Day-by-day eating plans for Madrid. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Madrid weekend: the four classics, done right ★ 4.7

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes Madrid invented: cocido madrileno, cochinillo asado, the bocadillo de calamares and the chocolate con churros nightcap, plus a Sunday rastro and vermut crawl.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Mercado San Miguel, Botin lunch, La Latina dinner

    Morning
    Mercado de San Miguel at 11:00 for gilda tapas and a vermut at Casa Real Andaluza. Walk to Plaza Mayor, then to Calle Mayor.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Sobrino de Botin, 14:00. The cochinillo asado from the 1725 wood oven, sopa de ajo and a half-bottle of Ribera del Duero.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at Taberna Tempranillo from 20:00 for Spanish by-the-glass. Dinner at Casa Lucio, 22:00. The huevos rotos with chorizo, half-portion of solomillo.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: rastro vermut crawl, cocido lunch, late churros

    Morning
    El Rastro Sunday market 10:00. Vermut crawl along Cava Baja: Taberna La Chata at 11:30, Casa Amadeo for caracoles at 13:00.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Lhardy, 14:30. The three-volcado cocido madrileno upstairs, a glass of Mencia, the consome from the silver urn afterwards.
    Evening
    Cocktails at Salmon Guru from 21:00 for the tiki-style flight. Late churros con chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines, 01:00, eaten standing at the marble counter.

Madrid three days: the asador canon and the Castilian roast ★ 4.6

Returning visitor, three days, roast-led3 days

A three-day plan around the Castilian roast tradition: Botin for cochinillo, Los Galayos for cordero, Casa Mingo for Asturian sidra-and-chicken, plus a Segovia day-trip for the asador headquarters.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Centro asador and tapas crawl

    Morning
    Coffee at Cafe Comercial 10:00 on Glorieta de Bilbao. Walk to Plaza Mayor.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Sobrino de Botin, 14:00. The cochinillo asado, sopa de ajo, half-bottle of Ribera del Duero.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at La Venencia for sherry from 19:00. Dinner at Los Galayos, 21:30, for the cordero asado in Plaza Mayor.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: Segovia AVE day-trip for the canonical cochinillo

    Morning
    AVE from Chamartin at 09:00 to Segovia Guiomar; 30 minutes. Walk down to the Roman aqueduct.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Meson de Candido at 14:00. The cochinillo asado and the carving-with-a-plate-edge service.
    Evening
    AVE back to Madrid at 19:00. Late dinner at Casa Mingo, 22:00, for roast chicken and bottle of sidra natural.

  3. Day 3: Day 3: La Latina vermut crawl and fine-dining dinner

    Morning
    Coffee at Toma Cafe 10:00 in Malasana. Walk down to Cava Baja.
    Afternoon
    Vermut crawl on Cava Baja: Taberna Tempranillo 13:00, Casa Lucio 14:30 for huevos rotos.
    Evening
    Cocktails at 1862 Dry Bar from 20:00. Dinner at Saddle, 21:30. The truffle tortilla and the dover sole.

Madrid vegan: three days of plant-led cooking ★ 4.4

Vegan, three days3 days

A three-day plan for a vegan traveller in Madrid: Distrito Vegano, Viva Burger, Sanissimo, plus the natural-wine bars and the markets the city's plant kitchens shop from.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Centro vegan tapas and Mama Campo brunch

    Morning
    Brunch at Mama Campo, 11:00 on Plaza de Olavide. The vegetarian-friendly carte and a cortado.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Honest Greens, 14:30 in Salamanca. The build-your-own vegetarian bowl and a fresh-press juice.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at Angelita from 19:30 for natural-wine pours. Dinner at Distrito Vegano, 21:30, for the vegan paella.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: La Latina vegan brunch and Viva Burger dinner

    Morning
    Brunch at Federal Cafe, 10:30 on Plaza Comendadoras. Smashed avocado, poached eggs and a flat white.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at El Vergel, 14:00 in Lavapies. The vegetarian set lunch with house-pressed juice.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at La Fisna from 19:00 for natural-wine pours. Dinner at Viva Burger, 21:00, for the vegan Mayflower burger.

  3. Day 3: Day 3: Conde Duque coffee, Lavapies lunch, vegan tasting

    Morning
    Coffee at Mision Cafe, 09:30 in Conde Duque. The sourdough toast brunch and a flat white.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at El Jardin de los Milagros, 14:00 in Malasana. The vegetarian set lunch in the back garden.
    Evening
    Cocktails at Macera Taller Bar from 20:00 for house-infused spirits. Dinner at Mad Mad Vegan Lavapies, 21:30, for the seitan burger and BBQ jackfruit.

Madrid coffee and churros crawl ★ 4.5

Coffee and pastry lover, one day1 day

A single-day Madrid walk threading the city's historic chocolaterias for churros with chocolate alongside the Conde Duque specialty coffee anchors.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: morning Chocolateria San Gines, Conde Duque cafe, evening dinner

    Morning
    Open at Chocolateria San Gines at 09:00 for churros con chocolate, the canonical Madrid breakfast. Walk to La Mallorquina on Puerta del Sol for a napolitana.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Casa Labra for cod croquetas. Coffee at Mision Cafe in Conde Duque.
    Evening
    Aperitif at Sala de Despiece. Dinner at Sacha on Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, the off-menu Madrid bistro with Asturian-Madrid plates.

Madrid on a budget: tapas and menu del dia under 30 EUR a day ★ 4.3

Budget traveller, two days2 days

A weekend of Madrid classics held under 30 EUR a day across El Tigre tapas, the menu del dia at Casa Labra, Mercado de San Anton and Casa Camacho.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: tapas crawl, menu del dia lunch, late tapas

    Morning
    Breakfast at La Mallorquina on Puerta del Sol with a napolitana under 4 EUR. Walk Gran Via.
    Afternoon
    Lunch menu del dia at Casa Labra under 15 EUR with cod tapas and a vermouth.
    Evening
    El Tigre Chueca for free tapas with each drink under 6 EUR. Late dinner at Casa Toni in La Latina.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: market breakfast, cocido lunch, taberna dinner

    Morning
    Breakfast at Mercado de San Anton with multiple counter options under 8 EUR.
    Afternoon
    Lunch cocido madrileno at Malacatin for the three-volcado service under 25 EUR.
    Evening
    Dinner at Casa Camacho in Malasana with vermouth and tapas under 18 EUR. Nightcap cocktail at Macera Taller Bar.
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