The best restaurants in Madrid range from small neighbourhood taverns to fancy Michelin-starred establishments, encompassing century-old restaurants and streets like Ponzano that serve as the epicenter of modern culinary ventures. Madrid is filled with brilliant places to eat and drink. That’s why we have selected the top 50 restaurants that every Madrileño (and non-Madrileño) should try at least once in their life.
1. Gofio
Gofio’s menu is one of those secrets that anyone who’s anyone is eager to discover. Taking Canarian cuisine (specifically Safe Cruz’s) as a starting point, and with the assurance that you’ll be embarking on a gastronomic journey of the highest quality, they offer two tasting menu options—Gofio Menu or Canarian Maximum—that allow you to savour the best of the island’s gastronomy in every bite. So much so that they already hold a Michelin star.
🍲 Tasting menu (65€)
Calle de Lope de Vega, 9 (Centro)
2. Lobito de Mar
Lobito de Mar is Spain’s «saltiest» restaurant and undoubtedly one of the most upmarket in the capital. Renowned chef Dani García’s menu is a tribute to the sea and all its bounties. At Lobito de Mar, the quality of their products takes centre stage, combined with great creativity and skill. The ambiance of the place is as delightful as it is cosy, largely due to first-class service.
Calle de Jorge Juan, 10 (barrio de Salamanca)
3. Yugo the bunker
No matter how many times we talk about Yugo The Bunker, it will never be enough. Its presentation revolves around extraordinary raw materials and an environment hinted at by its very name. It’s nearly impossible to find many of their products in a conventional or even a specialised supermarket. That alone makes it worthwhile! And, of course, it also holds a Michelin star as proof of its quality.
Calle de San Blas, 4 (Las Letras)
4. Sala de Despiece
Sala de Despiece has a clear concept. It’s not uncommon for more and more restaurants to dedicate their menu to visual appeal: if it’s photogenic, people will want to come to take pictures and, in the second instance, try the food. Sometimes, photogenic appeal doesn’t transcend the plate, while other times it’s a natural consequence of quality. Sala de Despiece belongs to the latter group. It rose to fame on Ponzano Street, and after the lockdown, they opened a second location near Gran Vía. Quality ingredients, creativity, and presentation.
🍲 Cenital T-bone steak
Calle de Ponzano, 8 y 11 (Chamberí) y calle de la Virgen de los Peligros, 8 (Centro)
5. BiBo Madrid
7,000 light bulbs and a hot air balloon adorn this gastronomic restaurant by renowned chef Dani García. Gastronomy and travel go hand in hand at BiBo Madrid. Although it carries the seal of quality from one of Spain’s top chefs, it’s an option that won’t break the bank.
🤤 Try Dani García’s food at BiBo Madrid
📍 Paseo de la Castellana, 52 (Castellana)
6. Mawey Taco Bar
We’re not afraid to say it: here you’ll find some of the best tacos in all of Madrid. But it’s not just that they excel at tacos; they also know how to make fantastic guacamole, aguachile, and all other wonders of Mexican cuisine that are best enjoyed with a homemade Michelada. And of course they do that too.
🍲 Try their pastor tacos.
📍 Calle de Olid, 6 (Chamberí)| Calle San Bernardo, 5 (Centro) | Calle Manuel de Falla 3 (Majadahonda)
7. Lana
Lana is the project of the Narváiz brothers, who have spent many years working in the hospitality industry. The restaurant pays homage to their Argentinian origins, and the name refers to a ritual; a certain way of preparing each product or ingredient. There is an almost meticulous process based on family roots, respect for Argentine gastronomic tradition, and the quality of the ingredients. An opportunity to taste one of Madrid’s best steak restaurants.
🍲 Try their ribeye steak!
Calle de Ponzano, 59 (Chamberí)
8. Museo Chicote
There’s a place in Madrid whose walls are brimming with history and yet it’s constantly innovating. A spot that combines the ambiance of the past and present on the bustling Gran Vía. It’s the legendary Museo Chicote, which has been receiving Spain’s (and international) elite since the 1930s.
