Tucked away in a very narrow street in the heart of old Madrid (Calle de la Paz, 4 – map), this authentic Castillian bar doesn’t seem to have changed at all in the last 50 years. It’s speciality is a delicious sweet wine and a dessert known as “Torrijas” which, although usually only on sale in Pastelarias at Easter, can be found at this bar all year round. Originally meant as an energy-boosting meat substitute over Easter and Lent, the ingredients of “Torrijas de leche” are really basic: hard bread is usually soaked in cinnamon and lemon-scented milk until the bread goes soft, before it is coated with beaten egg and deep fried in olive oil. Finally a bit of icing sugar is sprinkled on top. La Casa de las Torrijas specialises in the less-common, but no less delicious, “Wine Torrijas”.