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It’s the foodie-traveler’s conundrum: searching online for the best restaurants in Madrid (or anywhere) mostly spits up TripAdvisor and Google ratings – not helpful when you’re looking for truly exquisite gustatory experiences. Thankfully, were lucky enough to stay in Madrid with our oenophile friend Jimmy, who made all our food plans and restaurant reservations through the lens of fine wine. It was a great strategy – we spent our first five days in Spain eating, drinking, sleeping, and repeating! At one point, his Dad (we were staying at his parents’ apartment) declared that we were on more of a gastronomic safari than a sightseeing trip, which really hit the nail on the head.
Jimmy’s impeccable choices are too good not to share, especially given the extremely affordable wine prices compared to the U.S. (only $50 for some very nice Spanish wines and about $100 for a bottle of fine Burgundy that would have easily been $300 or more back home).
Here are six not-to-be-missed destinations for wine (and food) in and around Madrid.
Restaurant el Paraguas
C/ Jorge Juan 16, Madrid, Open 1:30pm – 12am (closed Sun.)
Our most expensive meal of the trip, this fine dining restaurant specializes in traditional Asturian cuisine, a region in Spain’s northwest known for its dairy products and rich sauces. We greatly enjoyed the morel mushrooms stuffed with foie and truffles, sea urchin croquettes, and oxtail meatballs, as well as several delicious Spanish wines. For dessert, a traditional Asturian rice pudding – topped with a layer of toasted sugar à la crème brûlée – hit the spot.
If you make a lunch reservation, I suggest snagging a table on the elevated wooden patio in front of the restaurant. Even at 1am – the time we left dinner – it was super cute and looked like it was just waiting to be photographed!
Taberna Laredo
C/ Doctor Castelo 30, Madrid, Kitchen open 1:30pm – 4pm and 8:30pm – 11pm, closed Sun.
This bustling bar and restaurant requires reservations far in advance – call ahead to snag a coveted table and then enjoy a delightful selection of fresh fish and dry-aged steaks. The coup de resistance? The restaurant’s stash of rare Burgundy wines. I promised my friend I wouldn’t name-drop, but it you’re a fellow oenophile, suffice to say you will be delighted – and perhaps awed – by the selection. Ask for the Burgundy wine list and show off your smarts to the owner to gain access to the really good stuff.
El Marginal
C/ Ibiza 35, Madrid, Open 6pm – 1am, Fri. and Sat. 12pm – 1am, Sun. 12 – 5pm
Our favorite overall location, this bar is perfect for fine wine (classic Spanish as well as Burgundies) and delicious small bites – no reservation required. The small space fills up quickly later in the evening, but pop by mid-afternoon and you’ll have the whole place to yourself. We had the pleasure of stopping by on our first and last days in Madrid, and immensely enjoyed the marinated tomatoes (blanched to remove the skin for the juiciest texture), and complex cheese platter.
The bar is a sister-location of La Tintoreria Vinoteca, Jimmy’s favorite wine store.
Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza de San Miguel, Madrid, Open daily 10am-12am (1am on Fri. and Sat.)
Not technically a restaurant, the historic Mercado de San Miguel building was established a century ago as a wholesale food market and is now home to a slew of modern vendors. From fresh seafood flown in each day from the coast, to kebabs and cured meats, it’s easy to nibble your way through this casual-dining marketplace. Order a glass of wine from the long bar inside and savor a smorgasbord of small plates for lunch.
Wherever you’re staying in the city, be sure to checkout any smaller mercados nearby for picnic staples like aged jamón, cheeses, bread, and of course – bottles of wine.
Restaurante Angelita
C/ Reina 4, Madrid, Open Mon. 8:30pm – 2am, Tues. – Thurs. 1:30pm – 2pm, Fri. and Sat. 2pm – 2:30am, closed Sun.
Reed and I agreed that this was our favorite dinner in Madrid. The restaurant delivers fresh, locally-sourced food with more vegetable options than you’ll find at most Spanish restaurants. Get the marinated tomatoes, fresh green beans, bite-sized pig ear ssam (a unanimous favorite at our table), oxtail pasta, and sesame macarons for dessert.
The best part is that you can order rare and old wines by the glass, thanks to Angelita’s wine service that pierces the cork and replaces the wine drawn out of the bottle with neutral argon gas, perfectly preserving what’s left inside.
Mesón de Cándido
Plz. Azoguejo, 5, Segovia, Open daily 12-4:30pm and 8-11pm
Just over an hour away, Segovia makes for a great day trip to visit the Roman aqueduct that cuts through the small town, famous cathedral, and castle that inspired Walt Disney. If you have the opportunity to make the trip, snag a lunch reservation at the delightfully traditional Mesón de Cándido. Sit on the terrace (which starts to fill up after 1pm), order the suckling pig and a bottle of Spanish wine, and soak in the history of this ancient city.
Before you leave, walk over to Confitería El Alcázar near the cathedral for some sweet treats to go, like the local delicacy ponche segoviano. The spongey marzipan-and-cream cake is the perfect edible souvenir!
We may have gained a couple pounds by the time we got home, but it was totally worth it. We love discovering a new place through its food, and Spain is a country to do that wholeheartedly in.
Have a question or a restaurant to add? Let me know in the comments!
Follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more reviews and style inspiration – and if you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
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Bookmarking this for whenever we make it to Madrid! Thanks for sharing such a detailed list Vanessa!
I’m over here simultaneously drooling and itching with the travel bug. Don’t know when I’ll get to Spain but I’ll keep these recs in mind when I do!