Madrid may be best known for its world-famous art galleries, but you can’t spend your entire vacation gazing at Pablo Picasso’s Guernica and Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas. When hunger starts to kick in, you’ll love trying all of the traditional Spanish foods and Michelin-caliber eats on offer in Madrid. Plus, no matter where you are in the city, you’ll be surrounded by so many phenomenal restaurant options that you really won’t know what to dig into first! 

The best Madrid restaurants don’t follow a strict set of rules. Some try to break the mold by offering an enticing array of fusion dishes made with exotic ingredients from around the world and perfected with molecular gastronomy cooking techniques. Others pay homage to the city’s culture and heritage, taking classic Madrid dishes that have been loved for centuries and making them as authentic and delicious as they can.

From traditional taverns that have been passed down through the family for generations to cool bistros transforming the city’s most beloved dishes, you’ll never be stuck for where to eat in Madrid. 

With so many tempting dishes to try and restaurants to visit, it can feel a bit overwhelming to get started. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the absolute best restaurants in Madrid. Add these restaurants to your foodie bucket list, and you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time eating your way through Spain’s cosmopolitan capital! 

The 15 Best Places to Eat in Madrid

1. Spend a Romantic Evening at Restaurante Sacha

It may not look like the most spectacular restaurant in the city, but Restaurant Sacha certainly dishes up some of the best food in Madrid. The perfect place for an intimate date night, this romantic, candlelit bistro is located on the quiet outskirts of the city, far away from the hustle and bustle of the center.

Step inside, and you’ll spot a small number of cute tables covered with white tablecloths and delicate lighting, setting the mood for a blissful meal for two. The menu sounds simple and minimalist, with classic dishes such as garlic lamb chops, steak tartare, and mussels, but don’t let the basic wording fool you.

Whatever you order, it’s guaranteed to be executed and presented flawlessly. If you don’t know where to begin, we suggest ordering one of the specialties, such as the faux lasagna layered with sea urchins. If the eccentric owner, Sacha, is in the building, he’ll be happy to recommend the perfect dish for you! 

2. Gorge on More than 20 Dishes at DiverXO

Headed by highly-acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Dabiz Muñoz, DiverXO always has a shockingly long waiting list, so join it as early as you can so you’re not left hungry. When the wait is finally over, you’ll be invited to dine at one of the most compelling and unusual restaurants you’ve ever visited in your life.

The chefs and servers at DiverXO strive to provide you with an exciting and surprising dining experience where nothing is what it seems. The set tasting menu is made up of more than 20 fascinating dishes and takes 3-4 hours to complete. So make sure you don’t make any other plans for the evening!

Unconventional presentation, purposely confusingly-named dishes, and bizarre contrasts of flavors that somehow work every time are the order of the day. Wine pairing is available to accompany the tasting menu. It’s certainly on the pricey side, but it elevates the already spectacular dining experience to a whole new level. 

3. Enjoy Classic Fine Dining at Saddle

If you prefer the classic style of fine dining and a menu that’s comfortingly familiar while still being temptingly tantalizing, make a reservation at Saddle. Definitely one of the best places to eat in Madrid for an unparalleled dining experience, Saddle forgoes the trendy molecular gastronomy style of cooking in favor of a more classic and timeless approach.

Step inside the restaurant, and you’ll find a small number of tables dressed with quality white tablecloths and a huge window that allows you to watch the magic happen in the kitchen. The menu features enduring epicurean delights, such as caviar, foie gras, and roasted rack of lamb, all of which are presented exquisitely. 

There’s even a dedicated bread server that offers you a wonderful selection of freshly-baked breads that are still blissfully warm. Combine that with the comforting jazz music played at just the right volume in the background, and you’ve got a dining room that’s guaranteed to never let you down. 

4. Watch the Magic Happen at A’Barra

The Michelin-starred A’Barra is one of those places that never fails to impress. The interior design is an unusual yet successful blend of modern and bohemian, with blonde wood and bamboo-inspired chairs sharing the same space with futuristic lighting and polished marble floors.

For the classic dining experience, make a reservation for the main dining room. This intimate, peaceful space only contains a handful of tables, so you can be sure of a tranquil and relaxed meal.

For something with a bit more action, choose to sit in the bar area. This part of the restaurant features a cylindrical group table with around 20 bar stools on one side and a small open kitchen in the center. From here, you can watch the chefs show off their incredible skills and talents. 

Each section of the restaurant has its own menu, with the main dining room opting for a formal fine dining menu and the bar offering a more creative, innovative twist on the classics. Thankfully, the Michelin star shines through in both. 

5. Unleash Your Inner Veggie at El Cisne Azul

When it comes to the best Madrid restaurants for vegans and vegetarians, you can’t go wrong with El Cisne Azul. This unassuming restaurant may look like a typical Spanish tapas bar, but as soon as your food arrives, you’ll know that it’s much more than that.

