Best Eateries and Cafes in Madrid
In Summer 2023, I studied and lived in Madrid for about two months. I lived in the neighborhood, Malasaña, which pretty close to the city center (Sol). Thus, many of the following recommendations are more central areas of Madrid. In this post, I’ve listed and described my favorite places in the city to eat and enjoy coffee. Please note that the lists are in no particular order.
Places to Eat:
NOTE: these are just some of my favorites. you really can’t go wrong with any restaurant you walk into. i was never disappointed with a meal in Madrid.
- Tiki Taco is a chain around Madrid and it is very touristy, but it is so so delicious. It’s quick and relatively cheap as well. I must warn that the line gets unbelievably long after around 10pm. Go earlier during the day to avoid a long line! #9 was my favorite taco, and I can’t recommend the quesadillas enough.
- La Mordida is a slightly hidden Mexican restaurant that I went back to multiple times. The tacos were amazing every time. I almost always ordered and shared the “Mi Pa Ti”, which includes six different types of taco meats and a bunch of tortillas.
- Bel Mondo serves some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had, but I would save this very nice and more expensive restaurant for a special occasion. Make sure to reserve it in advance.
- Bresca is a more casual Italian alternative and I thought it was delicious.
- Takos al Pastor is another taco joint, and I’ve never heard more recommendations for a place to eat, for good reason. Please find time to try Takos al Pastor.
- Amazonia is great place to stop for brunch/lunch. I ate at Amazonia multiple times and took many different friends there, who all loved it. The açaí bowls were a particular favorite. The owner started to see a lot and every time, he would stop his work to have a pleasant conversation.
- Zenith is another amazing brunch restaurant. It is often very busy and very touristy, but it is also delicious.
- I highly recommend eating at the Mercado de San Ildefonso for one of your first meals in Madrid. Food markets are a great place to try different foods and cuisines all in one meal. The food, drinks, and ambience was amazing. While popular, this food market is less busy than the Mercado de San Miguel.
- Which brings me to next recommendation: el Mercado de San Miguel. It is a popular tourist destination for its history and tasty spanish food. While busy, I would recommend coming here at least once, because the food is truly delicious.
Cafés and Coffee Shops:
I had four favorite coffee shops in Madrid. Of course, I enjoyed pretty much every one that I walked in, but I found myself visiting these four a lot more than others.
- Cafe de La Luz is one of most charming coffee shops I’ve ever been to. I loved the design and vibe of the whole place, and it offered cheap snacks and delicious coffee. It is also open until 2am, so you can come back at night for some drinks! Also note that this is not a working cafe, so make sure to bring your friends instead of laptops.
- Osom makes amazing coffee and food. Try anything from their menu, and you won’t be disappointed. I particularly loved their chia seed pudding. The ambience is very pleasant, clean, and minimalist and I found it to be a great place to get work done.
- Ambu Coffee is a cute and small cafe that I lived almost right across from, so I went there very frequently to enjoy their iced coffee or avocado toast. I also loved their chocolate croissants and would highly recommend stopping by Ambu if you are in Malasaña.
- If you are south of Sol, Plántate Cafe is a lovely place to have coffee or small brunch with a friend. They serve great coffee and food, and I loved the environment they created with their interior design.