Guidavera
A silver oval tray of round breaded croquetasPhoto: Lhardy

Best Restaurants in Centro, Madrid

By Justin Mota, Guidavera founder/Published /Updated /19 min read

Introduction

The Madrid Centro List We Send to Friends

DSTAgE holds two Michelin stars on a quiet Chueca street, and a few blocks away Casa Lucio has served the same huevos rotos on Cava Baja since 1974. Centro is Madrid's most central district, made up of the wards of Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad and Sol, and its restaurants run from tasting menus inside grand hotels to tabernas centenarias older than the city's metro. Nineteen restaurants across those six wards make this list, from Corral de la Morería Gastronómico's four-table dining room inside a historic flamenco tablao to Little Dragon's Shanghai-style dumplings near Plaza España.

The short answer

Key Picks at a Glance

In a hurry? These are the essential picks from our full ranking below.

  • Best splurge
    DSTAgE

    Diego Guerrero's two-Michelin-star tasting menu on Calle Regueros.

  • Best historic pick
    Botín

    cochinillo from the same 1725 firewood oven, near Plaza Mayor.

  • Best Peruvian
    Tampu

    Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo's narrative-chaptered menu on Calle de Prim.

  • Best traditional taberna
    Casa Lucio

    the huevos rotos Cava Baja has served since 1974.

  • Best cheap eat
    Little Dragon

    Shanghai-style xiaolongbao and shengjianbao near Plaza España, under €25 a head.

Before you order

A Guide to Centro in Madrid

Where is Centro?

Centro is the most central of Madrid's 21 districts, made up of six official wards: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad and Sol. Historic neighbourhoods like Barrio de las Letras, La Latina, Lavapiés, Chueca and Malasaña all sit within those six wards, and the restaurants on this list are spread across them.

What is Barrio de las Letras?

Barrio de las Letras is Centro's literary quarter, named for the writers who lived and worked around its streets in Madrid's Golden Age. Casa Alberto, on Calle de las Huertas, stands on a building where, according to the association of centenarian restaurants, Miguel de Cervantes lived and wrote part of the second Don Quixote.

What is a taberna centenaria?

A taberna centenaria is a tavern that has operated for more than a hundred years, several of which sit on the Ayuntamiento de Madrid's official Comercios Centenarios register. Casa Alberto (1827) and Lhardy (1839) are both members of Madrid's Asociación de Restaurantes y Tabernas Centenarias.

What do Michelin Selected and Repsol Sol mean?

A restaurant 'Selected' or listed in the Michelin Guide is included by the guide without holding a star. A Repsol Sol is the main quality distinction in Spain's Guía Repsol, awarded from one to three Soles, and 'Recomendado' is a listing below Sol level.

How We Built This List

Years of Eating, Asking, and Going Back

We built this list starting from the Centro restaurants we've profiled across all six wards, Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad and Sol, then checked our picks against Spanish and English food coverage of the wider Madrid dining scene to see which of them independent sources also single out. Nineteen restaurants made the cut, weighted toward our own ranking with an eye to spreading across the district rather than clustering in one corner of it. A few restaurants named repeatedly elsewhere, including some in Chueca, aren't currently among the Madrid restaurants we've profiled, or sit as staged listings rather than published ones, so they don't appear here. Where we couldn't verify a claim against a restaurant's own listing or a source we could quote directly, we left it out rather than guess.

More on how we rank: our methodology and quality standards.

The ranking

19 Best Restaurants in Centro in Madrid

A dark bowl of golden sliced dessert topped with cream, set on pine needlesDSTAgE
A scoop of cream topped with dark petals on a wooden dish
A large mound of white spun sugar with a yellow topping on a white plate
A small pink cube dessert decorated with red beads and a green leaf on a glass plate

1. DSTAgE — Diego Guerrero's two-Michelin-star tasting menu in Chueca

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#2 of 1001·€€€€·Chueca·Creative·Chef: Diego Guerrero
MichelinRepsol

DSTAgE is chef Diego Guerrero's two-Michelin-star restaurant on Calle Regueros, in the Salesas corner of Chueca. Guerrero, born in Vitoria in 1975, built two stars at El Club Allard before opening his own place in July 2014, and DSTAgE has held two stars since the 2017 guide; it also carries three Repsol Soles and added a Michelin Green Star in 2025. Three tasting menus run here: Dtaste at 16 courses (€195), Dstage at 18 courses (€210) and Denjoy at 22 courses (€230). Dishes include Beso de carabinero a la sal, a shrimp served on a pink salt stone, a crispy pork bun called Pepe, and a corn dessert called Maíz meant to be eaten by hand. Reservations open 120 days out, and it's closed Sunday and Monday.

“Diego Guerrero propone una alta cocina cercana, sin rigidez, con menús que cambian con frecuencia y un discurso muy personal.”— DOD Magazine
Order thisBeso de carabinero a la sal
Menu3 dishes
  • MENU DTASTE16 courses. Optional wine pairing 90 euros. Price per person, VAT included.
    €195.00
  • MENU DSTAGE18 courses. Optional wine pairing 105 euros. Price per person, VAT included.
    €210.00
  • MENU DENJOY22 courses. Optional wine pairing 120 euros. Price per person, VAT included.
    €230.00
A round crisp tart topped with a mound of dark caviar, small white dollops and purple flowersPaco Roncero
A white plate with a pastry-wrapped dish, a small garnish and a dark sauce
A dark textured bowl holding rolled yellow pasta in a pale sauce with small flowers
A white bowl with a folded piece of fish and two sauces, one dark and one pale

2. Paco Roncero — Modern Spanish tasting menus atop the Real Casino de Madrid

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#4 of 1001·€€€€·Sol·Spanish·Chef: Paco Roncero
MichelinRepsol

Paco Roncero is a modern Spanish tasting-menu restaurant on the top floor of the Real Casino de Madrid, in Sol. Chef Paco Roncero took over the kitchen, then La Terraza del Casino, in autumn 2000, with early guidance from Ferran Adrià; the restaurant took his name in 2019. It holds two Michelin stars and three Repsol Soles. Three tasting menus run: Gran Madrid, 25 dishes at €310; Madrid Madrid Madrid, 23 courses at €240; and Esencia, 15 courses from €190 to €280. Dishes include a signature truffle pizza on a dry meringue base, an oxtail Wellington with mushrooms, and Dover sole in brown butter. The cellar runs to more than 800 references, chosen by sommelier María José Huertas. Dinner reservations run 20:00 to 21:00, Tuesday to Saturday.

Order thisTruffle pizza on a dry meringue base
Menu7 dishes
  • Grand Madrid Menu
    €310.00
  • Madrid, Madrid, Madrid Menu
    €240.00
  • Essence Menu (Weekday Lunch) – (Thursday and Friday lunch) / (with wine pairing)\
    €190.00
  • Essence Menu (Evenings and Saturdays) – (with wine pairing)\
    €280.00
  • • National wines
    €125.00
  • • Old & new world wines
    €185.00
  • • Special Wines
    €295.00
A piece of pan-seared orange fish on a white plate with a yellow sauce and chivesCorral de la Morería Gastronómico
Racks of lamb bones with a green sauce on a dark plate
A layered pink and white dish on a dark plate with a scoop of cream
A fish fillet on a white plate with a swirl of cream sauce

3. Corral de la Morería Gastronómico — David García's four-table Basque tasting menu inside a flamenco tablao

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#6 of 1001·€€€·Palacio·Basque·Chef: David García
MichelinRepsol

Corral de la Morería Gastronómico is the Michelin-starred dining room inside Corral de la Morería, the Madrid flamenco tablao that has run since 1956, on Calle de la Morería in Palacio. Chef David García, from Bilbao, trained under Martín Berasategui and worked at elBulli, Mugaritz and Nerua before earning a Michelin star at Álbora and taking over this kitchen. He cooks a Basque-rooted haute cuisine he calls cocina de raíz, for just four tables a night, no more than eight guests. The restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2019 and three Repsol Soles since 2023. The single tasting menu, Menú Compás, runs €105, with wine pairings from €155. The cellar holds more than 1,000 references of Jerez sherry, and evening sittings run 20:00 to 21:30.

