To warm up and feel at home, the best thing to do is to have a good cocido or, while we’re at it, have one of the best cocidos in Madrid. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees, any Madrileño’s body asks for a cocido, which is much more than a noodle soup. Whether two-, three- or even four-fold. And without further ado, here are the best restaurants where you can try one of the most popular star dishes of our gastronomy the Madrid stew.
1. Lhardy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym2iQ9MNhfQ
Lhardy is one of the century-old restaurants of Madrid, has been open since 1839 and has a long history. So much so, that thevery Manolete has eaten there and has also appeared in the works of Azorín and Galdós.
Although in 2021 was acquired by Pescaderías Coruñesas the restaurant is still decorated in the style of the 19th century. Lhardy arose in Madrid before the appearance of electric light, telephone and even the asphalting of the streets. Here the stew is served in two bowls and it is typical that the first one (the soup) has pieces of meat and chicken.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8 (Sun)
2. The Ball
At La Bola the stew is prepared for more than 4 hours over very low heat and over holm oak charcoal. In addition, the cooks use the traditional clay pots and it is served in the same container in which it is cooked. The raw ingredients are put into the stew pots: chickpeas, water from Madrid, bacon, potatoes, chorizo sausage, and it is taken to the charcoal, where it is cooked for more than four hours, during which time the pots are periodically refilled with broth.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle de la Bola, 5 (Sol)
3. Malacatín
In Malacatín they have been preparing cocido madrileño since 1895, their motto used to be: “he who finishes it, doesn’t pay.” and now they even serve it at home. It is a quite small place, so finding a table is not an easy task, but when you get it… You surrender to the pleasure with each of the three turnovers of the stew, especially with its soup, which is quite dense and rich in fats. But if you prefer, they can serve it all together in a single pass.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle de la Ruda, 5 (La Latina)
4. Disclaimer
At Descaro you can enjoy a three-course stew prepared by chef Miguel García, following the family recipe, while you look down on the Plaza de España from above. The first course is an individual casserole of noodle soup, with which to enjoy the hearty broth. The second is the vegetables and chickpeas -some people reserve some of the soup to mix in with the second turnover, but it is a matter of taste. And the third round of meats, chorizo and black pudding with a smoky touch in the embers.
💸 225 per person.
📍 Plaza de España, 6, 2ª Planta (downtown)
5. La Daniela Tavern
Luckily, there are a few Danielas all over Madrid to enjoy their cocido madrileño in one of them. Here is served in three vuelcos: “Sota” (soup), “Caballo” (chickpeas and vegetables) and “Rey” (meats). The quantities are very generous and if there are leftovers you can take them home.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle de Cuchilleros, 9 (Sol), Plaza de Jesús, 7 (Las Letras),calle del General Pardiñas, 21 (Barrio de Salamanca),calle de Gutiérrez Solana, 2 (Chamartín)
6. La Gran Tasca
At La Gran Tasca they have been preparing their stew daily since 1942. The place is filled with photographs that tell the history of the place and show the famous people who have feasted on its stew. Its stew has two turnovers, but the first (the soup, very tasty) is the most revered by lovers of hot food. The second one contains both the viands and the vegetables and we warn you that, if it is already a hearty meal, here it is even more so, because thequantities are very abundant.
💸 💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle Santa Engracia, 161 (Chamberí)
7. The Charolais
Many say it is the best stew in Madrid, although it is not in Madrid capital. It’s a great excuse to make a getaway to El Escorial l. Of course, you should know that their stew is not prepared daily, but only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It is served in three servings, like the traditional one, and they add grelo instead of berujas (although sometimes they do add them).
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle Floridablanca, 24 (San Lorenzo de El Escorial)
8. Verbena Bar
Verbena Bar knows well what it is to combine the modern and the traditional, a concept on which its essence is based and, by extension, its stew. The priority is to make this dish accessible to all budgets, which is why it is offered at a very competitive price, without compromising on quality. It is cooked for four or five hours over low heat and you can choose whether you want to eat it all together or in batches, in addition to offering a vegetarian option.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Velarde Street, 24 (Malasaña)
9. Carola House
Casa Carola serves a cocido menu that, in addition to the three vuelcos, includes dessert, coffee and a shot of liquor. In this restaurant the star dish since 1998 is the cocido madrileño, which is served in the center of the table so that diners can serve themselves as they wish. There is no need to worry about the seasons, they have it on the menu from September to May (Madrid’s summer does not allow hot soups).
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle Padilla, 54 (Lista)
10. White Cross of Vallecas
Few restaurants can boast that a review begins by talking about it on the assumption that fame precedes it. When a restaurant is in a central neighborhood, it is normal for people to make a pilgrimage to visit it. When it is in a peripheral neighborhood, it is less common. Something very good must be going on here when they define themselves (without any arrogance whatsoever) as follows: “entering the Cruz Blanca de Vallecas is like coming home: a pleasure for the senses, a delight for the soul and within everyone’s reach”.
💶 €€€€€
58, Carlos Martín Álvarez St. (Puente de Vallecas)