El Sur
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This appears to be a neighborhood gem. The place was boisterous, fun and lively with mostly locals. After a 20 minute leisurely walk from my hotel, I was a bit hungry and the seafood paella hit the spot. It was slightly wet from the seafood stock. It had mussels, clams and shrimp and although not the best paella I've eaten, it was still good. I also had a non-alcoholic drink, the San Francisco, which as fruity and colorful. They gave me a free shot of kahlua, which I appreciate despite wanting an alcohol free meal. It is Spain after all and the Spaniards like to drink. Service was quick and super friendly.
Came back after 7 years- still delicious! I'm so happy it wasn't a one hit wonder! I'm in town for a convention and wanted good food! I came with one of my besties from Gibraltar and both of us were wowed! We ordered the moussaka (of course) the prawns in garlic/oil, and the round sirloin with chips. The sirloin was tender and full of flavor. The prawns were so good...especially with the bread too dip in the garlic oil!! Yummmmmm!!!! The moussaka was phenomenal!!! Good prices, great service...I LOVE IT HERE!
Wow. This was on the list of best paella in town. Honestly I don't know if it was good or bad. Walked 20 min to get here and came at 10:30, left by 11:30. Got the paella seafood and it was very fishy tasting... like too many mussel, only one shrimp, a few clams and lots of boiled calamari. Get this if you like seafood. Also the "pan fried" eggplant is tempura, large pieces. Loved the 3.50 Tinto de Verano drink!
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
Our first time in Madrid Spain and of course first time at El Sur Restaurant. We tried 4 different Tapas restaurants in Barcelona and El Sur is the fifth place. Every dishes we order was amazing, the food is fresh and tasty. The atmosphere is cozy and service was excellent. Our server was friendly and attentive. We will definitely come back again. The price is very reasonable
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 .
4 years ago
Searched Yelp for best Paella in Madrid and found El Sur. Reviews were spot on. Delicious Paella, Garlic Shrimp, croquetas and Fried Calamari. Staff was super friendly (Jhoan nd Franco) and great service. I would recommend if you are in town. Enjoy! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Our first dinner meal in Madrid, and boy was it a good choice! Very small interior with a cozy, cool vibe and a great soundtrack playing. Our dinner here was partially inspired by the fact my girls call me "Sir" (don't ask, not really sure how it started) but it led to this discovery and a great meal! We were all parched, so we ordered a round of tinto de Veranos. The cocktails were nicely fizzy and refreshing, some of the better versions we've had on this trip. We decided on a bunch of appetizers and a few mains. Their version of patatas bravas were possibly the best we had with a spicy red sauce and creamy garlic aioli. The salad was hearty and well dressed including a chunk of cheese and a tangy balsamic drizzle. Next, out came the main dishes! The spinach and mushroom ravioli was covered in a rich sauce, but the insides were light and fresh full of sauteed spinach. Known for their ropa vieja, we enjoyed the shredded beef served atop homemade potato chips; it is almost like eating a plate of warm dip! The beef had a wonderful aroma and mild spices giving it a somewhat smoky flavor. The garlic prawns (my favorite) were served in a piping hot cast iron dish and bread was used to sop up the garlicky butter it was swimming in. Delicious! After the meal, the waiter brought each of us a shot of a local liquor called El Madrono which was syrupy in consistency and a perfect end to the experience. So glad we trekked across the city to seek this place out, would do it again in a heartbeat! read more
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Great experience and deliscious food! The waiters were very lovely and they even brought us shots on the house! The starter (cheese and mushroom nuggets) was not that great to be honest, thus the 4-star review! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The restaurant is cozy and the staffs were so friendly. Though it was busy, I was quickly greeted and seated. It was my first time trying the seafood paella and it was tasty. read more
7 years ago
