What To Eat In Madrid: From Squid Sandwiches To Michelin-Starred Restaurants of Hotel Cortezo in Madrid. Official Website.
What to Eat in Madrid: From Squid Sandwiches to Michelin-Starred Restaurants
Madrid, a culinary capital that just keeps on growing
Madrid may not be by the sea, but it boasts the best selection of fresh seafood and fish in Spain. It may not have as many Michelin-starred restaurants as San Sebastián, but it has more Michelin-starred restaurants per square kilometre than many European cities. And above all, it has something few capital cities can match: the authenticity of its traditional taverns, where a caña and some patatas bravas are still the best way to spend the day.
The calamari sandwich: the king of Puerta del Sol
Before we talk about haute cuisine, we must pay tribute to the ‘calamares a la romana’ sandwich. A crusty baguette filled with freshly fried calamari, with or without aioli, which has been served in the bars around Puerta del Sol for decades. Bar La Campana and Bar Cervecería Plaza Mayor son are two of the most historic spots. Average price: between 3 and 4 euros. Experience: unforgettable.
Madrid-style cocido: the comfort food
No visit to Madrid is complete without a Madrid-style cocido. This chickpea stew with chorizo, black pudding, bacon, chicken and vegetables is served in three courses — first the soup, then the chickpeas and vegetables, and finally the meats — and is the hallmark of traditional Madrid cuisine. Lhardy, on Carrera de San Jerónimo street, has been serving it since 1839 using the same recipe as always.
Markets and tapas: the tapas trail in the city centre
The San Miguel Market, next to the Plaza Mayor, offers one of Madrid’s most comprehensive culinary experiences: oysters, local wines, freshly sliced Iberian ham, Basque pintxos and artisan desserts, all served beneath a 19th-century iron structure. For a more traditional tapas experience, Cava Baja and Calle Echegaray — just a stone’s throw from the Hotel Cortezo — are home to some of the city’s most authentic taverns.
Haute cuisine and Michelin-starred restaurants
Madrid boasts restaurants of the very highest calibre: Dabiz Muñoz’s DiverXO (three Michelin stars), Coque and Ramón Freixa are renowned both nationally and internationally. For more accessible experiences with signature cuisine, the Barrio de las Letras offers a concentration of restaurants serving creative dishes at reasonable prices.
Madrid’s culinary scene begins on your doorstep
Staying in the Barrio de las Letras means having some of Madrid’s best taverns and restaurants right on your doorstep. From the Hotel Cortezo, the city’s most authentic culinary trail begins the moment you step outside.
Ready to experience Madrid from the heart of the city? Book now at Hotel Cortezo ★★★ and enjoy a prime location in the Barrio de las Letras, just a stone’s throw from the Prado, the Retiro and the most authentic side of Madrid. 👉 www.hotelcortezo.es