Discover Where To Eat in Madrid: 10 Must-Try Restaurants
Madrid is brimming with restaurants with affordable, tasty food. I’m talking about everything from hole-in-the-wall restaurants to rooftop bars to upscale restaurants. Yes, even the upscale restaurants in this city will cost you like 20-25 EUR for a meal. It was hard for me to write this post because there were so many options to choose from. Still, I’ve managed to break down the top 10 restaurants I think you should try when visiting Madrid.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links
This post is part of the Madrid Travel series. Here’s a full list of posts in the series.
Walking tour: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Madrid
Day Trips: The 10 Best Day Trips From Madrid
Food: Where To Eat in Madrid: 10 Best Restaurants To Try
1 Day: One Day Madrid Itinerary: What To Do, See, and Eat
3 Days: Three Day Madrid Itinerary: Things To Do for First-Timers
Winter: The Best Things To Do in Madrid in Winter
Tourist Mistakes: 6 Common Tourist Mistakes To Avoid in Madrid
Casa Julio
This tiny establishment serves the best croquetas (croquettes) in Madrid, hand down! I challenge you to find better croquetas in the city. If you do, please send me a message. Casa Julio serves gourmet croquetas with a variety of interesting flavors, like blue cheese and potato leek. There is also the classic jamón y queso – ham and cheese.
The interior is quite small, with seating for only about 20 people so you may end up having to stand if you go during peak times. Spanish people eat dinner starting at around 9 pm so definitely going anytime after that. I’d recommend you go between the hours of 1 pm – 5 pm.
Calle de la Madera, 37, 28004 Madrid, Spain
La Buha
Ladies and gentleman, if you haven’t had the Tortilla de Patata at La Buha, then you haven’t had Tortilla de Patata. That’s just the gospel truth.
This place serves some next level Tortilla de Patata, stuffed with goat cheese and caramelized onions. It’s runny and messy and oh so delicious! Portions are huge so you may want to share, or you can take it home for later.
La Buha also has a sister restaurant called El Buho, which is located in Chueca. I haven’t tried it out yet so I can’t compare.
Plaza de la Cebada, 10, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Restaurante Sobrino de Botin
Founded in 1725, this is the oldest continuously running restaurant in the world. It’s an upscale restaurant with a dining experience that is second to none. Honestly, the prices, which range between 21-40 euros, are a bargain given the wonderful service and ambiance. The specialty here is the Cochinillo Asado, or suckling pig. It’s served with a side of perfectly-roasted potatoes.
Calle de Cuchilleros, 17, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Casa Salvador
Rabo de Toro, oxtail, is a delicacy in Madrid and other parts of Spain. Casa Salvador is one of the best places to try this dish. This restaurant has been around since 1941 and has an old-school, traditional set up in the interior, with photos of matadors hanging on the walls. The ambiance is perfect for a nice dinner for two but also works for solo travelers.
Calle de Barbieri, 12, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Juana La Loca
This restaurant literally means ‘Juana the crazy woman’ so it piqued my interest from the get-go. I was walking around Madrid one late night and stumbled upon Juana La Loca, which is right next to the main city square, Plaza Mayor.
Then I remembered that a friend had talked about how great the food was. So in I went. I ordered two dishes – the Tortilla de Patata and a fish dish. The Tortilla de Patata was not at the level of La Buha but was good. The fish dish didn’t rock my world, but I’m curious to try other items on the menu. This place gets packed so make a reservation.
Plaza de Puerta de Moros, 4, 28005 Madrid, Spain
La Pulperia de Victoria
Pulpo a la Gallega is a signature dish from Galicia. It’s basically octopus seasoned with olive oil, salt, and paprika. Simple but yummy. La Pulperia de Victoria is the best pulpo I’ve had in Madrid – better than at popular markets like Mercado de San Miguel and Mercado de San Antón. If you want to try pulpo while in Madrid, this is the place to go!
Calle de La Victoria, 2 Junto a, Puerta del Sol, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Takos al Pastor
This photo of Takos al Pastor is courtesy of TripAdvisorI’m from Los Angeles so my standards for Mexican food are pretty high. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Their 1 euro tacos are delicious! The Conchita Pibil tacos are a must. This is a great place to go for a late night dinner, which is the norm in Spain. You can get a jarra, a jar of beer, for 5 EUR.