I located this restaurant because of its good reviews on yelp! I wanted to try a different tapas spot on my last night in Madrid. They have two different locations in the area and we unknowingly passed one of the locations on our way to this one. The restaurant is long and narrow. They have a bar with seating on the side by the window and a small seated area. I do not think they take reservations. We did not have to wait too long for a table though. Tapas is supposed to be eaten standing up but we wanted to sit. The menu is in English and Spanish. They have a great fusion of flavors on their menu. I got the sangria because I saw everyone with it so it had to be good. The glass was only 4 euros and it was a nice portion. It was fresh and not too sweet. I got the shrimp in garlic and the sur salad. I wanted something light and this hit the spot. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Probably my favourite meal in Madrid! My favourite on the menu was octopus. Everything is so nicely presented and the champagne even comes with a cute strawberry! I came here for dinner around 9pm on the weekend so I got a seat almost immediately, but I have a feeling that if I had come any earlier without making a reservation it would have been difficult to get a table. read more
Even though it's known as a tourist dining spot I really enjoyed my dinner here. Sangria (5/5): best sangria I've had so far in Spain, made to order and gave me a nice buzz. Baby Squid Salad (5/5): wish I had gotten a full order since it was so good. Ropa Vieja (3.5/5): good, but something I can easily get back home, chips were also not fully fried. Pork Loin (3/5): my friend found it to be average. Shellfish Paella (3/5): tried a bite of my friends paella and it was pretty bland compared to other paellas I've had so I'm not sure what the raving reviews are about. Overall it was nice to be able to order half or full orders of entrees and I left happy! read more
El Sur is a non touristy gem between the Museum District and Puerta del Sol. In fact, we ate here after our Prado visit and it stood out as one of our best meals in Madrid (which is really saying something because we had great food overall). We arrived around 2pm, and had a short wait for a table - the place was packed with locals - always a good sign. We ordered a bunch of tapas and found that everything we had was fresh, delicious and really high quality! Patatas bravas had a standout smokey tomato sauce and our mixed croquetas were huge and filled with ham and mushrooms. We ordered their moussaka and it was honestly one of the best things I've ever eaten - creamy and comforting. We also ordered ropa vieja which was served with homemade chips to scoop up the tasty meat, and pork cheeks which were fall-apart tender and served on a bed of scalloped potatoes. I'm not joking when I say that every single thing was exceptional. Because all that wasn't enough, we ended with slices of perfectly light and moist red velvet and chocolate cake. Again, just delicious. Our waiter, Jhoan couldn't have been nicer and was in top of keeping our wine glasses filled. They even surprised us with delicious shots of liqueur at the end. Prices are VERY reasonable for what you get here, and the food was absolutely wonderful. Plus, it's off the tourist track. If you're in Madrid, make the effort to check them out - it will be worth it! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
My wife and I were here a couple weeks ago, and the food did not disappoint. The sangria was the best we had in Spain, and the food was phenomenal! We went back the next day and this time we ordered the paella and it was great. The food, the drinks and the service were all great. I highly recommend this place. read more
Best meal we had in Madrid. The grilled squid with salad and the garlic shrimp was AMAZING! The seafood paella was a bit wet and salty though. Five stars for sangria for taste and presentation. The server gave us free dessert and "Bailey" shot! I would recommend this place rather than Alhambra. read more
This little Tapas Bar was great! The space is pretty tight and gets quite packed but, for good reason. The food and wine selections are worth waiting for. We loved their steak and goat cheese dish so much we went back to have it again. The paella with seafood was good and we both really enjoyed their Ravioli. Prices are quite reasonable. Service was attentive and friendly both at a table and the bar. Wines are around 3€ a glass or 16€ a bottle with some very nice options. We were happy to dine there twice while we visited Madrid. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
Nice neighborhood type of tavern with a good food and drink menu. Service was good. Place was almost completely full when we arrived but we got lucky and snatched a small table by the window. Very friendly prices. Overall good food, good vermouth and friendly staff. Definitely recommended if you are in the neighborhood or just finished your tours at Prado museum or Botanical Gardens. P.S. El Sur is right across from Devour Madrid tours ( check you tube channel ) which was cool to see their headquarters after seeing all the youtube videos. read more
4 years ago
Great food and great service. The portions are ok size. We were 4 ppl and ordered about 8 dishes which was a lot of food! read more
