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El Sur is a charming little spot in Madrid, tucked right into the wall of a narrow street. The space is very small and they manage to fit a surprising number of people inside, so you immediately notice how tight the squeeze is. It has that classic bustling tapas bar energy where everyone is close enough to feel like part of one big conversation. The food was the highlight. The clams were flavorful and fresh, the octopus was cooked beautifully and the paella was delicious. It is a great place to stop in for a drink and a quick bite, especially if you want something authentic and lively. When we visited, it was packed to the point where you were shoulder to shoulder with other guests and close enough to easily hear the party next to you. It adds to the charm if you enjoy that classic crowded European dining atmosphere, but it is something to keep in mind if you prefer more space.
This was the first dinner meal my mom and I had in Madrid and let's just say it completely exceeded my expectations. When we walked in we were welcomed by such warm service! I truly have to highlight Pepe, Franco, and Grace for taking the time to speak to us and get to know us. The food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the seafood paella, jamon iberico, garlic shrimp, and sangria. The paella was filled with a ton of flavor which was DELICIOUS. Everything was fantastic, but the Sangria was spectacular, (probably one of the best sangrias I've ever had). At the end of our meal, Pepe brought us two liquor de Limon shots, which made our whole night!! Definitely recommend this place in the La Latina neighborhood. You won't regret it!
Our dining experience was just okay, but could have been better. We had a large group, but we were accommodated within an hour. The staff were friendly for the most part. For some reason the Chicken Curry(s) took at least 40 minutes longer than everything else. No explanation or apologies were given for the wait, but it was clear that an error had been made. When it finally came out, I was so underwhelmed. Although the curry was flavorful, the chicken was dry and the rice was extremely undercooked. It was my first time experiencing rice that crunchy. All of this pretty much tainted the experience for me. During the long wait for my food I tasted the Risotto and that dish, however was a10/10.
El Sur is a pleasant restaurant serving fantastic Tapas and drinks with pleasant vibes. The music was 90s alternative from US. The staff was welcoming and accommodating seeing we were warm from our travels and put us right in front of the AC to cool us down. The drinks were on point and much needed on a hot summer day. We were drawn in by the grilled scallops and we're surprised by the moussaka. We've been fortunate with Greek family recipes in our neighborhood that are hard to beat and El Sur didn't disappoint. The place is deserving of a star in our book. We are going to miss this place and if we know travelers heading to Madrid we would recommend in a heartbeat.
Stopped in last night for dinner based on reviews. Nice little place, great atmosphere, good music playing inside, and the menus are in Spanish and English. While the waitstaff isn't fluent in English, they do a great job of making it work. I ordered their paella, which I thought was very good. My party also tried their patatas bravas as an appetizer, it was very good. One person in our party order their ceasar salad, which came with balsamic dressing on it also. It was different, to be sure. Not bad, just not what we were expecting. At the end of the meal, we were giving a free shot, on the house. While I don't drink, my party enjoyed it, and it topped off a fun dinner. Give this place a try, I don't think you will be disappointed!
I was really excited to try out this place. It had great reviews on Yelp and it was right behind our hotel. We had made a reservation and the place was not that busy but the water came behind the bar and sat us down. He then disappeared and I had to flag down the bar tender to take our order. We ordered the Tabla de quesos, the Croquetas de Jamón, Patatas bravas and the Paella Marinera. The food came out quick. The quesos were delicious- served with a jelly and walnuts. The croquetas were really silky but I could not taste the jamón. The patatas bravas were inedible. First off- they were not traditionally made. These were either steamed or boiled and they were underdone. They were served with a hot sauce that resembled Frank's Red Hot sauce. Definitely not what I was expecting. I get that this was their interpretation of PB's but it is a failed execution. The Paella was descent but nothing to right home about. It lacked saffron and seasonings overall. I was fairly disappointed with this place. The workers seemed like they didn't want to be there on a Sunday night. There was no ambience as the place was daily empty and not much going on. The service could better and the food was definitely not a destination I would recommend.
Lackluster dining experience. Yelp led me astray on this one. This is a classic example of why you shouldn't just go off the reviews. None of the pictures prior yelpers had posted were Incredible and I should've trusted my gut. A shot of chocolate milk with liquor isn't enough to say this place is decent. Service was ok. We ordered a few starters including the baby squid salad, salmon tempura, risotto, and steak with padron peppers. None of the dishes were memorable. For drinks my wife tried the non alcoholic San Francisco which at eight euros felt stiff considering the wine is three. Overall I would take this place off your list. Trust me you won't regret it. The seating in the front is cramped and the ac is non existent .