El Cisne Azul specializes in one single ingredient – the best wild mushrooms in Madrid. The hole-in-the-wall eatery painstakingly sources the finest mushrooms each season, from toadstool-esque amanitas to wrinkled morels. Because they only serve what’s in season, absolutely everything tastes great. So don’t be afraid to experiment!

Here you’ll find a menu laden with mushrooms served every single way you can imagine. Simple dishes, such as mushrooms cooked on a hot plate with nothing more than a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of crunchy sea salt, are simply divine. If you need a little extra protein with your dish, there’s also a decent selection of grilled meats and cheeses available. 

6. Dine on Works of Art at DSTAgE

The flagship restaurant of Diego Guerro, DSTAgE is where you’ll find the famous chef’s most creative, ambitious, and daring culinary works of art. The dining room has an industrial feel, with a grungy color palette, bare brick walls, and shiny silver accents. It provides a thought-provoking contrast to the food, which is created with as much passion, love, and excitement that a single chef can muster.

DSTAgE dishes up all kinds of innovative dishes from around the world. Glance over the menu, and you’ll spot classic plates from places like Mexico, Japan, India, and Chile, all of which have been jazzed up in one way or another. Don’t worry about not being able to choose a single dish. There are two tasting menus available, each of which invites you on an exciting culinary journey you’ll never forget.

The surprisingly affordable wine pairing is definitely worth it. Just like with the tasting menu, you’ll get to try exotic wines from all around the world. 

7. Try the Best Spanish Omelet of Your Life at Casa Dani

You’ll find one of the best tapas bars in Madrid hidden away inside Mercado de la Paz. This bustling food market doesn’t look like the type of place you’d expect to indulge in a gourmet meal, but don’t let looks fool you.

While there may be napkins littered on the floor, half-drunk coffees left on the table, and a lot of shouting going on between the kitchen and the front of house, Casa Dani is undoubtedly home to the very best Spanish omelet in all of Madrid. The kitchen dishes up an amazing 400 servings of tortilla Española every single day, made out of a grand total of 2,000 eggs and 1,700 pounds of potatoes.

The texture of the omelet is so perfect it’s almost impossible to describe. The generous servings arrive on your table still warm. The soft, oil-poached potatoes, sweet caramelized onions, and egg that is the perfect level between raw and fully cooked will have you coming back again and again. 

8. Enjoy Dinner and a Show at Corral de la Morería

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend the whole evening, make plans to visit Corral de la Morería. Self-described as the most famous flamenco bar on the planet, this popular entertainment venue provides the best of both worlds – a passionate, action-packed show and some of the best food in Madrid.

Like all the best flamenco bars in Spain, Corral de la Morería is surprisingly small, comprising just four tables. But it’s because of its modest size that Chef David García can give every single dish the utmost attention and deliver Michelin-starred food every time.

An excellent place to visit for wine lovers, this restaurant boasts an extensive wine cellar. There’s an incredible selection of wines from Jerez in Andalusia (the birthplace of flamenco), as well as more than 1,000 spectacular vintages. 

The menu is simple and inspired by the Basque region. Absolutely everything you see is worth trying. But if you can only make one visit, we recommend choosing one of the seafood dishes. 

9. Dive into Classic Madrileño Food at Cruz Blanca de Vallecas

may not be one of the most famous restaurants in Madrid, but it does consistently have one of the longest waiting lists in the city – longer than most Michelin-star restaurants! Book as soon as you can (at least three months in advance), and you’ll have the chance to devour Madrid’s most iconic dishes that locals have been enjoying for generations.

Cruz Blanca de Vallecas may look like any other local restaurant on the outskirts of the city, but the food served here is beyond incredible. The tavern is best known for its cocido madrileño, an eclectic mixture of various meats, sausages, vegetables, and chickpeas, all cooked together and served on a single plate. 

If that doesn’t sound like your thing, there are plenty of other remarkable dishes to try. Mouthwatering tapas, such as grilled prawns, Iberian ham, and Padrón peppers feature on the menu alongside main courses such as grilled sole, lamb chops, and garlic rabbit.

10. Discover the Perfect Wine Pairing at Clos

If the wine means just as much to you as the food when it comes to dining out, you’ll love Clos. This oenophile’s paradise boasts more than 300 different varieties of wine to choose from. As well as the famous labels you’ve undoubtedly heard of, the restaurant also stocks a wonderful collection of rare and local labels you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. 

When you’ve worked your way through the wine list, it’s time to move on to the food. The menu changes regularly and is always brimming with fresh, seasonal ingredients. 

