The restaurants worth a reservation in Madrid, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Madrid. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Sobrino de Botin near Plaza Mayor in Madrid is the Guinness-certified oldest restaurant in the world, in business since 1725. Located in Centro.
OrderThe cochinillo asado roasted in the 1725 wood oven, then sopa de ajo with poached egg.
TipBook the cave dining room downstairs three weeks ahead. Lunch is calmer than dinner; the 14:00 service is the working-day local hour.
Casa Lucio on Cava Baja in Madrid's La Latina has cooked the huevos rotos (broken eggs over fried potatoes) since 1974. Kitchen leans madrileno taberna.
OrderThe huevos rotos on a bed of fried potatoes, then a half-portion of the solomillo or the cocido.
TipBook ten days ahead by phone; Casa Lucio rarely takes online reservations. Ask for the downstairs dining room when you book.
Lhardy on Carrera de San Jeronimo in Madrid has run the wood-panelled dining rooms above its Parisian-style charcuterie counter since 1839, serving.
OrderThe three-volcado cocido madrileno on a Tuesday or Thursday.
TipThe downstairs counter pours consome from the silver urn for 4 euros standing up; the cocido is upstairs by reservation.
Casa Ciriaco on Calle Mayor in Madrid has served the gallina en pepitoria (hen in almond and saffron sauce) since 1929, three steps from where Alfonso XIII.
OrderThe gallina en pepitoria with rice and the callos a la madrilena. Half-bottle of house Valdepenas.
TipClosed Wednesdays. The Tuesday and Thursday cocido is the surest order; the dining room is full of regulars by 14:30.
Taberna La Bola near the Teatro Real in Madrid has cooked the cocido madrileno in individual clay pots over charcoal since 1870. Located in Centro.
OrderThe cocido madrileno served the three traditional volcados.
TipCocido served at lunch only; book three days ahead for weekday lunch. Cash strongly preferred. No card terminal until late 2024.
Casa Mono in Madrid's Arguelles district is the modern taberna by chef Ramiro Vazquez, with a market-led carte of croquetas, tartares and slow-braised.
OrderThe croquetas de jamon and the carrillera estofada with potato puree. A glass of Lopez de Heredia rosado.
TipBook a week ahead for Saturday lunch; the dining room is small. Lunch menu del dia runs 22 euros weekdays.
Sala de Despiece in Madrid's Chamberi runs the room like a butcher's counter: stainless steel benches, white tiles and the meat carved in front of you.
OrderThe lomo en manteca (pork loin in lard) and the bone marrow roasted with capers. Glass of Mencia by the glass.
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 13:30 for lunch or 20:30 for dinner. The bar stools are the seats locals want.
Sacha in Madrid's Chamartin is the bistro by Sacha Hormaechea, whose lazy-tortilla and lasana de boletus are reference dishes for half the country's modern.
OrderThe tortilla vaga (lazy tortilla, undercooked and topped with caviar) and the lasana de boletus.
TipBook three weeks ahead; tables of two are easier than four. The dining room is intimate, the chef circulates between courses.
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.
OrderThe Thursday cocido madrileno, the croquetas de jamon, and a vermut de grifo before lunch.
TipCocido on Thursdays only. Book a week ahead. The terrace on Calle Libertad seats eight; the inside dining room is wood-panelled.
El Sur in Madrid's Lavapies has cooked the steak tartare table-side, the croquetas and the pulpo a la gallega since the 1980s. Priced at €€.
OrderThe steak tartare prepared on the trolley and the pulpo a la gallega. A bottle of Mencia.
TipBook a week ahead for weekend dinners; tables of four are easier than two. Lunch menu del dia runs 18 euros weekdays.
Malacatin off Plaza de la Cebada in Madrid's La Latina has cooked the cocido madrileno in clay pots since 1895. Kitchen leans cocido madrileno specialist.
OrderThe cocido madrileno on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday lunch. A jug of Vino de Pitarra at room temperature.
TipCocido served at lunch only, three days a week. Book five days ahead; cash strongly preferred at the bar.
Casa Mingo on Paseo de la Florida in Madrid is the Asturian sidreria since 1888, serving roast chicken and natural cider poured from height.
OrderA whole roast chicken (12 euros) and a bottle of sidra natural poured from arm's length.
