DK Travel : Madrid

Madrid’s three world-class art museums and two royal palaces alone would set the pulses racing, but there is more to this exciting and diverse capital than its tourist sights. The fashion boutiques of the Salamanca district showcase Europe’s top designers and are just the tip of a shopping iceberg, perfectly complementing the informality of the fascinating El Rastro market, while Madrid’s world-famous tapas bars vie for attention with gourmet restaurants and humble tabernas in a city which never sleeps. To simply watch the world go by, head for the supremely elegant Plaza Mayor.

La Balconada

Nicely situated, “the balcony” overlooks Chinchón’s main square. Typical Castilian fare – sopa de ajo (garlic soup), menestra (lamb and vegetable stew) and pepitoria de gallina (chicken in an almond and egg sauce).
La Bardemcilla

Owned by the sister of Spanish actor Javier Bardem, this lively café-restaurant serves typical Spanish dishes named after Bardem’s films.
La Barraca

This Valencian restaurant specializes in rice dishes, including paella .
LA BARRACA MADRID

With an interior decorated like a typical Valencian country house and divided up into several small, cosy dining rooms, it's an ideal choice for groups of friends, family dinners or business lunches. It's a busy restaurant that's full every day and night with people ordering from the 20 different varieties of paella on offer. Despite being so busy and so popular with tourists, it still retains its original charm. Foreigners tend to order jugs of sangría whilst locals stick to wine or beer.
La Boca del Lobo

This lively cellar venue (the name means “the jaws of the wolf”) has a great atmosphere. They dance to anything here – acid jazz, hip-hop, rock ‘n’ roll, you name it.
La Bola

La Bola has an original 19th-century dining room. The speciality is cocido , served in earthenware pots (pucheros ).
La Broche

A leading member of Madrid’s culinary élite, chef Sergi Arola has already earned La Broche two Michelin stars for his creative way with traditional Catalan recipes. A typical example is his turbot con patas de puerco , where the pan-fried turbot is sprinkled with coriander and served with a jelly of pig’s feet wrapped in onion. The minimalist decor helps to create a relaxed, surprisingly informal ambience.
La Casa del Abuelo

This tapas bar par excellence was founded in 1906 and is still going strong. The speciality of the house is prawns (see La Casa del Abuelo).
La Casa del Abuelo

Near Plaza Santa Ana, “Grandad’s place” is a spit-and-sawdust bar with bags of atmosphere. It’s customary to order the house wine to accompany the tapas – variations around the humble shrimp. Try them grilled in their shells (a la plancha ) or peeled and fried in oil and garlic (al ajillo ). Standing room only (see La Casa del Abuelo).
La Cueva

An elegant restaurant, set in an 18th-century building designed by Juan de Villanueva, architect of El Escorial, no less. Grilled meats cooked to perfection.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €25
- €25-€35
- €35-€55
- €55-€70
- €over €70