Where to eat in Madrid.

El Perro y la Galleta

This was the first (and second) restaurant I came to when I arrived to Madrid. I was staying in the hotel called Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII and the restaurant is located at a ten-minute walk from this hotel in Calle de Claudio Coello 1. The funny story is that I was not used to the Spanish 10PM dinner rhythm so when we first went to the restaurant to book a place they said they were completely booked up for a week. After a while they said they had space at 7. 30 and we had to leave by 9PM (as if that was a problem). It was perfect, because of course people start coming to dinner at 9PM in Spain, and as I was still in the English rhythm 7. 30 was on point; so we booked it for two nights in a row.

El perro y la galleta has a classic, old English-style décor with an abundance of wood and vintage objects such as mirrors, bookcases, old radios and candlesticks. This is partly why I love the place, as it is so unique and original that you feel as if you’re in a wonderland.

The food is the main reason as to why I love this venue, as it is so varied and everything is so delicious. You can start your meal with a tuna tartar with mango, avocado, ginger, chiecken fingers covered in buiscuit, sesame and two dips or something lighter such as grilled artichokes with garlic and parmesan. The pricing on the starters are slightly more expensive than your average Spanish restaurant (9. 50 euros-17. 50 euros) but it is absolutely worth it. I tried the rice with mushrooms and wild asparagus (which is an enormous portion), Cod Mexican tacos with guacamole, coriander and pico de gallo and the Cod fish “Pil-Pil” style with ratatouille. All three dishes are delicious however the Cod Mexican Tacos were my favourite, the cod was beautifully cooked in a light batter and the guacamole complimented the fish exquisitely. If you are not into fish then there are may meat options such as Grilled fillet mignon with truffled smashed potatoes and Mexican tacos with marinated pork, pineapple and coriander. The deserts are out of this world. I tried the Apple crumble, ice cream biscuit, white chocolate sauce and vanilla, which words cannot even describe. To book your table you can reserve directly through their website: http://www.elperroylagalleta.com

Juanita Cruz

Juanita Cruz is located in an old tube station on Paseo de la Habana 105. Part of Larrumba restaurants, its décor is elegant and contemporary combined with a relaxed and fun atmosphere given by the large leather sofas and low wooden tables. Larrumba is a group of young entrepreneurs who opened up eight restaurants in Madrid aiming to create a right balance between quality and pricing with the combination of different atmospheres, decoration and location.

Junaita Cruz specializes in a Latin cuisine with a fun modern twist. When I went I tried fried rice wrapped in a banana leaf, which was insanely delicious, but other interesting options on the menu are: steak tartar, mini burgers, carpaccio and sushi. Food is not the only thing that Juanita Cruz excels at; they also have a wide range of beautifully made cocktails perfect for a drink out with your friends; the cherry ginger martini is a perfect combination of sweet and sour. To come here I would highly recommend booking because it is a very popular place; to make a reservation click here: http://www.juanitacruz.com

Habanera

Also part of the Larrumba experience is Habanera, a Cuban inspired restaurant with an incredible tropical ambiance and Cuban colonial architecture. The excessive plant-based decoration and warm atmosphere create confusion between the interior and exterior giving you a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of a city life and relax in this calming setting. The cuisine is a Mediterranean/Cuban mix with an amazing combination of ingredients. Their menu contains a wide variety of choices for example prawn ramen with coconut mil and rice noodles, beef burger in a brioche bread and truffle & brie sauce and a variety of tacos.

The great thing about Habanera is that it also serves brunch, which I have personally not had, however after looking at the menu it is certainly on my wish list, and they serve omelettes, eggs benedict, waffles and pancakes. If you prefer coming here for an evening drink then they also have a long list of interesting Cuban inspired cocktails for you to choose from.

To book a table click on the following link: http://habaneramadrid.com/reserva-online

Amazónico

Restaurante Amazónico is located in Calle Jorge Juan in the heart of Madrid’s Salamanca quarter. Opened by Sandro Silva and Marto Seco who also own three other extremely popular restaurants in Madrid (El Paraguas, Ten con Ten and Ultramarinos Quintín). The speciality of this restaurant is Brazilian cuisine with a fusion of other cuisines such as Japanese, Asian and Latin American. The tropical ambiance adds to the Latin inspiration with an abundance of plants and green furniture giving a jungle-like atmosphere. Located on two floors the upstairs is a restaurant with an outdoor courtyard and the lower floor is a Jazz Club with live music and a bar. The menu is varied however I would advise going for the “Chuleta de Bife”, which is a rib-eye steak for two as the meat is extremely succulent and after all, this is what the restaurant specializes in. However there are other delicious options such as Japanese kobe beef, Chilian Wagyu or fish. Their desert menu also does not disappoint, with braised pineapple and ice cream or a banana and vanilla cake. This restaurant is amongst the most elegant and popular restaurants of the city; therefore a reservation is a must (and if it is for a weekend then it must be a good month in advance). To book a table: http://restauranteamazonico.com

Perrachica

Located in Calle Eloy Gonzalo, in the area of Arapiles, with just a fifteen-minute walk from Gran Via is Perrachica, a new and fun place to have a bite to eat with a group of friends. Opened only recently in 2015, this new location is already buzzing amongst the locals.