Calle de la Abada, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Egeo
This photo of Egeo is courtesy of TripAdvisorGreek food is one of my favorites and this little restaurant in Lavapies always reminds me of why I love Greek food so much. Located on a hilly street, Egeo specializes in souvlaki. I think I’ve tried almost everything on the menu and nothing disappointed. I especially like their Tzatziki and feta cheese fries.
Calle de San Carlos, 17, 28012 Madrid, Spain
El Jardin Secreto
This photo of El Jardin Secreto is courtesy of TripAdvisorThis charming spot in Malasaña has an Alice in Wonderland aura. The interior decor consists of plants, flower pots hanging from the ceilings, and pretty ornaments. There is also a secret garden upstairs. Hence, the name.
In terms of the food, the brownies will send you to brownie heaven! The menu consists of mainly tapas, sandwiches, and desserts. You can get a giant cup of tinto de verano for 6 EUR.
Calle del Conde Duque, 2, 28015 Madrid, Spain
Gymage
This photo of Gymage is courtesy of TripAdvisorThis lively rooftop bar/restaurant located at the top of a gym complex right next to Gran Via. It has a Mediterranean vibe, with cozy white futons and large beach umbrellas. The croquettes are a must try – runner up to Casa Julio’s.
Calle de la Luna, 2, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Travel Products/Resources I Love
Tep Wireless Pocket WIFI Device – With portable WiFi, you can say goodbye to ridiculous roaming charges and SIM cards for good. I’ve been using the Tep Wireless Pocket WIFI device, called a Teppy, for a while and love the peace of mind it gives me. The Teppy provides 3G-4G WiFi for at least 6 hours and works in 100+ countries. In my experience, it lasts 9 hours. It also works in a variety of landscapes and terrains. I even filmed a Facebook Live from a boat in the Atlantic Ocean using my Teppy. I can also use Google Maps, request an Uber, call my mom, and do tons of other things I couldn’t do before. Quick tip: turn off the device when you’re not using it so that the battery can last longer. Use code SOMTOSEEKS to get 10% off your order.
Booking.com – Booking.com is my go-to website for booking discounted accommodations around the world. What I love most about Booking.com is the variety of properties you can find, from luxury apartments to treehouses to university housing. It’s hard to beat the insanely low prices. The website also has a flexible cancellation policy, which is great if things come up or you change your mind.
Skyscanner – Skyscanner.com is my go-to website to search for flights. It’s hard to beat the prices! I’ve snagged a $24 direct flight to Milan, a $30 flight to Berlin, a $400 roundtrip ticket to Colombia, and a $500 roundtrip ticket to Japan. I’ve been using Skyscanner since I studied abroad in Spain back in 2012. I check the website along with the Hopper app to determine the best time to buy tickets.
For more travel product recommendations, check out my travel essentials page.
One more thing: if you enjoyed this post, please share it!
Somto Ugwueze
Hi! I'm Somto. Two years ago, I stopped making excuses, ditched my indecisive friends, and started booking flights. Today, I'm a full-time solo traveler on a mission to inspire young women to seek new adventures.
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=_vy0qj-WxFoAX-mjbwg&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAPqz89qBOUgOh00AfVwwwiMtUalPvCK3LjBZqNY1ZuAQ&oe=657A6126)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363496891_3960588657501192_2279069811238681499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=LtJTETr6UhgAX99KV_j&_nc_oc=AQmAmH8fEtUCrcX0JC3ab3nmi5MRB4e2Ji-S98sk2ENU8ZKpshumpTsxh4N_r9N8gx8&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfBLHqP4rlViQp28OGkZfCUrWhgAEJg_pGXIiiilHsTNeQ&oe=657922C5)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/364071653_816389820137326_3597345990832080157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=MYF5J3kz_SAAX8LrCKa&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAyBMpI95aIAIlzLZ-1w4-QTfs64lpl2_uEMGTDvZljQA&oe=6578CBC2)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://www.somtoseeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n-256x320.jpg)
Leave a Reply