at a time. Unsurprisingly, I've found that Madrid is truly a food lover's dream. Between the traditional tapas, fresh fusion dishes and vast array of international cuisine, Spain's capital is abounding with exceptional eateries.
Since the only thing that makes me happier than trying new restaurants is giving fellow foodies recommendations, I've compiled a list of my favorite restaurants in Madrid categorized by neighborhood. Though this guide will surely grow within the next year, here are the restaurants that I believe to be some of the best places to eat in Madrid. ¡Que aproveche!
Who's hungry?
LA LATINA
Juana La Loca
Plaza Puerta de Moros, 4
Plaza Puerta de Moros, 4
A lively tapas bar; home to my favorite slice of tortilla de patatas in the city
Taberna AlmerÃa
Calle de las Aguas, 9
Calle de las Aguas, 9
A no-frills tapas bar with good tostas, cured meats and cheeses
Taberna El Buo
Calle del Humilladero, 4
Calle del Humilladero, 4
Tortilla stuffed with goat cheese and caramelized onions. Enough said.
Taberna La Concha
Calle de la Cava Baja 7
Calle de la Cava Baja 7
Phenomenal tapas and tostas with an extensive gluten-free menu
Taberna Los Huevos de Lucio
Calle de la Cava Baja, 30
Calle de la Cava Baja, 30
Famous for the best huevos rotos in Madrid
Txirimiri
Calle del Humilladero, 6
Calle del Humilladero, 6
A bustling Basque pintxos bar, featuring another great tortilla
MALASAÑA
Antigua HueverÃa
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 31
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 31
Classic Spanish dishes served in a darling vintage space
Bar El Pico
Calle Divino Pastor, 12
Calle Divino Pastor, 12
Traditional Spanish food, go for lunch on a weekday for a mouthwatering menu del dÃa
Bodega de la Ardosa
Calle Colón, 13
Calle Colón, 13
Picturesque bar brimming with old world charm, one of the best tortilla de patatas in Madrid
Curry's Masala
Calle de Silva, 16
Calle de Silva, 16
Some of the city's highest quality Indian food, superb weekday menu del dÃa
La Mucca
Plaza Carlos Cambronero, 7
Plaza Carlos Cambronero, 7
Hip, eclectic Spanish-American fusion dishes
La Musa
Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 18
Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 18
Quirky atmosphere with a funky, modern take on tapas
Ojalá
Calle de San Andrés, 1
La Musa's sister restaurant, offering a unique variety of internationally inspired dishes
Pez Tortilla
Calle de Pez, 36
Spectacular slices of gourmet tortillas (try the heavenly brie and truffle)
Verbena
Calle Velarde, 24
Calle Velarde, 24
Tasty tapas with a slightly hipster twist
Patatas bravas from Ojalá
CONDE DUQUE
Carmencita Bar
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 51
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 51
The closest thing to classic American brunch (and 1€ mimosas!)
El Maño
Calle de la Palma, 64
Calle de la Palma, 64
A lively neighborhood tapas bar with incredible patatas bravas and delightfully cheap wine
Federal Café
Plaza de las Comendadoras, 9
Plaza de las Comendadoras, 9
My favorite brunch in Madrid; hipster/expat paradise
MarÃa Bonita
Calle Duque de Liria, 9
Calle Duque de Liria, 9
Some of the best Mexican food and margaritas in the city
Zombie Bar
Calle Noviciado, 14
Calle Noviciado, 14
Unbeatable burgers, fries and other comforts of home
HUERTAS
Casa González
Calle León, 12
Calle León, 12
Great wine, cured meats and cheeses: the trifecta of Spanish treats!
Casa Toni
Calle de la Cruz, 14
Calle de la Cruz, 14
Family-style tapas covering all of the Spanish classics
Lateral
Plaza de Santa Ana, 12
Plaza de Santa Ana, 12
A gourmet (yet surprisingly affordable) take on modern and traditional tapas
CHUECA
Arepa Olé
Calle Pelayo, 2
Serving up tasty arepas and other South American treats
La Candelita
Calle del Barquillo, 30
Calle Pelayo, 2
Serving up tasty arepas and other South American treats
La Candelita
Calle del Barquillo, 30
Latin American and Creole cuisine, go for their phenomenal brunch
Taberna GastromaquÃa
Calle Pelayo, 6
Calle Pelayo, 6
Unique Spanish fusion dishes with a gourmet twist, a memorable gastronomic experience
SOL
Bar Cerveriz
Plaza de San Miguel, 2
Plaza de San Miguel, 2
One of the best slices of tortilla in the city
Mesón del Champiñón
Calle Cava de San Miguel, 17
Home to incredible grilled mushrooms stuffed with chorizo, parsley and garlic
Takos al Pastor
Calle de la Abada, 2
Calle de la Abada, 2
Arguably the best tacos in Madrid, and only for 1€ a piece!
OTHER
Maiia Thai
Calle de la Princesa, 13
Calle de la Princesa, 13
My go-to Thai restaurant, serving up delectable curries and noodle dishes
Phuket Thai
Calle de Atocha, 115
Home to my favorite panang curry in Madrid
Poncelet Cheese Bar
Calle de José Abascal, 61
Calle de José Abascal, 61
A divine selection of cheeses and an even more impressive wine list
Calle Sagasta, 30
The closest thing Madrid will ever get to Chipotle
To be continued...
