I absolutely adore this restaurant! I have visited it twice, and definitely next time I go to…read moreMadrid, I will visit it again. The restaurant is located in the heart of Madrid on a very cute street, and it is easy to find and walk there if you stay in the city center. The place is not very big - both times I went there for lunch, there were no tables available, so I had to sit at the bar; once I even had to wait about 7 minutes until one bar spot became free. The restaurant's design is simple, but pretty and lovely. Overall, the restaurant is in very good condition and was perfectly clean both times I visited. The only small downside is that the place is quite noisy, but it did not bother me. One of the best things about this place is the people who work there - both a guy and a lady at the bar were extremely nice and friendly to me; plus, both spoke very good English. They gave me recommendations on what to try, and I followed their advice. The restaurant's menu is not big, but it has all the most popular traditional Spanish dishes. Both times I ordered Rabo de Toro (a traditional Spanish stew), Fardos (squid rolls with bacon and squid ink mousse); and once I also tried croquetas de jamón (ham croquettes). The croquettes were tasty - I loved their flavor and soft texture. One portion includes 6 pieces, and they are quite big and filling. It was my first time trying Fardos (I ordered a 1/3 portion), and it was a great experience - the dish turned very delicious after the bartender mixed it for me. The squid was cooked very nicely, and combined with the fresh bacon and ink mousse, it tasted fantastic. Rabo de Toro (I ordered a 1/2 portion) was also my first time trying this dish, and I loved it - the stew was perfectly cooked, very soft and moist, with rich flavors, and it melted in my mouth. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of drinks, especially wines. I do not drink alcohol, so I was recommended to try grape juice - Mosto, which was extremely flavorful and tasted like fresh pressed grape juice, even though it came from a glass bottle. I loved that drink! Price-wise, all items on the menu seemed reasonable. I paid €8 for 6 ham croquettes, €12 for a half portion of Rabo de Toro, €8 for a 1/3 portion of Fardos, and €3 for one glass of grape juice. It is possible to have a nice full lunch here for around €22, which is reasonable for a restaurant in the heart of Madrid. The place accepts all major credit cards and Apple Pay, which is a big plus. If you visit this restaurant, I strongly recommend trying 1/3 or 2/3 portion of Fardos, a half portion of Rabo de Toro, and their grape juice Mosto - it's enough food to feel full and experience traditional Spanish flavors.

Casa Lucas is a MUST on the La Latina tapas tour! Casa Lucas serves tapas with a creative twist,…read moreand if I'd had more time (and wasn't a party of one), I would've tried so much more! I ordered the Oxtail (Rabo de Toro) and wooooow... easily one of the most tender and delicate pieces of meat I've EVER had. They serve it boneless, but I'm pretty sure if they would have provided a bone, it would've fallen right off. The whole place gives cozy tavern vibes with a rustic interior that feels perfectly Madrid. NOTE: the portions are a bit heavier than most spots. I hate to waste food, especially when it's as immaculate as the Oxtail, but if you're a party of one, you got to do what you go to do.

One more star on the Instagram trail and I'd agree--it's our fault for not being more discerning or…read morefor staying on the beaten path. But Juana La Loca has an aseos issue. We sat at the bar, and all we could smell was the semi-clean bathroom--and I say that not from visiting it, but from the sheer odor. Things went south when a burly German Messerschmitt sat next to us and compounded the smell. I'm not being Teutonophobic--I'm just telling it like it was ( said every xenophobic ) The tortilla that lured us here was fine, but too sweet for my taste--like the rest of the pintxos. Or maybe it was the side of Clorox.

Someone recommended this place to my friend so we stopped by, and wow! Delicious…read more The Spanish "tortilla" was packed with flavor. The onions were jammy and so flavorful; they made this dish amazing. Definitely different from all the other tortillas I had. Grilled beef sweetbread bruschetta, with melted havarti cheese and chimichurri was rich but not filling, so I ordered the Red tuna tartar with wasabi pearls. My friend had the oxtail fajita- which she loved. All of the food we had here was great. I only wish we had been told that we could only get the dolce de leche volcano if we ordered it at the same time as our food. I was really looking forward to it. Instead we had the carrot and ginger pie (cake) with yogurt and the lemon pie. Of note, this place is small, so be prepared to wait. You can sit and eat at the bar.