“Tablao flamenco histórico que alberga también un restaurante de alto nivel, donde la cocina contemporánea dialoga con la cultura del espectáculo.”— DOD Magazine
Order thisMenú Compás (tasting menu)
Menu3 dishes
  • Menú Compás(Precios con I.V.A incluido)
    €105.00
  • Maridaje Premium 9 vinos(Precios con I.V.A incluido)
    €155.00
  • Maridaje Súper Premium 9 vinos(Precios con I.V.A incluido)
    €255.00
A round layered dish topped with green leaves on a cream plateCEBO
A small round bite on a curled cream dish against a dark background
A cream bowl of a small composed dish with dark garnish, beside a grey textured item on a napkin
A dark round item in a wide ceramic bowl with a white pattern

4. CEBO — Javier Sanz and Juan Sahuquillo's Michelin-starred kitchen inside Hotel Urban

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#13 of 1001·€€€€·Cortes·Spanish·Chef: Javier Sanz, Juan Sahuquillo
MichelinRepsol

CEBO is a contemporary Spanish tasting-menu restaurant inside Hotel Urban, on Carrera de San Jerónimo in Cortes. Chefs Javier Sanz and Juan Sahuquillo, the duo behind Cañitas Maite Gastro in Albacete, regained the restaurant's Michelin star under the 2024 guide, and it also holds two Repsol Soles. The 22-seat room runs two tasting menus: the 13-course Menú Clásicos at €160 and the 16-course Menú Temporada at €220, both cooked from the chefs' own vegetable garden and small producers nationwide. Dishes include Santoña anchovy served three ways, guinea fowl with truffle, and red prawns from Palamós with young goat and aged rice. Both menus close with wild strawberries, single-origin cacao and Spanish nuts. It's closed every August.

“Cocina de autor que mira a la despensa de proximidad y a los territorios de la península con una sensibilidad moderna.”— DOD Magazine
Order thisSantoña anchovy, three versions
Menu18 dishes
  • Santoña anchovy – Three versions
  • Guinea fowl – Tuber Melanosporum
  • Acorn-fed pork – The Cañitas croquette
  • Bottled tomato – Goat dairy
  • Diver-caught razor clam – Marsh frost
  • Fine clam – Motril shrimp
  • Smoked sturgeon – Oscietra caviar
  • Hook-caught squid – Iberian rancio wine
  • Rested virrey fish – Spinach bulb
  • Semi-wild duckling – Pyrenean morel mushroom
  • Wild baby strawberry – Madagascar vanilla
  • Single-origin cacao – Levantine tiger nut
  • Domestic nuts – Classic pastries
  • Bread selection
  • Glass of wine and aperitif (Optional)
  • Button mushroom – Toasted butter
  • Palamós red prawn – Preserved lard (manteca de orza)
  • Málaga kid goat – Aged rice
A rectangular layered dessert topped with orange flowers on a round white plateGofio
A green bowl of creamy dishes with a pink sphere and a small white bowl beside it
A white plate with a pale portion in a brown sauce with small green garnishes
A red glossy plate with a pink scoop and small colourful garnishes in an orange broth

5. Gofio — Safe Cruz's Canarian tasting menus, Restaurante del Año 2025

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#16 of 1001·€€€€·Barrio de las Letras·Canarian·Chef: Safe Cruz
MichelinRepsol

Gofio is a Canarian restaurant in Barrio de las Letras, founded in 2015 by chef Safe Cruz, who grew up in a farming family in El Tablero, Tenerife, and his partner Aída González, who directs the dining room. It earned a Michelin star in November 2019 and relocated in July 2024, after nine years on Calle de Lope de Vega, to a larger two-floor space at Caballero de Gracia 20. In 2025 it won Restaurante del Año at the Premios Metrópoli, and González won Mejor Dirección de Sala the same year. Three tasting menus run unchanged through the move: Gofio Express at €95, Canariedad Máxima at €125 and Canariedad Máxima Plus at €185, capped at 20 diners a service. Dishes include rabbit trucha with injected salmorejo and a shrimp dish in cardamom mojo with a creamy millet broth.

Order thisRabbit trucha with injected salmorejo
Menu3 dishes
  • Gofio Express
    €95.00
  • Menú Canariedad Máxima
    €125.00
  • Menú Canariedad Máxima Plus
    €185.00
A black bowl of dark broth with a white fish fillet and green dotsChispa Bistró
A slate plate with slices of raw red tuna, a golden piece and edible flowers
A rippled dark bowl with a ring of pale prawn pieces in the centre
A grey round plate with a small piece of golden food on a light sauce

6. Chispa Bistró — Juan D'Onofrio's Michelin-starred, grill-led kitchen on Barquillo

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#19 of 1001·€€€€·Justicia·International·Chef: Juan D'Onofrio
MichelinRepsol

Chispa Bistró is Argentine chef Juan D'Onofrio's Michelin-starred restaurant on Calle del Barquillo, in Justicia. D'Onofrio, born in Buenos Aires in 1997, trained at Mina in Bilbao and the two-Michelin-star Santceloni before opening here in 2022 with a team of eight; the restaurant won its star at the November 2024 gala. The cooking is international and grill-led, with Japanese touches, dashi, ikura, wasabi, yuzu and shiso, worked into market vegetables and fish. The signature is pichón, squab prepared several ways at once, alongside cogollo a la brasa with green curry and yogurt, and sweetbreads with polenta purée and huitlacoche cream. The Fuego Loco tasting menu runs €135, from a wine list of more than 400 references. It's closed Sunday to Tuesday.

“Pequeño bistró donde se juega con sabores intensos, platos divertidos y una carta que cambia con rapidez.”— DOD Magazine
Order thisPichón (squab, several ways)
A wooden board with an anchovy on toast and a small mound of red tartare on a dark clothLa Tasquita de Enfrente
Several red prawns arranged in a swirl on a dark round plate
A round timbale topped with orange roe on a white plate
A pale panna cotta in a wide white bowl

7. La Tasquita de Enfrente — Juanjo López Bedmar's 25-year radical-minimalist Malasaña tavern

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#25 of 1001·€€€€·Malasaña·Spanish·Chef: Juanjo López Bedmar, Nacho Trujillo
Michelin SelectedRepsol

La Tasquita de Enfrente is listed in the Michelin Guide and holds two Repsol Soles, on Calle Ballesta in Malasaña, where it has run for 25 years. It has been there since 1999. Juanjo López Bedmar left a career as an insurance director at 40, after his father's death, to take over the family's casa de comidas and turned its eight tables into a reference for product cooking; day-to-day leadership has since passed to Nacho Trujillo. The kitchen holds to radical minimalism, rarely more than three ingredients a dish, drawn from a repertoire of more than 300 dishes that changes daily. Dishes include red gamba from Garrucha served simply boiled, eel with pear, and lamb kidneys with caviar. Two tasting menus run alongside the carta: nine courses at €110 and the 11-course Experiencia Tasquita at €150. It's closed Sunday and Monday.

“Un comedor pequeño convertido en lugar de peregrinaje para amantes de la cocina de mercado, los guisos, las verduras de temporada”— DOD Magazine
Order thisRed gamba from Garrucha, boiled
Menu2 dishes
  • Tasting menu9 courses – Based on our love and respect for the product and simplicity.
    €110.00
  • Tasquita Experience11 courses – Based on Juanjo López's most irreverent whims, always prioritizing seasonal produce.
    €150.00
A rustic bowl of sashimi slices with a bamboo leaf garnish and rising smokeYugo the Bunker
A white plate with two red prawns and small green garnishes
A piece of seared nigiri topped with a golden garnish on a dark plate
A piece of nigiri topped with an orange yolk-like sphere being flamed

8. Yugo the Bunker — Julián Mármol's Michelin-starred Japanese izakaya and bunker

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#30 of 1001·€€€€·Barrio de las Letras·Japanese·Chef: Julián Mármol
MichelinRepsol Recommended

Yugo the Bunker is chef Julián Mármol's Japanese restaurant in Barrio de las Letras, holding a Michelin star since 2019. It began in 2013 on Calle Alcalá as Yugo Sushi&Kobe, a takeaway. It runs across two zones: an upstairs styled after a Japanese izakaya tavern, and a downstairs built as a recreation of a Japanese WWII bunker. Mármol chases exclusive product from Alaska and Japan to Portugal and the Delta del Ebro. Two tasting menus split the offering, Clásicos del Bunker at €145 and Evolution at €175, both with extensive wine and sake pairings; everyone at a table must order the same menu, and only guests aged eight and up are seated, with no vegetarian or vegan option on the card. Dishes include negitoro with crispy wonton, black cod misoyaki gyoza, and foie gras nigiri with wild blueberries.