Calle de Gran Vía, 12 (Centro)
9.Saddle
With one Michelin star and two Repsol suns, you might have an idea of the level of cuisine that can be enjoyed at Saddle. A luxurious environment with a culinary offering that does not fall short; blending classic and contemporary recipes that allow you to savour everything from a Rossini fillet to a plate of tripe.
🍲 Try their pâté en croûte.
Calle Amador de los Ríos, 6 (Chamberí)
10. Brutalista
At Brutalista, they claim to have the spirit of a neighbourhood tavern and market. Despite their short lifespan so far, these experts in escabeches have captured the attention of chefs and connoisseurs alike. The menu includes touches of typical game dishes like quail, a hint of Asian cuisine like temaki Oliviere, and some timeless classics like gazpacho. Plus, their prices are quite reasonable, with three different price ranges.
🍲 Try their quail.
📍 Calle Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, 34 (Argüelles)
11. Muyummy
At Muyummy, most of the dishes and ingredients have taken inspiration from Asia. Or rather, they reflect the owner and chef Sergio García’s vision of Asian cuisine, despite never having left Europe.
In addition to their excellent fusion cuisine, another attraction of this Coslada restaurant is the price. They serve a daily special for €9.5 that has never been repeated, as it is decided based on what the chef likes to look of at the market that day.
🍲 Try their leek croquettes.
📍 Calle de la Virgen de la Cabeza, 26 (Coslada)
12. Bakan
Bakan is one of those restaurants recommended by Mexicans themselves. It opened in late 2021 near the Puerta de Alcalá, after huge success in Miami. The keys to their success lie in the chalaqueño corn they use for their tortillas, the wood they use to slow-cook the meat, and the mezcal, which, although less known than tequila, is gaining well-deserved popularity.
🍲 Try their beef rib tacos.
📍 Plaza de la Independencia, 5 (barrio de Salamanca)
13. Fratelli Figurato
Brothers Riccardo and Vittorio are Neapolitan pizza wizards in Madrid. And there’s now double the goodness, as there are now two Fratelli Figurato locations. They also serve an authentic carbonara that is to die for. The pasta is fresh and made right there! A must-visit in Madrid.
🍲 Try their carbonara pasta.
📍 Pizzería: Calle Alonso Cano, 37 (Chamberí); trattoria: Calle Larra, 1 (Malasaña).
14. Restaurante Xiongzai (El Chino de ‘Winnie The Pooh’)
The famous Chinese restaurant in the plaza de España garage broke our hearts when it closed. But we can always console ourselves with the one known as ‘El Winnie’ because of its Disney-themed decor. Their authentic Chinese dishes rarely exceed €4 or €5, so you can eat well on a budget.
🍲 Try their ramen with sweet potato noodles.
📍 Calle San Leonardo, 3 (centro) y calle de la salud, 8 (centro)
15. Colores
In addition to Bar Colores, Lavapiés hides some of the most interesting and affordable gastronomic treasures in the city. Undoubtedly, some of the crown jewels are their Senegalese dishes. At Bar Colores, the dishes have a fixed price of €6 or €7 and they are so hearty that you can probably share them.
🍲 The spicy stew (called ‘mafé’) is a classic.
📍Calle Mesón de Paredes, 56 (Lavapiés)
16. Triciclo
Triciclo’s offering has been one of the most interesting in Madrid for a long time. An eclectic menu with frequent rotation, and plenty of market and seasonal products. A firm bet to soon earn a Michelin star. This recommendation might be useful to visit now, because soon you’ll probably have to book months in advance.
🍲 Try their «patatas a la importancia» with grilled squid from Potera.
📍 Calle de Sta. María, 28 (Las Letras)
17. Desde 1911
Desde 1911, part of the Pescaderías Coruñesas Group (owned by the García Azpiroz family), pays homage to the maragato muleteers who kicked off the family legacy that continues to be successful to this day. This restaurant holds the top position in the list of the 30 best new European restaurants in 2022 by Opinionated About Dining. With a daily changing menu that serves only the finest seafood possible, not to mention the impeccable Nordic decor, Desde 1911 is a place to be.
🍲 Menu changes daily.