Another one of Larrumba’s fantastic creations is Perrachica, a total buzz of a venue with incredible artistic décor and a tropical ambiance underlined by the abundance of green tiles and a rustic wooden design. The cuisine is a mixture of various continents with pasta, vegetable, meat and fish dishes. They also offer a range of dishes to share such as prawn tacos, tortilla and croquetas. When I went on my lunch after a long morning at university (and I was starving) I tried the beef burger with brie, rocket and caramelized onion and it was insanely good. If you’ve ever been to Shake Shack in London then this is what I could compare it to. The beef was so succulent and the brie coupled with caramelized onion compliment perfectly the meat. Unfortunately I was too full to have a desert however my friend ordered (and of course I had to try a bite) “espuma de nutella, helado de vanilla y migas de brownie”. This basically was a chocolate heaven, probably a whole days worth of calories in a desert but it was worth it. From what I tasted each and every aspect of the desert went perfectly together, both the nutella with ice cream was a whole new level of Ben & Jerries and the brownie with vanilla ice cream, well that is just a classic. If you find yourself looking for someplace to have some food then you should definitely opt for Perrachica, the pricing ranges between 15-25 euros per person. To book a table then click on the following link: http://perrachica.com/reserva-online

El Paraguas

El Paraguas, located in the midst of Salamanca in Calle Jorge Juan 16, the restaurant first opened it’s doors in 2004 and has been a hit ever since. The concept centres on Asturian gastronomy and they try to recreate traditional recipes by using authentic Asturian flavours and aromas. The menu ranges from starters such as tuna tartar with salmon caviar or king prawns filled with spinach. Following to the main courses you have a choice between rice, stew, fish and meat. I tend to go venture towards the fish because it is a more delicate option however there are a few interesting meat options as well.

The warm and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant sets the perfect ambiance for an evening dinner amongst family, friends or your other half. To book your table click here: http://www.elparaguas.com

Located in Calle de Jorge Juan, 16

Ten con Ten

Marta Seco and Sandro Silva are the owners of El Paraguas and Ten con Ten. Ten con Ten is their most recent project and through their love of good food they have created a wonderful restaurant with top quality cuisine and an enchanting atmosphere. There is more than one room to the restaurant, including a more casual everyday room and a more private, formal room. The dark-ish tones of the formal room create a romantic and sensual ambiance and the blue and red chairs add a magical touch.

The menu has numerous interesting options ranging from sharing dishes, pasta, salads, meat and fish. Excellent options are black cod, red tuna tacos and roasted beef with truffled potatoes. If you are a wine lover then you will certainly love this restaurant as they have a wide variety of wines and champagnes. To book a table click here: http://www.restaurantetenconten.com/index.html

Located in Calle de Ayala, 6

Ramses

Ramses is one of the top luxury restaurants in Madrid, located on the roundabout of Plaza de la Independencia. The restaurant devotes its quality both in the food and in the restaurant’s décor. In terms of cuisine, the restaurant revolves around clean and healthy eating with high quality ingredients and flavour. The Mediterranean recipes contain fresh ingredients that have been carefully selected by the chefs.

Ramses is composed by three cuisines; the main gastronomic restaurant called Suria, Laterraza that presents luxurious, high quality raciones and main dishes and Natsuki, a fusion between Japanese and other specialities of the world. Each of the three cuisines have their own specialities but what they certainly have in common is the attention to detail placed in the selection of the ingredients and in the presentation of the dish. Suria is an elegant lunch and dinner option with a variety of choices such as the traditional Iberian Cochinilo with mango and squash. Laterraza focuses on sushi and sashimi options. I would recommend the beef burger with caramelized onion, brie bacon and sobrasada. Finally Natsuki is a very interesting concept serving Pizza Sushi. This restaurant is frequently fully booked, especially at weekends so it is advised to book your table. To book a table, send an email to: [email protected]

Located in Plaza de la Independencia

Aspen-La Moraleja

Part of La Moraleja group, Aspen is located in Plaza de la Moraleja. Miguel Arias opened the restaurant in 1992, alongside his other two important restaurants “Las Cuatro Estaciones” in Madrid and “Flanigan de Puerto Portals” in Mallorca. The interior of the restaurant reflects a simple and casual atmosphere, which makes it an easy setting for a family dinner. The terrace on the other hand is the best part of the restaurant; with large round tables and a well-lit environment. The cuisine of the restaurant specializes in japponese, with an incredibly varied menu of different fresh fish. You can chose between tuna or salmon tartars, sashimi’s, tataki’s and for something more filling, donburis (large rice bowls with fried egg and various topping. If you are not a sushi lover they also have other options such as chicken teriyaki, wagyu beef and a wagyu hot dog. The quality of the food here, especially the fish is excellent and regarding the pricing you can expect to pay around 40 euros per head.

