The best Spanish restaurants Madrid

Opened in 1934, Bar Manolo is the oldest bar in the neighbourhood and it is seen! The old atmosphere is at the meeting; It is a real district bar, which turns into a restaurant at midday, with a non-popular menu at 16 €.

This restaurant, which was Hemingway's favourite, has been in the neighbourhood since 1941 and has always had a good reputation. The house specialty? The bull tail. Because this is a bullfighting establishment, as the local customers say. Madrilenians who are, moreover, once is not customary, often much more numerous at lunchtime. In terms of decoration, between the warm furniture, the wood, the bullfighting posters that cover the walls and the checkered tablecloths, it feels like granny's house.

For more than twenty years, Casa Carola has offered its visitors a unique menu with a glass of wine or a light aperitif, the classic cocido madrileño, a dessert and a coffee. On the menu, we find a modern and creative cuisine and some beautiful and well-crafted proposals. In a very pleasant traditional setting, with checkered tablecloths, large wooden chairs, earthenware and old black and white photos, this is an authentic table that deserves a stop, a little away from the main tourist routes of the Spanish capital.

Madrid is not particularly famous for its paellas, but if you want to eat a good and rather hearty one and there are two of you, don't hesitate to choose this restaurant with its traditional decoration and very good press. And for good reason! Whether seafood, vegetables or meat, paellas respect all the traditions of Valencia and delight the locals who have been coming here for decades. Hidden in a small street behind Gran Vía, this is a good way to start a long Madrid evening.

Counsel: come to many to taste as many dishes as possible!

The list is long: soups, salads, a variety of meat and fish (including house specialty: la truchana, a trout with tomato and ham). By aperitif, the assortment of sofas (lippia of sofas) makes it possible to taste everything.

La Posada is one of the best gastronomic restaurants in the city. It is also advisable to dress accordingly. Traditional Madrid cuisine to be tasted in a historic place: the building dates from 1642. At the sea bass, you can find tapas and raciones that are as delicious as they are hearty, with snails, shrimps, mackerel in vinegar, and torreznillos (small pieces of fried pork skin), among others. On the second floor, a mansard-roofed room with exposed beams, warm atmosphere... On the other hand, the bill is rising fast.

La Traviata is a Italian-Italian restaurant near the Teatro Real and the Royal palace. If you visit the Los Austrias district in the morning, enjoy breakfast! You can also enjoy tapas or excellent steak in the top, tiled and white room, or dine in the basement, more distinguished but still lively. On the menu: salads, fish, meat, and of course a wide choice of pasta and pizzas.

Located on the outskirts of the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium and the financial district, the Petit Comité is the perfect option if you're visiting Madrid's stadium or going to see a match. Value for money here is excellent. The tasting menu comprises a starter, four courses and a dessert. We particularly recommend the steak tartare, which you can enjoy outside on the lovely, sheltered terrace. On match nights, the screens are out and the atmosphere changes completely!

La Taberna Pedraza is a restaurant run by Carmen and Santiago. Together, they seek to promote Spain's culinary heritage. But he's in the dining room, and she's in the kitchen. And her cooking is succulent. Authentic gastronomy, fresh local produce, her dishes are an immersion in Spanish culinary culture. The "cocido de Carmen" is a reference here, and has made the reputation of the address. The pleasant atmosphere is a blend of rustic and modern, with exposed brickwork, muted lighting and wooden chairs.

Just a stone's throw from the famous Prado Museum is the Café Murillo, named after one of Spain's best-known painters, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The café, whose building dates back to 1927, serves typical Mediterranean bistro fare, including traditional tapas and light dishes from the grill. Guests can also choose from a selection of Spanish wines, as well as homemade breads and cakes. A treat and a very pleasant stop-off!

In the mythical Salamanca district, Velazquez 17 offers a warm, Parisian-style setting with industrial elements and bright colors reflected in the natural light of its large bay windows. Upstairs, a mezzanine can accommodate groups or offer more privacy for a dinner for two. The kitchen adapts to the time of day and night. Here, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast, eggs Benedict or waffles at brunch, and end the day in style with a gin and tonic.

Casa Mortero, which opened its doors in 2021, offers a subtle return to tradition. And the success is there in this simple and design space that offers a menu that is certainly inspired by the great classics, but adds a touch of modernity and originality in each of its dishes. For starters, we liked the marinated mussels and the typical Salamanca torrezno and potatoes. Then we had to choose between different stews, meats and grilled fish before finishing on a sweet touch with a caramelized cheesecake. A delightful treat!