Restaurante Haches
In the Salamanca neighborhood, Restaurante Haches serves Spanish cuisine showcasing local ingredients and global influences.
Start with the croquettes—you can choose between traditional or garlic prawns. The candied artichokes with foie gras and the boldly-flavored Stilton cheese souffle are also popular choices for the first course. Restaurante Haches offers a variety of steak and seafood dishes for the main course, including baby squid cooked to perfection, a well-seasoned "sirloin in salt," and a juicy turbot with cava spice and roasted eggplant. Save room for dessert, torrijas, pieces of sweet fried bread akin to French toast, are a highlight here.
There's not a bad seat in the house; during the summer, you can dine al fresco on the terrace or cozy up in the stylish interior during the colder months. The restaurant is small, but locals tend to eat later, so reserve a table for an earlier hour if you want to beat the lunch or dinner rush.
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 79
El Pinchazo Cooking Bar
The warm smiles and friendly vibe at El Pinchazo Cooking Bar will have you feeling instantly at ease. And that's precisely what the two amigos who created the restaurant wanted: a place to enjoy good food and drinks in good company. Don't let the understated wooden furnishings fool you; although the ambiance at El Pinchazo is unpretentious and the prices are affordable, the food is elevated.
Located in the Embajadores neighborhood near the city's historical center, El Pinchazo serves traditional Spanish cuisine with an international touch, influenced by the chef's previous experience at Michelin-starred restaurants. Try the Spanish truffle salad, a traditional potato salad finished with truffle oil. The low-temperature oxtail is also a favorite—a typical dish of Madrid, where bullfighting culture is prominent. The flavors of the oxtail dish change throughout the year, depending on what fresh ingredients are available and suited to the season. In autumn, for example, it's prepared with a chestnut sauce.
Menu offerings vary throughout the week, with typical Madrid dishes featured Monday through Thursday. If you'd like to try a Madrid stew, dine at El Pinchazo on Thursday.
Calle de Gargantilla 9
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Casa Macareno
If you're looking for a typical Spanish tavern tapas experience, consider Casa Macareno, located in the Malasaña neighborhood. Although the restaurant has been restored since it was first built as a bodega in the 1920s, the original colorful mosaic tiles at the entrance—and the focus on Spanish cuisine and exceptional service—remain.
Bring some friends and share small plates of Iberian ham, croquettes, patatas bravas (sauteed potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce), pickles, cheeses, and huevos rotos (a fried egg over chorizo or ham and fried potatoes) while seated in the lively bar. You can also sample some of Casa Macareno's contemporary creations, including glazed artichokes and sea bream crudo. While this restaurant is known for its tapas, the menu offers traditional mains, too, including carrillera Iberica (braised pork cheeks) and grilled cod. Ask about their Menu del Dia for daily specials.
Casa Macareno is a very popular spot, so reservations are strongly recommended.
Calle San Vicente Ferrer 44
Juana La Loca
The black and white decor with sleek lines and dashes of gold sets a sophisticated tone at Juana La Loca, while the friendly service creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Established in 2001, this family-run restaurant in the La Latina neighborhood is a favorite for their pintxo (meaning "spike" in Spanish, pintxos are a type of finger food common in northern Basque, typically served with a skewer or toothpick, and some are also served on bread), and their tortilla with potato, eggs, and confit onion is considered by many to be the best in Madrid. The huevos rotos trufados (truffled broken egg) is also a popular dish. The care, creativity, and quality ingredients that go into the food mean every dish on the menu is excellent, but if you aren't sure what to order, ask your server—Juana La Loca staff are always happy to offer recommendations.
Book well in advance; this restaurant is always busy. If you do show up without a reservation, you'll need to be patient. Put your name on the waitlist and then kill some time strolling around the La Latina neighborhood. The delicioso food here is well worth the wait and the hype.
Plaza de Puerta de Moros 4
Lhardy
If you're looking for an upscale evening out in Madrid, reserve a table at the historical Lhardy house in the Sol neighborhood. Considered Madrid's first luxury restaurant, Lhardy has been open for nearly 200 years and still serves some of its original dishes, including the Madrid stew and beef Wellington, alongside newer offerings such as a Galician lobster salad and an Evaristo sole with Champagne and capers.
You'll feel like a VIP seated in the opulent dining room decorated with chandeliers, dark wood, and red velvet, where innumerable politicians and intellectuals have held history-making meetings. If you are short on time or simply want to take a taste of Lhardy home, there is also a store and deli on the ground floor offering a selection of wines, deli products, gifts, and holiday baskets.
Cra de S. Jerónimo 8
Jurucha
This beloved tapas tavern in the Salamanca neighborhood has served canapés since the 1960s when the Viesca Gomez-Martinho family acquired the business. Their original menu primarily featured fried foods and seafood but has grown over the years to offer more than 60 types of tapas. Jurucha showcases fresh ingredients from local markets, so some menu items change with the seasons.
Expect a packed house, especially if you come during lunchtime on a weekday. The dining area is small, but sidewalk tables create space for some overflow. And if you can't find a seat, do as Madrid residents do: stand and eat at the bar. Local favorites include pajarito (a tuna sandwich with mayonnaise), prawn aioli, croquettes, empanadillas (a small empanada), and Spanish morcilla (blood sausage). Juruncha also has beer on tap that pairs well with the casual setting, small bites, and authentic tavern vibes.
Calle Ayala 19