Order thisNegitoro with crispy wonton
Menu20 dishes
  • Negitoro with Crispy Wonton
  • Shime-Saba
  • Sashimi Moriawase
  • Toro Nigiri with Crispy Plankton
  • Agashi Nigiri with Chipotle and Crystal Shrimp
  • Millésimé Sardine Shu-mai with Galangal Cream
  • Black Cod Misoyaki Gyoza
  • Scallop Nigiri with Kizami Wasabi Butter
  • Kamatoro Nigiri with Tosazu and Kaffir Lime
  • Oxtail Gyoza
  • Marinated Bone Marrow Gunkan
  • Le Canard de Jules Foie Nigiri with Wild Blueberries
  • Wagyu Mini Burger 60g180g +18€
  • Black Cod Misoyaki
  • Japanese A5 Wagyu Tataki 50g
    €37.00
  • Japanese Torrija with Brioche Bread and Matcha Tea Ganache
  • Yuzu Mochi and Cheesecake with Matcha Tea
  • Wine Harmony
    €65.00
  • Sake Harmony
    €70.00
  • Beer Harmony
    €30.00
A white dish of six snails in green herb butter in their shellsLe Bistroman Atelier
Two slices of rare seared beef on a white plate over a green sauce with red leaves
A white plate with a fried fish fillet and boiled potatoes with lemon and butter beside it
Slices of beef in a pastry crust on a wooden board

9. Le Bistroman Atelier — Stéphane del Río's classic French bistro beside Teatro Real

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#32 of 1001·€€€·Palacio·French·Chef: Stéphane del Río
Michelin SelectedRepsol

Le Bistroman Atelier is chef Stéphane del Río's classic French bistro on Calle de la Amnistía in Palacio, next to the Teatro Real. Del Río and his partner Miguel Ángel García Marinelli, both sons of French mothers and Spanish fathers, opened it in 2019 to cook the French recipes they grew up missing; the Provençal dining room was designed by Javier Erlanz. Del Río trained with Salvador Gallego, prepared the Bocuse d'Or alongside Mario Sandoval and spent time with three-Michelin-star chef Michel Guérard. It's listed in the Michelin Guide and holds two Repsol Soles, and it won best international cuisine at the 2024 Madrid Gastronomy Awards. The menu includes pâté de campagne, foie gras de canard mi-cuit maison, and escargots au beurre persillé. It's open every day, 13:30 to 15:30 and 20:30 to 22:30.

“Bistró de inspiración francesa, con salsas, fondos y clásicos revisados que miran a París sin copiarlo.”— DOD Magazine
Order thisPâté de campagne
Menu24 dishes
  • Huitres Poget Speciale Normandie N2 (Poget Special Normandy Oysters N2)
    €6.50
  • Pâté de campagne (Country pâté)portion / ½ portion
    €19.00
  • Foie gras de canard mi-cuit maison (Foie gras)portion / ½ portion; ½ glass of Palo Cortado VORS 30-year Tradición 14 €
    €33.00
  • Terrine de saumon mariné gravlax sauce raifort (Salmon gravlax terrine with horseradish sauce)portion / ½ portion
    €26.00
  • Soupe à l'oignon (Classic onion soup)
    €19.50
  • Escargots au beurre persillé (Snails with herb butter)portion / ½ portion
    €21.00
  • Soufflé au fromage (Cheese soufflé)
    €18.00
  • Asperges vertes, vinaigrette d'anguille fumée (Green asparagus with smoked eel vinaigrette)
    €22.00
  • Cuisses de grenouilles à la crème d'ail (Frog legs with garlic cream)
    €25.00
  • Pissaladière (Provençal flatbread with caramelized onion, Cantabrian anchovies and black olive)
    €18.00
  • Bread, butter and aperitif (pain et beurre)
    €4.50
  • Loup de mer flambé minute sauce vierge (Flambéed sea bass with vierge sauce)
    €28.00
  • Coquilles Saint Jacques aux morilles (Scallops with morel sauce)
    €36.00
  • Ravioles de tourteau en bouillabaisse (Txangurro ravioli in bouillabaisse)
    €28.00
  • Steak tartare (Beef sirloin steak tartare)
    €32.00
  • Filet de Boeuf au beurre Café de Paris (Beef sirloin with Café de Paris butter)
    €45.00
  • Entrecôte au Poivre (Pepper entrecôte)
    €32.00
  • Magret de canard au miel et épices, sauce Griotte (Duck breast with honey and spices and cherry sauce)
    €29.50
  • Confit de canard fait maison, sauce Bigarade (Home-made duck confit, Bigarade sauce)
    €26.00
  • Ossobuco Bourguignon
    €26.00
  • Purée de pomme / Potato purée
    €5.50
  • Pomme frites / French fries
    €5.50
  • Salade verte / Green living-lettuce salad
    €7.50
  • Ratatouille / Charcoal-grilled ratatouille
    €12.00
A bowl of meatballs with a glossy sauce and herbs over a creamy baseLa Llorería
Fried morsels with a lemon wedge in a blue bowl
An oyster in its shell topped with a yellow sauce and capers on smooth stones
A bowl of green salad leaves topped with shaved cheese

10. La Llorería — Carmen Alti and José Certucha' four-table chalkboard-menu kitchen

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#42 of 1001·€€·Justicia·Spanish·Chef: José Certucha, Carmen Alti
Michelin SelectedRepsol

La Llorería is a contemporary Spanish restaurant in Justicia, run by Carmen Alti and José Certucha, who met working together in a Madrid kitchen and opened the restaurant out of that friendship. It opened in spring 2022. The room is tiny, just four tables and eight bar stools around an open kitchen, with a chalkboard menu built for sharing. It holds one Repsol Sol. Dishes include cauliflower with bacon and baby squid, corvina with yellow chili and pak choi, beef tendon with leek and mint, and duck cannelloni with chamomile, most served as half or full portions. It's open Monday to Friday, 2pm to 5pm and 8:30pm to 11:30pm, and closed Saturday and Sunday; reservations are essential.

Order thisCauliflower with bacon and baby squid
Menu12 dishes
  • Ostra – Escabeche – Jalapeñoración
    €4.00
  • Trigo – Ajo – Zanahoriaración
    €3.00
  • Tomate – Miso – Noisette1/2 / ración
    €10.00
  • Almeja – Vermut – Chiltepín1/2 / ración
    €12.00
  • Coliflor – Bacon I.B. – Puntillas1/2 / ración
    €11.00
  • Boniato – Escarola – Melaza1/2 / ración
    €9.00
  • Canelón – Pato – Manzanilla1/2 / ración
    €7.00
  • Col – Cebolla – Yemaración
    €13.00
  • Corvina – Ají Amarillo – Pak Choi1/2 / ración
    €15.00
  • Tendón – Puerro – Hierbabuena1/2 / ración
    €10.00
  • Coco – F. Rojos – Habatonkaración
    €6.00
  • Kataifi – Queso – Mapleración
    €7.00
A grilled steak with fries and green peppers on a white plateCasa Lucio
A terracotta dish of prawns in oil and garlic with a spoon
A grilled flatfish with potatoes and vegetables on a white plate
A dark wooden restaurant facade with a carved sign above two panelled doors

11. Casa Lucio — Lucio Blázquez's huevos rotos institution on Cava Baja since 1974

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#97 of 1001·€€€·La Latina·Madrilenian·Chef: Lucio Blázquez
Repsol

Casa Lucio is a traditional Madrid institution on Cava Baja in La Latina, opened by Lucio Blázquez in November 1974 and known above all for its huevos estrellados (huevos rotos), fried eggs over potatoes. The building itself has held a tavern since 1720, when it was the Posada de San Pedro; Casa Lucio inherited that lineage, and Lucio's children now run it alongside him. Inside, tiled walls and wooden tables run across a bar and two floors. Beyond the eggs, the menu runs to a Revuelto Lucio of scrambled eggs with mushrooms and shrimp, callos a la madrileña, and acorn-fed Iberian ham. The huevos rotos remain the dish to order, the house signature since 1974.

