Restaurante Lily
Restaurante Lily
Restaurante Lily is a small restaurant inside the Mercado de los Mostenses, the municipal market by Gran Vía and Plaza de España, and it holds a Solete in the Guía Repsol. Chinese-born cook Lily Xu opened it to feed fellow Chinese customers, then learned Peruvian cooking as the market filled with Latin American shoppers, and the carta is now mostly Peruvian with chifa touches: ceviche, papa rellena, tamal, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and arroz chaufa. Portions are generous and prices low.
Background
About Restaurante Lily
The Story
Lily Xu came to Madrid from China and a few years later opened a small café inside the Mercado de los Mostenses to feed her compatriots. The market is one of the most cosmopolitan in Madrid, with Chinese, Peruvian and other Latin American shoppers and stallholders, so she widened the offer and learned Peruvian cooking. Over time the Chinese dishes gave way to Peruvian ones, and the carta now describes the food as traditional Peruvian market cooking. Lily runs it with her husband Xiao, and more than a decade on it's one of the kitchens that made Mostenses a meeting point for Latin American food in Madrid.
The Cuisine
Traditional Peruvian market cooking with chifa, the Chinese-Peruvian fusion, made from produce bought each day in the market's own stalls. Ceviche is the house speciality, alongside tamal, papa rellena, anticucho, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and sopa de mote.
The Chef
Lily Xu
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Restaurante Lily Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.5
1027
TripAdvisor
3.7
70 reviews
Reservations
How to Book Restaurante Lily
Booking
Experience
Restaurante Lily Dining Experience
It started as little more than a metal bar and a few tables, with photos of every dish around the counter to help you order, and as demand grew it added tables along the market's aisles and then a brighter new dining room. The feel is a market canteen: quick, busy at lunch and unfussy.
Navigate
Restaurante Lily Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Mercado de los Mostenses. Plaza de los Mostenses, 1, 28015, Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
Inside the Mercado de los Mostenses at Plaza de los Mostenses 1, near Gran Vía and Plaza de España, in the Centro district.
Nearby
Malasaña is where the city keeps its energy, a tight web of streets that turns over fast and stays up late. The eating is young and restless, with vegan kitchens, coffee bars and creative rooms wedged between places that have not changed in decades. It runs down to Gran Vía, and it rewards walking without a plan.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of Restaurante Lily.
Details
Restaurante Lily Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00–19:30 |
| Tuesday | 09:00–19:30 |
| Wednesday | 09:00–19:30 |
| Thursday | 09:00–19:30 |
| Friday | 09:00–19:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Restaurante Lily hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
Restaurante Lily FAQ
Does Restaurante Lily have a Michelin star?
+
No. It holds a Repsol Solete, a lower distinction than a Sol, and it isn't in the Michelin Guide.
What kind of food does it serve?
+
Traditional Peruvian market cooking with chifa, the Peruvian-Chinese fusion: ceviche, papa rellena, tamal, anticucho, lomo saltado, ají de gallina, arroz chaufa, jalea and wonton soup, made from produce bought in the market.
Where is it?
+
Inside the Mercado de los Mostenses at Plaza de los Mostenses 1, near Gran Vía and Plaza de España, in central Madrid.
When is it open, and can you book?
+
Market hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:30, Saturday until 18:00, closed Sunday. It's a walk-in counter and reservations aren't taken.
Who runs Restaurante Lily?
+
Lily Xu, a cook from China who opened a café in the Mercado de los Mostenses for fellow Chinese customers and then learned Peruvian cooking. She runs it with her husband Xiao.
Is Restaurante Lily good for families?
+
Yes. It's casual, quick and cheap, with generous portions, and works well for families and groups; most meals come in under €25 per person.