This was the first dinner meal my mom and I had in Madrid and let's just say it completely exceeded…read moremy 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!

El Sur is a charming little spot in Madrid, tucked right into the wall of a narrow street. The…read morespace 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.

From the owner: Cocido Madrileño Rabo de Toro Estofado…read moreCallos a la Madrileña Caracoles Gallegos Canapés de la casa

This restaurant is within an 8min walking distance from the Silken Puerta Madrid Hotel where we…read morestayed. The restaurant was able to accommodate our 16 person party at around 7pm. This represents exceptional service and accommodation, since 8:30pm is the normal opening time for dinner here in Spain. We ate family style: Roasted Calamari - super tasty that went well with the salad that it came with. Scallops - a must have at this place. Delicious seafood taste. Steak - served on a hot stone plate that was sizzling on the table. This was perfect for our table with varying tastes in steak. Take it out early if you want rare. Wait a little longer and it's medium. Vegetable plate: nicely grilled veggies topped with two chunks of cheese. Sea Bass: it was perfectly roasted. Very tender and perfect chewiness. Sauce was delicious with the potatoes and peppers that it came with. Overall, one of the better meals during my 2 night stay in Madrid. Excellent and friendly service. The Sangria was the bomb. I recommend this place if you are staying nearby or at the Silken hotel.

Very lively place obviously popular with locals. The food is quite straightforward and absolutely…read moredelicious. We had the salad Eu Mundo and the entrecôte and would definitely recommend both. A hidden gem in an area of Madrid where tourists rarely set foot.

Great service. Great food. Cozy small restaurant to have some great Spanish food. Staff gave some…read moregreat recommendations to our group of 15

We truly enjoy this very popular Galician tapas place! I recommend making reservations. We have…read moretaken friends here and loved every dish. Our faves: * Ropa Vieja - my son's fave - he almost didn't share this cuban style shredded beef * Bacalao confitado - creamy and decadent * Prawn Risotto - yummmm * Pimientos de Padron - mild and reminds me of shishito peppers * Pulpo a la plancha - Grilled octopus Next time I plan to try the Paella de Mariscos...

An absolutely fantastic place for dinner - small, charming, and intimate with an obvious local…read morefollowing. The staff was friendly, engaging, knowledgeable, and spoke English very well. It was just far enough of the Main Street to be removed from the noise and chaos that you see in many Madrid restaurants, but close enough to not feel isolated. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. There was quite a variety of dishes and they obviously make a priority of using locally sourced meats and vegetables. Highly recommended!

So I'm told San Sebastián and Barcelona are where you hit when you want to experience the cutting…read moreedge creative styles that have given contemporary Spanish cuisine its GOATED reputation for the past few decades. Madrid, on the other hand I quickly came to realize for the most part leans into traditional styles, to the point that some could deride it as verging on tired and stuffy. That being said, you could do far worse than getting a taste of Madrid here, where said traditional dishes are presented in updated and fresh ways in an extremely lively convivial atmosphere, in a gorgeous sultry dark wood barroom setting. I originally popped in here during the height of lunchtime, the Spaniards most important meal, if not overall part of the day. Perhaps not surprisingly the place was packed to the gills and electric, with a typically fashionable Madrid crowd gathered around the bar nibbling on tapas and sipping on Tinto de Verano and vermouth with chatter and laugher filling the room. We came back a few hours later (Madrid proved to be the exception to anywhere else we traveled in Spain in that a good number of places were actually open during the traditional siesta hours of 3;30-7:30 whereas most every establishment elsewhere would be completely shuttered) to find the place pretty much empty and were able to steal ourselves a very nice snacky meal. I am in general a sucker for chorizo of all stripes from the soft and spreadable Mexican vartieties to the more solid traditional Spanish version and the simple presentation here of thick slices of thee sausage served in its own thick, syrupy delicious juices and topped with a fat green pimiento pepper were as lovely as any I can remember, I gobbled the dish down way too fast. Also scrumptious as hell was the squid sandwich or calamari boccadillo. A smallish yet well stuffed sandwich on a soft roll, packed with perfectly lightly fried yet wonderfully crisp squid and smattering of aioli alongside some house made potato chips, this is apparently curiously one of the landlocked cities signature dishes, despite the considerable distance from the sea. I've heard that mediocre versions of the dish are quite common so if you want to sample it when in town I would certainly recommend stopping off here for one. This place is very centrally located to tourist heavy Centro district yet still manages to retain an authentic and sophisticated, decidedly non touristy vibe and clientele and the staff was uniformly gracious and professional. Definitely worth a stop in and if you want to partake in the lively lunchtime bar scene maybe arrive as early as possible in hopes of securing a coveted bar seat before they are inevitably quickly snatched up.