My son wanted paella before leaving Madrid. So I typed in BEST PAELLA on Yelp, El Sur popped up, and for good reason. It's tucked away in an alley in a residential neighborhood from the hustle and bustle. We came for lunch. The gates were closed but just be patient, they opened shortly after 12pm. I absolutely love love the decor here. The walls are adorned with old movie posters. You can feel that this place has been around for a long time. Here is what we ordered: - Seafood Paella (incredibly flavorful) - Gambones al Ajillo - Grilled Baby Squid with Salad - Fried Eggplant (love the sweet glaze) Dishes are served tapas style. I wished I could have ordered everything on the menu. I saw two other patrons ordering the Squid salad and man, it did not disappoint. When another customer down next to us, she asked where she could find that Squid salad on the menu. As for the paella, my son loved it. The owner and staff are super friendly. We felt very welcomed. I liked the little gummy candies that came with the bill. This was one of our favorite meals in Madrid because every dish we had was delicious. 10/10 for food, decor & service Highly recommend
Feels like a hole in the wall but old restaurant. You are seated first come first served. No reservations. The restaurant does accommodate 50+ people. We order Paella, which was awesome. The Calamari came with small side salad. I liked the Salad better than Frued Calamarri. Tasted like any other. But in the end it is totally worth your while to try . You will enjoy .
Very cozy atmosphere and laid back feel. Came in early maybe the first ones but less than an hour the place is half full. We had the seafood Paella and grilled baby squid salad. I wish they have a bigger order of the Paella! They are so good and full of flavor! Freshest ingredients and rice cooked right. The Chipirones a la plancha or grilled baby squid salad can be ordered half or full. We got half order so we can just taste it but ended up ordering a full order again. It's that good!! The squid cooked perfect! So soft and fresh! Never pass on trying El Sur. The only disappointment you'll have is not having enough of the grilled baby squid!!! Jhoan and Oswaldo are the best people we met at Madrid. Buen Provecho!!!
Food was excellent. Paella was very good as well as the pork cheeks. Also got the Tinto De Verano which was very good and refreshing. As I look at other people's food, everything looks so good! Had to wait a little bit for a table but the waiter was super nice. You can also order at the bar if you want. Pretty decent bar decor? A little nicer than the places that I usually frequent! lol read more
El Sur is an unpretentious cafe in Madrid outside the main tourist areas in Lavapies. I enjoyed the pork roast on a bed of potatoes. I also could not resist the cheesecake, which was freshly made. The pork was good and included a generous helping of meat. The cheesecake was outstanding, an unexpected bonus. The restaurant was lively with locals. Service was slower but more relaxing. This cafe was a find. read more
28 days ago
There was a long to get in, but it was worth the 30 minute wait. They have several locations that might have more seating. Friendly but busy and overwork servers. read more
El Sur is a charming little spot in Madrid, tucked right into the wall of a narrow street. The space is very small and they manage to fit a surprising number of people inside, so you immediately notice how tight the squeeze is. It has that classic bustling tapas bar energy where everyone is close enough to feel like part of one big conversation. The food was the highlight. The clams were flavorful and fresh, the octopus was cooked beautifully and the paella was delicious. It is a great place to stop in for a drink and a quick bite, especially if you want something authentic and lively. When we visited, it was packed to the point where you were shoulder to shoulder with other guests and close enough to easily hear the party next to you. It adds to the charm if you enjoy that classic crowded European dining atmosphere, but it is something to keep in mind if you prefer more space. read more
This was the first dinner meal my mom and I had in Madrid and let's just say it completely exceeded my expectations. When we walked in we were welcomed by such warm service! I truly have to highlight Pepe, Franco, and Grace for taking the time to speak to us and get to know us. The food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the seafood paella, jamon iberico, garlic shrimp, and sangria. The paella was filled with a ton of flavor which was DELICIOUS. Everything was fantastic, but the Sangria was spectacular, (probably one of the best sangrias I've ever had). At the end of our meal, Pepe brought us two liquor de Limon shots, which made our whole night!! Definitely recommend this place in the La Latina neighborhood. You won't regret it! read more
