To warm up and feel at home, it is best to take a good stew or, while we’re at it, take one of the best stews in Madrid. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees, any Madrilenian’s body asks for a cocido, which is much more than a noodle soup. Whether they are two, three or even four vuelcos. And without further ado, here are the best restaurants where you can try one of the star dishes of our gastronomy: the cocido madrileño.
1. Lhardy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym2iQ9MNhfQ
Lhardy is one of the centenary restaurants in Madrid, has been open since 1839 and has a lot of history. So much so that Manolete himself has eaten there and it has also appeared in the works of Azorín and Galdós.
Although in 2021 it was acquired by Pescaderías Coruñesas, the restaurant is still decorated in the style of the 19th century. Lhardy was built in Madrid before the appearance of electric light, telephone and even the asphalting of the streets. Here the cocido is served in two vuelcos and it is typical that the first one (the soup) has pieces of meat and chicken.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Location: Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8 (Sol)
2. La Bola
At La Bola the cocido 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 inside the pots: chickpeas, water from Madrid, bacon, potatoes, chorizo 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.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: calle de la Bola, 5 (Sol)
3. Malacatin
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 yourself to the pleasure with each of the three turns 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.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Location: calle de la Ruda, 5 (La Latina)
4. M.O Ritz
Under the dome of the inner courtyard of the M.O Ritz hotel is Palm Court, its main restaurant. This is where King Alfonso XIII drank cocido every Thursday at the beginning of the 20th century and 115 years later they not only maintain the tradition, but also continue to use the same silver cutlery as back then.
The first dish is the classic noodle soup, but without fat, which does not detract from the strength of the broth. It can be repeated and is recommended. The second tip is the chickpeas, small and very thin in this case, and the vegetables that are accompanied with an unusual tomato and cumin sauce, but that is within the canonical accompaniments of the dish. At the same time they serve the meat with marrow and the classic ball of crumbs and bacon filleted as if it were part of the third volco.
To top it off, they serve a torrija for dessert, which is included in the menu, in a kind of custard soup and nougat ice cream. The king liked to accompany the typical Madrilenian dish with champagne, and the space invites you to follow the monarchic advice.
💶€€€€€
📍Location: Plaza de la Lealtad, 5 (Retiro)
5. La Daniela Tavern
Luckily, there are a few Danielas all over Madrid to enjoy their cocido madrileño in one of them. Here they serve it in three courses: “Sota” (soup), “Caballo” (chickpeas and vegetables) and “Rey” (meats). The quantities are very generous and if there are leftovers you can take it home.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: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 cocido every day since 1942. The place is full of photographs that tell the history of the place and show the famous people who have enjoyed their stew. Their cocido has two turnovers, but the first (the soup, very tasty) is the most revered by lovers of hot food. In the second one come 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 the quantities are very abundant.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location:Calle Santa Engracia, 161 (Chamberí)
7. El Charolés
Many say it is the best cocido in Madrid, although it is not in Madrid capital. It is a great excuse to make a trip to El Escoriall. Of course, you should know that their cocido is not prepared daily, but only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It ‘s served in three bowls, like the traditional one, and they put grelo instead of berujas (although sometimes they do add them).
💶 €€€€€
📍Location:Floridablanca street, 24 (San Lorenzo de El Escorial)
8. Casa Álvarez
Casa Álvarez is a restaurant that has been in El Rastro since 1920 and prepares not only one of the best stews in Madrid, but also one of the cheapest. The individual puchero costs 15 € and the three vuelcos are made in this clay pot in which the soup is also cooked.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: Plaza del General Vara de Rey, 11 (Downtown)
9. Casa Carola
Casa Carola serves a cocido menu that, in addition to the three vuelcos, includes dessert, coffee and 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 be overwhelmed with the seasons, they have it on the menu from September to May (Madrid’s summer does not admit hot soups).
💶 €€€€€
📍 Location: Calle Padilla, 54 (Lista)
10. White Cross of Vallecas
Few restaurants can boast that a review starts talking about it based on the idea that fame precedes it. When a restaurant is in a central neighborhood it is normal that people 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) like this: “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”.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: Calle de Carlos Martín Álvarez, 58 (Puente de Vallecas)
11. Café Comercial
The very castizo Café Comercial has been serving such traditional dishes as cocido madrileño since 1887. They have it on the menu every Thursday and make a short version, two vuelcos, which is appreciated for daily days. Although in 2017 it was completely reformed, including its menu, they wanted to keep some of its essence offering typical dishes such as oreja, sweetbreads or bravas, but always with a new and unexpected touch.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: glorieta de Bilbao, 7 (Malasaña)
12. Treze
On the last Friday of every month at Treze they serve a curious version of cocido madrileño in which they substitute chicken (or hen) and pork for game meats such as wild boar and deer, served in three vuelcos. Of all the variations there can be of this spoon dish that almost has its own recipe in every region of the country, this is a small alteration that gives it continuity with the rest of the restaurant’s menu, known especially for its escabeches.
💶 €€€€€
📍Location: 34 General Pardiñas St. (Samanca)
