Typical restaurants in central Madrid you must visit

Discovering and exploring typical restaurants in central Madrid is one of the most enjoyable activities for food lovers. If you want to experience authentic Spanish cuisine in depth, private tours in Madrid can help you taste traditional dishes while learning about their origins and cultural context with a local perspective.

Spanish gastronomy holds a prominent place on the international culinary scene thanks to its quality ingredients, the traditions behind each recipe, and the care with which it is prepared. In this article, we introduce some of the most emblematic bars and restaurants in Madrid, including romantic, original, and typically Spanish spots.

The most traditional tapas bars in the centre of Madrid

Tapas is one of the most iconic examples of what we cook and eat in Spain. The following places are some of the best tapas bars the city has to offer.

Las Bravas is one of these classic bars. Its speciality is ‘Patatas Bravas’, freshly made, with the perfect sauce. La Caleta is managed by a young woman from Cadiz, which is evident in the fried food it serves. It’s coated in a Gram flour batter, served in brown paper cones, which is why it’s the best among central Madrid's tapas bars. La Dolores is a very popular bar, thanks partly to the success of its anchovies in vinegar, ‘Gildas’ (tapas made from peppers, anchovies, and olives), and its tuna canapés.

La Chula de Chamberí serves traditional dishes such as stewed snails, Russian salad, and mussel stew. In Vilalúa, octopus is the main dish, served on a wooden rack, with olive oil from Jaén and sweet peppers from Murcia, a meal fit for kings!

Restaurants with history in Madrid

This city has restaurants that have been running for years, where traditional values are at the core of everyday life. Whether they are romantic restaurants where the atmosphere and decor are essential, or restaurants with homemade meals in central Madrid, you’ll always leave satisfied.

Casa Botín, near Plaza Mayor, has been in operation since 1725, and the Guinness Book of World Records has it down as the oldest restaurant in the world. It still has the same stone oven, and its specialty is grilled piglet.

Los Galayos has been a restaurant since 1894, when it was called Casa Rojo. It has had a good relationship with the world of politics and literature. Tripe and Russian salad are two of its best dishes, and they will soon persuade you that this is one of Madrid's best restaurants witha history.

Casa Alberto has been open since 1827 in the former house of Miguel de Cervantes, located in the Las Letras area. The stew and oxtail soup are most popular with customers. In the Lavapiés neighbourhood, we find La Taberna Antonio Sánchez, which dates back to 1830. Some of the dishes served here include fried eggs, stewed snails, and ‘Torrijas’ (bread pudding).

La Bola's barbequed cuisine, served in a cooking pot, has remained the same for generations, since it opened in 1870. On Paseo de Recoletos, you'll find Café Gijón, which has been a restaurant and held literary gatherings for the likes of Federico García Lorca and Valle Inclán since 1888. Cod confit and the cheek of Iberian pork are some of its specialities. Lhardy is a very elegant restaurant that is around 180 years old. It has welcomed customers like Queen Isabel II. Its specialities are ‘croquetas’ and ‘cocido madrileño’ (stew from Madrid).

These typical restaurants in central Madrid use attention to detail and quality recipes on a daily basis to create an unforgettable dining experience.