Our dining experience was just okay, but could have been better. We had a large group, but we were accommodated within an hour. The staff were friendly for the most part. For some reason the Chicken Curry(s) took at least 40 minutes longer than everything else. No explanation or apologies were given for the wait, but it was clear that an error had been made. When it finally came out, I was so underwhelmed. Although the curry was flavorful, the chicken was dry and the rice was extremely undercooked. It was my first time experiencing rice that crunchy. All of this pretty much tainted the experience for me. During the long wait for my food I tasted the Risotto and that dish, however was a10/10. read more
3 months ago
Loved this local gem in Madrid. Was the best authentic spot I found while visiting and highly recommended it. The long wait in line is worth it. read more
El Sur is a pleasant restaurant serving fantastic Tapas and drinks with pleasant vibes. The music was 90s alternative from US. The staff was welcoming and accommodating seeing we were warm from our travels and put us right in front of the AC to cool us down. The drinks were on point and much needed on a hot summer day. We were drawn in by the grilled scallops and we're surprised by the moussaka. We've been fortunate with Greek family recipes in our neighborhood that are hard to beat and El Sur didn't disappoint. The place is deserving of a star in our book. We are going to miss this place and if we know travelers heading to Madrid we would recommend in a heartbeat. read more
Stopped in last night for dinner based on reviews. Nice little place, great atmosphere, good music playing inside, and the menus are in Spanish and English. While the waitstaff isn't fluent in English, they do a great job of making it work. I ordered their paella, which I thought was very good. My party also tried their patatas bravas as an appetizer, it was very good. One person in our party order their ceasar salad, which came with balsamic dressing on it also. It was different, to be sure. Not bad, just not what we were expecting. At the end of the meal, we were giving a free shot, on the house. While I don't drink, my party enjoyed it, and it topped off a fun dinner. Give this place a try, I don't think you will be disappointed! read more
I was really excited to try out this place. It had great reviews on Yelp and it was right behind our hotel. We had made a reservation and the place was not that busy but the water came behind the bar and sat us down. He then disappeared and I had to flag down the bar tender to take our order. We ordered the Tabla de quesos, the Croquetas de Jamón, Patatas bravas and the Paella Marinera. The food came out quick. The quesos were delicious- served with a jelly and walnuts. The croquetas were really silky but I could not taste the jamón. The patatas bravas were inedible. First off- they were not traditionally made. These were either steamed or boiled and they were underdone. They were served with a hot sauce that resembled Frank's Red Hot sauce. Definitely not what I was expecting. I get that this was their interpretation of PB's but it is a failed execution. The Paella was descent but nothing to right home about. It lacked saffron and seasonings overall. I was fairly disappointed with this place. The workers seemed like they didn't want to be there on a Sunday night. There was no ambience as the place was daily empty and not much going on. The service could better and the food was definitely not a destination I would recommend. read more
10 months ago
Lackluster dining experience. Yelp led me astray on this one. This is a classic example of why you shouldn't just go off the reviews. None of the pictures prior yelpers had posted were Incredible and I should've trusted my gut. A shot of chocolate milk with liquor isn't enough to say this place is decent. Service was ok. We ordered a few starters including the baby squid salad, salmon tempura, risotto, and steak with padron peppers. None of the dishes were memorable. For drinks my wife tried the non alcoholic San Francisco which at eight euros felt stiff considering the wine is three. Overall I would take this place off your list. Trust me you won't regret it. The seating in the front is cramped and the ac is non existent . read more
My son wanted paella before leaving Madrid. So I typed in BEST PAELLA on Yelp, El Sur popped up, and for good reason. It's tucked away in an alley in a residential neighborhood from the hustle and bustle. We came for lunch. The gates were closed but just be patient, they opened shortly after 12pm. I absolutely love love the decor here. The walls are adorned with old movie posters. You can feel that this place has been around for a long time. Here is what we ordered: - Seafood Paella (incredibly flavorful) - Gambones al Ajillo - Grilled Baby Squid with Salad - Fried Eggplant (love the sweet glaze) Dishes are served tapas style. I wished I could have ordered everything on the menu. I saw two other patrons ordering the Squid salad and man, it did not disappoint. When another customer down next to us, she asked where she could find that Squid salad on the menu. As for the paella, my son loved it. The owner and staff are super friendly. We felt very welcomed. I liked the little gummy candies that came with the bill. This was one of our favorite meals in Madrid because every dish we had was delicious. 10/10 for food, decor & service Highly recommend read more
3 months ago
