Madrid Tapas Bars
Madrid enjoys the reputation of being the city with the longest nights in
Europe. You will find bars, pubs and discos throughout the city, it is
impossible for us to list all of them here, but we can guarantee that there is
something interesting for everyone. The same applies for restaurants: you will
find everything from simple pubs to true gourmet temples and of course the
popular tapas bars. Here a small selection of the most popular localities.
El Txoko (Taberna Vasca)
This outstanding little bar/restaurant is an excellent choice for those who
wish to sample the Basque food, considered by many to be Spain's equivalent of
the French haute cuisine. We liked everything we tried here, and we tried a lot.
To give a few examples: baked onions stuffed with fresh goat's cheese and jamón,
blood pudding served with baked apple, perhaps the best anchovies we have ever
tried, coated in virgin olive oil and Txacolí (a basque white wine), cod souffle...
to mention a few possibilities.
The atmosphere is friendly if a bit cramped, and don't be misled by the
entrance; the bar is in the basement of a Basque cultural building.
For those who want more than tapas the restaurant serves the same food, for
an excellent price. Oh and incidently the desserts were also superb, sherbert in
vodka, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate figs... (dinner from 18-25 euro, inc. wine
and dessert).
El Txoko
(Taberna Vasca)
Jovellanos, 3
Madrid
Tel.+34 91 532 34 43
Museo del Jamón
A chain that has also stores in Madrid. The name “museo” might come from the
fact that dried ham hangs from the ceiling. Here you can find tapas – surprise,
surprise - made of ham! Interesting!
Addresses:
- Gran Vía 72
- Alcalá 55
- Atocha 54
- Marcelo Usera 14
La Castela
Just east of the Retiro park, this area probably won't be in a tourist
itinerary, but if you make it to the 'far side' of the park (meaning the side
opposite the Prado Museum) we recommend going that little bit further to get to
this bar.
Fairly modern, but with plenty of traditional dishes we tried and liked: the
croquetas, (excellent) usually with seafood, but occasionally with chicken.
Scrambled eggs with white beans and blood pudding (among others).
La Castela
(antes La Tercia).
Doctor Castelo, 22.
Tel: + 34 91 573 55 90
La Llama
If you find yourself in the Cuatro Caminos area (we can't think of too many
reasons why a tourist would go there, except if you are leaving from or arriving
at the Continental Auto bus station, or if you want to browse around some of the
cheaper shops in this zone) you might want to drop into this locale.
Let me begin by saying this is one place which upholds what seems to be the
diminishing custom of providing real (i.e. free) tapas with a drink. What's more
they come in quite generous portions. I managed to try a delicious stewed meat
with chips (french fries), grilled cuttlefish, a dish of wild mushrooms and ham
and a sort of roasted pepper salad. I will also mention, if only because of
their enormous size (I didn't actually try them), the bocadillo de calamares.
La Llama
General Ibáñez Ibero, semiesq.
Reina Victoria, 37
Tel: 91 553 53 23
Find Spanish Recipes!
If you're looking for Spanish Recipes, just
type what you're looking for and hit the search button!
Keep in touch with Tapas Recipes!
Subscribe to our e-zine!
|
