The 34 Best Restaurants in Madrid, Spain

The best restaurants and bars in Madrid, from tapas to Michelin-starred fine dining, according to a local food and travel expert

A cultural hub with world-class museums, historic architecture, and gorgeous churches, Madrid has it all. That includes some of the most exciting and varied food in the country. Of course there’s the traditional Spanish fare that visitors expect; it’s easy to find excellent homestyle staples, like the city’s namesake stew, cocido Madrileño. But the capital also thrives well beyond those classics, treating diners to three-Michelin-star avant-garde tasting menus, hip Asian fusion, artisanal cheese shops, and haute Mexican cuisine. When it comes to drinking, wash down a meal with a caña (a small glass of draught beer) or vermouth, and there are plenty of cocktail bars and sherry in town too. Just don’t come here for the paella; many tourists mistakenly come looking for the iconic dish, which is best enjoyed over in Comunidad Valenciana.

In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10 USD (or the equivalent in euros), to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.

Paula Móvil is a Guatemala freelance food and travel writer based in Madrid. She specializes in old school taverns and bars, but also focuses on young entrepreneurs shaking up Madrid’s culinary scene.