It is a fact that Spanish cuisine is one of the best styles of cooking across the globe. The Mediterranean diet is touted as the healthiest in the world, and the climate and natural resources in this country are able to provide us with some of the freshest and richest sources of food on the planet. And, let’s not forget Spain’s talented chefs, who transform all the great produce found here into some of the most creative, imaginative and vanguard dishes you can find on any menu. This is why Spain has some of the most highly regarded restaurants in the world too.
With an abundance of coastline surrounding the peninsula and islands, many visitors believe that the best cuisine is prepared in restaurants along the coast, but those located in the interior will beg to differ. After my recent short visit to Madrid and Cuenca, I would probably have to agree with them. The food that I experienced was amazing, and extremely good value for money.
And in Madrid you can eat very well, like a king, in fact. Thousands of visitors and residents would lay testament to that. However, as the majority of visitors to the city will more than likely stick to the well-known tourist areas, they will undoubtedly miss out on a new experience and overlook the more traditional, typical and classic eateries, which generally just tend to attract the locals. These are the places you need to look out for, as they often produce the simplest, yet tastiest food.
Nevertheless, there are restaurants and establishments of all types in Madrid, and below are 10 of the restaurants that a visitor to Madrid really should try out at least once.
Casa Lucio
This is probably the most famous restaurant in Madrid and has seen the likes of personalities such as Bill Clinton, Pierce Brosnan and Will Smith pass through its doors. The owner of Casa Lucio, Lucio Blázquez was born in Ávila but was brought to Madrid in 1933 at the age of 12 by his father to work in the Mesón del Segoviano. After many years of attracting customers and building up a trade, the old owner of the restaurant sold it to Lucio, who then renamed the establishment Casa Lucio in 1978. His clients from back when he started had continued to frequent the restaurant throughout their lives, and many, who were young at the time, grew up to be famous personalities in Madrid and throughout the whole of Spain. The cuisine is good, old-fashioned, traditional, hearty Spanish cooking with plenty of slow-cooked meat, stews, pulses, beans and much more. It is, however, known for its delicious huevos estrellados (fried eggs), a recipe given to him by his grandmother, which he still follows, and is the most ordered dish by both tourists and madrileños alike. For directions and opening times, visit this page: http://www.casalucio.es/es/co/horario-e-informacion.html
Casa Lhardy
This is an even older establishment that is located very close to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. Since 1839 it has been presenting its customers with a selection of the best traditional home cooked food to originate from the region. However, don’t let this fool you, as Casa Lhardy is upmarket, with prices to match. Despite the fact that there are croquettes, tripe and stew on the menu, a three-course meal will set you back somewhere in the region of 50 – 75 euro. There are numerous more elegant dishes to choose from too, elaborated with fantastic produce such as duck, partridge, lobster, oyster mushrooms, deer, salt-cod and smoked salmon.
For more details, visit: lhardy.com.
Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas
This centrally located restaurant, close to the Plaza Mayor, is not only renowned for the legendary character associated with it, but also for its excellent service and fantastic food. The restaurant is actually situated under the Arco de Cuchilleros (Cutlers Arch), the most famous of the nine arched porticos that lead onto the main square. In days gone by, this was the site of some caves, which is where infamous bandit Luis Candelas used to escape and hide after he had robbed an unsuspecting rich man travelling in or out of the city around the 1800s. And, the restaurant located at the site of the bandit’s old hiding place has made the most of the tale, as guests will be served by staff dressed up as Candelas himself in clothes typical of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the food is also of merit, and amongst the culinary delights on offer are a number of specialities which include roasted suckling pig, roasted lamb cooked in an Arab-style stone oven, oven-roasted hake, tripe, or a traditional cocido madrileño (Madrid-style stew).
For further details of the history of the restaurant and for opening hours, please visit: lascuevasdeluiscandelas.com.
