Madrid – Around Town : Downtown Madrid (part 3) – Places to Eat and Drink

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Places to Eat and Drink




  1. Casa Labra

    A Madrid institution, it was here that Pablo Iglesias founded the Spanish Socialist party in 1879. Of the tapas on offer try the house speciality, soldaditos de Pavía (fried cod).

    • Calle de Tetuán 12

    • 91 532 1405

  2. Artemisa

    This
    well known vegetarian restaurant features a nettle purée among other
    imaginative dishes. Also organic wines and herbal teas. No smoking.

    • Calle de las Tres Cruces 4

    • 91 521 8721

  3. El Escarpín

    This lively Asturian tavern serves regional specialities such as bean soup (fabada) and sausages in cider (chorizo a la sidra).

    • Calle de las Hileras 17

    • 91 559 9957

  4. Fatigas del Querer

    This Andalusian tavern was built in 1920 and still has its original wall tiles. There is an excellent range of tapas on offer, including hearty raciones, Iberian ham, seafood and fresh, fried fish. The atmosphere is always lively, especially at night .

    • Calle de la Cruz 17

    • 91 523 2131

  5. Robata

    The usual Japanese combinations of tempura, sushi and sashimi dishes. Minimalist décor.

    • Calle de la Reina 31

    • 91 521 8528

    • Closed Tue

  6. Museo Chicote

    It
    was Ernest Hemingway who put this Art Deco cocktail bar on the map in
    the 1930s; other famous visitors include Frank Sinatra and Orson Welles .

    • Gran Vía 12

    • 91 532 6737

    • Closed Sun, Aug




  7. Don Paco

    This Andalusian taberna serves a house speciality of rabo de toro (bull’s tail).

    • Calle de Caballero de Gracia 36

    • 91 532 6372

    • Closed Sun, Aug, public hols

  8. Cock

    This tastefully decorated late night bar is a good place to round off the evening.

    • Calle de la Reina 16

    • 91 532 2826

  9. Museo del Jamón

    Snack on delicious cold cuts, cheeses, cakes and sandwiches at this restaurant and delicatessen.

    • Carrera de San Jerónimo 6

    • 91 521 0346

  10. Café y Té

    The name “coffee and tea” says it all. Branch of a cafeteria chain in the heart of cinema land (see Cinemas and Entertainment).

    • Gran Vía 42

    • 91 521 4823

    • No credit cards

Specialist Restaurants




  1. Zara

    Just off the Gran Vía, Zara has been a rallying point for Cuban exiles since the 1960s. Caribbean standards like ropa vieja (stewed meat in tomato sauce). Excellent daiquiris.

    • Calle de las Infantas 5

    • 91 532 2074

    • Closed Sat–Sun, Aug, public hols




    Zara

  2. Al Natural

    Unpretentious restaurant serving vegetarian dishes. House speciality is spinach and mushroom tart (tarta de setas y espinacas).

    • Calle de Zorilla 11

    • 91 369 4709

    • Closed Sun D

  3. Cornucopia

    This
    American-run, art-filled restaurant gives trans-Atlantic treatment to
    Spanish fare, with special cheap menus and great desserts.

    • Calle Navas de Tolosa 9

    • 91 521 3896

  4. Edelweiss

    Next
    to the Chamber of Deputies, this restaurant is popular with visiting
    German politicians for its central European cooking. Speciality is
    knuckle of pork with puréed potatoes.

    • Calle de Jovellanos 7

    • 91 532 3383

    • Closed Sun D

  5. Errota Zar

    This family run restaurant serves grilled meat and fish dishes cooked to perfection. Try the red bream (besugo).

    • Calle de Jovellanos 3, 1st floor

    • 91 531 2564

    • Closed Sun, Aug, public hols

  6. Ferpal

    Charcuterie near Sol with the usual range of jamón Ibérico, pâtés and cheeses, as well as sandwiches. Eat at the bar or take away.

    • Calle de Arenal 7

    • No phone

    • Closed Sun

  7. El Pez Gordo

    This popular hang-out offers amenu del día as well as tapas.

    • Calle del Pez 6

    • 91 522 3208

  8. Don Pelayo

    Asturian cooking is on offer in this formal restaurant. Live music Friday and Saturday.

    • Calle de Alcalá 33

    • 91 531 0031

    • Closed Sun, 2nd & 3rd week Aug

  9. La Pecera

    For a small entrance fee you can enjoy tea in the café of the Círculo de Bellas Artes.

    • Calle Margués de Casa Riera 2

    • 91 360 5400

  10. Lhardy

    A Madrid institution, some customers never get further than the tapas counter downstairs .

    • Carrer de San Jerónimo 8

    • 91 522 2207

    • Closed Sun & public hols D, Aug