Madrid is a culinary haven. From humble tapas bars and open-air markets to high-end establishments, it’s impossible to not feast in the vibrant Spanish capital. We’ve rounded up the top places for travelers to dine on any budget. ¡Que aproveche!
Best cheap eats
Pez Tortilla
Once you manage to elbow your way through this normally packed place just off Gran Vía, you’ll be rewarded with a wide assortment of innovative tortillas (Spanish omelettes) and croquetas (croquettes), such as the brie, truffle and jamón tortilla, and croquettes with monkfish and salsa verde. Pez Tortilla also offers a wide selection of craft beers and vermouth.
Takos Al Pastor
Popular at any time of the day, this authentic Mexican taquería serves assorted tacos at only 1 euro ($1 USD) each. A long line usually snakes outside the restaurant during busy lunch and dinner hours, but it moves quickly. After ordering, customers sit down at tables and have their food served personally. Enjoy margaritas and micheladas (traditional spicy Mexican beer cocktails) with your meal.
El Tigre
This no-frills haunt in the gay-friendly Chueca neighborhood is a favorite among budget-conscious diners. For every drink order, either a beer or a tinto de verano (similar to sangria), they serve a generous plate of Spanish tapas, typically a tortilla, Spanish ham, chorizo or patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy sauce).
Best high-end dining
Casa Benigna
This enigmatic Valencian restaurant is half-hidden in the shadows of an unremarkable street. Once inside, you’ll be treated to an avant-garde setting with suspended laboratory equipment and artfully hung laundry. They’re known for their patella rice — an innovative twist on classic paella — and smoked salmon, paired beautifully with various wines from their fine selection.
Restaurante Arce
Basque chef/owner Iñaki designed a “choose your own culinary adventure” structure whereby he consults with each table to customize customers’ menus based on their tastes and experiences, asking, “Hunger, craving or enjoyment?” Chef Iñaki suggests seasonal Spanish dishes, creating a memorable dining experience from appetizer to dessert.
Fismuler
With minimalist interiors and a cozy atmosphere, this unique culinary experience features classic Spanish ingredients transformed into creative dishes, such as Galician sea urchin with a creamy sauce américaine atop a bed of stones and Iberian beef cheeks brioche with summer truffles. The lively social atmosphere keeps it far from pretentious.
Best “Centenarios” — restaurants over 100 years old
El Sobrino de Botín
The world’s oldest restaurant according to Guinness World Records, once frequented by Hemingway and Goya, serves excellent cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and cordero asado (roast lamb) cooked in its original cast-iron wood-fired oven. If navigating through the tourists isn’t a hindrance, it’s worth exploring the basement, which houses a dusty 16th-century cellar.
Lhardy
A stone’s throw from Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, this iconic restaurant retains its original chandeliers and gilded fixtures from the Romantic era. Lhardy is famous for serving elevated versions of traditional Spanish cuisine, such as cocido (chickpea stew) and callos a la madrileña (beef tripe and sausage stew).
Posada de la Villa
This historic restaurant located in Cava Baja was originally established as a traveler’s inn, transforming Madrid’s only existing flour mill in the 17th century. A grand wood-fired oven is still in operation, cooking house specialties like roast lamb for over three centuries.
Top Tapas
El Enfriador
This lively local favorite serves quality traditional tapas such as tostas (toasted bread with toppings), artisanal anchovies, and empanadas. Offering a modern twist on a traditional beer garden, El Enfriador features a selection of beers, Spanish wine, and cava (sparkling wine) at friendly prices, creating a great atmosphere for socializing.
Lateral
Modern and stylish, Lateral is a prominent dining chain offering a wide range of excellent tapas and pintxos, or small plates, at very reasonable prices. Dishes like the brie and caramelized onion tosta, meatballs, tortilla, and calamares (deep-fried squid) make for great sharing options. This bustling local hotspot attracts everyone, from working crowds to families on weekends.
Lâmiak
This cozy spot in the colorful Lavapies barrio offers an excellent selection of tapas and wine at fantastic prices. You’ll relish exquisite Iberian ham and gilda, a typical Basque appetizer of olives, anchovies, and peppers. The friendly bar staff create an inviting atmosphere, making you feel right at home.
Best over-the-counter dining
Sala de Despiece
This upbeat industrial space in trendy Calle Ponzano features long bar counters and an open kitchen that showcases fresh produce. Each order is prepared skillfully in front of you by friendly staff. Don’t miss the bestselling Rolex — pancetta with truffled egg yolk — or the fiery Trufa Coreana — a Korean-style beef stuffed with kimchi.
Kitchen 154
Evolving from a humble food truck to a vibrant open kitchen, Kitchen 154, located in Mercado Vallehermoso, is always bustling with locals savoring spicy dishes prepared sous vide. Standout offerings include signature slow-cooked ribs with homemade kimchi, black pepper hake, and chili beef dumplings.
Best vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots
La Hummusería
A haven for hummus enthusiasts in the Chueca barrio, this healthy, vegetarian-friendly restaurant specializes in different varieties of hummus made fresh daily, alongside crisp salads and vegetable tapas with a distinctive Middle Eastern twist. The blend of spices, herbs, and music creates an intoxicating atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean market.
Vega
Ideal for vegans, vegetarians, and those with food intolerances, this green mecca offers creatively designed dishes plated beautifully. Their sumptuous menu includes items like beet hummus, quinoa mixed salads, mushroom and kimchi croquettes, tofu and spinach meatballs, and Beyond Meat steak tartare.
Flax & Kale
This sustainability-focused flexitarian eatery near the renowned Santiago Bernabéu stadium serves plant-based burgers, ramen, veggie curries, fresh poke bowls, and smoothies. They prioritize sourcing high-quality local ingredients while emphasizing sustainability and diversity in their workforce, ensuring good food for the body and soul.
This article was first published in October 2019 and updated April 2020.
