Spanish cuisine is unquestionably among the best in the world. Visiting any market in Spain is all it takes to appreciate its variety of flavors, fresh produce and traditional dishes. Madrid has awakened from a deep slumber in the years following the pandemic, and its dining scene is now rivaling Barcelona for culinary supremacy. With trendy spots and celebrity chefs abound, local foodies and visitors are struggling to keep up with the many new offerings.
While Spaniards from across the country can’t fathom visiting Madrid without indulging in the revered cocido madrileño (a hearty stew made with chickpeas and various meats) and a classic bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwich), the city is also abuzz with fresh restaurants serving Asian-fusion, high-end Peruvian and anything else your jet-setting heart desires.
Here’s the best way to sample the multi-layered dining scene on your next trip to the Spanish capital.
Luxury dining in Madrid’s top hotels
Start strong by indulging in one of the city’s finest tables, Deessa, inside Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. Offering two tasting menus at dinnertime and a reduced menu at lunchtime during the week, celebrated chef Quique Dacosta pays homage to his native Extremadura through his signature dishes that exemplify Mediterranean cuisine at its best.
For a taste of modern Asian street food in the heart of Madrid, book a table at Isa Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, on the first floor of Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. DJ vibes and an opulent setting pair well with sake cocktails and sophisticated fusion dishes like wagyu gyozas and Iberian pork char siu. The set menu, which includes nigiri omakase, is a good choice for those with an appetite. Make sure you save room for the cute mochi desserts.
Garnering world acclaim faster than you have time to book a table, Peruvian food is setting new standards for culinary fusion and creativity. Oroya, on the fourth floor of Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Madrid EDITION, is a restaurant and renowned cocktail bar led by Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz. Serving national staples like traditional sea bass ceviche, ox heart anticuchos (skewers) and red prawn tiradito, Oroya lets you sip a pisco sour in an idyllic locale resembling a greenhouse.
Dine at spots filled with creativity
Dabiz Muñoz is among Spain’s most avant-garde chefs. His flagship restaurant, DiverXO, is one of the most distinguished in the country and, as such, is booked months in advance. Those with last-minute trips — or not adept at planning so far ahead — will be happy to hear that his more casual but equally vibrant venture Street XO has a walk-in-only policy. The catch: there’s usually a long line for the worldly street food experience, so get there before it opens and sit at the bar sipping on one of the eclectic cocktails. It’s on the top floor of the El Corte Inglés department store on Calle de Serrano.
Conceived as a carnivores-only space, Sala de Despiece has been the talk of the town since it first opened in 2013. These days, four different yet similar concepts exist around town, all helmed by Mallorca native Javier Bonet. Translated as “butchering room,” Sala de Despiece hints to diners what they’re in for before they cross the venue’s metallic doors on Calle Ponzano. Still, the menu lists the origin and background of the products on offer and changes daily based on the best available produce.
While the bustling San Miguel Market is favored among visitors, Madrileños prefer heading to lesser-known (and less crowded) markets. One gem is the Antón Martín Market, tucked away in the bohemian and multicultural Lavapiés neighborhood. On the first floor, you’ll find a tiny casual spot called Doppelgänger Bar, known for its blend of Spanish, Asian and Latin American flavors. Chef Samy Alí is behind this winning concept with two seating times for lunch and two for dinner.
Also great for a drink
Bar Manero, a boutique wine spot near the Puerta de Alcalá, provides upscale tapas and a chic ambiance. Perfect for a date, business drinks or post-luxury shopping refreshments, this is a place where you can sit at the bar and order oysters or a small, exquisite version of a bocadillo de calamares, served alongside the house vermouth. A restaurant hides behind the front room, where you’ll need a reservation to enjoy a sit-down meal. It’s a hit among well-heeled locals, who are right at home among the swanky surroundings.
Near the Atocha train station, Ferretería is a former hardware store that honors its origins through its décor (exposed brick walls, oak counters), thanks in large part to owner Antonia Escapa, an art and antiques collector. Ferretería is impossible to miss, with eye-catching shop windows drawing you in to sip one of its inventive cocktails (grape spritz, anyone?) among the antiques. And if you’ll be hungry, also consider booking dinner in one of its private spaces below ground level, once the old cellars.
