Alright, as I continue to try to catch up on all the review drafts I wrote while on vacation, at this point a whole 5 months ago... I know this one was exactly 5 months ago, because we touched down in Madrid on New Years Day, and this was the first place we ate (sounds like they've been here for aeons, so I doubt they've changed significantly since January.) My plan when we landed had been to just go down the list I'd made before we left of the best quick food places near our hotel, and eat at the first one that *was* open on New Years. I was worried there wouldn't be any and we'd be eating snacks from a convenience store, but nope! This place was indeed open. Open, and an absolute *madhouse*. I'm not sure if it was just because it was New Years, they were open, and much of the street wasn't, or if they're always this crazy - but it was a decent wait to order, to the point that it wasn't *entirely* clear whether we were even waiting correctly to order, since the line had kind of turned into a blob. Ordering and picking up our food was slightly nerve-wracking with how crowded it was, and there didn't really appear to be anywhere inside to sit, so we figured we'd sit outside at the tables... that we got immediately yelled at for sitting at, because it turns out all the tables right outside their entrance, actually belongs to their next door neighbor. So if I were ever back in Madrid, I *would* totally consider getting food here again, but I'd just probably plan on bringing it back to the hotel, vs what we ended up doing, finding the closest nearby flat non-private surface and eating it standing up in an alley. It definitely felt like a cool historic building inside, though, would've loved to dine in, if it hadn't been wall-to-wall packed, which it sounds like they might just always be. Food was great, though. We shared (this was plenty of food): An order of the cider-braised sausages - wonderful. Bonus, we learned from personal experience, you definitely want to get an order of these sausages, as not only are the sausages themselves delicious, the resulting au jus was also great for dipping the other items into.) An order of the ham and cheese croquettes - pretty tasty, though they did fall apart. Even tastier dipped in sausage juice, though then they *really* fell apart. Worth it though. Didn't look like you got a lot per order, but looks are deceiving - they were *rich*. An order of their famous mushrooms - I was a bit surprised, given the name literally means "the mushroom bar", that they only had a single mushroom dish, though given the sheer volume of that one item they clearly sell nightly, I can see why. Anyway, as a mushroom fan... they were certainly tasty mushrooms, perfectly cooked, but in my opinion, just a bit oversalted. Also had a glass of sangria for 2.50 euro - it is extremely good sangria, though the glass for 2.50 was pretty small. They also sell it for a better price by the larger container, but sadly, while I absolutely loved the European spirit of trusting people to be responsible after leaving with a to-go alcoholic beverage... they don't sell the *larger* sized sangria if you aren't dining in. Was too bad, as I absolutely would have loved twice as much of that sangria, but it clearly wasn't worth standing in a long ordering line a second time for it. read more

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If you're looking for delicious mushrooms look no further! Beautiful old restaurant. Great service! read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Mushroom lovers paradise!! We ordered their mushrooms stuffed chorizo along with their wine and lemon soda ( gonna try this combination at home) and it did not disappoint. The mushrooms were juicy and the chorizo with herbs added amazing flavors to the already delish mushrooms. This place can get quite packed but since we stopped by during a food tour, we could squeeze in and enjoy their food and drink. Service is quick and you can see 10-12 trays of mushrooms stacked up ready to be cooked any minute cos thats how soon they get sold. Highly recommend this spot when in Madrid. read more

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This is an ancient and renowned institution. It's known for its mushrooms which are excellent. Nice stop for a drink and some mushrooms It will be packed. Service was fine, but people are extremely busy. Place is ancient, cool and tiny inside. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Entrance - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Buena comida en un lugar histórico, muy cerca del mercado san Miguel. El servicio bueno y os presentación muy madrileña. read more

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Food was good, great place for a quick bite (tapas) and go to the next. The service was ok and friendly. Very noise and crowded, but keep the spirit off the old time. Isn't attractive to the eyes but the food let you forget about it. Place that you need to be at least one time if you are in Madrid. read more