Order thisHuevos estrellados (huevos rotos)
Menu82 dishes
  • Bread with tomato
    €8.00
  • Acorn-fed Iberian Ham (5J)
    €31.50
  • Anchovies (each)
    €3.25
  • Acorn-fed Iberian Pork Loin (5J)
    €28.50
  • Vic Salchichón
    €26.00
  • Guijuelo Chorizo
    €22.50
  • Grilled Wild Mushrooms
    €14.50
  • Boquerones in vinegar
    €15.00
  • Melon with ham
    €24.50
  • Manchego cheese
    €15.50
  • Pimientos de Padrón
    €14.50
  • Croquettes (ham or spinach) Each
    €2.50
  • Green beans
    €14.50
  • Sautéed wild mushrooms, young garlic and baby eels (50g)
    €65.00
  • Artichokes with ham (seasonal)
    €16.75
  • Callos a la madrileña
    €20.50
  • Smoked salmon
    €25.50
  • Vegetable panaché
    €15.50
  • Tortilla española
    €15.50
  • Huevos estrellados
    €16.50
  • "Lucio" Scrambled Eggs (wild mushrooms, young garlic and prawns)
    €16.50
  • Cazpacho Andaluz (seasonal)
    €12.00
  • Russian salad
    €14.75
  • House wine (Cune Reserva)
    €23.00
  • Bread (Price per person)
    €2.50
  • Consommé
    €9.50
  • Seafood soup
    €23.50
  • Castilian soup
    €14.50
  • Lettuce and tomato salad
    €12.75
  • Mixed salad (Lettuce, tomato, onion, egg, escabeche)
    €16.00
  • Campera salad (Onion, tomato, potato, escabeche, egg)
    €16.50
  • Escarole salad
    €14.75
  • Lentils (Monday)
    €19.00
  • Asturian fabada (Tuesday)
    €19.75
  • Cocido madrileño (Wednesday)
    €32.00
  • Beans with partridge
    €23.00
  • Oxtail
    €26.00
  • Tripe with chickpeas
    €19.75
  • Dressed potatoes
    €5.50
  • Assorted vegetables
    €6.50
  • Cocochas (Battered, Grilled, Green sauce)
    €33.00
  • Angulas
    €170.00
  • Hake (Battered, Bilbao-style, Bite-sized)
    €31.50
  • Hake in green sauce
    €32.00
  • Sole
    €32.00
  • King prawns (100g)
    €15.50
  • Langoustines (100g)
    €24.00
  • Clams (100g)
    €13.50
  • Prawns (boiled, grilled, 100g)
    €20.00
  • Garlic prawns
    €22.50
  • Monkfish (Grilled, Breaded, Bite-sized)
    €29.75
  • Cod (Grilled, Baked, Battered)
    €28.50
  • Churrasco (750g) (Two people)
    €72.00
  • Entrecôte
    €30.00
  • Sirloin
    €31.00
  • Escalopes (with garlic and parsley)
    €31.00
  • Steak tartare
    €29.50
  • Veal chop
    €28.50
  • Roast suckling pig
    €29.75
  • Veal meatballs
    €23.75
  • Veal escalope
    €22.50
  • Garlic chicken
    €19.50
  • Free-range chicken in pepitoria sauce
    €24.50
  • Braised veal shank
    €26.50
  • Braised partridge (seasonal)
    €28.00
  • Ribeye steak
    €29.50
  • Baby lamb chops (Fried or Grilled)
    €28.50
  • Custard
    €6.00
  • Rice pudding
    €8.50
  • Flan
    €7.25
  • Melon
    €6.00
  • Strawberries
    €8.50
  • Fresh orange juice
    €6.00
  • Cheese with quince paste
    €9.00
  • Pan perdido
    €7.75
  • Lemon sorbet
    €9.00
  • Tarta de Santiago
    €6.25
  • Ice cream (vanilla, strawberry, tiramisu, Philadelphia cheese, crema catalana, chocolate, turrón)
    €6.75
  • Picota cherries
    €9.50
  • Escocés
    €10.50
  • Fresh pineapple
    €6.00
  • Flan with ice cream
    €9.00
A grey bowl of mushrooms with a golden yolk, dark pieces and green shoots on an orange sauceEl Brote
A golden pastry case topped with cooked mushrooms and herbs on a white plate
A pale green bowl holding green leaves over a dark base with orange sauce
A pale bowl of browned sliced mushrooms

12. El Brote — Pablo Roncal's five-course wild-mushroom tasting menu, Michelin Selected

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#101 of 1001·€€·Embajadores·Market Cuisine·Chef: Pablo Roncal
Michelin SelectedRepsol Recommended

El Brote is a wild-mushroom and foraged-produce restaurant in Embajadores, built around a single five-course tasting menu plus dessert that changes entirely with the season. Head chef Pablo Roncal cooks alongside co-founders and mushroom foragers Eduardo Anton and Álvaro De La Torre, who gather and buy the restaurant's wild mushrooms and foraged produce themselves; the mushrooms turn up everywhere, even in dessert. The restaurant has operated for more than ten years and holds a Michelin Selected listing for 2025-2026. Dishes include escabeche de níscalos, saffron milk cap mushrooms in a vinegar marinade, and a black truffle ice cream to close. Tables are hard to book, so reserve ahead; it's open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Order thisEscabeche de níscalos
Menu29 dishes
  • 5 courses + dessertBlack trumpet mushroom; Wood ear mushroom; Morel; Chanterelle; Shiitake; Homemade ice cream. The menu changes with the season; price subject to market.
    €53.00
  • TORREDEROS 2023 (house wine)100% Verdejo. Elegant and forthright on the nose. Flavourful on the palate (glass / bottle)
    €2.95
  • BERNABELEVA NAVAHERREROS 2023Tasty Albillo Real and Macabeo from San Martín de Valdeiglesias
    €22.95
  • AMÓS BAÑERES HEY! 2022Macabeo and Xarel-lo in Penedés. Small producer with precision and sensible farming. 12 months in used barrel
    €22.95
  • LIRONDO CANTALAPIEDRA 24Organic old-vine Verdejo. Macerated with skins for 12h and 8 months on lees. Fruity, herbaceous and fresh
    €23.30
  • NENO VIÑA SOMOZAGodello from its region of origin, Valdeorras. 30-40 year old vines with 10 months in barrel
    €25.50
  • BODEGA L´ENCLOS DE PERALBA. VI FI DE MASIA 2022Garnacha Blanca, Xarel.lo and Malvasía in Penedés. Aged in cement and wood. Mediterranean finesse
    €25.95
  • DONIENE GORRONDONA TXAKOLI 2023Organic Hondarrabi Zuri. Stainless steel and purity from a farmhouse winery in Bakio (glass / bottle)
    €3.95
  • NARUPA ALALÁ 2020Organic Albariño from the Salnés Valley with several vineyards near the sea. 12 months on lees and 24 in bottle
    €27.80
  • SCHOFFIT SEC TRADITION 2022Riesling from French Alsace, vines over 40 years old. Stainless steel aging on fine lees. Citrus and minerality
    €28.95
  • MAS CANDI TINC SET 2022Ancestral method, natural style, easy-drinking Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo from Penedés
    €17.95
  • CELLER COMUNICA SUC DE SAULO 2019Cariñena and Garnacha from Penedés in 'natural style'. Mediterranean fruit and freshness
    €19.95
  • FRONTIO PUESTA EN CHUS 2022Rabigato grape from Arribes de Duero, natural style. Granite/quartz soils. Texture and flavour
    €20.95
  • GOMEZ CRUZADO KARMANGarnacha and Tempranillo from the Sierra de la Demanda in Rioja. 8 months in stainless steel. Easy, uncomplicated drinking (glass / bottle)
    €3.50
  • ENVINATE ALBAHARA 2023The most subtle and elegant Garnacha Tintorera from Albacete. Fermented and aged 7 months in cement
    €23.95
  • CESAR MARQUEZ PARAJES 202385% Mencía from Bierzo, made by the region's most talented young winemaker. 12 months in barrel. Elegant, easy-drinking
    €26.75
  • JOSEP GRAU VESPRES NEGRE 2022Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah aged 10 months in foudre. Mediterranean fluidity from Montsant
    €27.95
  • VIVE LA VIDA 202160% Albarín Negro, 30% Mencía, 10% Carrasquín and Verdejo Tinto. 13 months in French barrel
    €28.95
  • DOM COULET M.BARRET PETIT OURS 2023Syrah, vines over 50 years old, biodynamic, 12 months in concrete. Balance and freshness from the Northern Rhône
    €31.95
  • 4MONOS CIEN LANZAS TINAJA 22Garnacha and Cariñena from century-old vineyards in Gredos at almost 1000m. 9 months in clay tinajas. Fluidity through ancestral technique
    €32.50
  • ARTUKE FINCA LOS LOCOS 23Tempranillo and Graciano. 40-year-old vines, 16 months in barrel. Rioja Alavesa. Modern tradition
    €35.95
  • BODEGAS PONCE CASTILLA ESTRECHA 2023Elegant Bobal from 75-year-old vines on granite soils. 11 months in large barrel
    €38.95
  • ALHAMBRA BEERdouble and third
    €2.20
  • ALHAMBRA RESERVA 1925 BEER
    €3.50
  • ALHAMBRA ESPECIAL SIN BEER
    €3.50
  • MAHOU GLUTEN-FREE BEER
    €3.50
  • ZECCHINI VERMOUTH
    €2.50
  • TINTO DE VERANO
    €3.25
  • SOFT DRINKS
    €2.20
Slices of pink roast meat, a green stalk, an onion and two dark round pieces on a large white plateBolboreta
A browned piece of meat on a grey speckled plate with a corn mixture and green shoots
A grey plate of a grain dish topped with purple basil leaves and yellow pieces
A wooden bowl of orange pieces topped with round green leaves