2 years ago
I feel like this is a tourist trap. Everyone in here was a tourist when we were there. The food was ehhh-ok. I only liked the pork dish but everything was just wasn't that great. I may be a bit more picky since I live in San Francisco and we have amazing food here. So my standards may be a bit high but the reviews here were highly rated so I had to try it. This definitely wasn't as good as I hoped. The garlic shrimp was decent. You can't really mess that up. Paella - wasn't good. The calamari was mushy Dessert - ehhhh I'd come here for a drink but not for an actual dinner. read more
4 years ago
We arrived around 5:20PM and a few people were there. The place is small and filled up quickly around 5:50PM. We started with a Sangria and the Brochetas De Salmon (tempura salmon) which came with a tiny salad on the side. I wish I had ordered the full order and not a half order . We selected the Paella De Mariscos (seafood paella) and Wok De Verduras Con Arroz (stir fried rice & veggies) and Gambones Al Ajillo (prawns in sizzling garlic oil) as our main course. The portions were a bit small based on the price point. We enjoyed all of it and the service was good! read more
El Sur is a tiny, cozy tapas bar in an odd, isolated location--but it serves nice, simple dishes with clean, delicious flavors. Coming in one busy night, we waited a while before sitting at the bar and ordering, and our food came out very quickly. We started with the musaka slice, which consisted of potatoes and eggplant layered with potatoes and béchamel sauce. This was a nice dish, but I didn't find it particularly unusual for a Greek musaka. We continued with the grilled squid with salad--the squid was grilled simply to perfection, and the dollop of yogurt sauce along with the light salad of lettuce, corn, and tomato made for a nice light pairing. Again, nothing crazy about the dish, but every element of it was done so well! There are a bunch of dishes I didn't get to try, but I would definitely recommend a visit for some higher end tapas dishes--just be prepared to wait! read more
I googled this place and saw the great reviews, so I wanted to give it a try and I'm so glad my wife and I did. The front is a great bar and in the back are numerous tables. We started off with the sangria and Albariño wine. It was probably the best sangria I've had in a long time. My wife also enjoyed her white wine. Next, we ordered some tapas. We got an order of the patatas bravas, Argentinian empanadas, quiche and media croquettes. Everything was extremely good and just enough for two people. Our waiter was helpful with our orders and brought our food out to us quickly and correctly. The restaurant/pub is well taken of and clean. We would definitely come if I were are ever in Madrid. read more
7 years ago
I now consider El Sur my religion, and I intend to practice my faith on a weekly basis. It provides one of the greatest dishes in the world. The steak (which I believe is called Tenero Renello de Cabra) is cooked to absolute perfection. I loved the steak so much that I not only asked to buy the chef a shot for her amazing work, but I ended up coming back a second night in a row, ordering the same exact dish. It is truly one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life, and for 15€, it is the honest to god steal of the century. Apart from the meal which I know consider a delicacy, the sangria is some of the best I've had in Spain. The recipe is a house secret, quietly concocted and then transported into an unlabeled bottle, eliminating the threat of any reproduction outside of the restaurant. The flavor is incredible and I have yet to try a better drink in Spain. The service, food, and drinks all combined for an immaculate night of entertainment. God may bless a good cook, but little did I know she prepared dishes on a nightly basis at El Sur. I'll be back again soon! read more
4 years ago
Out-of-the-way place for great food. We enjoyed the green pepper plate (occasionally spicy peppers), potato and egg omelet, seafood paella, and Cuban shredded beef. Friendly staff. read more
7 years ago
This was one of the top spots that came up when searching for tapas in Madrid and I definitely know why it was at the top. LOVED this place so much that my boyfriend and I came back here two nights in a row while in Madrid. Not only was the food really good, everything was pretty cheap and the portion sizes were pretty big. The sangria pitchers were also not too expensive and the sangria was really really good too! Highly recommend this place for a great meal, definitely worth the visit! read more
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More info about El Sur
Calle de la Torrecilla del Leal, 12
28012 Madrid
Spain
Lavapiés y Embajadores
Directions
915 278 340
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