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Close to the Plaza de Mayor in Madrid you will find this traditional tapas bar called El Meson del Champinon. Here you will find there most iconic and main menu item white button mushrooms stuffed with chorizos and grilled with olive oil. I am not a mushroom fan but these plump tender morsels were delicious. The ambiance was also really cool with classic Spanish tavern feel. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - The mushrooms!! - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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We had such a delightful experience here! Although they kind of stuck our large group downstairs, it turned out to be the most perfect and charming little nook, and it was probably less noisy than if we had sat upstairs in the thick of things. The tables were small, and the stools were backless, but it made for a fun experience for our group of six. The menu is all shareable plates, and they have a tablet with the menu in various languages, definitely catered to tourists from all over. That being said, we enjoyed ALL the food we tried and thought the meal was very affordable for the quality. We had sangria, cheese and meat platter, olives, padron peppers, chorizo in cider, and of course the unbelievably wonderful mushrooms. The great thing is that we could just order more food as needed, and we definitely got more of the mushrooms plus more cheese as we went along. Again, the table was VERY small for all of us and all the food and drinks (we put our basket of bread on a nearby table for a while before anyone was seated there) but it genuinely made for a funny and fun experience, so just make the most of it and don't fret over the logistics too much. Note that they do not take reservations. read more

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The best mushrooms we've ever had! We came here as part of a food tour and the standout was the mushrooms! The sangria was also some of the best I had in Spain. Downstairs is more seating and very antique looking. Take a peek! We loved the mushrooms so much we returned for dinner the next day! The steak was also tasty. Ordered on the QR code and it was easy. There was also a keyboard player that night. He had the whole room singing! read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Loved the mushrooms here! We walked by El Meson on the way back to our airbnb from the Mercado de San Miguel. I had heard about this place on social media, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, we were stuffed from the market, so we got an order of the mushrooms and fried padron peppers to go for a light snack later. Both were 7.90€. We didn't check out the rest of the restaurant, since we just stood next to the entrance waiting for our order. It was fun watching them cook the mushrooms! I didn't try the peppers, but my friend said they were pretty standard. I loved the mushrooms though! Each bite was super juicy. Would highly recommend the mushrooms here for a snack when you're in Madrid. read more

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Hungry so we each had a bocadillo (sandwich). I enjoyed the manchego cheese and the man had the chorizo. The bread was delicious. Service was pleasant and efficient. The restaurant was empty when we entered and quickly filled up so it became incredibly loud very fast. read more

When in Madrid, must visit EL MESON DEL CHAMPIÑON near Plaza Mayor!!! We had such a blast with our tour group. The BEST tapas we've enjoyed so far during our stay in Spain. They specialize in mushrooms which are to die for!!! The vibe was cozy yet vibrant while sitting in the cave-like dining area. This was the Spain experience I never knew I needed! ;-) The electric keyboardist played a lot of American music, so after a few sangrias we got a little more rowdy with singing and a few of us dancing. So much funnnnnn!!! The Sangria's were served in a unique wooden pitcher, which I really wanted to take home with me, but took many photos instead! ;-) Other tapas we devoured were the Jamon, green peppers, and croquettes. Service was rapido y fantastico!! read more

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Highly recommend this place. I just happened to walk by. It's close to the Mercado San Miguel where there are some really beautiful buildings. I'm surprised it was open in the afternoon because a lot of places aren't. Looked like there were k Lu tourists there. They Ah d you a tablet with your choice of language. You can get their famous mushrooms without the chorizo. The service was fast. They put some bread on your table that you have to pay for, but you can say you don't want it. The mushrooms and peppers were excellent! Highly recommend read more

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This was the fourth stop on our Tapas tour. Smaller spot where you walk into the smaller Bar area with the dining area in the back. They were busy and the atmosphere was loud and vibrant. Our tasting was for their specialty-Mushrooms filled with Chorizo. First time having this Tapa-delicious. Paired it with a Tinto de Verano-Wine with lemon soda (Cantera) and ice. A summer drink so we had to pretend it was warmer outside. Very sweet and one to try. Fun to watch them hustling making the Mushroom Tapa and the cocktails while sitting at the Bar. Another spot that is worth another visit! read more

