El Sur
El Sur
Taberna El Sur is a small Mediterranean taberna on a corner of Calle Torrecilla del Leal in Lavapiés, the original of the Tabernas El Sur group, which also runs El Sur de Huertas, El Sur de Moratín and Más al Sur. The walls are covered in Spanish film posters, and the carta mixes Spanish classics (salmorejo, croquetas, tortilla, seafood paella) with dishes like a slow-cooked ropa vieja, at honest prices, every day from noon to midnight.
Social
From taberna.elsur on Instagram
🐙 | Madrid’s Best grilled Octopus, coming straight to your table. ~ #Madrid #Pulpo #Octopus #ElSur #TabernaElSur
🍹 | The Fresh Tequila is coming. ~ #Madrid #ElSur #TabernaElSur #Cocktails
June’s memories. 📸 Hello July. 👋🏻 Torrecilla del Leal, 12. 📌 #TabernaElSur #ElSur #Madrid #GastronomiaMediterranea
Background
About El Sur
The Story
El Sur is the first of the Tabernas El Sur, a small group behind which, at the start, were four Venezuelans, Luis Sáenz, Antonio Pons, Joaquín González and Virgilio Vivas. Its stated aim is home cooking that's tasty and affordable, built on traditional recipes, warm service and honest prices, and it has since grown to four tabernas in central Madrid.
The Cuisine
Mediterranean and Spanish home cooking with a few international turns. The carta runs from salmorejo (€5.90), boletus and ham croquetas (€10.50 for eight) and crisp aubergine with cranberry alioli to calamares, patatas bravas, pinchos of tortilla, garlic prawns and a seafood paella (€15.90). The ropa vieja, stewed for hours at low temperature, is one of the most ordered plates, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. Cakes are homemade daily, cheesecake among them, and the sangría has a following.
The Room
It's a small corner taberna: a bar for snacking standing up and high tables at the front, and a back room with wooden tables and stools for a sit-down meal, every wall covered in posters of Spanish films. It suits groups sharing plates and a jug of sangría.
Practicalities
Open every day from 12:00 to midnight. Call 915 27 83 40 to book; Lavapiés and Antón Martín are the nearest metro stations. The sister tabernas El Sur de Huertas, El Sur de Moratín and Más al Sur keep longer weekend hours.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
El Sur Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.5
8791
TripAdvisor
4.7
10,543 reviews
El Sur ranks #467 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 4.7/5 on TripAdvisor (10,543 reviews).
Reservations
How to Book El Sur
Reserve
Experience
El Sur Dining Experience
Small, warm and busy, with Spanish film posters on every wall, a bar for a quick drink and a back room for sharing plates. It's a neighbourhood spot for a casual evening rather than an occasion.
Navigate
El Sur Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle Torrecilla del Leal, 12, 28012, Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
It's on Calle Torrecilla del Leal, in the Lavapiés area of Madrid's Centro district.
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 Sur.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of El Sur.
Details
El Sur Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–00:00 |
El Sur hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
El Sur FAQ
What kind of food does El Sur serve?
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Spanish and Mediterranean home cooking with some international dishes: salmorejo, croquetas, tortilla, calamares, seafood paella and a slow-cooked ropa vieja, with plenty of vegetarian options.
Who runs Taberna El Sur?
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It's the original of the Tabernas El Sur group, started by four Venezuelans; the group now also runs El Sur de Huertas, El Sur de Moratín and Más al Sur.
When is El Sur open?
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Every day, from 12:00 to midnight.
What should I order at El Sur?
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The ropa vieja, the croquetas, a pincho of tortilla and the garlic prawns, with sangría and a slice of homemade cheesecake.
Where is El Sur?
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On Calle Torrecilla del Leal 12, in Lavapiés, between Antón Martín and Lavapiés metro stations.