📍 Calle del Vivero, 3 (Tetuán)
18. Takos al Pastor
Mexicans who have settled in Madrid, or those who are just passing through and want to feel like they’re eating at home will confirm it: this place is as authentic as they come. At Takos al Pastor, you can savour their ‘takos’ starting from €1.20 and quesadillas for €2.5. The line at the door is constant from the moment they open until they close at their two locations, but we assure you that the wait is worth it.
🍲 Try them all.
📍 Calle de la Salud, 13 (Centro)
19. Terracotta
There’s no need to ask about the concept that shapes a restaurant like Terracotta because the observant eye can guess it: craftsmanship permeates every small detail. The dishes, for example, are completely handmade.
It has been open since 2021, and in that time has earned itself a place as one of the best restaurants in the Salamanca neighbourhood. And they have done it with an artisanal menu that changes almost daily.
🍲 Try their glazed Iberian pork jowl Säam with pineapple and mint.
Calle de Velázquez, 80 (barrio de Salamanca)
20. Gyoza Go!
Gyoza Go! The ultimate place for gyozas (or dumplings). Handmade on the spot, you can see them being prepared right in front of your eyes. They cook them on the grill or steam them, and you’ll find them in various flavours. This place is perfect for a quick stop during a stroll through the city center.
🍲 It’s a matter of taste!
Calle de Carranza, 4 (Trafalgar) y plaza del comandante las Morenas, 5 (centro).
21. Doppelgänger
Samy Alí—a half Madrid, half Sudanese chef with a boxer’s name—has opened Doppelgänger, although he previously ran La Candela Restó until he decided to close it (after earning a Michelin star). A good way to introduce this innovative restaurant is that, when we received the bill we expected it to be €70 per person, and it ended up being €30. The menu varies, and when you sit at the table, they bring out all the dishes directly (the only thing they ask is if there’s anything you don’t like or if you have any allergies).
🍲 You’ll try the whole menu (or rather, your own personal menu)!
Calle de Santa Isabel, 5 (Mercado de Antón Martín)
22. Bel Mondo
Bel Mondo, which you’ll find in the heart of the Salamanca neighbourhood, might be one of the best Italian restaurants in Madrid. The food, of course, is just as Italian as an Italian restaurant in Italy. It is the first restaurant that the Big Mamma group opened in Spain, followed by Villa Capri and Napoli Gang.
🍲 Their carbonara, without a doubt.
Calle de Velázquez, 39 (barrio de Salamanca)
23. La Bola
There are two reasons why La Bola’s cocido is so renowned: it is cooked for over 4 hours over low heat and oak charcoal, in the classic clay pots in which it is also served. The raw ingredients are placed in the pots: chickpeas, bacon, potatoes, chorizo, and then cooked over charcoal, during which the pots are periodically filled with broth.
🍲 Try their cocido.
📍 Calle de la Bola, 5 (Centro)
24. Valdivieso: cocina con alma
Valdivieso’s socarrat is, in itself, a reason for travelling to this fine city. We’re not revealing anything new by saying that socarrat (the crusty crispy bottom of the paella) is the best part of rice, that duck is an underrated meat, or that a good stock (in this case, lamb) solves any stew. Anything else? Oh yes, a ras el hanout mayonnaise. Okay, no more spoilers.
🍲 The socarrat, duh.
Calle de Fray Luis de León, 7 (Tribulete)
25. Yeca estrit fud
It’s difficult to define the dishes or at least find a concept that runs through each and every one of the creations you can find at Yeca Estrit Fud. However, it’s easy to recommend the highlights or standout dishes on the menu. Especially the green chicken curry with pumpkin, which has a level of spiciness suitable for all palates, and is perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the pumpkin. Another noteworthy dish of Vietnamese inspiration is the Banh Xeo (crispy crepes with bacon, prawns, sprouts, and herbs).
🍲 Definitely try the green curry!
Calle de Tribulete, 10 (Lavapiés)
26. Casa Kike
Casa Kike is a great example that a possible key to success is to do what you do best. Without pretensiousness. Recurring parishioners, international singers who make a point of visiting here, or national critics who try to unravel the secrets of their oxtail. The best way to measure the quality of Casa Kike, however, is by visiting (and trying their pil pil cod).
