Madrid

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.