Eat in Chueca (chueca), Madrid

La Carmencita ★ 4.4

La Carmencita on Calle Libertad in Madrid's Chueca has run the 1854 taberna under Carlos Zamora since 2014, recovering the original recipes and pouring vermut from the wood barrel out front.

Signature: Cocido madrileno, Croquetas, Tortilla de patatas

Order: The Thursday cocido madrileno, the croquetas de jamon, and a vermut de grifo before lunch.

Tip: Cocido on Thursdays only. Book a week ahead. The terrace on Calle Libertad seats eight; the inside dining room is wood-panelled.

Celso y Manolo ★ 4.3

Celso y Manolo in Madrid's Chueca is the 1928-revived taberna by the Carlos Zamora group, with a vermut barrel, tortilla de patatas and croquetas at counter prices in a marble-tile dining room.

Signature: Tortilla, Croquetas, Vermut

Order: A vermut de grifo (3 euros) at the bar, the croquetas (3 euros each) and the tortilla de patatas.

Tip: Walk-in only at the bar; the dining room takes reservations. The terrace on Calle Libertad fills up by 13:00.

El Tigre ★ 4.0

El Tigre in Madrid's Chueca pours large jars of cana and serves free heaped plates of patatas bravas, croquetas, jamon and bocadillos with every drink, in a standing-room three-bar arrangement since 2003.

Signature: Patatas bravas, Croquetas, Bocadillos

Order: A jarra of cana (5 euros) which arrives with a free plate of bravas, croquetas, oreja and jamon.

Tip: Cash only. The original bar at number 23 is the loudest; the satellite at number 30 is calmer. No table service.

Misty Coffee ★ 4.3

Misty Coffee in Madrid's Malasana is the specialty third-wave room with a focused pour-over carte, in-house pastries and a clean concrete dining room with bench seating along the window.

Signature drink: Pour-over filter

Tip: Open daily 09:00-19:00. The pour-over filter (4.50 euros) is the staff's first recommendation; cappuccino is 3.50.

Federal Cafe ★ 4.3

Federal Cafe on Plaza de las Comendadoras in Madrid's Conde Duque is the Australian-style all-day brunch room since 2014, with avocado toast, smashed-egg plates and a focused specialty coffee bar.

Signature drink: Flat white

Tip: Open daily 09:00-22:00. The weekend brunch (15 to 22 euros) fills up by 11:30; walk-in only, no reservations.

Celicioso ★ 4.4

Celicioso in Madrid's Chueca is the city's reference 100 percent gluten-free bakery since 2012, with celiac-certified breads, pastries and a small cafe carte. The dedicated kitchen handles no gluten at all.

Tip: Open daily. The gluten-free chocolate cake (5 euros per slice) and the croissant alternative are the headlines.

Worth the queue: Gluten-free chocolate cake

Casa Salvador ★ 4.3

Casa Salvador in Madrid's Chueca has poured the vermut de grifo and Madrileno wines since 1941, with a wood-panelled dining room, bullfighting posters and a daily-changing pizarra of seasonal plates.

Signature pour: House vermut by the glass

Wine focus: Vermut de grifo and Madrileno wines

Food: Tapas, raciones

Tip: Closed Mondays. The Sunday lunch is the major weekly meal; cocido madrileno on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Del Diego ★ 4.4

Del Diego near Gran Via in Madrid is the 1992-founded cocktail bar by Fernando del Diego, the canonical Madrid coctelero, with the Del Diego eponymous cocktail and the classic-drink-only carte.

Signature drink: Del Diego (vodka, vanilla, lime, mint)

Food: Snacks

Tip: Closed Sundays. Cash and card accepted. The eponymous Del Diego cocktail (12 euros) is the headline; classic Negronis are the second order.

Mercado de San Anton ★ 4.2

Mercado de San Anton in Madrid's Chueca is the 2011-reborn neighbourhood market with a ground-floor traditional market and a first-floor gourmet tapas counter, plus a third-floor rooftop bar with views over Chueca.

Tip: The rooftop bar is the standout (open until 24:00); the first-floor tapas counters serve until 22:00.

El Tigre ★ 4.0

El Tigre in Madrid's Chueca pours large jarras of cana with free heaped plates of bravas, croquetas, oreja and jamon at the standing-room counter, every drink coming with a full free plate of tapas.

Try: Free tapas with jarra

Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only at the bar; no table service. A jarra of cana for 5 euros gets a full free plate of tapas.

Casa Ricardo ★ 4.3

Why locals love it: Chueca neighbourhood taberna that escaped the gentrification wave; 1947-founded, original tile walls, callos and patatas bravas at counter prices, a 14-seat dining room.

Tip: Walk-in. Cash preferred. Closed Tuesdays. Callos 9 euros, bravas 5, cana 2.50.

Federal Cafe ★ 4.3

Federal Cafe on Plaza de las Comendadoras in Madrid's Conde Duque is the Australian-style all-day brunch room since 2014, with avocado toast, smashed-egg plates and a focused specialty coffee bar.

Order: Smashed avocado on sourdough toast with poached eggs

Tip: Walk-in only; the weekend brunch fills up by 11:30. The Sunday breakfast set with bottomless filter coffee runs 18 euros.

El Tigre ★ 4.0

El Tigre in Madrid's Chueca pours jarras of cana with free plates of patatas bravas, croquetas and jamon until 01:30; the late-night Chueca pre-club crowd takes over after 23:00.

Try: Free tapas with jarra

Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar. The 22:00 to 01:00 slot is the bar's late-night peak.