13. Bolboreta — Aaron Quaife and Patricia Grandío's short, changing Lavapiés tasting menu

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#109 of 1001·€€€·Lavapiés·International·Chef: Aaron Quaife
Michelin SelectedRepsol Recommended

Bolboreta is a restaurant in Lavapiés run by chef Aaron Quaife, who is British, and owner Patricia Grandío, who runs the front of house; both previously worked with chef Diego Guerrero at Dstage and Dspeak. It opened at the end of 2023, a few steps from the Mercado de Antón Martín, paid for with the owners' own savings. The dining room is minimalist, about ten bare-wood tables with warm-toned walls and a shelf of pickled vegetables and spices. The menu is short and changes often, exact rather than excessive. It's listed in the Michelin Guide and the Guía Repsol, though neither is a star. Dishes have included a smoked eel donut, cured fish with ponzu vinaigrette, a crispy 'scraps' batter modeled on fish and chips, and squab with parsnip and elderberries. It's closed Monday and Tuesday, with dinner Wednesday to Saturday and lunch on the weekend; expect to spend around €50 to €60 a head.

“Pequeño restaurante donde el producto y la estacionalidad marcan el ritmo de la carta, con especial atención a las verduras”— DOD Magazine
Order thisSmoked eel donut
Menu13 dishes
  • Cured Duck Ham (Plate)
    €12.00
  • Ricotta Cream and Nasturtium Pesto
    €6.00
  • Mussel Pâté, Cucumber and Jalapeño Relish
    €7.00
  • Carrot Salad, Labneh and Vadouvan
    €19.00
  • Cured Salmon, Green Gazpacho and Avocado
    €19.00
  • Beef Tongue, Fried Bone Marrow and Snap Peas
    €19.00
  • Pineapple Tomato, Cashew Ajoblanco & Melon
    €19.00
  • Gnocchetti, Courgette & Arugula Sauce & Cheese
    €24.00
  • Skate, Roasted Cauliflower and Crab Bisque
    €27.00
  • Guinea Fowl Suprême, Corn and Mushrooms
    €28.00
  • Strawberry, Vanilla and Pink Peppercorn Meringue
    €10.00
  • "S.T.P.", Apple & "Meadowsweet" Ice Cream
    €11.00
  • Cheese Selection, Chutney & Crackers
    €12.00
Scallop ceviche with red onion and white beans in a green sauce, served in a dark bowl with a crisp tuileTampu
Ceviche of white fish with potato, lettuce and toasted corn in a grey bowl on a dark background
Seafood in a green sauce with squid, clams and vegetables in an oval black pan on a pale wooden surface
Slices of raw red tuna topped with dark seaweed, green dots and lotus root chips on a glass plate

14. Tampu — Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo's narrative-chaptered Peruvian menu on Calle de Prim

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#123 of 1001·€€€·Justicia·Peruvian·Chef: Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo
Michelin SelectedRepsol Recommended

Tampu is a Peruvian restaurant in Justicia, run by chef Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo, who trained in the first cohort of Le Cordon Bleu in Lima. Chef Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo opened it in 2011. It started modestly in Prosperidad before relocating to Calle de Prim, and its name comes from a Quechua word meaning inn or lodging. The menu is organized into narrative chapters that follow the chef's approach to Peruvian cooking, served across a bar area, three private rooms and a main salon in wicker, wood and warm gold. Ceviche is offered in four variations, alongside dishes like mussels in mojito granita with sweet potato threads and a tamal carabinero. Tampu carries a Michelin recommendation and Repsol recognition. Hours run Tuesday to Sunday, 1:30pm to 4:00pm and 8:30pm to midnight.

Order thisCeviche (four variations)
Menu19 dishes
  • THE MUSSEL - MOJITO /pc
    €3.50
  • THE RAZOR CLAM, THE PARMESAN AND THE HUACATAY /pc
    €3.50
  • THE WILD QUEEN SCALLOP /pc
    €4.50
  • THE LITTLE YUCCA THAT STUFFED ITSELF WITH SHELLFISH /pc
    €6.00
  • /pc
    €4.80
  • THE LIQUID AJÍ DE GALLINA CROQUETTE /pc
    €3.70
  • THE LITTLE DUCK RICE BOMB /pc
    €3.50
  • THE CHICHARRÓN CHIFERO SANGUCHITO /pc
    €5.50
  • CARABINERO OCOPADO
    €18.00
  • NIKKEI-STYLE RED TUNA TIRADITO
    €22.00
  • THE MUSSEL - MOJITO /each
    €3.50
  • RAZOR CLAM, PARMESAN AND HUACATAY /each
    €3.50
  • THE WILD SCALLOP /each
    €4.50
  • ITSELF WITH SHELLFISH /each
    €6.00
  • THE ROCOTO - BOMBÓN /unit
    €4.80
  • CHICKEN STEW CROQUETTE /each
    €3.70
  • THE RICE BOMB WITH DUCK /each
    €3.50
  • THE LITTLE PORK CRACKLING SANDWICH /each
    €5.50
  • SHRIMP COCKTAIL
    €18.00
A dish with a white foam in a green broth in a textured glass bowlAngelita
A white plate of fish and vegetables in a bright green sauce
A white plate of dark glazed pieces on a bed of greens
A hand pouring sauce over a dish in a shallow bowl on a wooden table

15. Angelita — The Villalón brothers' garden-driven wine and cocktail bar

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#133 of 1001·€€·Chueca·Cocktail Bar
Repsol Recommended

Angelita is a family-run wine bar, cocktail bar and restaurant in Chueca, the project of brothers David and Mario Villalón, who opened it in 2016 on Calle de la Reina. It sits at No. 45 on Europe's 50 Best Bars 2026 and has appeared on the World's 50 Best Bars extended list. The room spreads over two floors: a modern wine bistro upstairs and a classic cocktail bar below. The kitchen is seasonal and produce-led, much of it grown in the family's own garden, built to sit alongside the wine and cocktails rather than compete with them. Dishes include the vegetable pisto with rosemary all i oli and oxtail cannelloni with Palo Cortado hollandaise, and bartenders make cocktails without shakers or mixing vessels, measuring by weight instead. The wine list runs to more than 2,000 references.