🍲 The pil pil cod.
Paseo de los Melancólicos, 43 (Imperial)
27. Bichopalo
Bichopalo was born in Mercado Barceló, but it outgrew the space, so it emerged from its chrysalis and settled in Ponzano. At Bichopalo, the offering is easy to explain: a tasting menu that changes periodically while maintaining its signature touches. A perfect fusion of culinary trends and top-notch quality ingredients.
🍲 The fried sea bream.
Calle de Cristóbal Bordiú, 39 (Chamberí)
28. Diverxo
Diverxo hardly needs an introduction: a restaurant whose owner has been considered the best chef in the world, is always in the spotlight, and the only Madrid restaurant that has made it onto a list of the world’s best restaurants. It’s not just a restaurant to visit before you die; it’s a restaurant where you’ll want to stay and live.
🍲 Visit for the experience and let yourself be surprised.
Calle del Padre Damián, 23 (Cuzco)
29. Maíz, agua y cal
Despite being located right in the city center (between Bilbao and Tribunal), Maíz, agua y cal remains relatively hidden from the spotlight. It is one of the most interesting Mexican restaurants in the city! With a typical Mexican tortilla machine and a balance between tradition and modernity, this restaurant (sometimes accompanied by mariachi music and always offering top-level cocktails) is a safe bet.
🍲 The shrimp taco.
Calle de Apodaca, 3 (Malasaña) y calle Bravo Murillo, 54 (Tetuán)
30. Batch
Batch is one of the most interesting stalls in Mercado de Vallehermoso. Here, in addition to natural wines, fermenter Nacho García and chef Daniel Vare decided to produce their own fermented products. It’s both a shop and a small restaurant offering a tasting menu. In addition to selling fermented goods and wines online, their cuisine has gained relevance and become their main attraction.
🍲 El mejillón tigre (traditional baked mussels) with béchamel and kimchi.
📍 Calle de Vallehermoso, 36 (Mercado Vallehermoso, puesto: 47-48)
31. Ornella
Some may say that Italians are trending in Madrid, and that’s true, thanks to excellent spots like Ornella. A well-decorated, youthful, and tasteful restaurant where you can taste the best dishes from our Italian neighbours. It’s a space where you can hold a successful business meeting, or take a date for a romantic lunch, and emerge victorious.
🍲 The Nutellotto dessert.
Calle Velázquez, 18 (barrio de Salamanca)
32. Casa Lucio
A classic in Madrid. There’s not much more to say about Casa Lucio that hasn’t already been said. It’s a place where monarchs, presidents from around the world, artists, athletes, and even astronauts have gathered. According to the tavern owner who gives the place its name, he has been offered a Michelin star on many occasions, but has always turned it down because the true stars were already sitting in his establishment. If you haven’t tried it yet, the «huevos estrellados» (fried eggs with potatoes) are a must. It’s almost like visiting the Vatican and not queuing up for the Sistine Chapel.
🍲 The huevos estrellados.
Calle de la Cava Baja, 35 (La Latina)
33. Casa Julián de Tolosa
You don’t have to go far to find another one of the best restaurants in Madrid. Casa Julián de Tolosa is a temple of excellent meat, where you can enjoy tasty grilled steaks. In fact, Forbes has even categorised them as the best in the world. Its history dates back to the 1950s in the municipality of Tolosa, Guipúzcoa, making it one of the first known Basque grills. Currently, they have two locations in the capital.
🍲 Aged beef ribeye steak.
Calle de la Cava Baja, 18 (La Latina) y calle de Ibiza, 39 (Ibiza)
34. La Maruca
When talking about classics, we couldn’t miss La Maruca from the list. It belongs to the same group as La Primera, La Bien Aparecida, and Cañadío, which were named the best restaurants in Spain to eat tortilla de patata in 2020. La Maruca is a well-established spot and the place to be for lovers of good cuisine. It has three locations in Madrid, all well-located, spacious, and offering extremely efficient service.
🍲 Calamari «rabas» (a Spanish classic).
