Restaurants in Madrid
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Bristol Bar
You could come here for the English breakfast (€13) or the brunch (€21), but we like this place for its 75 different types of gin. The atmosphere is that of a quiet café by day, a sophisticated gin parlour after sunset.
reviewed
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Corazon Loco
In a barrio replete with tapas options, it takes something pretty special to catch our eye. Corazon Loco (Crazy Heart) is a splendid little tapas bar blending subtle tastes with a regularly changing menu and cheap wines.
reviewed
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Cervecería Compano
Spanish bars don't come any more basic than this, but it is the purveyor of an enduring and wildly popular Madrid tradition - the bocadillo de calamares (a large roll stuffed with deep-fried calamari) - at any hour of the day.
reviewed
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La Palmera
Tucked away in the narrow lanes of Conde Duque, this tiny place is covered in blue and yellow tiles and draws an artsy crowd that comes to sit a while at the small wooden tables and nurse a drink or two. The atmosphere is very low-key.
reviewed
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Mushotoku Cafe
Tiny, black-walled and laid-back funky, Mushotoku is a mellow place to nurse your drink. On Friday and Saturday a DJ spins minimalist techno tunes and although there’s no real space to dance, this place is all about dancing on the inside.
reviewed
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Txirimiri
This pintxo (Basque tapas) bar is a great little discovery just down from the main La Latina tapas circuit. Wonderful wines, gorgeous pinchos (tapas; the tortilla de patatas is superb) and fine risottos add up to a pretty special combination.
reviewed
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Collage
One of our favourite restaurants in Trafalgar, Collage serves wonderful food (the rollitos de alce, ‘reindeer rolls’, are a spectacular entrée) and the whole atmosphere is casual but sleek in a Swedish kind of way.
reviewed
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El Parnasillo
Another of the grand old literary cafés to have survived close to the Glorieta de Bilbao, El Parnasillo has old-world décor with muted art-nouveau murals adorning the walls, but is a favourite drinking hole for the diverse crowd drawn to Malasaña.
reviewed
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La Taberna de San Bernardo
The raciones (large tapas servings; around €6 to €8) here include plenty of Spanish favourites with a few surprising twists thrown in - the berenjenas con mile de caña (deep-fried aubergine with honey) is brilliant.
reviewed
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Restaurante la Giralda
For nearly every kind of fried or fresh Mediterranean seafood you can imagine (and many you can’t), Restaurante La Giralda feels like being in Sevilla. The quality is high so it’s hugely popular but the downstairs area is surprisingly large.
reviewed
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Yerbabuena
Cheerful bright colours, a full range of vegetarian staples (soya-bean burgers, biological rice and homemade yoghurt) and plenty of creatively conceived salads add up to one of central Madrid’s best restaurants for vegetarians and vegans.
reviewed
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Antigua Casa Ángel Sierra
This historic old taberna (tavern) is the antithesis of modern Chueca chic. It has hardly changed since it opened in 1917 and thankfully that includes the wonderful façade. Fronting onto the Plaza de Chueca, it can get pretty lively of an evening.
reviewed
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El Rocio
Delicious rice dishes in all their glory, most of them laden with seafood, are what draw the crowds here. But the unifying theme is all things Andalucian, from the decoration to the Mediterranean seafood, and fine steaks from southern Spain’s interior.
reviewed
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Crêperie Ma Bretagne
What a wonderful little place this is – dark, candle lit and all about delicious crêpes. After eating a main meal of crêpes from the rustic wooden tables, there are more crêpes, this time sweet, for dessert. You’ll never want to see a crêpe again after overindulging here, but it’s a great way to go out.
reviewed
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El Pedrusco
If you haven’t time to visit one of the asadores (restaurants specialising in roasted meats) of Segovia, head to this fine restaurant where the cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and ¼ lechazo (quarter roast lamb) are succulent and as good as any in Madrid. It’s the sort of place where a salad is a must to counterbalance all that meat and you’ll be delighted to see a vegetable.
reviewed
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La Buga del Lobo
La Buga del Lobo has been one of the ‘in’ places in cool and gritty Lavapiés for years now and it’s still hard to get a table. The atmosphere is Bohemian and inclusive, with funky, swirling murals, contemporary art exhibitions and jazz or lounge music. The food’s traditional with a few creative detours, with meat and fish dishes for mains and croquetas (croquettes), cheeses or salads for entrées, but it’s best known for its groovy vibe at any time of day or night.
reviewed
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Al-Mounia
One of the longest-standing Moroccan restaurants promises the best couscous in town (it bears no relation to the couscous we all buy in a packet), subtly spiced lamb tagines (stews cooked in ceramic pots) and breathtaking hand-crafted traditional décor.
reviewed
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Bajo Cero
You can tell that a barrio is going upmarket when even its ice creameries have a super-cool style. Curvaceous chairs, bright colours, friendly service and a sophisticated vibe (not to mention brilliant ice creams, milkshakes and cakes) are what it’s all about.
reviewed
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La Favorita
Set in a delightful old mansion and famous for its opera arias throughout the night sung by professional opera singers masquerading as waiters, La Favorita has an ambience all of its own. The outdoor garden courtyard is delightful on a summer’s evening, while the music and food (which leans towards the cuisine of the northeastern Spanish region of Navarra) are top drawer.
reviewed
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Naïa Restaurante
On the lovely Plaza de la Paja, Naïa has a real buzz about it, with a cooking laboratory overseen by Carlos López Reyes, modern Spanish cuisine and a chill-out lounge downstairs. The emphasis throughout is on natural ingredients, healthy food and exciting tastes. The asparagus with celery salt and truffled eggs is typical of what to expect. The kitchen stays open until 12.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
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La Finca de Susana
It’s difficult to find a better combination of price, quality cooking and classy atmosphere anywhere in Huertas. The softly lit dining area is bathed in greenery and the sometimes innovative, sometimes traditional food draws a hip young crowd. The duck confit with plums, turnips and couscous is a fine choice. No reservations.
reviewed
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Niza
Astonishing, old-Madrid interior decoration; it’s worth a visit here just to admire the stunning ceiling and other fittings. But buy you should, especially the rusos (cream-filled pastries) and delicious tarta de milhojas (layered cake with custard cream).
reviewed
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Cachabacha
Wandering around Chamberí and you can’t face a three-course Spanish meal? Cachabacha has a bar ambience with brick arches, and an excellent meal of soup, bocadillo and drink for €8.90. The service is relaxed and friendly, and the value is excellent.
reviewed
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Zeraín
In the heart of the Barrio de las Letras, this sophisticated Basque cider house gets rave reviews for its steaks, bacalao (dried salted codfish) and other Basque staples, while the service is faultless. It’s not cheap, but it’s classy and worth every euro.
reviewed
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La Piola
This charming Italian place is part cafe and part bar. The small range of pasta on offer is well priced and filled with subtle flavours. In addition to the rustic tables and bar stools, there’s a sofa that has to be the best seat in the house. You’re likely to find it full most nights of the week, which has as much to do with the atmosphere as the food.
reviewed