Madrid is always a good idea. Whether you’re interested in art, a cocktail bar crawl, tasting new dishes or ticking the tourist hotspots off your bucket list, the Spanish capital has something for everyone. Embark on a tour around the trendiest neighbourhoods to find the best spots for food and drinks in this charming city
Whether you’re planning to see Picasso’s famous painting Guernica in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, take a romantic boat trip in El Retiro Park or visit the iconic places where popular TV show La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) was filmed, you should take advantage of being in Madrid to taste its delicious Spanish (and non-Spanish) food and, of course, enjoy the renowned, vibrant nightlife that the city has to offer.
Since choosing where to eat and drink in a metropolis with countless options can be a daunting task, here at 50 Best we have curated a selection of the best venues in some of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods that are sure to resonate with a variety of desires and tastes. Empecemos – let’s begin…
Madrid's Gran Vía crosses important landmarks, including Plaza de España and Puerta de Alcalá
MALASAÑA
Let's start by strolling in the city centre, walking down Gran Vía, Madrid’s most popular street, known as ‘Spanish Broadway’. Before you know it, you'll find yourself in the eclectic Malasaña neighbourhood, the perfect place for a first gastronomic stop.
La Tasquita de Enfrente
latasquitadeenfrente.com
@tasquita
This family restaurant has more than 50 years of history. Serafín ‘Gaona’ López founded La Tasquita in 1972 and, after 30 years of providing traditional food to the community, passed the torch to his son, Juan José López, in 2002. The younger López joined forces with head chef Nacho Trujillo to create a fresher menu, adding a modern twist to classic dishes, with seasonality and respect for the produce always at the forefront.
The 16-seat restaurant offers two tasting menus: one based on simple recipes with no more than three ingredients, and one for those looking to experience something new, featuring López's most irreverent creations. Juicy dishes such as Sanlúcar prawn salpicón (a preparation consisting of diced or minced ingredients mixed with a sour sauce), beef sirloin meatballs, the classic callos Gaona their own version of callos madrileños, (the city’s traditional beef tripe stew), as well as a delicious Jerusalem artichoke cream with truffle, can all be tasted at this institution of flavour.
1862 Dry Bar
@drybar
Taking its name from the year when the first cocktail book was published, 1862 Dry Bar has an intimate atmosphere created by vintage decoration, brick walls and dim lighting, making guests travel back in time as soon as they step in. The old-school decor is the ideal match for the curated menu of classic cocktails, which are served in short glasses with a generous amount of alcohol. The expert team, led by Alberto Martínez, is always happy to help customers choose from the list of perfectly mixed concoctions, including Gimlets and Tom Collins, as well as their signature drinks, such as Old Money and Sherry Wood.
CHUECA
A 10-minute walk from the previous stop is enough to reach Chueca, a vibrant LGBTQ+-friendly area, packed with tapas bars, restaurants and glittering nightlife. Here you will also find popular markets like San Antón and Plaza Dos de Mayo, and several cultural spots including the Museum of Romanticism and the Museum of the History of Madrid.
DSTAge
dstageconcept.com
An acronym for Days to Smell, Taste, Amaze, Grow & Enjoy, the name of this restaurant could also be a promise of what guests will experience. Located in an industrial loft, DSTAge was founded by Basque chef Diego Guerrero in 2015 with the mission of making haute cuisine less fussy and more accessible. The unpretentious and industrial decor sets the perfect atmosphere to focus on what matters the most: the food. The set menu features 15 to 18 courses full of colour, creativity and flavour that will play with people’s senses in the best way possible.
Angelita
madrid-angelita.es
@madridangelita
Opened in 2017 by brothers David and Mario Villalón, respectively sommelier and mixologist, this is a gastro cocktail bar focused on creativity and sustainability. The venue is made up of two parts: a wine bar on the street level and a hidden basement cocktail lounge. The bar’s pantry counts with a personal collection of spirits and more than 500 different wine labels. It also provides a sustainable and healthy cocktail experience prepared with local ingredients, no artificial sugars and lower ABV options.
