The “closed until September” signs hang on the windows of many restaurants in Madrid, but some restaurants that keep the city’s gastronomic spark alive are still resisting the vacations .
From the seafood touch and the grill of Candeli, to the gluten-free Andalusian tapas of Tabanco Amores and the vibrant and musical atmosphere of Luzi Bombón in Castellana, to the fresh and palatial proposal of the Terraza del Campo del Moro, the capital offers options for all tastes. Seasonal dishes, reinterpreted traditional recipes and unique spaces come together for locals and visitors to live a summer full of flavor, music and memorable experiences in Madrid.
Mami Tacos
Specializing in birria -the traditional Jalisco stew based on beef cooked at low temperature with chiles and spices-, Mami Tacos offers tacos, quesadillas, quesabirrias and other tacos such as Papi -which does not go with birria. There are also totopos with guacamole or with the stew itself. One of the essential stops for lovers of Mexican street food in Madrid during the month of August. A must-try for Mexicans in Madrid, by the way, with which we made a special taco to celebrate reaching one million followers on Instagram.
📍Location: Calle de San Andrés, 31 (Malasaña).
💶 Price: €€€€€
Albufera
A few steps from Plaza Castilla, Albufera Madrid is a rice restaurant that combines tradition and creativity: Valencian paella with thin layer and premium product, signature rice dishes such as the matured low loin with snow peas, and lighter proposals for summer evenings. The menu also includes starters such as marinated sardines with citrus fennel emulsion, Valencian tuna titaina with egg or Russian salad with sautéed prawns. The space has private lounges, a wine cellar with more than 150 references and a terrace ideal for outdoor dining.
📍Location: La Moraleja and Mateo Inurria, 19.
💶 Price: €€€€€
Candeli
The Jornadas del Atún Rojo Salvaje de Tarifa are the gastro plan of the month for when you want to have the feeling of eating at the edge of the beach in Zahara, but you’ve stayed in Madrid working. The tuna they serve is caught artisanally and sustainably, reinforces the restaurant’s commitment to seasonality and good product offering noble cuts and preparations such as tartar and marmitako.
📍Location: Calle de Ponzano, 47 (Chamberí).
💶 Price:€€€€€
Tabanco Amores
Located in Lavapiés, Tabanco Amores has the essence of Andalusian tabancos, but with a 100% gluten-free menu signed by José Fuentes (Kulto) and Javier Goya (Triciclo). This place recreates the traditional atmosphere of the Jerez taverns-wineries, with a menu that ranges from cold meats and homemade pickles to fried foods, sandwiches, molletes, meats, fish and a selection of desserts, all suitable for celiacs. The sea breeze can also be savored here.
📍Location: Calle de Sta. Isabel, 38 (Centro)
💶 Price:€€€€€
Luzi Bombón
Terrace and a menu full of cold dishes, Luzi Bombón is a refuge in the heart of Castellana. Its open-air space shines on summer nights with soul, jazz and DJ sets that liven up Madrid’s summer Fridays and Saturdays. The cold bar proposal has specialties such as red shrimp ceviche with totopos, Amélie oyster au naturel or tempura with ponzu and lemon, mango salmorejo, shrimp and pickled cucumber, as well as red tuna tartar with tobbiko, avocado and yuzu mayonnaise, creating an authentic seafood feast.
📍Location: Paseo de la Castellana, 35 (Chamberí).
💶 Price:€€€€€
La Terraza del Campo del Moro
La Terraza del Campo del Moro becomes this summer one of the most special refuges in Madrid. The location is privileged and it is not bold to say that it has one of the best views in Madrid. It is located in the historic gardens at the foot of the Royal Palace, surrounded by nature invites you to enjoy the coolness of the evening, as they are open until 11.30 pm. The menu is designed to enjoy from the appetizer to the final drink, with fresh dishes, snacks, cocktails well prepared.
📍Location: Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 1 (Príncipe Pío).
💶 Price:€€€€€
Quintoelemento
A restaurant on the heights of one of the most iconic buildings in the city: Quintoelemento is located on the seventh floor of Teatro Kapital and has a retractable roof with LED screens that project immersive scenarios (an ocean, a jungle…). Futurism in sight, tradition with a touch of avant-garde on the plate, Quintoelemento has a summer menu of 25€ with starter, main course and dessert. Open from Monday to Friday throughout August.
