Madrid is a very cosmopolitan city with a excellent gastronomic offer. The possibilities are endless and we could say that you can try dishes from almost any continent in the capital. However, when the offer is so wide it is difficult to choose. If you are not from Madrid and you are visiting, you are probably afraid of sitting in the wrong place and ending up paying a fortune for food.
On the other hand, if you are from the city or if you go regularly, you may end up eating in the same places as always. If you are completely lost or if you want to discover new places, you are in luck Do you want to know where to eat in Madrid? In this post I share with you 9 recommended restaurants in the city.
The Escarpín
Finding a restaurant where you can eat well and cheaply in the center of Madrid can be a challenge. The Escarpín is a Asturian cider house of a lifetime And it's one of those places where you end up with a full belly for a reasonable price. It is located on Calle Hileras, very close to the Plaza Mayor. The restaurant opened its doors in 1975 and has become a modern and renovated place, while maintaining its traditional essence.
The Escarpín offers a super complete daily menu, with first and second courses, for only 12 euros. In addition, its menu is very varied, you can choose an exquisite tasting menu or opt for a typical Asturian dish. If you go, be sure to try the special three cheese cachopo, exclusive to the house, and the beans with clams, which are especially good.
The Hummuseria
I love hummus. In fact, I could take it every day of my life without getting bored. However, I never imagined that there could be a restaurant that would focus its entire menu on this dish, originally from the Middle East. La Hummuseria, opened in 2015 by an Israeli couple, offers a healthy cuisine with vegan options in which hummus is the protagonist. So, if you are a lover of vegetables, spices and, of course, hummus, you cannot miss this restaurant! It is the demonstration that you can eat out, enjoy countless flavors and maintain a proper diet.
The place is also very nice. The modern decoration, the wood and the combination of colors make La Hummuseria a very cozy place where you breathe good vibes.
Penthouse 11
If you are passing through or if, like me, you love the city, you cannot leave Madrid without enjoying one of the best views of the capital. There are hotels that, on the highest floor, have a terrace to eat and have a drink. Although these places are not usually very cheap, it is worth going from time to time.
The terrace of the Hotel Iberoestar las letras, Attic 11, is my favorite. With a youthful and carefree atmosphere, Attic 11, is the ideal place to see the sunset, have cocktails and listen to good music. On Saturday and Friday nights they organize DJ sessions, a great plan if you are looking to have fun for a while in an innovative and exclusive place.
Another interesting aspect is its cuisine, based on the Mediterranean diet and products good gourmet food of national origin. The dishes have been designed by chef Rafael Cordón and are prepared in a Gastro Bar located outdoors, in view of the customer.
Taqueria El Chaparrito Mayor
Sometimes we want to vary and try new things, fortunately Madrid is the ideal city to do so. For 2020 - 2021 it has been named Ibero-American Capital of Gastronomic Culture. So if you like latin foodDon't worry, you don't have to catch a plane every weekend to enjoy it.
Personally, I am passionate about Mexican gastronomy and I have visited different taquerías in Madrid. Without a doubt, my favorite has been “El Chaparrito Mayor”. It is a place, located about 200 meters from the Plaza Mayor and is incredibly cheap. They offer tacos at 1 euro, so you can try almost the entire menu.They are delicious! I've been to Mexico and I can swear that the food from this place teleports you.
If you are in the center and you do not want to spend too much money, this plan is very interesting. The place is very picturesque, It is decorated with bright colors, murals and details that will make you travel. The staff is very friendly. If you have little time, I recommend that you sit at the bar, order some margaritas and a couple of tacos, the cochinita pibil and the classic tacos al pastor.
Miyama castellana
If you still want to travel through the flavors, You'll love the Miyama Castellana. This Japanese restaurant opened in Madrid in 2009 and, since then, it has managed to win over lovers of Japanese cuisine.
Right in the Paseo de la Castellana, the place, minimalist and cozy, is ideal to enjoy a long meal with friends or family. The chef, Junji Odaka, has managed to make a menu with the most traditional dishes of Japan, giving it a modern touch and an exquisitely cared aesthetic.
The restaurant is not particularly cheap, but for very high quality cuisine, the prices are not exorbitant either. Among the essentials of its menu are: wagyu meat, the sashimi of bull, the nigiri of tuna and, of course, the sushi.
Lhardy House
When you arrive in a new city, the interesting thing is to try its typical dishes. The Madrid stew It is the most traditional of all the gastronomy of the community, therefore, if you are not from Madrid, you should not miss the opportunity to try it.
There are countless places where they serve a good stew, but if it's your first time… why not do it in a place with history? Casa Lhardy, a few meters from Puerta del Sol, was founded in 1839. The restaurant, considered the first in all of Madrid, preserves the decoration of the XNUMXth century and it even appears mentioned in the work of writers of the stature of Benito Pérez Galdós or Luis Coloma. So if you want to experience the most traditional Madrid, this place is just what you are looking for.
As for the stew, you will see that it is a science to eat it. At Casa Lhardy, they serve it in two parts, first the soup and then the rest. I like to eat it all together, I suppose that, for many people from Madrid, this will be a tremendous aberration. But, whatever you eat it, the stew is delicious and feels great in winter.
The bell
If we continue talking about typical food, we cannot forget the calamari sandwich. It may seem like an "exotic" combination for those of us who are not from the city and, therefore, there are people who do not dare to try it, but I assure you that it is to die for. Several premises around the Plaza Mayor They serve it and, although they are usually packed with people because it is a very touristy place, it is worth waiting and eating your sandwich while you tour the city.
The La Campana bar is one of the most classic in Madrid and they sell Calamari sandwiches for only 3 euros. The service is very fast and the beer is very cold What more could you want!?
Tavern and Media
Is there anything more romantic than a good dinner paired with wine? Taberna y Media is the ideal restaurant to surprise your partner, or who else you fancy, with excellent food in an intimate and special atmosphere. What's more, it's fair next to the Retiro Park, one of the most emblematic places in Madrid. Strolling through this green lung is a privilege.There is no better plan to lower the food!
The restaurant has a very beautiful story behind it, it is the project of a father and son, José Luís and Sergio Martínez, who have joined their ideas to create a space dedicated to tapas and traditional rations.
In its bar and in the dining room, they offer top quality products, very traditional dishes with touches of haute cuisine. The braised cheek with vegetables and cocoa, the house salad and the tripe have a spectacular flavor. If you're like me, who always leaves a little space for dessert, you won't be able to resist ordering the creamy anise toast with vanilla ice cream.
Angel Sierra Tavern
Vermouth is an institution in Madrid, if you want to feel like a true-blooded Madrilenian, you can't miss the aperitif hour. Finding good vermouth in Madrid is relatively easy, there are sites that even offer different types. For example, La Hora del Vermut, in the Mercado de San Miguel, has a total of 80 brands of national origin. It is a temple dedicated to this drink that also has a very good tapas and pickles menu.
However, I am more of a local that oozes tradition and, to drink vermouth, there is nothing better than a good tavern with the barrels in sight. La Taberna de Ángel Sierra is possibly the most authentic place I have ever met in the city. Located in Chueca, it stands out for its decoration. The bottles that are piled up on the walls, the dark wood, the ceilings full of pictures and paintings, the framed souvenirs and the tiles of the Cartuja de Sevilla make it a unique space that is worth visiting.
Madrid is very fun and I am sure you will fall in love with it. I hope that this list of 9 recommended restaurants in the city will help you enjoy its gastronomy, but if you want to get the most out of your visit to the capital, you can be inspired by this list of the 10 best things to do in Madrid.
Great post. To take it into account on my next trip to Madrid.