I’ll be in Madrid for a few days in November. I’ve previously done the fine dining circuit - DiverXO remains one of my all time favorite meals. This trip I would like to avoid tasting menus, and I am not chasing Michelin stars, though I wouldn’t turn a place down just because it has a star. Open to any cuisine whatsoever. Any and all non-tasting-menu recommendations greatly appreciated!
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Post this on Hungry Onion, there is a poster (Maribel) who lives in Spain and is very helpful (and there are also quite a few discussions around different cities in Spain)
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Wow you’re not kidding, there’s a thriving Europe board over there. Thanks for the rec!
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My favorite European city:
Casa Benigna
Desde 1911
Estimar
Sacha
Restaurante Ogrelo
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La catapa
La castela
Monteria or anything else in the retiro neighborhood
La Juana la loca
I posted quite a few places on HO same username
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definitely, Casa Benigna, also Tortillas de patatas at Casa Dani, TriCiclo
Hungry onion is very helpful. Also, I find this site useful Restaurantes | Macarfi
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It’s so interesting. FTC has an active LA forum and most other region specific boards are wastelands. Meanwhile, Hungry Onion is the polar opposite - LA board is a wasteland, but most other regions are thriving. Perhaps in an alternate universe the Chowhound exodus would have unfolded differently.
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This is way before you joined FTC, but there were efforts to try merging Hungry Onion and FTC in their respective infancies…
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The terms of service are incompatible.
Had a solid, old school, funny lunch at L’Hardy last year. There could be a better place for Cocido Madrileno though. Interestingly enough Cocido Madrileno maybe has Sephardic origins.
Echoing @hungryhungryhippos, I’ve had good meals at La Castela and their sister restaurant Castelados. Sala de Despiece didn’t totally work for me - maybe a little too much technique. And there’s a quirky mushroom focused restaurant, Cisne Azul, that might be your thing.
*Forget to mention that Fismuller was a scene and fun but didn’t wow me or anything.
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Yeah, Sala des Despiece was just not good…
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I think almost anywhere in that retiro district is excellent seems to be a local hangout with excellent choices
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I’m passing through for 2 days next week and booked: DiverXO, Desde 1911, Emi and La Casa Del Abuelo.
I’ve probably looking forward to Desde 1911 most but my friend just went to DiverXO and said it’s one of the best meals he’s ever had.
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I always recommend Corral de la Morería. I don’t think there’s any other place in the world where you can watch this high level of flamenco dancing while enjoying a nice meal!
I really think Ugo Chan is a memorable experience. Hugo Munoz is creating a Spanish Japanese cuisine that is fun and brilliantly done. He’s also just a great guy, you can stay at that place all night, and they’ll start filling your cups very generously.
La Fisna is a fantastic wine bar! Actually recommended to me by Hugo, to me a lot of wine bars are a lot of the same old same old but La Fisna always has new flavors and surprises, lots of regulars here, it’s a magical place.
Savas is my favorite cocktail bar in Madrid. Get the White Russian. Madrid is a great city for cocktail bars, don’t miss out on them.
Love what they’re doing at OSA.
Tons of great recommendations here already - Have fun!
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