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.
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.
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