“Farm-to-table produce, sourcing most of its vegetables and herbs from its garden just outside the city center.”— The Infatuation
Order thisOur vegetable pisto, egg yolk and rosemary all i oli
Menu15 dishes
  • Extra cecina and fried almonds
    €19.00
  • Cured meat board: cecina, "Casa Sendra" salchichón, Iberian cured pork loin
    €21.00
  • Toast with "Casa Santoña" anchovy Russian salad and roasted peppers
    €5.00
  • Korean pig's ear ssäm
    €5.25
  • Wonton roll with matanza-style cured pork, prawns and mango
    €5.25
  • Our vegetable pisto, egg yolk and rosemary all i oli
    €17.00
  • Lazy tortilla with Comté cheese and smoked eel
    €18.75
  • Beef sirloin steak tartare toasts
    €2.00
  • Oxtail cannelloni with Palo Cortado hollandaise
    €9.95
  • Iberian pluma, sweet potato and vinegar-sautéed cabbage
    €24.50
  • Sourdough bread basket
    €4.25
  • Board of 3 / 6 / 9 cheeses
    €16.00
  • Chocolate, beetroot and extra virgin olive oil
    €8.50
  • Pear, fennel and rooibos
    €8.00
  • Homemade peanut ice cream
    €5.25
A white fish fillet topped with tomato and vegetables in a shallow bowl with green oilCasa Alberto

16. Casa Alberto — An 1827 taberna centenaria on Calle de las Huertas

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#155 of 1001·€€€·Barrio de las Letras·Madrilenian
Repsol Recommended

Casa Alberto calls itself a taberna centenaria on Calle de las Huertas in Barrio de las Letras, its 1827 founding recorded on a plaque the Ayuntamiento de Madrid set into the floor at the entrance. The current building stands on an earlier one from the mid-sixteenth century where Miguel de Cervantes lived, and where the association of centenarian restaurants says he wrote part of the second Don Quixote. It started as a plain taberna serving wine with hard-boiled eggs and dried cod, and it's now on the Ayuntamiento's Comercios Centenarios register. The classics are callos, caracoles a la madrileña, manitas de cordero, rabo estofado and bacalao a la madrileña, alongside newer plates like octopus with sweetbreads. Every dish can be eaten at the bar. It's closed Mondays.

Order thisCallos
Menu45 dishes
  • Chargrilled Artichoke with Iberian Ham Veileach
    €5.50
  • Smoked Sardine with Guacamole and Tomato Jam
    €9.50
  • Pepper Stuffed with Cod and King Prawnseach
    €5.50
  • Small Squid Sandwich with Aioli
    €7.00
  • Leek Stuffed with Salmon and Anchovy Vinaigrette
    €9.50
  • Battered Cod Pincho
    €6.50
  • Casa Alberto Tortilla Pincho
    €5.50
  • Blood Sausage Brownie with Goat Cheese
    €6.50
  • Manchego Cheesefull / half
    €19.50
  • Fresh Andalusian-Style Squid
    €20.00
  • Chargrilled Octopus with Veal Sweetbreads and Meat Reduction
    €26.50
  • Guijuelo Iberian Hamfull / half
    €26.00
  • Scrambled Eggs with Cod and Straw Potatoes
    €16.50
  • Homemade Ham Croquettesfull / half
    €14.00
  • Squid-in-Ink Croquettes with Aiolifull / half
    €14.00
  • Casa Alberto Russian Saladfull / half
    €12.00
  • Patatas Bravas or Aioli
    €8.50
  • Dressed Tomato with Spring Onion
    €13.00
  • Chargrilled Avocado with Mozzarella and Smoked Salmon
    €15.50
  • Burrata Salad with Chargrilled Peach and Ham
    €16.50
  • Roasted Pepper Salad with Bonito
    €14.50
  • Traditional Salmorejo
    €13.00
  • Braised Oxtailfull / half
    €28.00
  • Callos a La Madrileñafull / half
    €25.00
  • Pig's Trotter Stuffed with Braised Oxtail
    €24.50
  • Veal Meatballs
    €20.00
  • Madrid-Style Snails
    €20.00
  • Cervantine Eggs
    €16.50
  • Classic Torrija with Ice Cream
    €8.00
  • Chocolate Cake with Raspberry
    €8.00
  • Our Castizo Dessert with Violet Ice Cream
    €8.00
  • Our Baked Cheesecake
    €8.00
  • Homemade Flan
    €7.50
  • Blood Sausage Cannelloni
    €18.00
  • Leeks Stuffed with Salmon and Anchovy Vinaigrette
    €19.00
  • Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Cod and King Prawns (3 Pieces)
    €16.00
  • Partridge Escabeche with Baby Vegetables
    €17.50
  • Fried Baby Squid with Egg and Piparra Pepper
    €19.00
  • Veal Cheek
    €28.00
  • Entrecôte (400g)
    €26.50
  • Free-Range Chicken in Pepitoria Sauce
    €21.00
  • Madrid-Style Cod
    €25.00
  • Battered Cod
    €23.50
  • Chargrilled Hake with Garlic King Prawns
    €26.00
  • Baby Squid in Its Ink with Rice
    €23.00
A silver oval tray of round breaded croquetasLhardy
A plate of diced potatoes in a golden sauce with a garnish on top
A stack of glazed food topped with a pale piece and grated dark shavings in glossy sauce on a white plate
A dining room with a set round table, red velvet chairs, a gilded mantel clock and dried floral arrangements

17. Lhardy — An 1839 Madrid institution known for its cocido madrileño

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#167 of 1001·€€€·Sol·Madrilenian
Repsol Recommended

Lhardy is a classic Madrid restaurant in Sol, open since 1839, when Frenchman Emilio Huguenin Lhardy founded it as a pastry shop before expanding into full meals; it's a member of Madrid's Asociación de Restaurantes y Tabernas Centenarias. It also claims several Madrid firsts, including separate individual tables, silver cutlery, white tablecloths and the fixed-price menú del día concept still used across Spain. The house signature is cocido madrileño, the Madrid stew, served with a homemade tomato sauce on the side, and the mahogany facade dates from 1880. The attached shop runs sweet and savoury counters, plus a street-level take-away serving its consommé to walk with. Other dishes on the menu include smoked salmon with Lhardy spun egg yolk, Lhardy pâté en croûte, and Galician lobster salpicón.