Calle de Velázquez, 54 (barrio de Salamanca); paseo de la Castellana, 212 (Chamartín) y calle de López de Hoyos, 42 (El Viso)
35. Numa Pompilio
Numa Pompilio is a labour of love. Although it’s considered a restaurant because they do serve Italian food, it could very well be a romantic museum. Its evocative and sophisticated decoration takes you to a hidden place in deep Italy. Its garden is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the entire city for dining. It’s an offering that matches its prices.
Calle de Velázquez, 18 (barrio de Salamanca)
36. Umiko
Umiko is a Japanese fusion restaurant that has gained recognition from the Repsol guide (2020) and all the palates that have had the opportunity to try it. This is a restaurant that combines quality, flavour, and attention to detail in each dish. It’s no wonder that with chefs Juan Alcaide and Pablo Álvarez leading the project, dining here is a complete experience.
🍲 Nigiri of «socarrat» (crispy rice) with Huelva prawn.
Calle de los Madrazo, 6 (Centro)
37. MO de Movimiento
The concept at MO de Movimiento goes beyond gastronomy and encompasses everything from social to environmental aspects. On their menu, you’ll find dishes made with high-quality, locally sourced products. Examples include beetroot hummus with homemade «pitaccia,» roasted pepper with cured egg yolk, and their delicious cheesecake. Not to mention their pizza with confit cherry tomatoes and pine nut pesto, which made them finalists in the 1st National Pizza Contest of Spain Madrid Fusión.
🍲 Pizza with confit cherry tomatoes and pine nut pesto.
Calle de Espronceda, 34 (Chamberí)
38. Santa Canela
They say that good things, if brief, are good twice over; and that’s something that perfectly applies to Santa Canela’s menu, with which you’ll hit the mark no matter what you ask for. Despite not being as well-known as some of the names on this list, they have managed to quickly build customer loyalty with an offering that includes traditional local dishes, tapas, hamburgers… We can’t help but recommend their incredibly spicy potatoes: topped with homemade sauce made from chipotle chilli and yellow ají on a bed of sobrasada and fennel. It’s a true addiction.
🍲 Patatas bravísimas
Calle de Guzmán el Bueno, 20 (Chamberí)
39. Dimibang
The name «Dimibang» refers to what is considered the first cookbook written by a woman in East Asia, an icon in Korean gastronomy. It’s a fitting name for a restaurant that has managed to bring the flavours of Korea to the heart of Argüelles. If you want to not only eat well but also have a good time, the Korean barbecue, cooked right at your table, is a fun option, ideal for those who see food as an opportunity to share.
🍲 Korean barbecue.
Calle de Rodríguez San Pedro, 67 (Chamberí)
40. Nakeima
Nakeima’s fame attracts a line at the door. They don’t have a website, and it’s difficult to reach them by phone, so dining at this Asian fusion restaurant is a 100% analog experience, and that may be part of its charm. One of its attractions is that, although they offer a tasting menu, you can stop whenever you want. If you can’t or don’t want to eat more, you don’t have to take the whole menu. Another peculiarity is that there is no prior information about what they will serve you; you don’t know anything about the next dish until it is presented.
🍲 Dry ramen with aioli.
Calle Meléndez Valdés, 54 (Chamberí)
41. Küche
Located next to the former stables of the Liria Palace, Küche is based on Basque cuisine with Mediterranean touches. It’s worth highlighting the variety of their menu, the freshness of their products, and their extensive selection of wines and champagnes. It’s an offering that matches the demands of the most discerning diners, and on Friday and Saturday nights, they enhance their dinners with a DJ set.
🍲 Boletus parcels with mushroom sauce.
Calle Princesa, 18 (Argüelles)
42. Ugo Chan
Ugo Chan was the big opening of 2021, partly thanks to the recognition it received from Dabiz Muñoz on his Instagram, as well as other gastronomic gurus like Eric Vernacci. It’s the solo venture of chef Hugo Muñoz, after having worked in the kitchens of Kabuki, Shikku, and KBK, and creating the concept of UMO. With such promising credentials and a Michelin star to back its operation, Ugo Chan is a standout.
