A quick guide to Madrid's culinary offerings.

Madrid boasts some of Spain’s best restaurants and guests to this beautiful city have a plethora of choice when it comes to restaurants and culinary styles. From transitional dishes to international cuisine, there is something for all tastes in this buzzing city. This is a quick guide to navigating your way though the various choices and finding the restaurant experience you have been looking for.

Madrid’s culinary history is heavily influenced by North African staples such as couscous and semolina, and ingredients from the east such as dates, honey and milk. By the 1800s Madrid began to see the emergence of the first modern day eateries.
Traditional dishes are still extremely popular amongst the proud Madrid population. Moorish influences can be seen in dishes such as almond soup, garlic soup and chick pea stew. Offal also plays a big part in traditional cooking with offerings such as Tripe a la Madrliena, alongside fish dishes such as Sea Bass a la Marilena.

Spain itself is synonymous with Tapas or Tapeo. Tapeo actually refers to the tradition of moving from bar to bar sampling the various offerings from each establishment. Traditionally these are just small portions (raciones) and are made up of a variety of ingredients from meats and sausage to crabs, tortillas and potatoes. They range from the simple to highly elaborate and as they are only small portions you can enjoy lots of different flavours in a variety of different establishments. Accompanied by a cold cerveca or copa de vino this is a most enjoyable way to spend an evening with the locals. Tapas bars are found all over the city but the best selection can be found around Sol, Plaza de Santa and La Latina. Here are some of our favorites:

Alarcia
Avenida Felipe II, 32
+34 91 431 04 22

Alboran
Calle Ponzano, 39-41
+34 91 399 21 50

Bodega Angel Sierra
Plaza Chueca, 11
+34 91 531 01 25

Bravas
Calle Espoz y Mina, 13
+34 91 521 35 07

Casa Revuelta
Calle Latoneres, 3
+34 91 366 33 32

Don Paco
Calle Caballero de Gracia, 35
+34 91 531 44 80

Gambrinus
Calle Fuencarral 74
+34 91 531 56 77

Recently Madrid has seen the emergence of a new movement in cuisine – creative and innovative, even experimental cuisine has become very fashionable in the city. Dishes that excite not only the palate but the nose, sight and in some cases sound too. Gastronomy and art come together in an eclectic and imaginative food movement, with the accent on innovation. Dishes such as artichokes with potatoes and orange, chick pea with foi gras and oysters on a bed of apple. Carpaccio of prawn with sea urchins also breaks new ground. Here are some of Madrid most celebrated avant-garde restaurants:

El Chaflam
Avenida Pio X11, 34
+34 91 345 04 50

Zaranda
San Bernardino, 13
+34 91 541 20 26

Polenta
Plaza de la Marina Espanola, 4
+34 91 542 38 95

Coque
Francisco Encinas, 8
+34 91 604 0202



So, from traditional to experimental and with tapas a plenty, Madrid is a mecca for foodies the world over.

The Prado - Why it's got to be at the top of your list.

No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to Spain’s most celebrated museums. Even museum-shy hedonists can’t help but be impressed with the stunning neo-gothic building full to the rafters with some of the world’s finest works of art and historic artefacts. The Prado was commissioned by King Charles III in 1785 and eventually opened its doors in 1819.

The Prado’s collection of over 8,500 pieces is incredible and the building is only capable of displaying a small percentage of it. At the heart of the collection is that of the Spanish Royal family – an eclectic array of pieces depicting the ever changing tastes of the Spanish monarchy from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include masterpieces by Velazquez, Goya, Titian and Rubens.

The first Bourbon King, Philip V added one of the most valuable collections – The Treasure of the Grand Dauphin. The Grand Dauphin refers to the first son of Louis XIV of France. He acquired a vast collection consisting of 16th and 17th century Italian objets d’art such as stunning crystal ware and jewel encrusted vases. An incredibly beautiful collection.

Apart from the more traditional works of art and historic artefacts the Prado also boasts some of the worlds finest Exhibitions. This year The Prado will host a Francis Bacon exhibition displaying a fascinating collection of 78 of Bacons most celebrated works. Presented in a partly chronological format but also with themed sections such as Crisis, Archive, Portrait, Animal, Zone, Memorial, Epic and Late. Visitors will be able to take a glimpse inside the mind of this complex artist with his unique reflections of his view of the human condition. The exhibition runs from February 3rd – April 19th 2009. Standard tickets are 8 euros. Lectures and films are also being offered each focusing on various aspects of the Bacon collection, the significance of his body of work and the studies of the man himself.

The Prado is a vast museum with a vast array of works and artefacts. At first the visitor may be unsure where to begin. One great way to navigate through the incredible wealth of displays is to take advantage of the free guided visitor tours which cover both the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collected. 15 to 25 years old are offered an enviable opportunity to visit the museum outside of public hours. The museum is closed to the public on the last Friday of each month and young enthusiast are invited to listen to Art History graduates explain the significance of the main exhibitions including a Q & A session.

The Prado is centrally located on the beautiful Paseo de Prado. Nearest Metro: Atocha.