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 13:30 or after 22:00 to skip the queue. Pollo and a bottle of sidra for 18 euros per person.
Posada de la Villa on Cava Baja in Madrid's La Latina has roasted Castilian cordero in a wood-fired oven since 1642, with the cocido madrileno and callos.
OrderThe cordero asado roasted in the wood oven and the cocido madrileno (three vuelcos).
TipBook a week ahead for weekend lunch. Cordero orders must be placed when reserving; the lamb is roasted to order.
Viavelez near Nuevos Ministerios in Madrid is the modern Asturian founded by chef Paco Ron, now led by Enrique Limon since 2023, with a refined take.
OrderThe fabada asturiana with compango and the arroz cremoso de bogavante. A bottle of Albarino from Rias Baixas.
TipBook a fortnight ahead for weekend dinner. The tasting menu runs 65 euros weekdays; carte is 50 to 70 euros per head.
Los Galayos in Plaza Mayor in Madrid has cooked the Castilian roast lamb and the migas pastoriles since 1894, with a terrace under the arcades and wood-fired.
OrderThe cordero asado from the wood oven (1/4 lamb portion) and the migas pastoriles with grapes.
TipBook the inside dining room for cordero; the terrace is fine for tapas but the lamb needs the wood oven downstairs.
Casa Revuelta off Plaza Mayor in Madrid has fried the bacalao rebozado (battered cod) to standing-room counters since 1924. Located in Centro.
OrderBacalao rebozado at the counter (5 euros per piece) with a cana. Add the callos in winter.
TipWalk-in only; the bar fills up after 13:00. Order at the counter; cash is the default though card now accepted.
Jurucha on Calle Ayala in Madrid's Barrio de Salamanca has run the same-family barra of more than 60 Donostiarra-style pinchos since 1962, with the gildas.
OrderA round of gildas, the tortilla de patata, and whichever fish canape the bar shows today. A cana of Mahou.
TipStand at the barra; sit-down tables miss the point. Closed Sundays and holidays. Cash and card accepted; pinchos charged per piece.
El Pescador on Ortega y Gasset in Madrid's Salamanca has sourced Galician seafood from Pescaderias Coruñesas since 1975, with the live-tank centollo.
OrderA centollo (spider crab) from the live tank and the pulpo a la gallega. A glass of Albarino from Rias Baixas.
TipBook five days ahead for weekend dinner. The bar opens 12:30 onward and is the easier door at lunch; the dining room is closed Sundays.
Casa Paco off Plaza Puerta Cerrada in Madrid's La Latina is the 1933 asador that pioneered the cast-iron skillet chuleton service: meat is sealed.
OrderThe chuleton de ternera for two (450g per person, 28 euros per head) and the callos in winter.
TipWalk-in only at lunch; reservation taken for dinner. The downstairs dining room is the wood-panelled original.
Casa Dani inside Mercado de la Paz in Madrid's Salamanca has cooked the tortilla de patatas (sliced thick, runny in the centre) for 40 years.
OrderThe pincho de tortilla de patatas (2 euros) and the menu del dia (13 euros weekdays).
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 13:30 or expect a queue. Cash preferred at the bar; card accepted in the dining room.
La Falda de Chamberi took over the historic Sylkar space in Madrid in 2024 and now bakes the official 2025 national-champion tortilla de patatas of Spain.
OrderTortilla de patatas (12 eggs and 3 extra yolks, no onion) cooked to a runny middle.
TipReservations are wise after the 2025 championship win; lunch service from 13:30 is calmer than the dinner sitting.
Taberna Antonio Sanchez on Calle Meson de Paredes in Madrid's Lavapies has run since 1830, with bull-fighting paintings on the wall, the rabo de toro.
OrderThe rabo de toro with patatas and the callos a la madrilena. A jug of Vino de Pitarra to share.
TipClosed Sunday evenings and Mondays. Book three days ahead for the dining room; the bar takes walk-ins.
Casa Labra near Puerta del Sol in Madrid has fried the bacalao rebozado in iron pans since 1860; the PSOE was founded upstairs in 1879. Located in Centro.
OrderA pincho of bacalao rebozado (1.30 euros) and a tajada de bacalao (boiled and seasoned salt cod) with a cana.
TipWalk-in only at the bar; the inside dining room takes reservations for lunch. Cash strongly preferred.
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...