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Coming back to this place on 03.01.24 after so many years - it's easy to see why it has remained so popular. The service, the entertainment, the food - all of it so alive and proud to be Madrileño. The mushrooms here are out of this world, and they had better be if they are the restaurant's namesake. The padrón peppers are also cooked and seasoned to perfection- not very spicy but full of flavor. Although wine is a solid choice when dining in Spain, these dishes also wash down nicely with a very cold beer. Highly recommend. We definitely are coming back to this charming and historic establishment before our trip is done. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Champiñones - mushrooms, and their claim to fame - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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I am so glad I took the advice of a friend to visit this establishment. I wish I had a guide to tell me the history because I could only guess by the photos they have posted. I don't know how old the photos are, but it looks almost exactly the same as it does now! Two things that you must try! Tinto verano & stuffed mushroom. The tinto verano €3 here is the best I had of the places I've tried in Madrid. The champiñon 7.90€ (mushroom) was soooo good. I'm not usually a mushroom eater (don't like it on pizza or pasta), but these were hot and stuffed and totally delicious! I tried the sangria 2.60€, but I would not get this again here. Note: They did charge us 0,5€ for pan (bread), but we didn't even touch it. Also, Yelp hours were incorrect. read more

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This place was so fun!! It's very small but thankfully people come and go quickly so we got sat quickly. I had no idea it's a famous bar, we just saw how adorable it was and figured it was worth visiting while we were in Madrid. We had a pitcher of red wine which was so yummy, their amazingly famous stuffed mushrooms and some fried white fish. Everything was perfect and our server was so sweet and adorable. Really nice time here! read more

It's so funny they put all the Asians in the same back corner of the restaurants to dine, for the an hour and half time we were there, no one but Asians were seated next to us in the very back corner in the restaurants but everywhere else are non-Asian looking customers. The mushrooms are ok, not out of the world as ppl hyped the about, Pedron peppers should not taste this spicy. And the sausage in cider tasted bad. Place is decorated cutely with mushroom on the wall read more

I recently dined at Mesón del Champiñón on Calle Cava de San Miguel, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish! Tucked just off Plaza Mayor, this charming tavern is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Spanish tapas with a unique twist. The star of the show? Their legendary stuffed mushrooms--grilled to perfection, topped with chorizo, and bursting with garlicky, lemony goodness. Each bite was a flavor explosion, and the toothpick-eating tradition made it fun and interactive. I could have eaten plates of these all night! The atmosphere is pure Madrid magic--think cozy, cave-like interiors with brick arches, warm lighting, and walls adorned with signed currency from visitors worldwide. The live pianist added a lively touch, playing everything from classic Spanish tunes to modern hits, creating a festive vibe that made the evening feel special. The staff were incredibly welcoming, offering recommendations and ensuring our sangría pitchers stayed topped up. Speaking of sangría, it's hands-down some of the best I've had in Madrid--refreshing, perfectly balanced, and served in rustic clay jarras. Beyond the mushrooms, we indulged in their homemade croquetas, which were crispy outside and creamy inside, and the pimientos de Padrón, with just the right mix of mild and spicy peppers. The jamón ibérico was also a highlight, melting in the mouth with its rich, nutty flavor. Every dish felt like a love letter to Spanish cuisine, made with high-quality ingredients and care. Yes, the place can get busy, and the space is cozy (read: small), but that's part of its charm. It's a lively spot where locals and tourists mingle, creating a buzzing energy. Prices are fair for the quality and location--our group of three spent around €45 for a feast of tapas, drinks, and dessert, which felt like a steal for such a memorable experience. If you're exploring Madrid's historic center, do yourself a favor and stop by Mesón del Champiñón. Make a reservation if you want a table, especially for dinner, as it fills up fast. This is tapas dining at its finest--authentic, flavorful, and full of heart. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to devour more of those incredible mushrooms! read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Outside dining!! - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

A friend had suggested to try Mesón del Champiñón. They've been around since 1964, specializing in mushrooms. We dropped in on a busy Wednesday evening (9:00pm) but only waited 10 minutes for a table. There's no real line as people crowd around the bar; if you want a table, walk further in and grab a server's attention. Service was subpar. There was also a musician, playing loud and cheesy music, on the keyboard. - Sidra Asturiana Mayador (3,00€) - Tinto de verano (3,00€) - a mix of red wine and lemon soda. A Spanish version of a radler. - Chorizo a la sidra (8,90€) - sausages were overcooked. Don't order. - Champiñon (7,90€) - took ages for our order to arrive. Clearly our waiter forgot. Mushrooms were nicely cooked. Not a must visit. If you do come, just order the mushrooms and go. 2.5 stars. read more

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The mushrooms and sangria were LIFE CHANGING. The live music and ambience were also spectacular - think ABBA and great throwbacks. You cannot leave Madrid without visiting this restaurant!! I brought all my friends back after my first visit. read more

