This was my absolute favorite dinner in Spain. Located in the artsy, bohemian neighborhood of Lavapiés, Juan Raro is part café, part tapas restaurant, part art studio and a wholly wonderful experience.
Our party of four enjoyed a tapas dinner here on the recommendation of a neighborhood friend. Juan, an English speaker, personally attended our table and guided the selection of tapas through dinner - nine in all. We left fully stuffed and satisfied, all in agreement that these were the best tapas we had eaten in Madrid. The menu included sliced jamon, papas with spicy red sauce, ham and egg croquettes, goat cheese salad with jamon, seared salmon on pickled green beans with spicy mustard, and carne medallions over mashed potatoes followed by a delicious and airy flan-styled créme brûlée dessert.
The full bar provided pre-dinner cocktails and the wine menu complimented the dinner with a range of quite reasonably priced local selections. Reservations recommended.
This is definitely a neighborhood hotspot with very few visible tourists (four, by my count, on the night we visited), and Juan appears to be plugged in to the art community. He rotates local art on the walls and recommended we check out a nearby urban art installation, which made for a perfect way to walk off dinner.
Of my time in Madrid and Barcelona this was my single favorite meal, a combination of fantastically prepared food with true local aesthetic, free of touristic pretension and peppered with a neighborhood flavor not found in the major plazas. Juan is a humble and endearing host. I recommend making his restaurant a must-see for visitors interested in experiencing modern, local Madrid. read more