Strolling, riding a bike for the first time, spying mallards and eating well. Madrid Río is almost a lifestyle of its own within the capital. The river now functions as a connector of neighborhoods, classes and shared interests that reflect a trend: a more relaxed pace. In its rebirth, new and attractive culinary proposals have been emerging on both banks of the Manzanares.
Café del Río
Avenida de Portugal begins at Café del Río. This two-story bar-restaurant is at the gates of the Casa de Campo, on the banks of the Manzanares, and has one of the most privileged views of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. A coffee in the morning, the lunch menu or a tinto de verano in the afternoon: this space is a meeting point at almost any time.
📍Location: Avenida de Portugal, 1 (Moncloa – Aravaca)
€€€€€
Terraza La Playa
It is true, Terraza La Playa does not have fine sand, but it has the water -from the river, not the sea, obviously- very close, and this in Madrid already counts as a beach bar. It is next to the jets that every summer refresh this area of Madrid Rio and are one of the capital’s summer plans. But it is not necessary to wait for a summer heat wave, its terrace is appetizing in any season of the year.
📍Location: Madrid Río Park (Paseo de las Yeserías, 33)
€€€€€
Toboggan Bar
Bar Toboggan is close to Matadero and Madrid Rio and also has a large terrace, which is semi-covered and heated for when it rains or is cold.
It offers a menu that is rather a mosaic of traditional raciones and contemporary dishes at very affordable prices. From bravas and croquettes to gyozas and tequeños, from cochinita pibil tacos to calamari montadito or pepito levantino. A plus: dogs allowed.
📍Location: plaza de Rutilio Gacis, 2 (Delicias)
€€€€€
Dot Café
Dot Café is rich coffee, tempting pastries and a decoration of those that catch you. This coffee shop neighboring Madrid Río and Matadero has carved a niche for itself among those who have something to do in the neighborhood and those who don’t. “Going down” to Dot Café Bar, devouring a mixed sandwich that’s hard to beat and looking at the design of the space with a cup in your hands is more than enough reason to get out of bed on a Sunday.
📍Location: Calle de Eugenio Sellés, 6 (Chopera).
💶€€€€€
Casa Kike
Calle Melancólicos no longer has a stadium, but people still make the pilgrimage here to Casa Kike. This bar proves that a possible key to success is to do well what you have been doing all your life. No more pretensions and no more grandiloquence. Oxtail, cod in pilpil sauce, croquettes and a huge terrace. Its jungle sauce and the secret that hides it is another reason to visit Casa Kike.
Location: Paseo de los Melancólicos, 43 (Arganzuela).
💶€€€€€
Lur
Lur is the project of chefs Lucía Gutiérrez and Sergio Vera, a restaurant in Legazpi that has aroused interest despite the youth of its owners. Both come from cooking at Zuberoa -one Michelin star, three Repsol suns, which closed in 2022- so experience and know-how were not lacking when they took the plunge to open their own kitchen.
Here innovation and rotation of dishes is a dogma, every season the menu changes. In this very own and very clear approach to cooking, they combine traditional techniques with the most current creativity.
📍 Location: Bolivar street, 11 (Arganzuela).
💶€€€€€
Piantao
Piantao is the Argentine restaurant run by chef Javier Brichetto that has premises both in Chamberí and Legazpi. Both share the industrial aesthetics, the quality of the raw material -mostly meat- and the predominant use of embers. As a good representative of Argentine cuisine, dishes such as ojo de bife stand out, which attracts both natives of the South American country and locals alike.
📍 Location: Paseo de la Chopera, 69 (Legazpi).
💶€€€€€
Yeca Estrit Fud
Yeca Estrit Fud is already almost a classic in Lavapiés, but now it also has a restaurant in Madrid Río.
Its menu offers a unique fusion of Asian cuisine with a reduced but surprising menu. With dishes such as green chickencurry and Banh Xeo, the dining experience meets two great requirements: it is diverse and accessible.
📍 Location: Paseo de la Chopera, 33 (Arganzuela).
💶€€€€€
Taberna Delfín
Taberna Delfín is one of those culinary jewels of Usera, which, also being away from the center, adjusts prices more and is not collapsed by tourists. To the surprise of critics and gastronomic gurus such as Eric Vernacci or José Carlos Capel, the star dish prepared by Ming Heng Chen is the tripe. But it does not stop there, they serve all kinds of fresh seafood, including French oysters, and some steamed dishes, more typical of China. A mix worthy of a visit if you are at this point in Madrid Rio.
📍Location: Eugenio Caxes street, 12 (Usera).
💶€€€€€
Casa Mingo
In Casa Mingo you eat chicken and drink cider. And the fact is that this is one of the oldest cider houses in Madrid (1888), with its own elaboration. In case you miss Asturias. In addition, the restaurant keeps the aesthetics of many of the restaurants of the early twentieth century.
📍Location:Paseo de la Florida, 34 (Manzanares).
💶€€€€€