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Wanted to check this place out and the experience we had there was really fun. Came here on a busy night so we had to wait a bit, but everyone was eating and drinking while waiting for their tables and it was a fun vibe. Staff is friendly. They have someone playing the piano and singing and he does such a great job! We came on a great night, where everyone in the room was drinking and singing along. It was cool to see everyone interacting together in that way. We came here for drinks and tapas. Their mushrooms tapas, definitely get more than one order of those. You'll want some bread to soak up the sauce. We also ordered a steak with shishito peppers, some fried fish, and sangria. The steak was grilled perfectly and it went really well with the shishito peppers. We ended up coming back one more time before we left Spain. read more

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This is such a cuuuuute little spot, super tiny but super mighty. The inside is decorated with old paintings and the ceiling has a much of 3D mushrooms, as you go deeper in the restaurant, you find yourself in a cave like place, the tables are wooden and very short, stools instead of chairs and a man that plays the keyboard to some pretty famous and classic tunes. They specialty are mushrooms of course but they have a variety of tapas to share and a large variety of alcoholic drinks but of course most people enjoy getting a Tinto de verano there and for what my bf said, it was perfect!. For the non-drinkers (like me) there's water, coke products and various fruit juices that are pretty tasty too, I had the peach one, super refreshing and sweet. On the table there's a tablet where you can see the menu, the large screen allows you to see pictures of the menu for easy ordering which I absolutely loved because you get an idea of what you're ordering before you do and if you don't speak Spanish, no problem because a picture is worth a thousand words and pointing at the screen is sufficient. We had the delicious mushrooms of course, and they were great, they are covered in some kind of oil & spices that give them a great taste, super flavorful and juicy, if you enjoy mushrooms, these are a must for you! We had bread of course, nothing fantastic but always a good addition. The olives were HUGE, they didn't have pits so very easy to eat, super super packed with flavor and very meaty too lol. We ordered the mixed plate of meats and cheese and that was a great choice too, super tasty. The waiters are usually very busy but they bring the food pretty quick, considering that is almost always packed in there. I only went with one more guest but I saw them accommodate larger groups, the wait for that would probably be longer but I think it's worth it, such nice and fun environment. Some people were dressy but most were casual, I opted for a denim skirt and a tank top, so no need for your fancy suit here. The price I thought was pretty much average, they take most cards and cash, and even Apple Pay so that's another plus. This place has become a frequent place when I'm in Madrid, affordable, tasty & fun!! read more

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Visited from the US and met one of the most beautiful girl I've ever seen at the Prado Museum. Asked her out for dinner and we met here for dinner first before getting drinks and ice cream. All the tapas were really good. Service was fast. They spoke English. Mushrooms definitely order this. Very lively environment. Some guy was singing or djing. I'll be back in May and I'm definitely stopping by. read more

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The Mushrooms, obviously (they're what they're known for)...but the wine, the beer, the olives, the house bread, the peppers, every single tapa on the menu...to die for! The ambiance and amazing service are simply added bonuses. A lot people may ask, "what's so special about a mushroom?" When I reference the over-used phrase, "you have to experience them to understand," I cannot stress that statement enough, because you truly do. They're simple but there's so much flavor to them and you will find yourself eating one after another until the plate they're served on is empty and clean (a mushroom stuffed with a chunk of Spanish chorizo, and if I had to guess what the other exact ingredients are: olive oil, parsley and garlic). El Meson del Champinon was the highlight of my visit while in Madrid. Sure, Madrid is one of the largest cities in the world, their museums are amazing, it's gorgeous just about everywhere you look, the flamenco shows are out of this world, but the mushroom tapa at El Meson was the highlight from Madrid that I cannot stop thinking about. I am not exaggerating when I say that I went to this tapa bar every day during my 3-day stay in Madrid and the last day I went twice. Call me crazy or over-the-top but this place is just THAT good. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed many other restaurants/tapa bars and loved many of Madrids other finest establishments, but every stop back to El Meson was worth it. While the mushrooms were my favorite, everything else I ordered off the menu was just as great as well. If you're visiting Madrid, stopping by El Meson del Champinon is an absolute must and if you aren't a fan of mushrooms, these may change your mind, if they don't, they have a lot of other amazing/delicious tapas on the menu worth trying. read more

Yum, I would definitely recommend stopping in for the mushrooms and peppers. Both were so delicious! I'd probably skip the rest since mushroom is in the restaurant name. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Mushrooms - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

