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Where to Eat in Madrid

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
A guide to the best places to eat in Madrid, categorized by neighborhood.

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!

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Who's hungry?

LA LATINA

Juana La Loca
Plaza Puerta de Moros, 4
A lively tapas bar; home to my favorite slice of tortilla de patatas in the city

Taberna Almería
Calle de las Aguas, 9
A no-frills tapas bar with good tostas, cured meats and cheeses

Taberna El Buo
Calle del Humilladero, 4
Tortilla stuffed with goat cheese and caramelized onions. Enough said.

Taberna La Concha
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
Famous for the best huevos rotos in Madrid

Txirimiri
Calle del Humilladero, 6
A bustling Basque pintxos bar, featuring another great tortilla


MALASAÑA

Antigua Huevería
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 31
Classic Spanish dishes served in a darling vintage space

Bar El Pico
Calle Divino Pastor, 12
Traditional Spanish food, go for lunch on a weekday for a mouthwatering menu del día

Bodega de la Ardosa
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 
Some of the city's highest quality Indian food, superb weekday menu del día

La Mucca
Plaza Carlos Cambronero, 7
Hip, eclectic Spanish-American fusion dishes

La Musa
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
Tasty tapas with a slightly hipster twist 

Where to Eat in Madrid | Adelante
Patatas bravas from Ojalá

CONDE DUQUE

Carmencita Bar
Calle San Vicente Ferrer, 51
The closest thing to classic American brunch (and 1€ mimosas!)

El Maño
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
My favorite brunch in Madrid; hipster/expat paradise

María Bonita
Calle Duque de Liria, 9
Some of the best Mexican food and margaritas in the city

Zombie Bar
Calle Noviciado, 14
Unbeatable burgers, fries and other comforts of home


HUERTAS

Casa González
Calle León, 12
Great wine, cured meats and cheeses: the trifecta of Spanish treats!

Casa Toni
Calle de la Cruz, 14
Family-style tapas covering all of the Spanish classics

Lateral
Plaza de Santa Ana, 12
A gourmet (yet surprisingly affordable) take on modern and traditional tapas

Where to Eat in Madrid | Adelante
Pimientos de padrón from Casa Toni

CHUECA

Arepa Olé
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 Gastromaquía
Calle Pelayo, 6
Unique Spanish fusion dishes with a gourmet twist, a memorable gastronomic experience 


SOL

Bar Cerveriz
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
Arguably the best tacos in Madrid, and only for 1€ a piece!

Where to Eat in Madrid | Adelante
Tortilla from Bar Cerveriz

OTHER

Maiia Thai
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
A divine selection of cheeses and an even more impressive wine list

Tierra Burrito
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?


33 comments on "Where to Eat in Madrid"
  1. 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!

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  2. I'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.

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  3. Oh 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 :)

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  4. I'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 ;)

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  5. I will add these to my list of restaurants to try while I live in Madrid! I would also recommend....
    - 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!

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  6. Awesome, thank you so much! I will add these places to my Madrid Bucket List :)

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  7. Yumm! I've only had their Menu del Día once, and it was divine. Have you tried their brunch? It's insanely good (...but sadly a huge splurge for our English teacher budgets!)

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  8. I couldn't agree more! And Spanish food is surprisingly a show stealer... but obviously I'm not biased at all ;)

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  9. Yes! 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 :/

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  10. Yes! 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!

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  11. *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!

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  12. Great 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. :)

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  13. So many great tortilla recommendations!! I loved the one at Bar Cerveriz when I was there in April.


    Bar Postas, right outside Plaza Mayor, is my go-to spot for cañas + bocadillos de calamares and a typical packed-to-the-gills Spanish atmosphere

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  14. 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!

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  15. Love, 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!

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  16. Whoa, 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!

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  17. Ooh, please do share your favorites!! I trust your recommendations :)

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  18. It's certainly a foodie heaven over here! I'll have to check out those two places. They sound divine! Thanks for the recommendations :)

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  19. I hope you make it sooner rather than later! It's the perfect place to explore one bite at a time :)

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  20. It'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 ;)

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  21. De nada! Let me know which ones you try and which are your favorites!

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  22. Thanks Daisy :) I'll have my fingers crossed for you too!!

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  23. Haha, 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!

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  24. Goodness now I'm huuuungry! Bookmarking for my trip - whenever it happens ;)

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  25. Wow that all looks so delicious! :) By the way Courtney I was wondering what kind of camera you use?

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  26. I use a Canon Rebel T2i, and my lens is a Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 :)

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  27. Yumm!! I am missing Spanish food and I can't wait to really explore Madrid one day! Thanks so much for joining Wanderlust Stories, Courtney! :)

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  28. Thanks Gina, I can't wait to pin away!

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  29. Sorry 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!)

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  30. There 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 :)

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