Order thisCocido madrileño
Menu53 dishes
  • Pescaderías Coruñesas Smoked Salmon with Lhardy Spun Egg Yolk
    €24.00
  • Granja de los Monjes Tomato Salad with Bonito Ventresca
    €19.00
  • Lhardy Pâté en Croûte
    €23.00
  • Stracciatella with Pescaderías Coruñesas Smoked Salmon
    €25.00
  • Motril Shrimp Russian Salad
    €26.00
  • Oyster, 3 pieces (natural, yellow ají, mignonette)
    €16.50
  • Galician Lobster Salpicón
    €39.00
  • Jamón Ibérico "Cinco Jotas" (5J)
    €33.00
  • Rustic Bread, Iberian Pork Jowl, Egg Yolk and Caviar
    €59.00
  • Bonito del Norte Tartare with Pine Nut Ajo Blanco
    €26.00
  • Lhardy Cocido Croquette, each
    €4.00
  • Lhardy Gazpacho with Galician Spider Crab Txangurro
    €22.00
  • Roasted Leek with Smoked Eel and Hazelnut
    €28.00
  • Lhardy Tripe (Madrid's Most Famous)
    €22.00
  • Ropa Vieja Cannelloni
    €22.00
  • Suckling Lamb Sweetbreads with Tender Broad Beans
    €28.00
  • Poached Egg Rossini, Century-old Recipe, each
    €12.00
  • Pan-fried Carril Clams with Palo Cortado
    €32.00
  • Smoked Picanha Carpaccio
    €29.00
  • Lhardy Beef Wellington with English-style Potatoes, per person
    €36.00
  • Sole Evaristo in Champagne or Salt Crust, per person
    €39.00
  • Beef Sirloin Steak Tartare with English-style Potatoes
    €33.00
  • Hook-caught Sea Bass with Ham Jus and Fresh Spinach
    €39.00
  • Classic Lhardy Duckling Finished Tableside
    €34.00
  • Wild Sea Bass Ceviche
    €32.00
  • White Veal Escalopes with Stroganoff Sauce
    €38.00
  • Baked Wild Turbot Steak
    €39.00
  • Stuffed Free-range Quail
    €32.00
  • Glazed French Spring Onions
    €5.50
  • Granja de los Monjes English-style Potatoes
    €5.50
  • Granja de los Monjes Turned Potatoes
    €5.50
  • Robuchon Purée
    €5.50
  • Lettuce Salad with Tender Spring Onion
    €5.50
  • Sautéed Spinach with Dried Apricots and Pistachios
    €5.50
  • Cocido Madrileño
    €68.00
  • Cream Mille-feuille with Whipped Vanilla Ganache
    €11.00
  • Soufflé Lhardy
    €12.00
  • Classic Lhardy Tarte Tatin with Vanilla Ice Cream
    €12.00
  • Tableside-prepared Tiramisu
    €11.00
  • Classic Crêpe Suzette
    €15.00
  • Red Berry Clafoutis
    €11.00
  • The Chef's Cacao Indulgence
    €12.50
  • Homemade Ice Creams
    €9.00
  • Lhardy Cheese Board
    €25.50
  • Half Lhardy Cheese Board
    €17.00
  • Lhardy Half Combination
    €6.50
  • Aperol Spritz
    €12.50
  • Lhardy Gin Fizz
    €12.50
  • Bloody Mary
    €12.50
  • Lhardy Sherry Mary
    €12.50
  • Dry Martini
    €12.50
  • Since 1911 Whisky Sour
    €12.50
  • Negroni
    €12.50
A bamboo steamer of dumplings beside a bowl of cucumber and pan-fried bunsLittle Dragon
Pan-fried buns sprinkled with sesame seeds and spring onion on a metal plate
A green bowl of dumplings in dark chilli oil with dried red chillies scattered on a wooden table
A breaded pork cutlet sliced over fried rice on a grey plate

18. Little Dragon — Shanghai-style xiaolongbao and shengjianbao near Plaza España

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#180 of 1001·€·Universidad·Chinese
Michelin Selected

Little Dragon is a Chinese restaurant on Calle de los Reyes in Universidad, at the Plaza España end of the Centro district, and it's listed in the Michelin Guide. Its own site lists this address as Little Dragon Plaza España, with further branches in Serrano and Moncloa. The carta leans Shanghai-style: xiaolongbao soup dumplings, pan-fried shengjianbao buns, wontons in chilli oil, hand-pulled noodle soups, and dishes like Shanghai-style pork chop rice and Sichuan-pepper chicken, traditional and ingredient-led rather than fusion. The room is elegant and modern, the service polished, and the bill sits at the lower end. It's closed Monday, open Tuesday to Sunday, 13:00 to 16:30 and 19:30 to 23:30, with booking online through the restaurant's own site.

“Its sheng jian bao, spicy chicken, and nutty noodles offer all the comfort you want”— The Infatuation
Order thisXiaolongbao (pork soup dumplings)
Menu46 dishes
  • 猪肉小笼包 Zhū Ròu XiǎolóngbāoPork xiaolongbao, 5 pieces
    €7.80
  • 黑松露小笼包 Hei song lu xiao long baoTruffle and pork xiaolongbao, 5 pieces
    €10.50
  • 牛肉小笼包 Niu rou xiaolongbaoBeef and tomato xiaolongbao, 5 pieces
    €10.00
  • 生煎包 ShēnjiāngbāoBuns filled with pork and vegetables, steamed and pan-fried until golden, 4 pieces
    €7.80
  • 黑金流沙包 Hēi jīn liú shā bāoSweet steamed buns filled with smooth, delicious egg yolk custard, 2 pieces
    €7.50
  • 素包 Su baoSteamed buns filled with vegetables, 2 pieces
    €7.00
  • 话梅糖醋黄瓜 Huà Méi Táng Cù Huáng GuāCucumber salad with plum
    €6.50
  • 油焖笋 Yóu Mèn SǔnBamboo shoots sautéed in aromatic oil
    €6.50
  • 脆皮虾球 Cuì pí xiā qiúFried prawn balls coated in a crispy layer, 2 pieces
    €7.50
  • 烤鸭春卷 Kaoya ChunjuanFried roast duck spring rolls, 2 pieces
    €6.00
  • 上海素春卷 Shànghǎi Sù ChūnjuǎnClassic Shanghai spring rolls filled with vegetables, 2 pieces
    €5.00
  • 葱油饼 Chong You BingFlaky griddled pastry filled with meat and spring onion
    €7.00
  • 鲜虾卷 Xian xia juanPastry filled with Iberian pork, prawns and bamboo
    €10.00
  • 红油抄手 Hóng Yóu Chǎo ShǒuPork wonton with homemade spicy sauce
    €10.00
  • 麻酱拌馄饨 Má Jiàng Bàn HúntúnPork wonton with peanut and sesame sauce
    €10.00
  • 荠菜馄饨汤 Jìcài Húntún TāngVegetable and pork wonton soup
    €9.50
  • 鲜肉馄饨汤 Xiān Ròu Húntún TāngPork wonton soup
    €9.50
  • 番茄浓汤鲜虾猪肉馄饨 Xiān Xiā Zhū Ròu Húntún TāngPrawn and pork wonton soup with special sauce
    €11.00
  • 麻酱拌面 Má Jiàng Bàn MiànNoodles with peanut and sesame sauce with marinated pork
    €11.50
  • 三丁面 San Ding MianNoodles with diced chicken, dried tofu, bamboo and sweet soy sauce
    €11.50
  • 辣肉汤面 Là Ròu Tāng MiànSlightly spicy noodle soup with marinated pork
    €11.00
  • 红烧牛肉汤面 Hóngshāo Niúròu Tāng MiànNoodle soup with braised beef
    €12.00
  • 罗汉素汤面 Luóhàn Sù Tāng MiànNoodle soup with vegetables
    €10.00
  • 猪排饭 Zhu Bai FanFried rice with egg and spring onion, served with a breaded pork chop. A typical Shanghai dish
    €11.50
  • 椒麻鸡 Jiāo má jīSmall chicken fillets cooked in a blend of Sichuan pepper and spices
    €9.50
  • 酥炸大排 Sū zhá dà páiBreaded pork loin, Shanghai-style
    €9.50
  • 罗汉斋 Luó hàn zhāiSelection of vegetables, tofu and mushrooms, cooked in a blend of flavors and spices
    €8.50
  • 蒜蓉蚝油小白菜 Suàn róng háo yóu xiǎo bái càiPak choi (Chinese cabbage) cooked with garlic and oyster sauce
    €8.50
  • Matcha Tiramisu
    €6.50
  • Sesame Balls with Ice Cream
    €6.00
  • Homemade Ice Cream (2 scoops)Red Bean - Sesame - Peanut - Matcha
    €5.50
  • 百香金橘青柠果饮Passion fruit + kumquat + lime, served in a 1-litre jug
    €11.00
  • 桂花山楂酸梅汤Smoked plum + osmanthus flower aroma, served in a 1-litre jug
    €11.00
  • 椰奶 Coconut Milk
    €3.00
  • 冰红茶 Red Tea
    €3.00
  • 冰绿茶 Green Tea
    €3.00
  • 王老吉 Herbal Tea
    €3.00
  • Coca Cola, Coca Cola Zero, Fanta Orange, Fanta Lemon, Aquarius Lemon, Aquarius Orange, Nestea
    €3.00
  • Tsingtao (Chinese)
    €3.50
  • Mahou 5 estrellas
    €3.00
  • Tostada Non-alcoholic
    €3.00
  • Still Water
    €2.50
  • Sparkling Water
    €2.80
  • Espresso, Cortado, Americano
    €2.00
  • Latte
    €2.50
  • Tea
    €2.50
A roast suckling pig portion with two potatoes in a clay dish on a wooden boardBotín
A roasted portion of meat with a potato in an oval clay dish on a wooden board
A roast whole suckling pig lying in a clay dish beside a wood-fired oven
A white plate of golden croquetas on a brick-patterned surface

19. Botín — The 1725 firewood-oven roast house near Plaza Mayor

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#222 of 1001·€€€·Palacio·Castilian
Repsol Recommended

Botín is a traditional Castilian roast house on Calle de Cuchilleros, near Plaza Mayor in Palacio, and Guinness World Records lists it as the oldest restaurant in the world, open since 1725. Cochinillo asado, roast suckling pig, is what it's known for, and it still comes out of the original firewood oven, priced at €32.50 on the carta. The building runs to four floors that keep their eighteenth-century interiors, plus a terrace. It's listed as Recomendado in the Guía Repsol. Beyond the cochinillo, the menu runs to roast Castilian lamb, callos a la madrileña, and chicken and ham croquettes. It's open every day, 13:00 to 23:30.

