Eat well in Madrid without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Madrid for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Casa Labra near Puerta del Sol in Madrid fries the bacalao rebozado at its 1860-founded counter, with the pincho de bacalao still under 2 euros.
TryPincho de bacalao
TipWalk-in only at the counter. Cash preferred. Bacalao plus cana under 4 euros; the dining room runs more expensive.
Casa Camacho in Madrid's Malasana has run the 1928 working-class taberna since its founding, with yayo cocktails for 3 euros, tortilla pincho 3.
TryYayo cocktail and tortilla
TipCash only. Closed Sundays. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar.
Bar La Ideal off Plaza Mayor in Madrid is the bocadillo de calamares counter where a full bocadillo, cana and a slice of lemon runs under 8 euros.
TryBocadillo de calamares + cana
TipWalk-in only at the counter. Bocadillo 5.50 euros, cana 2.50; cash preferred at the bar.
Casa Dani in Mercado de la Paz in Madrid has cooked the city's most-talked-about tortilla de patatas for 40 years; the pincho runs 2 euros and the menu del.
TryPincho de tortilla, menu del dia
TipWalk-in only. Closed Sundays. The pincho de tortilla at 2 euros is the cheapest tortilla in Madrid; menu del dia under 13.
Casa Mingo on Paseo de la Florida in Madrid is the 1888 Asturian sidreria where a whole roast chicken and a bottle of natural cider feeds two people.
TryPollo asado + sidra
TipWalk-in only. Roast chicken 12 euros plus 6 euro bottle of sidra; arrive before 13:30 or after 22:00 to avoid the queue.
Casa Toni near Sol in Madrid serves the offal canon at counter prices: oreja a la plancha 6 euros, callos 8, cana 2.50; the whole working-day lunch.
TryCallos, oreja, cana
TipCash only. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar. Closed Wednesdays. The bar is full by 13:00.
Casa Revuelta off Plaza Mayor in Madrid has fried the bacalao rebozado at the counter since 1924, with the pincho at 5 euros, cana 2.50, the whole.
TryBacalao rebozado por unidad
TipWalk-in only at the counter. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. Cod sells out by 15:30 on weekends.
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.
TryFree tapas with jarra
TipCash only. Walk-in only at the bar; no table service. A jarra of cana for 5 euros gets a full free plate of tapas.
Bar El Jamon in Madrid's Lavapies-adjacent Chamberi runs the working-quarter offal canon, with bocadillos de gallinejas under 6 euros, a racion of entresijos.
TryBocadillo de gallinejas
TipWalk-in only. Cash preferred. The bocadillo de gallinejas runs 5 to 6 euros; entresijos racion 8.
Chocolateria San Gines off Calle Mayor in Madrid has fried the churros con chocolate since 1894, a set of 6 churros and a thick chocolate cup runs 4.30 euros.
TryChurros con chocolate
TipWalk-in only. Open 24 hours daily. Cash and card. The 03:00-05:00 post-club slot has the fastest queue.
La Castela near El Retiro in Madrid runs the working-day menu del dia at 18 euros: three courses with bread, water and a glass of wine. Booking recommended.
TryMenu del dia weekday lunch
TipBook two days ahead for weekday lunch. The bar serves the same pizarra menu standing for half the dining room price.
Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles on Plaza Cascorro in Madrid's Lavapies has cooked the caracoles in spicy chorizo broth since 1942, a racion serves two for 12 euros.
TryCaracoles a la madrilena
TipWalk-in only Sundays during the rastro market. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. Sundays 12:00-16:00 is the local hour.
Guided tour · 3h 30m
Enjoy incredible local tapas and a fun, informative, private or shared walking tour of Madrid’s historic city center. Discover how the city’s food and history go together.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Enjoy a delicious initiation to Spanish cuisine at the small, family-owned eateries Madrid locals know and love best.
4 hours
Get immersed in Spanish food culture with a hands-on cooking class led by local chefs. Choose between a paella class with a market visit in the morning or a tapas clas...