10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

So, if you’re a long-time Madrid dweller, you’ll remember the harsh days of the financial crisis which are now (thankfully) a sort of blip on the landscape of Madrid’s movida. Business is booming and as a result, the culinary scene in the city now packs more than just a punch. It positively sizzles with the best of Spanish produce and rustic neighbourhood joints that can’t be missed.

It’s a tough one to call, but I’m not sure what I’ve done more of since having moved to the land of jamón – eat out, or treat myself at the Zara sale. Either way, I’ve had a lot of hot dinners and have whittled down my favourites for you to work your way through. A sort of foodie bucket list as it were.

If traditional cuisine is your thing, hopefully I’ve got you covered. However, as the city lets go of its slightly conservative culinary roots, the patrons of the plazas and the tourists on the terrazas now greedily gobble ramen, cervices and bao buns with as much gusto as the locals love their pinchos. Many to-do lists are a chore, make this one a pleasure.

Here’s a round-up of the 10 best restaurants in Madrid. You’ll also find my full restaurant review of each one if you click on the link in the titles!

1. Lady Madonna – take a day off the diet

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

If you’re in the mood for a great bit of grub without breaking the bank (and aren’t we all?) head to Lady Madonna. Definitely the kind of place where you can dress up for dinner, it’s just a stone’s throw from Alonso Martínez and a little oasis in the heart of the city. Its charming little terrace is the perfect place to people watch, and the Sunday brunch is pretty damn delish.

2. Bosco de Lobos – a casual-chic restaurant in Chueca

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Oh how I love this place. Let me count the ways… It’s a favourite in the same way as a beloved leather jacket is. Bosco de Lobos is the perfect place for a casual yet chic dining experience. The menu covers every foodie fad but is complete with classics such as arroz and steak tartare. The desserts are to die for, as are the interior vibes – all dim lighting and shelves groaning with books. A must visit.

3. Ana la Santa – baby it’s cold outside

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Situated on one of the most beautiful plazas in the city, Ana La Santa is housed in the ground floor of the Hotel Me. Beyond cosy in the winter and perennially popular, Ana La Santa always delivers on excellent service and an awesome ambiance.

4. Bar Tomate – modern minimalism at its best

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Somewhat off the typical tourist trial, this is a great neighborhood spot. Chamberí is somewhat of a foodie mecca and Bar Tomate combines minimalist decor at its best and delicious cuisine. The vibe is rustic and the food is fresh. A winning combo if I ever I saw one.

5. Luzi Bombon – get ready to luck out

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Situated on the swish and swanky Paseo de la Castella, Luzi Bombon is a stylish restaurant offering flawless service and utterly divine food. It’s part of Grupo Tragaluz, meaning you’re in safe hands when it comes to enjoying some marvelous munchies.

  • Facebook & Instagram: @luzibombon
  • Address: Paseo de la Castellana 35
  • Phone: 917 02 27 36
  • Metro: Rubén Darío

6. Somos Restaurant – the jewel in Barceló Torres’s crown

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Located in what’s become the iconic Torre de Barcelona, Somos Restaurant and Garra Bar have become the type of places to splash your hard earned cash. In an undeniably stunning setting overlooking Gran Vía, the outstanding cuisine is not too be missed and neither is the sunset as the sunshine bids the city goodnight.

7. Picsa – got a ‘pizza’ my heart

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

On one of the hippest streets in Madrid (ok I’m biased, I live here) Picsa serves up delicious Argentinian pizzas that rival any that BA has to offer. The flavour combos are to die for – I never resist the lure of the chorizo criollo with provolone and hey Heber should you.

8. Gracias Padre – you’ll be thankful for this Mexican restaurant

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

In the barrio of Salamanca, Gracias Padre is hands down one of Madrid’s best Mexican restaurants. Here’ll you’ll find treats as tasty as tacos hailing from Tulum. Their frozen margs always hit the spot and the rainbow-esque surroundings are a riot of crayola colour.

9. Nubel – the Reina Sofia Museum’s stunning restaurant

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Nubel is the beautiful restaurant housed in the world-famous Reina Sofía museum. It’s a hybrid that feels like part restaurant/part nightclub as there’s often a DJ playing a delectable mix of club classics that adds to the buzzy energy that envelops you on arrival.

  • Facebook, Website & Instagram: @nubelmadrid
  • Address: Museo Reina Sofía, Calle de Argumosa, 43
  • Metro: Atocha
  • Phone: 915 30 17 61

10. Picalagartos – dine sky high on a gorgeous rooftop bar overlooking Gran Vía

10 Best restaurants in Madrid, according to Little Miss Madrid

Picalagartos is quite literally (in the words of the song) up on the roof. Towering above Gran Vía, it’s perched atop the NH hotel. It boasts 360-degree views of our beloved city and combines great cocktails with great cuisine.

All photos from each restaurant’s respective social media accounts

By Cat Powell, aka @littlemissmadrid

Have any favourites that we should include in a second “best restaurants in Madrid” list? Let us know in the comments!



Not much not to love at NuBel – The Reina Sofia’s stunning restaurant

We really are spoilt in Spain. From the glorious blue skies to the culture of napping not being frowned upon, we really do enjoy the good life. So when it rains, I have to admit that I’ve become one of those people who hunkers down and reaches for the remote and Netflix.

However, this last Saturday, in spite of the torrential rain and the fact that my hair was starting to look more and more like Rod Stewart’s (I’ll thank the humidity for that) I donned my gladrags and kept my dinner date at NuBel – the quite frankly stunning setting that’s part of the Reina Sofia museum on the south side of the city.
NuBel Restaurant inside Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum

So before a mere morsel had passed my lips, the first thing that floored me on arrival was the space. Lofty and chic, yet deceptively cosy, NuBel is kind of like entering a club, albeit, one without the sticky carpets and two for one drinks that littered my youth. There was a DJ playing dance classics that I remembered from the days where I didn’t turn into a pumpkin if I stayed out past midnight; and the whole ‘vibe’ was one of people ready to party (just not on an empty stomach).

So having taken our seats for dinner (pretty pink velvet ones in case you’re interested) we plumped for some cocktails, a pisco sour for me and a ‘hard drink’ for my pal – I can attest, it was indeed strong, absinthe will do that I guess.fullsizeoutput_4ddf

We perused the menu and our waiter, Angel, suggested that we try a range of the mini plates so that we could salivate over a spectrum of flavours. I think we ordered ten in total and each little bite was as delicious as the last. I loved the mange tout falafel with feta, while my amiga lapped to the snow crab cocktail. The mains were every bit as delectable as the desserts. I don’t have the sweetest tooth but my deconstructed lemon meringue pie was so good that I was not one for sharing.

fullsizeoutput_4de0

However, food aside, what I really loved about NuBel was the atmosphere. So often these days I go for dinner and feel ready to be rolled home, the lure of my pyjamas too great to resist. NuBel manages to straddle the line of being a restaurant/club perfectly – the music will have your toe tapping away and ready to ditch the dessert in favour of the dance floor.

NuBel Restaurant inside Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum

For art aficionados, the proximity to renowned works from the likes of Picasso, adds that little extra pizazz that a regular restaurant would find hard to rival.

All photos from NuBel

NuBel