The Madrid food cheat sheet
The dish to eat
A slow pot of chickpeas, beef, chicken, pork and chorizo, served in turns: the broth with noodles first, then the chickpeas, vegetables and meats.
Best at Lhardy, Carrera de San Jerónimo, near Sol. Get: Cocido madrileño in the upstairs dining rooms
Five places, and what to order
- La Venenciabar · Barrio de las Letras / CentroGet: A dry fino or manzanilla with manchego, cecina or chorizo
- Bodega de La Ardosabar · MalasañaGet: Tortilla de patata, house vermouth, or a draft Pilsner
- Casa Revueltainstitution · Sol (Calle Latoneros)Get: Bacalaitos (fried cod), croquettes, eggplant with honey
- La Campanafor bocadillo de calamares · Centro (Plaza Mayor)Get: Bocadillo de calamares
- Casa Danifor tortilla de patata · Mercado de la PazGet: Tortilla de patata with onion
The market
Covered market. Spanish produce, seafood, tortilla, gourmet provisions
The line worth it
Get: Churros with thick hot chocolate
Expect: 15 to 30 min, open late. Beat it: Go mid-morning.
In season this November
Cocido madrileño · Sierra de Guadarrama wild mushrooms · Chestnuts, game, huesos de santo and buñuelos
How it works here
Tip: Not expected. Leave the small change or round up, up to 5-10% for a great meal.
Book: Book sit-down dinners a few days out; pintxos and tapas bars are walk-in, so go bar to bar.
When locals eat: Lunch 2-4pm is the big meal; dinner starts at 9pm, 10 on weekends.