At Jose Luis you are offered luxury tapas. You can either eat standing up (more likely) or at one of the tables (if you come early enough). The star tapas are Spanish omelette and grilled pork loin. However, the list is endless and other good options include crab, Boquerones En Vinagre (marinated anchovies), croquettes, tuna and more. As for drinks, you can choose from cider, wines, or beer. They also offer a range of traditional dishes.
This restaurant is similar to that of many other modern Parisian bistros with its antique furniture and white linen tablecloths. This is a major hub of journalists, politicians, and artists in Madrid. The cooking has strong Galician and Catalan influences. The freshest of the natural ingredients are used for cooking. You may try the oysters, Skate Hotpot, Cannelloni stuffed with pork shoulder, or Monkfish and Prawn Canapes. The wine list contains a wide selection of Spain's finest varieties. In summer, the outdoor terrace is in demand, so book well in advance.
La Bola Taberna is one of those restaurants that existed in Madrid for long. The restaurant still maintains its old-fashioned interior and continues to prepare traditional dishes the way it always has been. The restaurant serves cuisines of Tavernas and Spanish. Although it is famous for its version of Cocido Madrileño (a popular Madrid two-course soup/stew), the delicately grilled sole or any of the other popular stews are also worth a try. The wine list has a range of varieties to choose from. This restaurant does not accept any credit cards.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM, Mo to Sa from 08:30 PM to 11:00 PM
This is a popular restaurant in the Madrid area. It provides excellent popular and comforting Basque cuisine like hearty stews and offal dishes as well as grilled meats and fish. As usual, the house speciality is bacalao al pil pil (cod simmered in garlic sauce). You may always encounter gangesters that make this place lively. You're sure to have an unforgettable feast. Take a look at the magnificent collection of antique clocks on the top floor. You can reserve one of the private dining rooms for more intimate gatherings and valet parking is available.
Opening hours: Mo to Sa from 01:30 AM to 04:00 PM, Mo to Sa from 08:30 AM to 12:00 AM, Su from 01:30 PM to 04:00 PM
This popular and pleasant restaurant cum bar has more than 300 varieties to choose from its great wine list. The wine varieties are mostly in Spnish but with some French and Australian labels as well. Order them by the glass or bottle with something tasty from the tapas menu that features homemade specials and exotic treats like Pepper Steak, Cod Canapes, and Cecina de Astorga (smoked beef). The staff are friendly and very well served. The bar also runs wine tasting sessions and courses.
The restaurant has won two prestigious Michelin stars. The well known chefs prepare their own personal specialties to a selected clients in Hotel Miguel Angel. The restaurant is decorated in a simple manner in minimalist style and plain colors. There are lots of light from huge windows and lots of space between tables. The kitchen and the wine cellar are open to view. Don't forget to reserve a table several days in advance as there are only 50 covers. Outstanding dishes include Asparagus Tempura, Warm Clam Salad and Boletus Carpaccio. There's a range of tempting desserts as well. Valet parking is offered.
Opening hours: Tu to Fr from 02:00 PM to 03:30 PM, Tu to Fr from 09:00 PM to 11:15 PM, Mo from 09:00 PM to 11:15 PM, Sa from 09:00 PM to 11:15 PM
Since its opening in 1888, It was a regular meeting place for intellectuals and writers. This cafe still attracts a loyal clientele made up of journalists and literary types. Famous poets and novelists like Federico Garcia Lorca, Antonio Machado, Ruben Dario and Perez Galdos all have spent time here. The restaurant specializes in international cuisine with an emphasis on meats. However, you can also choose from a range of regional Spanish dishes. The Asturian varieties are the best. Try Hake cooked in Cider or Grilled Sea Bass. The wine list features fine wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Opening hours: Su to Fr from 07:00 AM to 01:30 AM, Sa from 07:00 AM to 02:00 AM
This is Madrid's most luxurious and expensive Japanese restaurant. You may often encounter large tour groups here. However, it still retains an air of Oriental calm, even when busy. The interior is elegantly decorated in pure Japanese minimalist style. The cuisines are prepared in asian style. There's a sushi bar for those on a tighter budget. Portions in the main dining room are meagre compared to other places and the prices are high. You can reserve one of the private dining rooms and there is valet parking available too.
Famous for its pudding-thick hot chocolate and its fresh from the deep fryer churros (twisted pieces of fried batter designed to sprinkle with sugar or dip into chocolate), this cafe also offers the usual assortment of coffees and teas. But you may be surprised by the gang of young and those young at heart flocking to this cafe towards night. The cafe is best appreciated very late at night (which, in Madrid, basically coincides with sunrise) after a night of dancing or partying. The cafe is located at the metro stop.
A famous bar for stag parties, imbibe your favourite cocktail with a stuffed grouse. The most popular of the 100+ cocktails here include the Balmoral, Bullet Shot and Bloody Mary. Grab an armchair by the fireplace and relax in one of the "best bars in the world,".
This super smooth bar, restaurant and club (previously known as Jazzanova) is one of the slickest places to listen to some mellow jazz sounds. With uplit black walls, burnt-umber velvet cushions to lounge on and excellent cocktails, it's an elegant hangout on a city break. For a breath of fresh air, there's an outside terrace.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat Noon-2:30am; Sun 1:30pm-1:30am
This bar was a favorite place for famous writers, poets and artists. Despite some very average tapas, it remains a popular tourist spot. The decor and the waiters' garb are reminiscent of a Teutonic bierkeller, lending a historic air.
El Tempranillo is the perfect place to hang out. The list here showcases more than 160 Spanish blends by the glass. Try the house specialty – wild mushroom and egg casserole – as a perfect complement to any wine selection.
This is well-known restaurant that boasts a terrace bar on the third floor, which has become one of the most popular spots in Madrid. Ideal in the summer months, it's cooled by breezes and offers a great view of old Madrid and the Church of San Francisco el Grande, particularly impressive at night. The second-floor bar below has funky mixes on the sound system and a pool table, attracting a wide spectrum of people, from wide-eyed backpackers to locals.
Chicote is a favourite bar with Madrid's people and the huge local gay scene. One of the city's finest cocktail bars, it sports a 1940s and '50s Spanish decor, and attracts great DJs playing anything from electro-soul to funk and to hip hop.