Casa Labra
Sol
The line is forCod croquettes and the tajada de bacalao (fried cod)
A classic tapas bar in Madrid, open since 1860.
Worth the waitExpect: A busy bar at aperitivo time
Beat it: Go at noon
What's this line for? · Spain
What's this line for in Madrid?
The 11 food lines you'll walk past in Madrid, and what the people in them are waiting for. For each: what to get when you reach the front, how long it usually takes, whether it's worth it, and how to beat it.
See a line? Ask Chef.Take a photo of any line, anywhere, and email it to food@chefamazing.com. Chef writes back with what it's for, what to order, and whether it's worth the wait. Keep Location on so he knows where you are.
El Brillante
Atocha
The line is forCalamari sandwich
Madrid's calamari bocadillo.
Worth the waitExpect: Lines at peak times
Beat it: Go mid-afternoon
La Mallorquina
Sol
The line is forNapolitana de crema (a cream-filled pastry)
A Puerta del Sol pastry shop since 1894.
Worth the waitExpect: Counter crowds
Beat it: Go early in the morning
Casa Dani
Salamanca
The line is forTortilla de patatas, a thick slice
The tortilla many Madrileños call the city's best, inside the Mercado de la Paz.
Worth the waitThe runny, onion tortilla that keeps winning Spain's best-tortilla prizes. The lunchtime line is the proof.
Expect: Lines at breakfast and lunch at the market
Beat it: Go at 9am
Bar La Campana
Plaza Mayor
The line is forA bocadillo de calamares (fried squid sandwich)
Madrid's most famous squid sandwich, just off the Plaza Mayor.
Worth the waitExpect: Fast, crowded counter
Beat it: Go mid-afternoon
Casa Revuelta
La Latina
The line is forA tajada de bacalao (fried salt cod) and a vermouth
An old tavern known for its fried cod.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min on Sunday mornings
Beat it: Go on a weekday
Chocolatería Los Artesanos 1902
Sol
The line is forChurros or porras with thick chocolate
A quieter alternative to San Ginés.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min on weekends
Beat it: Go on a weekday morning
Patatas bravas with their secret sauce
Docamar
Quintana
The line is forPatatas bravas with their secret sauce
The bravas Madrid lines up for, since 1963.
Worth the waitExpect: Lines on weekends
Beat it: Go on a weekday afternoon, or take away a tub of sauce
Bodega de la Ardosa
Malasaña
The line is forThe tortilla, salmorejo and a draft beer
A century-old tavern with one of the city's best tortillas.
Worth the waitExpect: Standing room only at night
Beat it: Go at 6pm
Tortilla de patatas with fillings like truffle or bacalao, and a craft beer
Pez Tortilla
Malasaña
The line is forTortilla de patatas with fillings like truffle or bacalao, and a craft beer
A tortilla bar with lines on Calle del Pez.
Worth the waitExpect: 30 to 45 min at night
Beat it: Go before 8pm
Chocolatería San Ginés
Sol
The line is forChurros with thick hot chocolate
Churros since 1894, at any hour.
Worth it, with a catchAn institution, not the best churros in Madrid. Skip the afternoon tourist line and go very late at night or early in the morning, or walk to Los Artesanos 1902.
Expect: 15 to 30 min, open late
Beat it: Go mid-morning
Waits are what people usually see, not live times, and lines move and vanish: check hours before you go. Picked from Chef Amazing's Long lines lists (checked open Oct 23 2026) and checked against the press on 2026-11-12: doeatbetterexperience.com · esmadrid.com · maxgrosenberg.substack.com.