Themed restaurants have gained momentum in Madrid. Partly because it is an eye-catcher and partly because, in the face of the search of third locations where it makes sense to meet in places that in addition to good food and drink have to do with your tastes, preferences or hobbies. Although some restaurants with entertainment, o restaurants dedicated to one ingredient in particular would also have fit in some way, what the selected ones have in common is that they are an ode to a specific element.
1. Wonderland
Wonderland makes it clear that the trend of themed restaurants is on the rise. The space is totally dedicated to Alice in Wonderland, with the difference that here instead of cakes they serve Asian food. If going to an open buffet with revolving food is already an adventure in which you try to get the dish you want before your table passes, in this one the floor and ceiling seem to merge and the doors are locks. Whether or not you’re a fan of this popular Lewis Carroll tale, it’s the experience that counts.
💶 €€€€€
Calle Manuela Malasaña, 5 (Malasaña)
2. Comic Planet
Within the geek world there is a very expanded field that generates hordes of fans: superhero comics. Both Marvel and DC characters have a special space dedicated to them in this 600 m², three-story restaurant. Comic Planet is one of many people’s favorite places to hold special events if you’re a fan of caped hero stories, in fact it has two reserved for seniors: Wayne Manor and Batcave. The food could not be anything other than the classics of American cuisine, except that everything is made from scratch on site.
💶 €€€€€
Avenida de Alberto de Alcocer, 5 (Cuzco)
3. The sow
There are themed restaurants where the object of worship is clear, but the motive is fuzzy. At La Cerda pink hams with wings fly overhead, portraits of aristocratic pigs decorate the walls and fuchsia neon signs light up every corner. The ode to this very Iberian animal is clear and its menu follows the same line, although it may seem ironic, almost all of its main dishes have pork. If you like pink, pigs in all their forms and the excessive decoration, this is your third location.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle Barbieri, 15 (Chueca)
4. Estupenda Café Bar
La Estupenda Café Bar may be the gathering place for those who like to talk about films that have played at Sundance and to whom David Lynch seems commercial, but love his aesthetic. The theme of this space leaves little doubt when you see the red velvet curtains and two-tone floor, Twin Peaks references are everywhere.
On the second floor, it copies the American dinner of the series and has a very concise menu: homemade cakes, hot dogs, milkshakes or cocktails from noon to dawn. While the downstairs takes over at night and transforms into a space for DJ sessions, movies and monologues.
Behind one of the alternative bars in the Malasaña neighborhood is Silvia Superstar, one of the last icons of La Movida, singer of the group Killer Barbies, who renovated the old Coconut Bar, turning it into Estupenda Café-Bar.
💶 €€€€€
📍 Calle de San Roque, 14 (Malasaña)
5. Frida Intima
This themed restaurant in Madrid explores a new concept: it is a gastro-gallery dedicated to Frida Kahlo. The direct descendants of the iconic Mexican artist are the creators of Frida Intima, where the dishes that were eaten in her home are cooked and photographs of the most familiar part of the artist are exhibited. They also support emerging artists from the United States, in search of “New Fridos” as they call them.
💶 €€€€€
p.º del Pintor Rosales, 32 (Argüelles)