How to Eat in Madrid

Eating in the Plaza de Santana in Madrid

Tapas are a Spanish institution, and in Madrid you’ll find some of the best tapas that Spain has to offer, but the food fare doesn’t stop there. From the traditional patatas bravas (potatoes with spicy sauce) to the experimental chuleton (rare steak), Madrid has a menu packed full of creations to delight the culinary guru, food snob or the easily pleased. There’s something here for every taste and budget, but you will have to do a little digging to find the truly authentic restaurants. Like any major tourist attraction, Madrid is chock-full of tourist traps, but if you find the local hangouts, you’ll be sure to find the authentic food right along with it. Here’s your guide to eating in Madrid.

Things You'll Need

• Map of Madrid Old City/City Center
• Spanish Dictionary (optional, but good for key words if you don't speak any Spanish)

Instructions

1. Head to Mingos for their roast chicken and cidra (apple cider, which can be taken with or without alcohol). Mingos is next to San Antonio de Florida and it’s cheap, but the best part about this little hangout is that it fills up with locals, which is the sign of a truly authentic dive. Get there early or be ready to wait. While you wait, practice your Spanish with the locals, who are more than willing to humor you.

2. Olsen is a relatively new restaurant located just off the Plaza Santa Ana. Olsen swaps the traditional Spanish tapas menu for Scandinavian savories and a menu full of small plates liked smoked fish and apple and roast beef on brown bread. Each plate is served with a shot of vodka.

3. Visit Pan de Lujo for a contemporary take on experimental gourmet. Chef Alberto Chicote brings you a Spanish fusion unlike any other with plates that are as stylish, chic and sophisticated as the Louboutin-wearing clients who eat them.

4. Casa Lucio is as well-known for its huevos estrellados (broken eggs) as it is for its famous patronage. The traditional Spanish menu draws in everyone from locals and Spanish celebrities to tourists and members of the royal family.

5. One of the best places in Madrid is Sidreria Carlos Tartiere, which offers dishes authentic to the Asturias, a community in the northern part of Spain. Go here for some of the best salsa cabrales (goat cheese sauce) and fabes con almejas (beans with clams). Sidreria Carlos Tartiere is near the Ibiza metro stop, at Menorca 35. Dinner for two will run you about EUR 30.

6. Locals might argue that the best tapas joint in Madrid is El Bocaito at Calle de la Libertad 4. The Chueca neighborhood is well-known for its small, family-run restaurants. El Bocaito is run by the owner and his sons, who still take care to create their menus with the best and freshest ingredients. Meals are made to order and prepared fresh. We recommend the grilled pimientos de padron, huevos revueltos and the cecina de León (finely sliced smoked beef).

7. If you've had so many tapas in your time in Spain that all you want is a full-size western meal, head to Manduca de Azagra for a “real” dinner. This is modern, gourmet and experimental at its best. Manduca de Azagra is a cross between traditional Spanish food and the innovative cuisine that Spain is known for. A more expensive offering--dinner for two will put you out about EUR 80 --but it’s well worth it.

8. The streets off Plaza de Santana are a great place to browse by menu and price. All the restaurants are small, quaint and very close together, so you can browse about 30 menus within minutes. Plaza de Santa is next to the famous Palace Hotel, and the restaurants can get packed around mealtime. Stop at La Trucha and order a jerez (sherry) and the fried pickled haddock.

9. Chocolat con churros is as much a Spanish institution as sangria, and no Spanish food vacation in Madrid would be complete without some chocolat con churros from renowned chocolate shop, San Gines, which is near the Puerta del Sol and the San Gines Cathedral. San Gines serves some of the best warm chocolate and churros in Spain, and it is most certainly the best in Madrid.

10. Cafe de Oriente is another great offering for a perfect full sit-down meal. Located on the Plaza de Oriente, just across from the Royal Palace, this restaurant offers a great view with your delicious meal. Book early and try to reserve the Salon del Rey, where you'll be afforded the luxury of a private dining room that has been frequented by the king and queen themselves.

11. A pricey but wonderful offering for foodies, gourmets and restaurant aficionados would be dinner at Asador Fronton on Calle Mudraguza. Order the chuleton (steak tartar) and the rape (monkfish), which are two of the restaurant offerings that are incomparable in all of Madrid. You’ll meet a lot of locals and some well-acquainted tourists here.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the locals for advice on restaurants. This is the best way to find the gems that aren't frequented by tourists and offer more than the cliche factory line of fast-food tapas bar offerings.

• When you get into a small, family-run cafe, ask your server for suggestions or tell them to just surprise you with a few favorite dishes from the menu.

• Watch your belongings carefully when you're in the busy tourist areas, old town and on the metro. Professional pickpockets run rampant in Madrid, and you'll need to be aware of your surroundings and belongings at all times.