We happened to be in the neighborhood and randomly found Taberna El Sur on Google maps (4.5, ~7k reviews) Gambones Al Ajillo - 5/5 (perfect!) Chipirones a la Plancha - 4/5 (good but not great) Steak: 3/5 (overcooked, way too chewy) Great food, friendly staff, excellent service! read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
Feels like a hole in the wall but old restaurant. You are seated first come first served. No reservations. The restaurant does accommodate 50+ people. We order Paella, which was awesome. The Calamari came with small side salad. I liked the Salad better than Frued Calamarri. Tasted like any other. But in the end it is totally worth your while to try . You will enjoy . read more
10 months ago
Very cozy atmosphere and laid back feel. Came in early maybe the first ones but less than an hour the place is half full. We had the seafood Paella and grilled baby squid salad. I wish they have a bigger order of the Paella! They are so good and full of flavor! Freshest ingredients and rice cooked right. The Chipirones a la plancha or grilled baby squid salad can be ordered half or full. We got half order so we can just taste it but ended up ordering a full order again. It's that good!! The squid cooked perfect! So soft and fresh! Never pass on trying El Sur. The only disappointment you'll have is not having enough of the grilled baby squid!!! Jhoan and Oswaldo are the best people we met at Madrid. Buen Provecho!!! read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
We had El Sur bookmarked even before we went to Madrid and it did not disappoint. It was an easy walk from the Antón Martín Metro station at Calle de Atocha and it took us about 20 minutes before we got seated. Zamburiñas a la Plancha - Found on their "Sugerencias" menu, these half-shelled scallops were heavenly! They were perfectly grilled with garlic butter sauce and were definitely the highlight of our dinner. The dish came with an equally tasty salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Chipirones a la Plancha - Another grilled specialty from their kitchen. These were well-seasoned baby squids with head and tentacles included. Again, their salad won me over. ¡Está riquísimo! Gambónes al Ajillo - Sizzling succulent prawns in garlic oil done wonderfully! If I were being picky, I would have wanted the prawn heads as well. That thought still makes me drool. Paella de Mariscos - This was a single serving of their seafood paella which got a lot of flak in the reviews primarily because people were expecting to see it served in a pan. Although it lacked the soccarat that we all crave for, this was still a winner. Considering the price, serving size, ingredients (lots of cuttlefish strips), and flavor, I'm rounding up my 4.5 rating to a 5. Service was friendly and dessert shots of crema de orujo (Spanish version of Baileys) were on the house to cap off our delightful experience. We are heading back to Madrid later this year and we will be visiting El Sur again for sure. My wife enjoyed her sangria here too so we have been counting down the days. ¡Hasta la vista! read more
2 years ago
This was my very first meal in Madrid, and it was great at the time, but after trying other places and revisiting my experience here, I would say it was average. We showed up around 5pm on a Sunday and the place was about 80% filled, with most people speaking Spanish, despite the high number of Yelp reviews of this place which suggested that it is a touristy spot. Iberian Ham Platter- One of the best dishes here in my opinion. It is salty, thinly sliced, served with a couple of pieces of crunchy breadsticks. I do wish there were more of the breadsticks, as I feel something as salty and fatty as ham should be eaten with a carb, and if there were a breadstick for each piece of ham, it would've been perfect. 4/5 Scallops- One of the items on their daily menu. Comes with corn and lettuces drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Each scallop also has a sweet-ish and sour-ish tomato based salsa-like sauce. I've never had scallops with this kind of sauce before. It does taste better with the lemon, but I wouldn't say the sauce is my favorite pairing with something that has as high potential for flavor as scallops. 3/5 Fried calamari rings- Also comes with corn and lettuce drizzled with balsamic vinegar, along with a delicious garlic aioli mayo-consistency salsa on the side. Interestingly the calamari is completely unsalted which was off-putting. Cooked great with crispy batter and great with the garlic aioli sauce though. 3/5 Beef Sirloin with tartar sauce and fried potatoes- The most disappointing dish. The beef was extremely tough despite being cooked to ~medium rare. The flavor is good but just too chewy. Tartar sauce and potato chips doesn't necessarily make it better. 2/5 Cockroach made a surprise appearance on the wall behind our table halfway through. Service is good though. Very nice of them to give us two rumchata shots on the house at the end! read more
2 years ago
Did as much walking as I could in Madrid, since I was restricted on going to certain places. There was a protest going on, so a lot of places I wanted to see were closed. Stumbled upon this tapas bar and got the following: * baby squid with corn salad * Argentinian beef empanadas * curried scallops read more