Located in Plaza de la Moraleja

Gigi meet me

If you have ever been to Beach Blanket Babylon in London then you will absolutely adore this venue. Similarly to the Notting hill setting, Gigi meet me is a total heartthrob of a place. The restaurant’s décor is so abstract, with white marble tables, tiled floor, red brick walls and large velvet sofas; all this combined create a stunning location making it an absolute pleasure coming here and spending a couple of hours having lunch with a friend or sitting down alone and getting on with some work. The perfect, tranquil ambiance is underlined with the simple pleasures of life: good food.

Offering both brunches and main food Gigi excels in the culinary aspects. Regarding the brunch, for only 22 euros you have a hot beverage, freshly squeezed orange juice, aromatic water, greek yoghurt with muesli and fresh fruit, a cookie and a choice between either bread and jam or a hot croissant or avocado on toast with poached egg or a croquet madam with ham or spinach. Finally it is up to you whether you want to add a cocktail for 6 euros, however I am not usually a fan of alcohol in the morning.

The main menu is slightly more varied with options such as tacos, tartars, risotto, meat and grilled fish; all come beautifully presented on a dish. As for their deserts, you must try their delicious cheesecake with red berry coulis. You can expect to pay a maximum of 20-30 euros per person.

Located in Calle de Luchana, 13.

Marieta

Having taken inspiration from London, New York City and Vietnam, Marieta, the creator of this new concept restaurant was inspired by the industrial and warehouse décor. It Is a very artsy and fun setting with a full-on-display cuisine so you can see how various dishes are cooked. Specializing in Brunches, for 19. 95 Euros per person you can chose between a “first course” such as croissant, toast, waffles or mini pancakes and a “second course” such as eggs benedict, sandwiches and savoury pancakes; a hot drink and a freshly squeezed orange juice is also included.

With regards to the lunch menu the absolutely stunning presentation of the dishes almost contrast the simplicity of the restaurant décor. Highly recommended is the teriyaki chicken dish, seafood pad thi, beef coated in breadcrumbs with poached egg and truffle on top or the roast beef with potato gratin.

Not to mention the special attention given to the deserts that are served in different ways such as the cheesecake served in a frying pan! The concept of the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and I highly recommend coming here for lunch.

Located in Paseo de la Castillana, 44

Casa Mono Madrid

Casa Mono is a beautifully designed contemporary kitchen bar and cocktail bar located on the west side of Malasana in Calle Tutor. The restaurant is composed of various spaces that adapt to your necessities for example the bar area of a casual drink & tapas or the terrace for a more romantic feel. Similarly to Marieta, this restaurant also places special attention to detail and to the presentation of the dishes (meaning that I cannot stop taking photos of each and every dish we order). Anyway the menu is extensive, with a wide range of starters such as salads, hummus, tartars and foie gras; or for something warmer then gyozas, vegetable tempura and tacos. As for the main course they offer chicken curry, hamburgers and steak tartar or amongst the fish options I would recommend you try the red tuna tataki because is insane how tasty this is.

Casa Mono also specializes in cocktail making and they present to you a wide variety of different cocktails that are beautifully crafted by well-trained baristas.

To book a table check out their website here: http://www.casamonomadrid.com/reserva-online/

Located in Calle Tutor, 37

Eccola

Eccola was initially recommended to me by all my flatmates when I arrived into the city and had no idea where to go for some simple, tasty Mediterranean food. Eccola is a contemporary chic restaurant that turns into a nightclub after midnight. You are guaranteed a good night out if you come here. The restaurant is made up of an indoor and an outdoor terrace, which is perfect for the warm Madrid summers. Aiming to adapt to most needs, Eccola is perfect for a lunch out on the terrace, an after-work get together with colleagues or an evening out with friends. The cuisine aims to modernize traditional Mediterranean foods, serving delicacies such as cured meats, avocado and salmon tartar, burrata, mushroom risotto and sirloin steak with fig and fois gras.

Due to the popularity make sure you book the table here: http://www.eccolabar.com

Located in Calle Diego de Léon, 3

Bar Tomate

Located in the Camberí quarter, Bar Tomate is a fun and modern place serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; it is a multifunctional venue tending to most needs. They have a set daily menu for lunch that varies based upon the day. Other options available at lunchtime and dinnertime including things such as the amazing burrata, sun-dried tomatos and rocket, spinach and ricotta raviolis, and heavier options such as hamburger and fries, steak tartar, sirloin steak and grilled salmon in a teriyaki sauce.

The average price per person is around 20-25 euros. If you enjoy the atmosphere then come at the weekends and listen to a DJ playing until 2AM.

Located in Fernando el Santo, 26

Ultramarinos Quintin

Ultramarinos Quintin is the third and most recent restaurant of Marta Seco and Sandro Silva (Oweners of El Paraguas and Ten con Ten). Located in the heart of Salamanca, this restaurant is a fun concept, inspired by a fruit market. The pricing range is slightly higher than the other two restaurants, but it is a unique concept you will find nowhere else. They specialize in high quality dishes to share such as a cheese platter, a luxury selection of Iberian ham platter, black cod croquetas, cheviches and tuna tartar. On the side you can order a salad or a fresh gazpacho. On the other hand the restaurant does offer main dishes such as hake fish, sirloin steak or artichoke lasagne.

Located in Calle Jorge Juan, 17.

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