Madrid, as you would expect from a major European capital, offers a huge choice of restaurants serving dishes and drinks from all over Spain, as well as everything from Chips to Sushi. The tapas bars and restaurants in each of Madrid’s neighbourhoods reflect the distinct atmosphere of the barrios.
While there isn’t much to find around the Paseo del Prado, the streets around the Plaza Santa Ana – just around the corner from the Prado – are packed with all kinds of bars and restaurants.
This area is a great place for the tapeo – the pub crawl from tapas bar to tapas bar. Please note that Madrid law doesn’t allow drinking in the streets!
Local Foods & Beverages
Eating out in Madrid is much cheaper than in most European capitals, and the very sensible tradition of the fixed-price lunch menu, the menú del día, means that it’s possible to try out some of the city’s best restaurants for a reasonable price.
Local cuisine includes Callos a la Madrileña - a hotpot of spicy beef tripe, Oreja de Cerdo - pigs ear fried in garlic and Cocido Madrileño - chickpea soup/stew served with meat and vegetables. Too exotic?
Alright, then go for some tapas, typical Spanish starters, or eat a Bocadillo de Calamares - a squid sandwich which is available at kiosks all around Plaza Mayor.
Main Drinking Areas
There are a multitude of bars on and around the main squares downtown and in particular at Calle de la Cava Baja.
Irish & English Pubs
There are plenty of pubs in town, such as Finnegan’s at Plaza de las Salesas 9 (Metro: Chueca) which is open till 2am.
Whelan’s can be found at Corral de la Sinagoga/ Alcala de Henares. For more information, visit their website.
One that comes personally recommended is The Red Corner, which is on Calle Bolivar. Not far from Legazpi metro, this is the home of an Atlético de Madrid fan club. The beer is reasonably priced, and the punters are jovial.
Restaurants
Madrid has a wide variety of restaurants serving both Spanish and practically all types of international cuisine. Both quality and prices vary tremendously.
It can be particularly expensive around Plaza Santa and Plaza Mayor. A cheaper option is the La Latina neighbourhood just south of Plaza Mayor, especially along the Cava Baja Street. Other recommended areas are around Alonso Martinez, San Bernardo, Noviciado and Chueca metro stations.
Fast Food Outlets
For those who’d rather eat things they trust already, the usual Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and McDonalds are all present in the centre of Madrid, as well as kebab shops and Chinese and Indian take-aways etc.