EL BARRIO DE LAS LETRAS
It only takes a 15-minute walk from Chueca to step into El Barrio de las Letras (The Literary Quarter), where famous writers Miguel de Cervantes and Lope de Vega used to live. It is a must to pay special attention to the floor while walking through these streets, where you’ll find quotes from Spanish masters of literature.
Paco Roncero Restaurante
pacoroncerorestaurante.com
@pacoroncerorestaurante
Located on the top floor of the Casino de Madrid, this restaurant was opened in the late 1990s as La Terraza del Casino and changed its name in 2000 when local chef Paco Roncero took the reins. The large space with high ceilings, blue pillars and modern decor gives a hint of the work going on in the kitchen.
The 24-course tasting menu is the result of combining different cuisines from around the world with Spanish culture, leading to innovative and mouthwatering dishes. A loaf of bread that finishes fermenting at the table, salmon marinated in miso, pumpkin flowers and chocolates in the shape of checkers are just some of the delightful bites included in the experience.
Salmon Guru
salmonguru.es
@salmonguru
Opened in 2017 by Diego Cabrera and recently refurbished in 2023, Salmon Guru won spot No.16 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier. Divided into three sections, this venue has drinks to satisfy the most specific tastes. The first space is a 1960s speakeasy, the second is a manga room (advance booking required) and the third takes inspiration from Asia’s night markets. The original cocktail menu has something for every palate too, covering fruity, sour, refreshing, bittersweet and strong options, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
The food menu is inspired by Madrid’s multiculturality and includes delicious nibbles such as lobster roll on brioche bread with lime kale and wasabi, main courses like tataki of smoked picaña (rump cap) with umami soybean oil, and colourful and tasty desserts such as crispy meringue filled with lychee cream, raspberry and coconut ice cream.
LAVAPIES
The dynamic Lavapies is spread out over steep medieval streets and is one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in Madrid. The area is a cultural hub where edgy art shows and events are hosted in famous venues such as La Tabacalera and La Casa Encendida.
La Tuerta Funky Castizo
latuertafunkycastizo.com
@latuertafunkycastizo
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This project started in 2019 with a mission to push the boundaries of food and cocktails. Victor Pinacho’s culinary skills and passion for traditional Spanish food find the perfect match in the avant-garde mixology techniques of Eme Otero. The result is a unique and ever-changing menu where the impossible could happen. The food menu includes a fresh perspective on classic Spanish dishes, while the drinks list replaces fruits and uses only leaves instead.
Savas Bar
@savasbarmad
Savas Bar, an unpretentious venue with equal parts modest and flavoursome drinks, was founded in 2019 by a Lithuanian couple. The small bar’s relaxed environment extends to the humble façade, with the front door framed between vintage wooden walls. The menu is heavily focused on drinks that never go out of fashion, such as Negronis, Margaritas, Caipirinha and Bloody Marys, but there are also original creations such as the Milk and Honey, their own version of Whisky Sour.
MADRID CENTRE
No trip to Madrid is complete without a walk around Plaza del Sol, a photo next to El Oso y el Madroño and a souvenir bought in Plaza Mayor. Similarly, your culinary tour cannot be over without a final stop in one of the Spanish capital’s oldest and most special restaurants.
El Mesón del Champiñón
mesondelchampinon.com
@mesonchampinonmadrid
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Located a stone's throw from Plaza Mayor is this very typical, but also one-of-a-kind Madrid-style tapas bar. As the name suggests in Spanish, everything revolves around mushrooms, from the food to the decoration. Opened in 1964 with the mission of ‘making people have a great time and eat well’, the venue is still achieving the goal. The genuinely friendly squad will serve you the most delicious mushrooms you have ever eaten and will encourage you to sing a song or two on the karaoke machine, while topping up your glass with more cava. As they say, if you’ve been to Madrid but haven’t visited El Mesón del Champiñón, have you really been to Madrid?
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