This place seems to be closed and gone. New restaurant in its place. The place that replaced it is…read moregone

Need a quick fix of the good ole' USA??…read more Mad Cafe is the only medicine you need. American classics croon over the loud speakers as you read a menu full of burgers, chicken sandwiches, (real) salads, milkshakes, root beer floats, craft beer, etc. Yeah, you're welcome. The space is cute and intimate and the kitchen re-opens for dinner at 8:30pm.

This was our first meal experience after landing in Madrid at the end of March! Our taxi driver…read morerecommended it as it was walking distance from our hotel in Gran Via...well I hope I'm reviewing the right one! My friends and I loved it! Luckily, we got there when it first opened so we were pretty much the first ones it, but it quickly got full. You order at the counter and they bring the items to your table. I am now a big fan of the Spanish tortilla (egg pancake type of dish)! We were served quickly and since on our friends is gluten free they were good at guiding her to what would work best for her. I highly recommend going to a Pez Tortilla when you are in Madrid!

A local recommended Pez for tortillas. They were very good; their style is not firm like most. We…read moregot there right when the kitchen opened at 5:30 and they were very fresh. The chicken curry croquettes were good too; more flavor than the jabmon. They have a good selection of tap beers. The website does not say, but the kitchen does close for a bit in the afternoon

my son and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The restaurant is very cute and quaint…read more Service is very good, food is amazing, and the value for the money is really great.

If you're in Madrid for a week and need a break from tapas and the Spanish main stays this little…read moreGreek spot is definitely worth searching out. Grape leaves , spanakopita, mousaka , Greek sausage, lamb meatballs , chicken skewers, beef skewers , gyros , potatoes frita all simply wonderful and super tasty. The portions are shareable and the value exceptional The service is so friendly and personal With a casual jazz vibe that creates the perfect atmosphere for Greek street food A true gem that I highly recommend

My fav vermut bar in Madrid. Love the vibe. We stopped by on a weeknight and the place was packed…read morewith friendly locals. We wasted no time and ordered their white vermut and red vermut and then tried their spanish wine.. their wine was great but their house vermut - undeniably the best I had in Madrid (trust me I had plenty). They give free tapas with their drinks - mushrooms (wow) and also ham and mini breadsticks. This was perfect to pair with our vermut and wine. We loved their house vermut so much that we ordered 2 bottles to take back home with us. Staff was friendly and loved the vibe of this bar. I will miss this place for sure! Highly recommend.

Next on the La Latina tapas tour -- Taberna la Concha. Taberna la Concha is a quaint tapas-bar that…read moreis best known for their vermouth. Unfortunately, I opted out of the experience, but from what I saw and heard, patrons were raving about this drink! Instead, I stuck to my vacation Spanish drink-- Sangria. Solid, strong, refreshing & delicious! There are tons of tapas options and true to how tapas are meant to be, portions are small -- perfect for those who want to try more on the menu or explore other delicious options in La Latina. I ordered #20) the meatballs in tomato sauce (albóndigas caseras en salsa de tomate) and was SO disappointed -- they arrived cold and tasted pretty basic. There are definitely stronger contenders on the menu -- I just happened to choose the wrong one... If I could do it over, maybeee the 14) White Prawn Carpaccio or the 3) Smoked Cod on Toast

Really enjoyed Mercado de San Miguel, even if it's the more touristy food market in Madrid. Came…read morelater in the evening. Must gets include - jamón ibérico from Puesto Carrasco Ibéricos - olives and vermut from The Hour of the Vermouth - wine from Pinkleton & Wine - codfish from La Casa del Bacalao There's also a Spanish omelet vendor but it was okay. Great energy in the market. Can be difficult to find a seat at a table but there's plenty of standing counters along the perimeter.