Javier Martín – Croquetas & Café
While there are many options available in this famous restaurant, Javier Martín is renowned for its croquettes, which you can even buy to take away and eat at home. Of course they serve the traditional varieties such as cod, Serrano ham and chicken, but, believe it or not, there are 32 different flavours in total, which include an array of savoury, sweet and fruity versions. Some of these include spinach with cheese, black pudding and almond, white chocolate, rice pudding and melon and Serrano ham. This restaurant, which has been running since 1999, is located in the lively La Latina district right in the heart of the city centre.
For more information, visit: javiermartincroquetas.com.
La Posada del León de Oro
Also located in the traditional district of La Latina is the hotel and gastro pub La Posada del León de Oro. This district is one of the areas of the city to have stayed true to its roots and traditions, which is why so many of Madrid’s traditional-style restaurants are found there. It is well-known for its great eating establishments, particularly for those serving tapas and drinks. La Posada del León is not only recognized for its delicious food, but also for the quality of the wine on offer – around 300 different varieties, including many excellent denomination of origin examples from the region of Madrid itself. This restaurant was founded more than a century ago and over the years has become one of the city’s most-loved establishments.
For further details, visit: posadadelleondeoro.com.
Casa Labra
Now, I had the pleasure of visiting this busy restaurant during a recent visit to Madrid just two weeks’ ago. If it weren’t for my guides, who used to live in the capital, I’m certain I would never have found out about it. This place was heaving, yet there wasn’t a single foreigner in sight. This is the place where all the locals go, and there are two things on the menu that most Madrileños come here for – their famous pinchos of cod in batter and their cod croquettes, which must be accompanied by either a caña or a vermú. Casa Labra has been in existence since 1860 and has been serving these two dishes since the beginning. While I was somewhat dismayed at the sight of the long queue to order upon our arrival, there was no need to worry as service was extremely rapid and efficient.
For more details, visit: casalabra.es.
Restaurante Botín
I also came across this restaurant located in the La Latina district, close to the Plaza Mayor, during my recent visit, but unfortunately didn’t have the pleasure of entering or having anything to eat or drink there. This is the oldest restaurant in the world and even has a plaque hanging up on the wall outside to prove its status from the Guinness Book of Records. Restaurante Botín was founded in 1725 and was a popular haunt frequented by many illustrious characters including Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote and Benito Pérez Galdós. It has carried on with the much-loved traditional style of Spanish cooking and is famous for such dishes including roast suckling pig and roast lamb, both cooked in the old Castilian method using a wood stove.
For more details, visit: botin.es.
Casa Mingo
Casa Mingo is one of the oldest and most famous cider bars of the capital. It was founded in 1888 and continues to be decorated in its original style. It is extremely spacious and possesses a large outside terrace as well. It attracts a huge number of tourists, not only because it offers some of the best cider in Madrid, which is brought directly from Villaviciosa in Asturias, but also because of its delicious roast chicken dish. Other highlights include its chorizo and Cabrales cheese. Although Casa Mingo is not located in the city centre, it’s well worth a visit. Be warned that prices on the terrace are considerably higher than at the bar.
For more info, visit: casamingo.es.
Café Gijón
Another establishment that charges its clients ‘tourist prices’, yet it is one of the most iconic cafés of the capital. Located right in the heart of the city centre, on the Paseo de Recoletos, this place, founded in 1888, is known for its former ‘literary reunions’, to which some of the capital’s most brilliant intellectuals and artists used to frequent during Franco’s regime. Despite the fact that it is called a café, its menu is pretty outstanding, albeit the prices are very good value for money. According to many, Café Gijón serves the best tripe (callos), and the sea bass and hake also come highly recommended.
For more information on Café Gijón, please go to: cafegijon.com.
Café Central
Now this place attracts somewhat of a select crowd, as with over 30 years of experience, it has been touted as one of the best places to go to listen to jazz across Europe. Café Central holds daily concerts, but also offers an eclectic menu at the hands of Basque chef, Micky. Prestigious music magazine WIRE listed Madrid’s Café Central as the eighth best European jazz club, a ranking not to be sniffed at. It is open for brunch and boasts a menu of affordable healthy and tasty food, whether you want to fill a gap, share or enjoy a great meal all to yourself.
For more details, visit: cafecentralmadrid.com.
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