🍲 Crest of rooster «pepitoria»
Calle Félix Boix, 6 (Chamartín)
43. El Corral de la Morería
El Corral de la Morería is one of the most famous flamenco venues and also one of the best restaurants in Madrid. It’s not just an opinion; it was recognized as the best restaurant in Madrid in 2021 by the Association of Chefs and Pastry Chefs of Madrid (ACYRE). It also holds a Michelin star and two Repsol Suns. The menu reflects the chef’s, David García, commitment to organic farming, controlled cultivation, and high-quality ingredients.
🍲 Pre-Salé Crown of Lamb
Calle Morería, 17 (Centro)
44. Casa Lobo
Good quality ingredients and the comfort that comes from preparing dishes as they have always been made. Nothing simpler than that, nothing more complicated than that. Our praise for Casa Lobo is focused on their croquettes, but it can also be extended (and in this order) to their spicy potatoes, grilled octopus, or sole meuniere. However, the pinnacle, or the icing on the cake, is the rice pudding; slightly reinterpreted by adding a wild berry jam. It’s on another level.
🍲 The ham croquettes.
Calle de Echegaray, 8 (Centro)
45. Puzzle
Puzzle is a restaurant where food and wine come together in perfect harmony. Led by Samuel Heras and Mon Cádiz Ávila, the menu changes frequently and usually consists of ten dishes written on a paper scroll hanging from a wall in the restaurant. The Galician and Canarian origins of the owners make the flavour combinations of their offerings almost unpredictable.
🍲 Kanarian taco.
Calle Blasco de Garay, 10 (Chamberí)
46. Zalacaín
Very few restaurants in Spain (or the world) can boast such a relevant trajectory as Zalacaín. It is a gastronomic temple par excellence, synonymous with a unique dining experience, and a meeting place for personalities from all walks of life since its establishment nearly fifty years ago. Their menu features a selection of their most emblematic dishes, such as the «Búcaro Don Pío» (Consommé Gelée, smoked salmon, quail egg, and caviar) or the Bacalao Tellagorri.
🍲 «Búcaro Don Pío.»
Calle Álvarez de Baena, 4 (Castellana)
47. Smoked room
Smoked Room was one of the major openings in 2021. Its success was such that it received two Michelin stars just six months after opening. The restaurant, located in the Hyatt Hesperia hotel, is the result of the work of Dani García and Massimiliano Delle Vedove. Exclusivity permeates this project, from the menu to the decor, with a seating capacity for only 14 people.
🍲 Tasting menu €180.
Paseo de la Castellana, 57 (Chamberí)
48. Casa Botín
This list wouldn’t be complete without the oldest restaurant not only in the city but also in the world: 295 years of history behind it and still with a bright future ahead. From the Arco de Cuchilleros, this gastronomic institution has maintained its tradition and innovation in its restaurant, and now also at the 1725 Gourmet Terrace.
🍲 Roast lamb and suckling pig.
Calle de Cuchilleros, 17 (La Latina)
49. La tasca suprema
The perfect example that sometimes the most simple things are the best. With Navarre’s vegetable garden as its protagonist, this small tavern serves traditional homemade dishes, in the purest style of home-cooked meals. It pays tribute to the most classic recipes, making you feel at home while enjoying their cocido (Spanish stew), tripe stew, or their century-old recipe for torrijas (Spanish-style French toast).
🍲 Supreme Madrid-style cocido.
Calle de Argensola, 7 (Salesas)
50. Casa Lhardy
Founded in 1839, Lhardy is one of the oldest restaurants in the capital and the best place to eat cocido madrileño (Madrid-style stew), as well as undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Madrid. After nearly going into bankruptcy following the pandemic, it was acquired by Pescaderías Coruñesas, who have restored it to its former glory. Its dining rooms have remained in the imagination of Madrid thanks to artists like C. Tangana, who included it in a video for his album «El Madrileño.»
🍲 Madrid-style cocido.
Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8 (Centro)
Madrid has a bar or restaurant for every 211 inhabitants, and that number keeps growing year after year. From the most sophisticated areas of Madrid to the proper neighbourhood spots, it’s worth exploring everything. And what better way than through its restaurants that compete in quantity and quality with those in other major European capitals?