The view might be pretty special, but the food served up on the terraces of the Plaza Mayor is far from it… It’s ridiculously expensive, low-quality, and loveless. Save your money and check out some of the great places for lunch near the Plaza Mayor, or wander five minutes down the road to the wonderful [...]
A while ago a colleague recommended El Inca (C/ Ruiz). The food was acceptable but expensive, and as I seem to recall, slightly overcooked. So Peruvian cuisine wasn’t on my radar when I stumbled across El Inti de Oro. Which was an entirely different matter. My friend and I opted for the 20€ dinner menu, [...]
Everyone who decides to have lunch in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor soon discovers that they have made a huge mistake. The Menu del Dia (lunchtime set menu) is far too expensive and usually not all that good. Walk a few minutes in any direction however, and you are likely to be far better off. My personal [...]
1. The Chinese Restaurant Buen Gusto has been highly recommended as a cut above the rest. At Paseo Santa Maria de la Cabeza 60 (map). Tel: 91 530 50 62 2. La Copita Asturiana is one of the best old-style Asturian restaurants in Madrid and I need to get back soon! Calle Tabernillas 13. Tel: [...]
It’s not the most ‘authentic’, rustic taberna in town, it hasn’t got the trendiest food (or clientele), and the service could be a little politer, yet after all these years in Madrid, given a choice I’d far rather eat in the Taverna Miranda (Plaza del Conde de Miranda 4, map/details). I was there for lunch [...]
Will places like this still exist in 10, 20 or 30 years time? Family run, a little rough round the edges, good old-fashioned food – already these ‘typical’ mesones are increasingly rare in Madrid, and you’ll have to get here early (pre-2pm) or late (post-3pm) to get a seat on a weekday lunchtime. The 10 [...]
Rafe Jaffrey has lived and worked in Madrid for over a decade, and is the best Indian cuisine chef in the city (I’ve eaten his food, so I know what I’m talking about!) If you want to try his food for yourself, he will happily cater for private dinner parties or professional events – contact [...]
There are two things I occasionally miss amongst the wonders of Spanish cuisine: a good sauce and enough chips. Now Spanish meat is fantastic, and best served alone, so that you can savour its wonderful taste, but that is also the problem: it is often just too lonely on that plate. I like the occasional [...]
