Madrid 2019 Restaurant Guide — Alexandra Hauser

If you didn’t know by now, I am a major foodie. I love to find new spots and I love to share my experiences with others. I also judge restaurant experiences as if I am a food critic. I constantly get asked for food recommendations in the cities I’ve visited, so I figured it would be a good idea to write my opinions down before I forget. Everything is just going to be listed in alphabetical order. These are all my absolute favorites of all time.

Amazonico: This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Madrid. When you step foot in this restaurant, you are immediately transported to the jungle in the 60s. I’m basing this off of the decoration. The cuisine is Brazilian steakhouse with a sushi bar: think tiraditos, sashimi, sushi rolls, many pork dishes, large steaks to share, and rice and potato side dishes. Make sure to make a reservation, as I have waited over an hour in the bar area and it is quite hectic. For drinks, I’ve only gotten the sangria and the gin tonics and they were great. My must order dishes are the hamachi, the tostones with pork, the duck chaufa, and the chocolate mousse for dessert. If you have a late night reservation, go down to the jazz club after midnight. The vibes, the people watching, and the food of this restaurant are to die for ($$$$).

Casa Benigna: I decided to make a reservation here with three friends after my parents insisted it was the best paella in all of Madrid. It lived up to the hype. I was really confused when I first arrived because it looks like a shack from the outside. Once “secret door” opens up, you enter a majestic and eclectic restaurant. Casa Benigna makes you feel at home. The servers are so kind and give you undivided attention because of the small size and nature of the dining experience. They bring you so many tapas to snack on before the meal and champagne with dessert. I wish I could’ve eaten here once more before leaving; paella is one of my favorite dishes. We ordered the chicken and veggie paella because two of my friends are Kosher. It was still to die for and one of the best paellas I’ve had. I’d recommend coming with a small group of friends or on a date night. It’s a really intimate experience ($$$$).

Casa Benigna starter selection: egg salad, croquettas, mushrooms with a fried egg, sliced tomato

El perro y la galleta: This chain of Spanish fusion restaurants has my heart. During my time in Madrid, I visited El perro y la galletta and Casa Galleta. I went for both lunch and dinner and had such delicious food. Both of these locations are small, so I’d recommend making a reservation around peak eating hours. This restaurant could just be any other restaurant in Madrid in terms of the service and vibes. The food is just absolutely amazing. It has one of those menus that has something for everyone, with a little bit of a kick to it ($$).

Cafe Federal: This was my favorite breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot in Madrid. Whenever I needed a taste of NYC cafe culture, I came here. Cafe Federal offers every dish your heart could desire: pancakes, eggs any style, salads, avo toast, burgers, cookies, sandwiches, omelette, and iced coffee. It’s also a great shared work space, with free wifi and large tables. Cafe Federal is also one of the most tourist friendly places I visited while abroad; almost all the waiters speak multiple languages and the menu comes in English and Spanish. If you’re in the Malasaña area, I’d highly recommend coming here! ($$)

Honest Greens: The sweetgreen of Madrid, Honest Greens is definitely one of your best healthy options. The menu features market plates, salads, tasty drinks, and deserts. Sadly, the salads aren’t customizable. That’s why I usually opted for a market plate, where I could pick a protein with salad and whatever side my heart desired (usually something with avocado). My favorite proteins are the chicken and tofu. Honest Greens are located all over Madrid, a major plus when you’re on the move. It’s also really well priced ($).

Honest Green’s chicken market plate with sweet potatos

Lateral: Another awesome Madrid chain. Lateral is a go-to inexpensive tapas restaurant. You can order anything from meatballs to tuna tartar to croquettas. The drinks are also to die for and well within budget. Every Lateral is decorated differently, so even though the menu is the same, you feel like you’re having a different experience. They are large restaurants with multiple locations, so reservations aren’t accepted. If you go during peak meal times, expect a wait of up to an hour. You can enjoy a drink at the bar or walk around the neighborhoods, as Laterals are usually located in great areas ($).

Ochenta Grados: Even though I only went to Ochenta Grados once, it made an amazing first impression on my friend and I. It’s an inexpensive, creative, Spanish tapas style restaurant with fantastic music, decorations, and overall ambiance. I’d say it’s the perfect spot to eat before a night out, dinner with friends, or even a date night. I’d definitely make a reservation if you want to eat at prime time. The most memorable part of my meal was the desert. Don’t be fooled by the prices. Dishes are cheap but small, so you’ll probably want to get individual portions for certain things. The mix of ingredients and fusions of Ochenta Grados are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced! ($)

Perrachica: Perrachica was a favorite for me becuse it was so close to my dorm in Chamberí. It had consistently healthy, yummy food, and had a thorough selection of options for an inexpensive lunch menu. Dishes range from being traditional Spanish meals to pizza and salads. The decoration of the restaurant is also worth noting; you kind of feel like you’re in a nice garden having tea but also in a jungle (does that make sense?) While Perrachica is great for any meal, it also has an awesome bar worth visiting late at night. After 10 pm, the lights go down and the music turns up. If you’re looking for a spot to eat and then party at, this is a great place to do so ($$).

Sala de Despiece: The Sala de Despiece experience is one of a kind — incredible food at what is basically a bar. While all the menu items seem like Madrid staples, they are prepared unlike in a way I had never seen before. This is why the restaurant is designed as a bar. The food is basically made in front of your eyes. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the items on the menu. I would call the cuisine of Sala de Despiece progressive fusion because the dishes were generally pretty healthy. Personally, I loved the tuna, broccolini, and the fruit dessert. Make sure you either get there when it opens or expect a decent wait. Also, try to go with a smaller group so you can actually enjoy the bar experience ($$$).

Sushita Cafe: It was almost impossible to find delicious and well-priced sushi in Madrid. I struggled most of the semester and almost gave up on giving sushi a chance. This was until I was introduced to the Sushita restaurants. They offer, by far, the best and most affordable sushi in Madrid. It was also the restaurant that i felt most resembled a Miami or LA restaurant. Not only did the fish actually taste amazing, but the menu included all of my favorite sushi fusion dishes: tuna pizza, crispy rice, and rock shrimp. They have a bunch of locations all over Madrid and they are all branded, named, and decorated in different ways. I only visited Sushita, but I can assure you that you won’t go wrong with the others. Come with friends, family, co-workers, or even a date ($$).