Have you got any other recommendations?
What are your favorite restaurants in Madrid?
What are your favorite restaurants in Madrid?
I'm gonna pin this for when I eventually make it to Spain :D. I really want to try to get there next year. For the food and the tapas!! The 1st two pictures look soooo delicious!
ReplyDeleteI'm clocking all the ones that say gluten free... Thanks for the tips! I loved Madrid, but it's been a while since my visit so I think I may need a return trip! I do remember the food being exceptional.
ReplyDeleteOh yum, this all looks great!! I love reading food posts as I think you can learn so much about a country from the flavours of the food :)
ReplyDeleteI'm huge fan of La Candelita! It's currently my top pick for Menu del Dia (when I have the chance to do that, which isn't so often these days). Glad to see that Poncelet also got a shout-out ;)
ReplyDeleteI will add these to my list of restaurants to try while I live in Madrid! I would also recommend....
ReplyDelete- any of the restaurants on Calle Ponzano but especially Sala de Despiece, La Contraseña, y La Maquina;
- Whitbys on calle Almagro
- Lady Maradona by Alonso Martinez metro!
Awesome, thank you so much! I will add these places to my Madrid Bucket List :)
ReplyDeleteYumm! I've only had their Menu del DÃa once, and it was divine. Have you tried their brunch? It's insanely good (...but sadly a huge splurge for our English teacher budgets!)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! And Spanish food is surprisingly a show stealer... but obviously I'm not biased at all ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm currently working on a GF in Madrid post too - so keep your eyes peeled for that soon! I've been able to find good GF dishes at all of the restaurants mentioned above though. That said, cross-contamination can be a tricky issue in Spain, and I'm probably a lot less careful than I should be :/
ReplyDeleteYes! Come hang out with me in Madrid next year :D It's pretty much foodie heaven here, so I think it's right up your alley!
ReplyDelete*sigh*!!! I've been begging and begging my family to consider a trip to Spain this winter. Fingers crossed! Love this list, Courtney! Your photos are always gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'll be heading back to Madrid at the beginning on July to meet some friends, we'll without a doubt check out a few of your recommendations! Gracias. :)
ReplyDeleteSo many great tortilla recommendations!! I loved the one at Bar Cerveriz when I was there in April.
ReplyDeleteBar Postas, right outside Plaza Mayor, is my go-to spot for cañas + bocadillos de calamares and a typical packed-to-the-gills Spanish atmosphere
Welp, I'm officially hungry for some Spanish Food! This is a great list for places to eat, I'll have to keep these places in mind when I make my way to Madrid hopefully soon!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm hungry now :)
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love Madrid for the food! 1euro calamare bocadillos at Plaza Mayor, strolling the Mercado market for brunch eats. My fave fine dining spots in Madrid are: El Club Allard and Sergio Arola (his wife is head of the front and takes incredible good care of any wine needs!). Both incredible--a little more expensive than a typical Madrid meal, but I highly advocate trying their lunch menus, much, much more affordable than dinners, and just..flavour explosions on the palette!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, doozy! I have my tried and true favorites, very few of which are on the list! I do agree that Juana La Loca's tortilla is beyond delectable!
ReplyDeleteOoh, please do share your favorites!! I trust your recommendations :)
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a foodie heaven over here! I'll have to check out those two places. They sound divine! Thanks for the recommendations :)
ReplyDeleteStory of my life over here, haha :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you make it sooner rather than later! It's the perfect place to explore one bite at a time :)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how Bar Postas is in such a touristy spot, but still retains such an authentic atmosphere! If I could eat calamares, I'd head there all the time too ;)
ReplyDeleteDe nada! Let me know which ones you try and which are your favorites!
ReplyDeleteThanks Daisy :) I'll have my fingers crossed for you too!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! I love the Asian restaurants on Atocha for their quality-price (and promptness when I have to catch a train!) and El Brillante for old man watching. Since my boyfriend has family in Madrid, we do a lot of vermouth hopping around Malasaña, too!
ReplyDeleteGoodness now I'm huuuungry! Bookmarking for my trip - whenever it happens ;)
ReplyDeleteWow that all looks so delicious! :) By the way Courtney I was wondering what kind of camera you use?
ReplyDeleteYes! Come to Madrid!!!
ReplyDeleteI use a Canon Rebel T2i, and my lens is a Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 :)
ReplyDeleteYumm!! I am missing Spanish food and I can't wait to really explore Madrid one day! Thanks so much for joining Wanderlust Stories, Courtney! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina, I can't wait to pin away!
ReplyDeleteSorry if I'm completely wrong about this, and your photos are absolutely stunning, but is Taberna El Buo on calle Gravina not in Chueca? Am sure I walk down that street and have seen that bar there! (second comment as I keep coming back to this post for ideas!)
ReplyDeleteThere are two locations, and yes, one is in Chueca! But I like the La Latina one better because it's more convenient for tapas crawling :)
ReplyDelete