Order thisCochinillo asado (roast suckling pig)
Menu52 dishes
  • Roasted peppers with tuna belly
    €22.00
  • Russian salad
    €14.00
  • Acorn-fed Iberian ham
    €30.00
  • Pure sheep's milk cheese
    €15.50
  • Rocket, mango and king prawn salad
    €19.00
  • Botín Salad (with chicken and ham)
    €16.50
  • Anchovies with peppers
    €26.00
  • Burgos blood sausage
    €14.50
  • Chicken and ham croquettes
    €13.00
  • Battered suckling pig trotters
    €10.00
  • Smoked salmon
    €25.00
  • Callos a la Madrileña
    €22.00
  • Roast suckling pig
    €32.50
  • Roast lamb
    €33.00
  • Roast chicken with vegetables
    €21.00
  • Free-range chicken in pepitoria sauce
    €25.00
  • Braised partridge
    €29.00
  • Grilled veal steak
    €24.00
  • Veal escalope
    €25.00
  • Grilled sirloin
    €32.00
  • Botín Sirloin with mushrooms
    €32.00
  • Grilled Entrecôte
    €31.00
  • Asparagus with mayonnaise
    €15.50
  • Sautéed vegetables with Iberian ham
    €15.50
  • Sautéed artichokes with Iberian ham
    €15.50
  • Sautéed green beans with Iberian ham
    €14.50
  • Sautéed wild mushrooms with Iberian ham
    €15.50
  • Garlic soup with egg and ham
    €12.50
  • Poultry broth
    €9.00
  • Gazpacho
    €12.50
  • House scrambled eggs
    €16.50
  • Scrambled eggs with wild asparagus
    €14.50
  • Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon
    €15.00
  • Angulas
    €185.50
  • Botín Clams
    €29.00
  • Grilled prawns
    €36.50
  • Garlic prawns
    €23.00
  • Grilled or garlic king prawns
    €27.50
  • Fish casserole
    €31.00
  • Baked or fried hake
    €30.00
  • Fried, baked or grilled sole (whole)
    €36.50
  • Fried squid
    €26.50
  • Cod in tomato and ñora pepper sauce
    €29.00
  • Botín Cake (Sponge and cream)
    €8.00
  • Crema Catalana
    €8.00
  • Egg flan with cream
    €7.50
  • Fresh fruit (pineapple or melon)
    €7.50
  • Tiramisú
    €9.00
  • Cheesecake (Grandma's recipe)
    €9.50
  • Rice pudding
    €8.00
  • Lemon sorbet
    €7.50
  • Ice cream with Chocolate, Vanilla or Caramel sauce
    €7.50

Also worth trying

Honourable Mentions

The bigger picture

The Centro Scene in Madrid

Centro's restaurant scene spreads across six wards, Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad and Sol, and the entries here reach nearly all of them. Chueca and Justicia carry the heaviest concentration of Michelin recognition, from Diego Guerrero's two-star DSTAgE to Chispa Bistró's grill-led kitchen on Calle del Barquillo, while Cortes centres on CEBO's tasting menus inside Hotel Urban. Barrio de las Letras mixes Gofio's Canarian fine dining with the taberna centenaria cooking of Casa Alberto, and Palacio holds both Corral de la Morería Gastronómico's four-table dining room and Botín's 1725 firewood oven near Plaza Mayor. Further out, La Latina's Casa Lucio, Lavapiés's Bolboreta and Embajadores's El Brote round out the southern edge of the district, and Little Dragon sits at the Universidad end near Plaza España.

Practical tips

Know before you go

A short survival guide for eating centro in Madrid— everything we wish we’d known on our first trip.

  1. 1

    DSTAgE's booking calendar opens 120 days ahead, and Paco Roncero's dinner reservations run in a fixed 20:00 to 21:00 window, Tuesday to Saturday. Plan ahead if you have a specific night in mind.

  2. 2

    A few kitchens close for stretches: CEBO shuts every August, and Chispa Bistró is closed Sunday to Tuesday. Check a restaurant's current hours before you go.

  3. 3

    Some rooms are genuinely tiny: La Llorería has four tables and eight stools, and Corral de la Morería Gastronómico's tasting counter seats just four tables a night. Book ahead for either.

  4. 4

    Prices swing wide across the district, from Little Dragon's dumplings under €25 a head to Paco Roncero's Gran Madrid menu at €310. There's room to eat well here on very different budgets.

  5. 5

    Yugo the Bunker requires everyone at a table to order the same tasting menu and only seats guests aged eight and up, and Gofio caps each service at 20 diners. Check house rules before booking either.

Know the terms

Glossary

The vocabulary you need to order centro in Madrid like a local.

Taberna centenaria
A tavern that has operated for more than a hundred years; several in Madrid sit on the Ayuntamiento's official Comercios Centenarios register.
Izakaya
A casual Japanese tavern style serving small plates alongside drinks.
Cocina de raíz
Chef David García's term for his Basque-rooted cooking at Corral de la Morería Gastronómico, built on carefully made broths, stocks and juices.
Cocido madrileño
Madrid's classic chickpea, meat and vegetable stew, traditionally served in courses; Lhardy's version comes with a homemade tomato sauce on the side.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

All restaurants on this list were independently verified as open and serving the dishes described as of .

Which restaurant tops this Centro, Madrid list?

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DSTAgE tops this list. Diego Guerrero's restaurant on Calle Regueros in Chueca holds two Michelin stars and three Repsol Soles, and has held two stars since the 2017 guide.

Which historic restaurants are in the city centre?

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Botín, on Calle de Cuchilleros near Plaza Mayor, is listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world, open since 1725. Lhardy has served Sol since 1839, and Casa Alberto's 1827 founding is recorded on a plaque at its entrance on Calle de las Huertas.

Which Centro restaurants hold a Michelin star?

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DSTAgE and Paco Roncero each hold two Michelin stars, and Corral de la Morería Gastronómico, CEBO, Chispa Bistró, Gofio and Yugo the Bunker each hold one.

Where can I eat well in Centro without spending a lot?

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Little Dragon, near Plaza España, serves Shanghai-style xiaolongbao and shengjianbao dumplings for under €25 a head.

Is there good Peruvian food in central Madrid?

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Tampu, on Calle de Prim in Justicia, runs a narrative-chaptered Peruvian menu from chef Miguel Ángel Valdiviezo, including ceviche in four variations.

Where's a classic Madrid taberna near La Latina?

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Casa Lucio, on Cava Baja, has served its signature huevos rotos since 1974, in a building that's held a tavern since 1720.

Does this guide break down further by neighbourhood?

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Yes. We've also built dedicated guides to La Latina, Chueca, Barrio de las Letras, and the areas near Sol and Plaza Mayor and near the Prado, each going deeper on their own stretch of the district.

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Justin Mota

About the author

Justin Mota

Guidavera founder

Justin Mota is the founder of Guidavera. He has lived in Spain for over 10 years and runs a native AI agency alongside building this platform. Food has always been the way Justin connects with friends, and Guidavera started as the list he kept sending to everyone visiting Barcelona. He built it for himself and his friends first, and now hopes it can transform the way people discover great food experiences everywhere.

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