📍Location: Calle de Atocha, 125 (Centro)
💶 Price:€€€€€
El Patio de Triana
Just a few steps from the Retiro, El Patio de Triana is a tavern without artifice that bets on the essentials: honest Andalusian cuisine, market produce and comforting recipes. A direct heir to the original location in Narváez, this new space maintains the same winning formula of its predecessor, with a menu designed for sharing, tasting and repeating.
Its proposal -completely gluten-free- goes from the chicharrones served as in Sanlúcar to some squid tails that surprise for their lightness, passing through a white shrimp from Huelva treated with care. No frills or signature cuisine: just flavor, simplicity and coherence. And yes, they are also open in August.
📍 Location: Calle del Doctor Castelo, 15 (Retiro)
💶 Price: €€€€€
KOTE
A Korean grill in buffet format that borders on haute cuisine. This is how KOTE could be defined, the new restaurant of chef Víctor Camargo (Salmon Guru, Genko), which proposes a unique experience: the waiter cooks at your own table and adapts each dish to your taste. All for less than 30€.
The menu, with influences from Korea, Japan, Thailand and Spain, includes premium cuts such as A5 wagyu or short rib in bulgogi, sobrasada gyozas, Korean lasagna or Iberian secret jajangmyeon. You can choose between two menus (€29.95 and €39.95), and both allow you to repeat dishes in rounds. You can buy the menu at this link.
📍 Location:Calle de la Princesa, 13 (Centro)
💶Price: €€€€€
KultO
Ten years after opening in Retiro, KultO remains one of those restaurants that need no introduction, but is always worth remembering. The proposal of chef José Fuentes maintains its Cadiz soul – tuna from the Almadraba tuna trap included – but with a broader and more contemporary look.
His menu includes grilled meats, ceviches, rice dishes and a cucumber of matured blonde cow that is almost legendary in the city. It is served with glass bread, habanero, payoyo cheese and green peppers, and even has Dabiz Muñoz among its fans. Also surprising are dishes such as its fried ear (closer to a crispy torrezno than to traditional casquería). Product cuisine, without concessions, which in August continues to work just as well.
📍 Location: Calle de Ibiza, 4 (Retiro).
💶 Price: €€€€€
Tobalá
The Mexican that conquered Chamberí is back, but in an Oaxacan hacienda version. Tobalá, now in the heart of Sierra de Guadarrama, offers freshly made tortillas, pozole de los tres colores, jabalí pibil and stews with local produce (and its own garden). The house smells of firewood and chiles, and the kitchen is run by José Ramón Moreiras, the chef whom Queen Letizia once told that his salsa was “to die for”.
It only opens on weekends at noon and does not accept online reservations, but take our word for it: it’s worth the trip.
📍Location: Camino de la Fuente, s/n (Los Molinos).
💶 Price: €€€€€
Raza Madrid
A temple for lovers of grilled meat. Raza Madrid, from the creators of La Vaca Argentina, works with national and international breeds and different degrees of maturation, accompanied by a very well selected wine cellar. There is no shortage of options such as wagyu tataki, artichokes with crispy jerky, scallops or its 500-gram roxa asturiana beef chop.
One of the best options to eat meat in Madrid during the month of August.
📍Location: calle de Juan Ramón Jiménez, 11; calle del Barquillo, 8 and paseo de Eduardo Dato, 8.
💶 Price: €€€€€
Le Chinois
Inspired by the imperial China of the Qing Dynasty, Le Chinois combines traditional haute cuisine with a spectacular interior design: lanterns, lattices, velvet, silk and an imposing dragon sculpture presiding over the ceiling. Its menu is prepared following classic techniques and recipes, with dishes such as handmade dim sum -Xiao Long Bao of Iberian pork or Jiao Zi of Leon black pudding-, steamed fish in an oven brought from China and, above all, a lacquered duck roasted with wood from fruit trees that is one of the best in Madrid.
📍Location: Calle de María de Molina, 50 (Salamanca).
💶 Price: €€€€€
This article has been written by Alberto del Castillo and Elena Francés.