THE BIG: Best mushroom tapas place in Madrid! THE BLACK AND WHITE: Small quaint spot that serves mushroom tapas. They say back then the matadors (bullfighters) would come after their slay to eat mushrooms at this place. We got a serving of the mushrooms and they did not disappoint. The mushrooms came out juicy with a little piece of iberian ham. You had to eat it with 2 toothpicks which made for a fun video. Additionally we got roasted pimento peppers and 2 wines to round out the meal. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall spent 13 euros on mushrooms, roasted pimento peppers, and 2 wines. The mushrooms are a must have! read more

My husband was crazy over the mushrooms. Cute little restaurant just around the corner of San Miguel Market. Very popular location bc it was very busy. read more

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It's easy to write-off any place near the crowded and touristy locations like Plaza Mayor and Mercado San Miguel. Don't do that for El Meson del Champinon. This is a legit tapas place and the mushrooms are as good as everyone says they are. We arrived at 7:30 pm and it was already crowded. We also had a party of 10. They accommodated us much faster than expected, or maybe the time flew by because we stood around the bar and ate a lot of mushrooms. It's a little strange being in such an historic building and location and ordering tapas from an electronic tablet--but we went with it. Pretty sure we ordered at least 1 of everything on the menu (except for the combo dishes). Large servings that resulted in us taking some food back to the apartment to enjoy later. The steak and peppers was a favorite as was the iberico jamon. There wasn't anything we had that we didn't enjoy. Worth a visit if you're in this part of town. read more

The food was delicious!! The stuffed mushrooms are the best! It is a tiny, fun place to go.

We walked past this cave restaurant as part of a tour and decided to dine here as it is like dining in a cave. The atmosphere is great and the food was good. The price was quite reasonable, 42 euros for 2 Mains and 2 drinks. Worth giving it a try. read more

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Come for the sangria stay for the Delicious food. Steak was perfectly cooked. We had mushrooms, steak and peppers, crusted bread and of course sangria. Great waitstaff, friendly customers...I think that is a requirement..and fun atmosphere. read more

We came with our toddler on a weeknight to have the mushrooms. They accommodate us without a reservation. Service is quick and the 'shrooms are hot and tasty. For vegetarian, the mushrooms are stiff with cheese and garlic sauce. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Wine carafe - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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The Mushrooms where amazing. We've heard so much about them and finally got to enjoy them. They were cooked so well that if you don't like mushrooms you will finish a plate. The server had a very heavy hand on the Gin and Tonic pours which was much appreciated. This is a must if you are in the Madrid area. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Litty! - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

It was an active place with lots of locals and we were intrigued by a bar with cave seating. The beer was cold the tapas were good, service good but it was damn hot down there. read more

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QUICKIE REVIEW Get the mushrooms! FOOD This is what I tried: Mushrooms They advertise the mushrooms as their big attraction for a reason, it's delicious. These things are chewy and juicy with a nice piece of meat in the center of it. Worth the quick stop to try them out. PARKING No. SERVICE Good. Waiter made sure we were taken care of from the time we entered until the time we left. PRICE Less than $20. read more

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The mushrooms are delicious and it is a great stop on your Madrid food adventure. The croquettes were good. My wife and daughter enjoyed them, but I thought they were too creamy, like made with cream cheese instead of potato. The sangria was great, but the wine was poured into a small glass and seemed to be a very light pour. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Mushrooms, sangria, wine, water, bread - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Great service here. We went here as tourists and the waiters were great. Also very nice to my 2 year old girl. Not alot of tourists here either. Highly recommend. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Complimentary tapas - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Fun. A bit touristy. Ate in the cellar, which was far superior and more quant than the noisy main level dining room. Worth a quick stop between lunch and dinner. read more

El Mesón del Champiñón - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Yes, it's very touristy and busy, but I'd recommend it if you have some spare time and don't mind waiting in line. As many other reviews mention, the mushrooms are amazing, and the sirloin and grilled peppers are just as good (they're very tasty but quite salty, so keep that in mind if you need to limit your salt intake for medical reasons). We also tried the croquettes--they were decent, though not mind-blowing. The restaurant provides an iPad menu in multiple languages, which was really convenient. The staff is clearly used to serving tourists and was pretty efficient. Even though the entire dining room was filled with tourists, it didn't feel chaotic. It's worth trying at least once for the experience! read more