The a la carte menu features tempting Spanish classics, but it’s the tasting menu that will win you over. Featuring famous dishes such as cocido madrileño, tuna tartare, and millefeuille with chocolate and almonds, there’s no way you’ll leave hungry.

Make a lunchtime reservation to indulge in their reasonably-priced Clos menu. You’ll be served some of the restaurant’s best and most popular dishes for much less than you’d pay on an evening. 

11. Combine Rustic Eats and Modern Surroundings in Roostiq

When you find yourself craving some perfectly roasted meat, make plans to visit Roostiq. The fun play-on-words restaurant transforms the much-loved traditional asador (a drool-worthy Spanish BBQ house) into a modern dining hotspot that you can smell way before you can see it.

A must-visit for carnivores, the place offers up all the classic steakhouse dishes, such as Wagyu steak, Porterhouse steak, and Picaña steak, as well as alternatives, such as salmon and clams. Wood-fired ovens aren’t just for perfectly cooking meat. They’re also great for pizzas, many of which you’ll find on the menu, too.

In contrast with the rustic dishes, Roostiq has the air of a fine dining venue. Well-stocked wine fridges like the walls, large mirrors make the place look surprisingly roomy, and modern illuminations provide just enough light so you can see just how wonderfully cooked your dish really is.  

12. Get Intimate at La Tasquita de Enfrente

La Tasquita de Enfrente is one of the best restaurants in Madrid if you’re looking for somewhere small with top-notch service. This beautiful restaurant is made up of just eight tables, guaranteeing a peaceful atmosphere that lends itself wonderfully to a romantic date night.

What makes this restaurant stand out from other Madrid restaurants is the impeccable quality of the basic ingredients. Chef Juanjo López works his magic and transforms these simple ingredients into modern, elegant dishes. Take a look at the menu, and you’ll spot the likes of fried hake cheeks with squid ink, venison meatballs, and artichoke cream with truffles.

If you’ve got an adventurous palate, you’ll struggle to make your dining choices. In this scenario, we suggest ordering one of the tasting menus. They’re constantly updated and are the best way to enjoy the chef’s culinary talents to the max while also discovering just how delicious and exciting basic seasonal ingredients can be. 

13. Challenge Your Taste Buds at La Tasquería 

La Tasquería is one of the best places to eat in Madrid if you want to try something new and you’re not afraid of how things look. This remarkable restaurant is a play on words. Its name comes from “tasca,” meaning pub, and “casquería,” meaning offal shop. As you may guess, the final result is a casual restaurant that dishes up excellent local wines and classic dishes highlighting offal. 

Hearts, tongues, kidneys, and intestines used to make frequent appearances on the dinner tables of working-class families throughout Spain. But as time has moved on, dishes based on offal gradually died out. There are still some tripe dishes served throughout Madrid, but the numbers are nothing like they were just a few decades ago.

The menu at La Tasquería is loaded with dishes you’ll never have seen before, such as braised rabbit tongues with snails, fried lambs’ ears, and whole deep-fried suckling pigs’ heads. If you’re not the squeamish type, you may just find your new favorite dish here! 

14. Dress in Black Tie for Paco Roncero

Boasting two Michelin stars and three Repsol suns, La Terraza del Casino is one of the best restaurants in Madrid. A fantastic place to go if you’re celebrating a special occasion, this restaurant is the epitome of fine dining, so make sure you wear your best outfit.

The dining room is brilliantly bright and airy, with lofty ceilings, cheerful yellow seating, and modern white chandeliers hanging down low. Dressed in dark blue, the servers even match the decor, proving that no detail is left forgotten. With so much space, the restaurant never feels crowded, no matter how busy it is. 

Presentation is a priority at this mind-blowing restaurant. Simple white plates are topped with stunning ingredients that have been crafted to look like all kinds of things from nature. The contrast in colors is so beautiful you really will struggle to take a bite and ruin the gorgeous work of art in front of you. 

15. Eat the Best Paella in the World at Casa Benigna

Spain is known for its paella, and while you’re there, you may as well eat the best. Make a reservation for Casa Benigna, and you’ll be presented with a phenomenal paella you’ll be telling people about for years.

All the paellas here are cooked to order, so you can expect to wait a while. But there’s plenty to keep you entertained in the meantime. There are photos of past guests lining the walls, cooking utensils dangling from the ceiling, and giant copper paella dishes on the bar. It gives the place a really familiar and local feel – more like you’re dining with family than in one of the best restaurants in Madrid.

There’s a great selection of different paellas to choose from, with something for all palates – no matter how fussy. From standard paella with rabbit and snails to seafood paella and a pasta paella with lobster, you’ll be spoiled for choice here. 

There you have it! The 15 best restaurants in Madrid. What are your favorite places to eat in Madrid?

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