So this was one of the places everyone recommended we had to stop at while we were in Madrid for a…read morecouple days on our way to Portugal, and one of the most disappointing. Don't get me wrong - they do indeed have a whole bunch of food vendors that all looked extremely good. Some of them were tourist-priced (ok, a majority of them were tourist-priced), but none of them looked *bad*, just not *necessarily* worth the price, when you could go any number of places nearby and get food as good, for cheaper. But there were definitely some hidden gems, including one absolutely wonderful tapas place that we ordered a bunch of little tostas from, of all different sorts, that we were absolutely impressed by and happy with all of. And of course, the vendor I had originally been most excited about, La Hora del Vermut, which does indeed offer both very inexpensive, great "house" vermouth, and very affordable fancy vermouths. I would've loved to hang out at a bar like that... if I could do so and also *move*. See, the thing is... this market is absolutely not big enough for all its accolades. As Yogi Berra may or may not have ever said, "No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded." At least I probably wouldn't ever go back there... we could barely hear to order tapas at the tapas place, and good luck finding a place to eat if you're not taking it to go. Good luck actually making it to one of the vendors further away from the entrance, either. It was an absolute madhouse, so we ordered a bunch of tostas at once, I braved the insanity to get a couple glasses of vermouth and met my wife outside the actual market to eat them on the steps. And that was the *off* season - if it's like that in January, I could only imagine it in May! Great vendors, but as a market, they really need better crowd management / foot traffic control.

Dining at Botín was one of the highlights of my trip to Madrid…read more Walking into the world's oldest restaurant, established in 1725, truly feels like stepping back in time. From the centuries-old brick walls to the original wood-fired oven that has been in continuous use for nearly 300 years, every corner is filled with history. Watching the chefs prepare meals in that famous oven was an unforgettable experience. The service was warm, welcoming, and professional. The staff clearly takes pride in preserving the traditions of this remarkable restaurant while making every guest feel at home. Of course, we had to order the famous roast suckling pig, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The skin was perfectly crisp while the meat was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. We also shared the wild mushrooms, which were simple, earthy, and delicious. Botín isn't about trendy food or elaborate presentations. It's about experiencing authentic Spanish cuisine in a place that has been serving guests since 1725. That authenticity is what makes it so special. If you're visiting Madrid, this restaurant belongs on your itinerary. Make a reservation, take time to admire the history, watch the kitchen in action, and enjoy one of the most unique dining experiences you'll ever have. It's much more than a meal--it's a chance to be part of nearly 300 years of culinary history. Five stars without hesitation.

A great experience. Extremely busy restaurant but well orchestrated team of people working save…read moreknowing what to do. Daniel our server did San excellent job taking care of every detail. The ambience couldn't be better, a place to enjoy and experience what is to be in the oldest restaurant in the world. The food, El cochinillo ! Wow! It's an experience.

Popped in for a quick standing tapas lunch at around noon. It happened to be Spanish mother's day…read moreand they hooked me up with a red carnation, swoon. A nice sized bar and plenty of tables in the front and back area. Tapas all are 2.5 euro. We sampled a bunch and they were all great. Pretty simple, but fresh and delicious. A high five to the thinly pounded, breaded and fried mushroom that was delectable. Their spanish tortilla was mainly egg based vs potato and was a little runny, I was into it. Small beers happened to be 2.5 euros as well, so it was a cheap, filling, delicious and quick lunch! I'd 100% come again and def recommend!

Spectacular food and service! Will return! This was a nice surprise after having walked for hors…read moretrying to find a place that was on my list to try.

When you think of a classic tourist trap, Casa Lucio is the perfect definition. Don't be fooled by…read morethe pictures of presidents and celebrities on the walls. We came expecting the very best of Spanish cuisine, and instead got a major disappointment. The potato salad was drenched in mayonnaise, completely overpowering the other ingredients. The entrecôte with fries was even worse--the meat was full of greasy strings, nothing like the clean, tender cut it's supposed to be. The fries were poorly cut, oily, and limp instead of crisp. Even the padrón peppers, which are usually impossible to get wrong, were flavorless. The bread was stiff and hard to bite. Service was just okay, but the atmosphere felt rushed and uncomfortable, as the place is overcrowded with tourists chasing the restaurant's reputation. In short: overrated, overpriced, and absolutely not worth the hype.

I was on a search for restaurants loved by the locals. Casa Lucio was bursting with people waiting…read morefor a table so of course, I knew I wanted to try it. They said reservations only but we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar. The food was good. Not the best during my trip but good nonetheless. I think I did not order what they're known for however I still enjoyed my meal.