Don Lay
Don Lay
Don Lay is a Cantonese Chinese restaurant led by Nieves Ye, who previously ran Wan Run, a dim sum factory that supplied Madrid restaurants. It opened in 2002 in Puerta del Ángel and reopened in 2019 on Calle de Castelló. The kitchen roasts duck and pork, with dim sum like xiao long bao in chicken broth and truffle oil.
Social
From donlayrestaurante on Instagram
Madrid cambia de ritmo en agosto. Nosotros seguimos aquí. Durante todo el mes de agosto, en Don Lay continuamos ofreciendo una experiencia donde la auténtica cocina cantonesa, la tradición, la técnica y el cuidado por cada detalle siguen siendo los protagonistas. Os esperamos para compartir una me
Solo quien domina la técnica es capaz de convertir su fuerza en equilibrio. En Don Lay, cada llama forma parte de un ritual donde precisión, tradición y oficio se unen para dar vida a la auténtica cocina cantonesa. Porque la excelencia empieza mucho antes de llegar a la mesa. ✨ Haz tu reserva a tr
En verano, el cuerpo pide ligereza y en Don Lay respondemos con la excelencia de nuestro pescado fresco. Texturas suaves, cocciones precisas al vapor y esa delicadeza cantonesa que equilibra el sabor del mar con notas frescas y aromáticas. ✨ Disfruta del verano con nosotros. Reserva en el link de l
Nuestro pato laqueado tiene su propio lenguaje. Crujiente por fuera, jugoso por dentro, con obleas, salsas, y si lo deseas, un consomé para cerrar como se debe. El arte del pato laqueado ejecutado a la perfección en Don Lay. ¿Te animas?
Un pliegue perfecto no nace de la nada. Nace de la paciencia, de las manos expertas de nuestros maestros y de una masa trabajada con mimo absoluto. En Don Lay, el arte del dim sum empieza justo aquí: en la nube de harina que precede a la creación. Los hacemos día a día en nuestras cocinas de las ma
Nuestro dim sum de gamba blanca trufada🦐 Parece que lo más especial de este dim sum es su llamativo relleno, pero lo que no todos saben es que la masa lo es más todavía: se elabora con una técnica milenaria llamada Hakao, mediante la que se aplasta con un cuchillo sin filo, extendiéndola de forma un
Background
About Don Lay
The Story
Don Lay first opened in 2002 on Paseo de Extremadura, in Puerta del Ángel, created by Nieves Ye with her father to serve authentic Chinese food to Madrid's Chinese community and Western diners alike. After several years closed, it reopened on Calle de Castelló in 2019, in a large space with two distinct atmospheres, keeping the essence of traditional Cantonese cooking in a contemporary room. The lacquered roasted meats and dim sum that made the original's name carry over, alongside an author cocktail list.
The Cuisine
Cantonese, skipping the generic 'three delicacies rice' template most Chinese restaurants default to. Beyond the roasted meats, dim sum runs to canelones char siu, hakao in transparent pasta, and fillings built around langostino, lobster, boletus and foie gras.
Dim Sum, One by One
The dim sum are made by hand, one at a time, and served to share. Steamed hakao come in blue lobster with a potato-starch dough infused with fermented rice, scallop and prawn in a squid-ink dough, boletus with pork and water chestnut, and truffled white prawn; there are Shanghai xiao long bao of pork loin and txangurro in chicken broth, a chicken-and-truffle version, Iberian wontons, pan-fried beef guotie with pickled cabbage, and changfen rolled around crispy prawn, Chinese vegetables or char siu. Cold starters include spinach and tofu, wood-ear mushroom salad, dressed jellyfish and Chongqing chicken.
Lacquered Meats
Lacquering, coating the meat with an aromatic mix and cooking it until the skin turns crisp and glossy, is what made the first Don Lay's name. The duck comes in two services, whole for €125 or half for €63, with a salad or broth depending on the season; a whole suckling pig marinated in five spices and Chinese orujo, served with crispy mantou, needs 48 hours' notice at €190. There's also char siu glazed over charcoal, Macau-style crispy pork belly, Wuxi ribs slow-cooked with star anise and cinnamon, and from the wok, sweet-and-sour pork with lacquered pineapple, Angus with foie and chilli, kung pao chicken and mapo tofu.
Cocktails, Wine and Dessert
The signature cocktail list has twelve drinks, one for each sign of the Chinese zodiac, from Snake with melon and ginger to Dragon with rose liqueur and Chartreuse, all also made alcohol-free. The wine list runs past 100 Spanish and international references, with more than 20 by the glass and a particular focus on Champagne and whites to match the cooking. Desserts include a swan-shaped custard puff pastry, a homage to the White Swan hotel in Canton, and there's a private room for celebrations.
The Chef
The Team
Nieves Ye has led Don Lay throughout, drawing on years spent running Wan Run, a dim sum factory that once supplied other Madrid restaurants directly. She conceived the original in 2002 with her father.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Don Lay Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Diner Ratings
4.7
4606
TripAdvisor
3.6
272 reviews
TheFork
4.75
98 reviews
Don Lay ranks #146 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 3.6/5 on TripAdvisor (272 reviews) and 4.75/5 on TheFork (98 reviews).
Reservations
How to Book Don Lay
Booking
Book online via the restaurant's website.
Experience
Don Lay Dining Experience
It's an elegant, intimate, modern room with lively energy and attentive service, and a bill on the expensive side, geared toward celebrations.
Navigate
Don Lay Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle de Castello, 117, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
On Calle de Castelló in the Castellana area, about 1500 m north-east of Plaza de Colón and 2.5 km north of the Retiro, Don Lay first opened in 2002 in Puerta del Ángel, closed, and reopened at this Salamanca-district address in 2019.
Nearby
Castellana is the business spine of the city, where the eating is built for lunches that are really meetings. The rooms are confident and well run rather than experimental, and they hold their prices without apology. It runs on past Salamanca and Puerta de Alcalá without ever relaxing.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of Don Lay.
Details
Don Lay Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–01:00 |
| Tuesday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–01:00 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–01:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–01:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–02:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–02:00 |
| Sunday | 13:00–02:00 |
Don Lay hours verified 2026-08-11. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
Don Lay FAQ
Where is Don Lay located, and when did it open?
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On Calle de Castelló in Madrid. It originated in 2002 at Puerta del Ángel, closed, then reopened at its current location in 2019.
How much does it cost to eat at Don Lay?
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€51 to €100 per person, premium overall and geared more toward celebrations than a quick meal.
Does Don Lay serve a whole roasted duck or suckling pig?
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Yes. The carta lists a whole lacquered duck served in two courses for €125 (half portion €63), and a whole lacquered suckling pig marinated with five spices and orujo chino for €190, made to order with 48 hours' notice.
How do you book a table at Don Lay?
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Reservations go through Don Lay's own website, at donlayrestaurante.es/reservas.
What are Don Lay's opening hours?
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Monday to Thursday, 13:00 to 16:30 and 20:00 to 1am. Friday to Sunday, 13:00 to 2am.
Who runs Don Lay?
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Nieves Ye, who created the original Don Lay with her father in 2002 and previously ran Wan Run, a dim sum factory that supplied Madrid restaurants.