El Boquerón
El Boquerón
El Boquerón has been pouring cañas and serving fresh seafood on Calle de Valencia, a step from Plaza de Lavapiés, since April 1949, and it holds a Solete in the Guía Repsol as a favourite of chef Toño Pérez of Atrio. It opened as Taberna J. Fernández and took its current name in the late 1980s, when the founders' nephews took over; today Pedro Andrés and his son Dani de Andrés run it. Gambas a la plancha and boquerones are the stars, with oysters, cigalas, percebes and pan-cooked hake chalked up on the board.
Social
From tabernaelboqueron on Instagram
Larga vida a las TASCAS/TABERNAS de siempre. Por aquí os dejamos 3 de ellas muy muy TOP. Cuál es tu preferida??? @cerveceriamarisqueriabaralonso @fideponzano @tabernaelboqueron #gastronomicos #baressp #taberna #tasca
Un verdadero privilegio y placer la visita que realizamos a nuestros amigos de @bodegasaslaxas durante las vacaciones de verano. Ni que decir las joyas que tuvimos la ocasión de catar, tres albariños de tres añadas distintas (de izquierda a derecha) 2002-2017-2025. Volveremos a vernos pronto, El B
📍Taberna El Boquerón, Madrid Una experiencia muy local, con pescado y marisco fresco preparado con alma. 🦀🦐 @tabernaelboqueron #madrid #spain #tapas #foodie #gastronomia
Un ALCALDE de la mano de @bodegasbarbadillo y listo. La calidad habla por sí sola cuando degustas algo así. #barbadillo #jerez
A favorite for seafood in Madrid The plates of @tabernaelboqueron 1. Percebes 2. Almejas 3. Cigala 4. Ensalada Tomate 5. Gambas 6. Matrimonio 🫡 #madrid #madridrestaurants #madridfoodies
El derbi de las tabernas de Madrid. Desde el boquerón hasta el rincón de nuestro amigo y querido Toñín. Abrazo de gol #elboqueron #elrincóndetoñín #madriz
Background
About El Boquerón
The Story
Pedro Andrés's uncles opened the bar in April 1949, on this same spot, as Taberna J. Fernández. Pedro came to Madrid from Brazacorta, in Burgos, in 1963, aged fourteen, to work for them, following his brothers Juan and Rafa; he did everything from buying fish at the Puerta de Toledo market to working the plancha and preparing the boquerones. When the uncles retired in the late 1980s, the nephews took over and renamed it after what sold most, choosing the boquerón over the prawn. Pedro now runs it with his son Dani, the third generation. The Guía Repsol lists it among chef Toño Pérez's favourite Soletes.
The Cuisine
Fresh seafood and classic Madrid taberna food, with product as the rule: percebes and cigalas come from Galicia, and everything is bought fresh that day. The Guía Repsol recommends the gambas a la plancha, boquerones en vinagre, pan-cooked hake (merluza a la sartén), grilled cigalas and oysters; there's also tomato salad with boquerones, cocochas, clams, centollo and a traditional caña or vermouth on tap.
What to Order
Start where everyone does: a well-poured caña and a plate of gambas a la plancha or boquerones en vinagre. From there, the chalkboard runs to oysters, percebes, cigalas, cocochas, clams and centollo, plus hake cooked in the pan and tomato salad with boquerones. Over the decades the bar has also served mussels, pepitos de lomo and even fried small birds, but seafood and boquerones have been the speciality since it opened.
Booking, Takeaway and Hours
To sit down for a seafood feast, book by phone; the bar itself works first come, first served. Seafood can also be ordered by phone and collected to take away. El Boquerón opens for lunch (12:00 to 16:00) and dinner (from about 19:30 to 23:00), serves lunch only on Sunday and closes all day Wednesday. Children and pets are welcome, and the entrance is step-free.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
El Boquerón Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
decor 5.7/10, service 6.1/10, typical spend 30€
Diner Ratings
TripAdvisor
4.5
1201 reviews
4.5
2593
El Boquerón ranks #324 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Professional recognition includes Repsol Solete. Diners rate it 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor (1201 reviews).
Reservations
How to Book El Boquerón
Booking
Reservations by phone at 91 527 63 80.
Experience
El Boquerón Dining Experience
Old Madrid taberna through and through: a zinc bar where everything happens, tiles on the lower walls, and the upper walls covered with old photographs, awards and newspaper cuttings, with a few tables and the menu written in chalk. Regulars are greeted by name, celebrities share the bar with the neighbours, and on Rastro Sundays or at aperitivo time there can be a queue before it opens.
Navigate
El Boquerón Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Valencia, 14, 28012, Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
Calle de Valencia 14, a few steps from Plaza de Lavapiés in Madrid's Centro district. The nearest metro is Lavapiés (Line 3), and Embajadores Cercanías station is a short walk away.
Nearby
Lavapiés is a steeply layered corner of central Madrid, a tight grid of narrow streets where the cooking comes from everywhere at once. The rooms are small, the prices are honest, and the good ones fill with regulars rather than reservations. Museo Reina Sofía and CaixaForum Madrid sit uphill from it, El Rastro at the bottom.
Nearby landmarks
Landmarks within walking distance of El Boquerón.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of El Boquerón.
Details
El Boquerón Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00–16:00 & 19:30–23:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:00–16:00 & 19:30–23:00 |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 12:00–16:00 & 19:30–23:00 |
| Friday | 12:00–16:00 & 19:30–23:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–16:00 & 19:30–23:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–16:00 |
El Boquerón hours verified 2026-08-10. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
By phone
Good to Know
Questions
El Boquerón FAQ
What kind of food does El Boquerón serve?
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Fresh seafood and classic taberna fare: gambas a la plancha, boquerones en vinagre, oysters, cigalas, percebes and pan-cooked hake, with a well-poured caña or vermouth on tap.
Where is El Boquerón, and when is it open?
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On Calle de Valencia in Lavapiés, central Madrid. Lunch and dinner Thursday to Tuesday, lunch only on Sunday, and closed all day Wednesday. Dinner service runs from about 19:30.
Is El Boquerón hard to get a table at?
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Yes. It's popular with locals and often hard to book, so plan ahead or expect to queue.
What's on the menu at El Boquerón?
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How do you book a table at El Boquerón?
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By phone only, at 91 527 63 80. There's no online booking, and it's often hard to book, so call ahead.
How much does it cost, and does it take cards?
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Around €26 to €50 per person, and cards and contactless are accepted.
How old is El Boquerón?
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It opened in April 1949 as Taberna J. Fernández, founded by the uncles of current owner Pedro Andrés. It became El Boquerón in the late 1980s, and Pedro now runs it with his son Dani.