What better to follow a vigorous walk in Madrid’s Retiro than a glass of good wine and a selection of delicious tapas? The barrio to the east of the park is replete with eating options but (if you don’t have the heart or wallet for the Ritz) you’d be forgiven for thinking that the area to the west is a culinary wasteland.

Enter La Sal, one of the most delicious (and reasonably priced) taperías the city has to offer. The menu is short, and having tried almost everything on it, I can say consistently excellent – although the veal steak and duck risotto deserve a special mention.

Deserts are small but exquisite. You won’t regret ordering the apple tart or the chocolate brownie, full of warm sauce. A word of warning, though: the (goat’s) cheesecake does taste a bit like it’s just walked off the farm. Not for the faint-hearted.

The only downside is that the clientèle is a little on the pijo (bumptiously posh) side. You might want to brush down your muddy boots before stepping into the minimalist white decor scheme.

Metro: Banco de España Address: C/ Montalbán, 3 Phone: 91 521 02 28 Hours: lunch 13.30-15.45, dinner 20.30-23.30, closed Sundays.

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