Spanish€retiroMon-Sat 11:00-16:00, 20:00-00:00; Sun closed
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.
Try: Menu del dia weekday lunch
Tip: Book two days ahead for weekday lunch. The bar serves the same pizarra menu standing for half the dining room price.
Spanish€lavapiesDaily 10:00-00:00
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.
Try: Caracoles a la madrilena
Tip: Walk-in only Sundays during the rastro market. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. Sundays 12:00-16:00 is the local hour.
Spanish tapas€centroMon-Sun 11:00-15:30, 18:00-23:00
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.
Try: Pincho de bacalao
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Cash preferred. Bacalao plus cana under 4 euros; the dining room runs more expensive.
Spanish tapas€malasanaMon-Sat 12:30-02:00; Sun closed
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.
Try: Yayo cocktail and tortilla
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar.
Spanish tapas€centroMon-Tue,Thu-Sun 08:30-23:30; Wed closed
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.
Try: Bocadillo de calamares + cana
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Bocadillo 5.50 euros, cana 2.50; cash preferred at the bar.
Spanish tapas€salamancaMon-Fri 07:00-20:00; Sat 07:00-17:00; Sun closed
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.
Try: Pincho de tortilla, menu del dia
Tip: Walk-in only. Closed Sundays. The pincho de tortilla at 2 euros is the cheapest tortilla in Madrid; menu del dia under 13.