Madrid

Chamberí restaurant in a handsome high-ceilinged room, mixing Mediterranean, Japanese, and Peruvian influences across a sharing menu. Lively and good value.

Small, family-run Malasaña restaurant offering carefully prepared Spanish market cooking and a good-value menu in an unpretentious setting.

Central Madrid spot reviving Spanish classics — callos, croquetas, fried fish — with a modern eye and a focus on technique. Casual and reliable.

Salamanca-district taberna serving precisely cooked tapas and raciones — seafood, seasonal vegetables, and classic Madrid plates — to a loyal local crowd.

Bullfighting-themed institution near Chueca, revered for rabo de toro (oxtail stew) and fried hake alongside other Madrid classics. Heritage everywhere you look.

Long-running spot near Retiro known for its 'monteritas' — small filled rolls — and a tapas menu rooted in traditional Spanish flavours.

Chef César Martín's relaxed Chamberí restaurant with a wide-ranging menu of seasonal Spanish dishes and a notably strong, fairly priced wine list.

Stylish, perennially packed Salamanca brasserie serving a broad menu of Spanish classics and market dishes to a smart, sociable crowd.

Salamanca Mexican restaurant serving fresh, vibrant antojitos and regional dishes — a step beyond the usual, in a bright, modern room.

Ponzano-street original styled like a butcher's workshop, serving inventive, theatrical small plates assembled at the counter. Buzzy and fun.

Classic Salamanca taberna famous for cocido madrileño — the city's emblematic chickpea-and-meat stew served in traditional courses. Tiled, old-school charm.

Traditional taberna prized for its tortilla, croquetas, and steak tartare, plus dishes built on top-quality Spanish ingredients. Classic done meticulously.

Chamberí favourite specialising in Spanish omelette in many guises, from classic to creative versions, alongside other well-made traditional plates.

Counter-only spot inside the Vallehermoso market where chef Roberto Martínez Foronda cooks a short tasting menu fusing Asian and Peruvian flavours with Spanish produce.

Nikkei and Peruvian restaurant near Gran Vía serving ceviches, tiraditos, and pisco-driven drinks with a contemporary, bar-forward feel.