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En Busca del Tiempo
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A thick bone-in grilled chuleton, crusted and flecked with salt flakes, on a white oval platter with a small pot of sauce, against a dark studio background
Rolled slices of pale cured meat over rounds of white cheese along a rectangular white plate, zigzagged with dark balsamic reduction and dotted with amber sauce
Eight breadcrumbed fried balls around a small glass pot of red sauce, on a bed of straw potatoes in a curved white dish on a dark background
A whole grilled squid, scored in a diamond pattern and scattered with chopped parsley and oil, beside a browned stuffed piece, on a dark slate

En Busca del Tiempo

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#781 in MadridRanked #781 of all Madrid restaurants on Guidavera. Click to see the full ranked list./GoodGuidavera tier, our editorial classification combining ratings, accolades, and source consensus across the Madrid dining scene./TapasTapas cuisine: the kitchen's primary culinary tradition and style./€€€€/Centro/

En Busca del Tiempo is a traditional Spanish restaurant on Calle de Barcelona, a few steps from Puerta del Sol in the historic centre. It sits in a building the house dates at more than a hundred years old, split between a tapas taberna downstairs and a quieter upstairs room called La Vieja Chimenea, and it's open every day from 08:00 into the early hours.

Background

About En Busca del Tiempo

The Story

En Busca del Tiempo is set among the streets of old Madrid, near the Palacio Real and Plaza Mayor, in a building the restaurant dates at more than a century old. Downstairs is a taberna; upstairs, a quieter room called La Vieja Chimenea.

The Cuisine

The cooking is traditional Spanish and tapas-forward, with a short list of Spanish country wines to go alongside.

Highlights

What Diners Say

Good ValueRusticEfficient ServiceWarm ServiceTraditionalTerraceQuick Service

Consensus

En Busca del Tiempo Ratings & Reviews

Diner Ratings

Google

4.4

3827 reviews

TripAdvisor

4.0

596

#781 in MadridGood

En Busca del Tiempo ranks #781 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 4.4/5 on Google (3827 reviews) and 4.0/5 on TripAdvisor.

Reservations

How to Book En Busca del Tiempo

Booking

Reservations by phone at 915219801.

Experience

En Busca del Tiempo Dining Experience

En Busca del Tiempo splits into two moods under one roof, near the Palacio Real and Plaza Mayor in old Madrid. Downstairs is a taberna for tapas and a glass of Spanish wine; upstairs, the calmer La Vieja Chimenea plays on the period decor of a building the restaurant dates at more than a century old.

Navigate

En Busca del Tiempo Location & Neighbourhood

Address

Calle de Barcelona, 4, 28012 Madrid, Spain

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Getting There

It's on Calle de Barcelona, a short street off Puerta del Sol in the historic heart of Madrid's Centro district, within walking distance of Plaza Mayor.

Nearby

Sol is the dead centre of the city and behaves like it, busy and walked through by everyone heading somewhere else. The trick is knowing which doors are worth stopping at, because rooms built for visitors sit right beside ones locals have used for decades. Círculo de Bellas Artes and Edificio Metrópolis mark the smarter edge, towards Chueca.

Details

En Busca del Tiempo Reservations, Hours & Contact

Opening Hours

DayHours
Monday08:00–02:00
Tuesday08:00–02:00
Wednesday08:00–02:00
Thursday08:00–02:00
Friday08:00–02:30
Saturday08:00–02:30
Sunday08:00–02:00

En Busca del Tiempo hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.

Contact

Phone+34 915 219 801
InstagramNot listed

By phone

Good to Know

Two levels: a tapas taberna downstairs, a quieter dining room upstairs
Traditional Spanish menu, tapas-forward, with a short list of country wines
In the historic centre, just off Puerta del Sol.
Open every day from 08:00 to 02:00, to 02:30 on Friday and Saturday.

Questions

En Busca del Tiempo FAQ

What kind of food does En Busca del Tiempo serve?

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Traditional Spanish cooking, tapas-forward, with a short list of Spanish country wines. There's a tapas taberna downstairs and a quieter dining room upstairs.

Where is En Busca del Tiempo?

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On Calle de Barcelona, a short street off Puerta del Sol in the historic heart of Madrid's Centro district.

Does En Busca del Tiempo have a tapas bar?

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Yes. There's a taberna downstairs for tapas and wine, with a calmer dining room, La Vieja Chimenea, upstairs.

When is En Busca del Tiempo open?

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Every day from 08:00 to 02:00, and to 02:30 on Friday and Saturday.

What's on the menu at En Busca del Tiempo?

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The carta runs from tapas like torreznos crujientes and gambas al ajillo, through raciones such as pulpo a la gallega and callos de ternera, to charcoal-grilled meats like txuletón and secreto ibérico, plus rice dishes and homemade desserts.

How old is the building that houses En Busca del Tiempo?

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The restaurant dates the building at more than a century old.

What is La Vieja Chimenea?

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It's the quieter upstairs room at En Busca del Tiempo, above the tapas taberna on the ground floor.