Madrid hosts near 7.000 restaurants and 16 Michelin stars. You'll imagine then the wide range of posibilities...from restaurants that still use cooking techniques from the XIX century Spanish tradition, to others that represent the freshest avant-garde cuisine. From crazy expensive options (sometimes overpriced), to places where you can eat for the price of a beer...you name it!. To make a list of all this places would be almost impossible for us and very tiring for you to read, as well as confusing. For that reason, we have toured the city with the intention of trying its main restaurants (big sacrifice), and be able to offer you here a selection of our favorites places to eat in this gourmet`s paradise called Madrid.

Metro Bistro 

This choice is always a success. You'll be delighted with the care provided by the staff, that will give you a full presentation and explanation of every dish on the menu, giving wise recommendations depending on your taste. As for the food, this restaurant will surprise you with an innovative, well thought-out menu. Don't miss the croquettes and the "sea treasures" dish!

Casa 9

If you like first quality, well prepared, non expensive food, this is you place. The restaurant is quite small and the decoration, not too fancy, but the atmosphere is very pleasant and the staff friendly and helpful. At lunch, they offer a full daily menu (first, and second course, dessert and drinks) for a more than affordable price.

Casa Botín

A Classic. Claimed to be the oldest restaurant in the world (with a certificate from the Guiness book of records), Casa botín will give you a full demonstration of what the real spanish traditional food is. Roast piglet or lamb, the best Jamón Serrano, or roasted peppers with cod are some of their specialties. Watch out, this might not be the best option if you're a vegetarian.

Casa Lucio

More than a restaurant, an institution. Some of the most famous artists, politicians, intelectuals and protagonists of spanish and international social life, have visited Lucio's home. Nevertheless, you need to work out your prioritiesbefore to choose this restaurant , as you'll find no haute cuisine here. We'll just leave you with this piece of information: their most famous dish is the fried eggs with french fries...yummy!

Sushi 99

For fish lovers. Sushi 99 is a series of 4 restaurants located in different areas of Madrid, specializing in japanese fusion food. Raw material of very high quality, nice atmosphere and good service. My favorites: the salmon tartare and the butterfish nigiri. Caveat emptor! This place, together with the Casino Terrace, are the two most expensive restaurants in this list. In both cases, we think that the cost is absolutely worth it!

Casino's Terrace

Our Michelin star selection for the list (in fact, the place has got two of them). The latest and most modern cuisine, in a beautiful 19th century palace right in the center of the city. Amazing views and excellent service. Yes, you guessed right, it is the most expensive option of the list by far.

Gourmet Experience

Located at the rooftop of a 9th floor shopping center downton, this place has got unbeatable views of the Gran Via and the Habsburgs quarter. Concerning the food, it's perhaps the option that can give you the widest range of posibilities, as you can choose between getting your order at any of the restaurants available (asian, burguers, tapas, sushi...) and eat it in them, or take it with you and eat it at one of the out or indoor tables. When you finish, you can walk around the fantastic gourmet supermarket.

La Bola

The kingdom of the famous "cocido madrileño", probably, the most tipical dish from Madrid. What? You've never tried it? Well, try to imagine a good handful of chickpeas, beef and veal shank, a good sausage, bacon, a cabbage, carrots, onions, turnips, beets, celery and a few good sized potatoes, everything toguether swimming in a nice and warm broth. Does it sound like a good option now?

Ramsés

The hot spot in town. Sophisticated place, decoration, people and food, although you can still choose the tapas area and sit at the bar for a more relaxed meal. At night, it turns into a cocktail bar and disco frequented by fashionable people and its terrace becomes like a kind of catwalk to see and be seen. Fair prices and excellent food.

Filandón

Its motto, "The countryside in the city" is the best description of this restaurant that we can offer. Located on a large estate in the city limits, it offers an extensive menu of dishes made with the highest quality meat, fish and garden products organically grown.

Bosco de Lobos

Located in the inner garden of the Madrid Official College of Architects, this charming glazed establishment with an 360º open kitchen, surrounded by plants and books, it is ideal for a quiet dinner in an environment that invites to conversation. Its excellent Italian menu, will convince you once and for all.

Sala de despiece

Meaning literally quartering room, Sala de despiece it’s a very special experience. For a start the place is divided into two different premises, the Academy and the Room. In the first one, more exclusive and with reservation needed, you won’t only eat, but also observe and learn how to cook what you're eating. In the Room, with a large table in the center, you’ll have the chance to feel in the midst of a great chef team, experimenting with new exquisite flavors.

San Michael's Market

It is the last remaining iron market in the city. Formerly there were several, but in the 90s, with the boom of supermarkets, this type of construction began to disappear until they practically extinct. In 2009, a group of businessmen came together and created a new market concept, why not try it?, they said to themselves. Several years later, the Mercado de San Miguel has become one of Madrid’s main gastronomic attractions, and seeing the hundreds of people who pack their stalls every day, we can conclude that they got it completely right!

* All the restaurants recommended on this list are are highly demanded, specially on weekends. For that reason we suggest you to make a reservation at least a couple of weeks in advance.