Came on a Monday afternoon around 3:30. It was still very busy and got seated at the counter. It is a little cramped but the food is excellent. I went with the octopus which was full of flavor and the potatoes with their own sauce. I also had the Spanish omelette with potatoes, to becomes. That was okay. I would probably pass especially since they were more delicious potatoes with octopus. The price for the quality of food is hard to be, although I feel like most restaurants have really great quality. read more
El Sur was the best place we ate at during our trip to Madrid. It was very busy when we came in but we were lucky to get seated at the elevated table for two opposite the bar. We had Gambónes al Ajillo (sizzling prawns in garlic oil), Paella de Mariscos (seafood paella), Chipirones a la Plancha (grilled squid), and Zamburiñas (scallops). I had an order of sangria to go with those. The regular menu did not have the scallops but were advertised on a separate one. It was the best among the 4 dishes we had. They were grilled with garlic on their half-shells and were very tasty. The prawns were cooked in almost similar style with garlic and oil. The squids were grilled to perfection. The paella was served on a plate instead of a pan so it did not have the crispy bottom. It had plenty of seafood especially strips of cuttlefish. We enjoyed the food so this will be a sure destination if we ever get back to Madrid. Highly recommended! read more
Had a wonderful experience at Taberna El Sur. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, making sure we had everything we needed and the service was quick. It seems like q small place, but theres a good amount of seating inside. To avoid having to wait for a seat, I would recommend arriving a bit before 7pm. We ordered the garlic prawns, they were perfectly cooked and had a rich, garlicky flavor. Be sure to ask for some bread to soak up some of that sauce. The pork cheeks were tender and paired wonderfully with the creamy smashed potatoes. The grilled octopus was one of the highlights, it was cooked with just the right amount of char and tender without being too chewy. The Iberian ham platter was also great, though a bit on the salty side for my taste, but still enjoyable. I do wish they had provided more breadsticks to balance out the saltiness. Finally, the sangria was a perfect companion to our meal. It was refreshing, fruity, and not too sweet. Would definitely come back if I'm in Madrid again! read more
2 years ago
Pulpo del la plancha, espectacular Sangría, espectacular Shot de Baileys, espectacular El servicio de los muchachos, espectacular Todo estaba espectacular read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Great food. Great service. Nice authentic ambiance meal. The food is flavorful. The octopus was very good, not chewy and seasoned well. The shrimp were exactly as described with a perfect garlic sauce. I find that traveling to other countries they use far less salt than what most Americans are used to. That's where the "not flavorful" reviews come from in my opinion. Oh and if you're a big eater order a few plates each. read more
Overall an okay experience. The place was packed and lively, but we were seated immediately. Wine prices are great. Sangria was decent. The food came out very fast. The patatas bravas were not very hot or flavorful. The empanadas were very good. The goat cheese ravioli was excellent, the chicken curry was very good, not spicy. The service was not great. I think our server forgot about us and it was difficult to flag him down. read more
1 year ago
Went to viva gym and had to find something that was on the way home to eat my first meal. Found this gem online search. It did not disappoint. I ordered the octopus and wanted to try something as well - empanadas. They were both absolutely delicious. The sauce on the octopus was so good. I think it had some type of thin slices potatoes in the dish which was tasteful... so tasteful it got on my white top. You know that's VERY good, haha.. This dish can be shared, it was a lot. Empanadas was FRESH and HOT. I enjoyed it. Service was good. They were welcoming and attentive. I was able to get in and out with the service. read more
9 months ago
Visiting Madrid, had to have my share of Paella and walked 35 minutes from my hotel to get here, and it was well worth it. Don't expect a big restaurant as it is just a tavern, but the food is great, so was the service, white wine, and the complementary coffee liquors at the end! Try the place. read more
This place was a busy and buzzing by tapas spot. I got the scallops and the croquettes. The croquettes were so good and so was the mussaka. But the scallops and the paella were a little lacking in flavor was a little disappointed there. Service was friendly and fast though they were a little busy so sometimes were a little hard to get their attention. Still recommend for a fun tapas spot! read more
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More info about El Sur
Calle de la Torrecilla del Leal, 12
28012 Madrid
Spain
Lavapiés y Embajadores
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915 278 340
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El Sur - tapas - Updated July 2026
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