La Latina is a small neighborhood packed with restaurants. Come at any time of the day to experience a tasty and filling meal in the quiet streets of Madrid.
Casa Lucas takes a sideways glance at traditional Spanish tapas and heads off in a new direction – the foie gras (duck or goose liver) with port and caramelized fruits, for example. There is a range of hot and cold tapas and larger tapas servings. The menu changes regularly as they come up with new ideas, and there’s a good wine list. The tataki tuna, black cannelloni, and the risotto croquettes are highly recommended dishes.
Txirimiri is a bar, tavern, and restaurant all in one space and is a great little discovery just down from the main La Latina tapas circuit. The combination of restaurant, tavern and bar prepares gourmet basque-style tapas and pintxos (snacks), such as codfish tempura, grilled foie gras with fig jam, and ham and truffle croquettes as well as more substantial dishes like pork sirloin with caramelized potatoes and wild mushrooms. Txirimiri has a great atmosphere and friendly service situated away from the busy areas and streets of tourists.
La Perejila is a lovely, cozy restaurant with fantastic service and a great atmosphere, located on a street of tapas bars on Cava Baja. Whilst drinking, customers are served little dishes of tapas such as blue cheese with walnut and apple, or cheese and grapes. Not only do they explain the menu but they also give tips on what else is going on in the neighborhood of La Latina.
Lucio, the owner and chef, has been impressing customers with his light touch, high-quality ingredients and homely local cooking since 1974. His eggs – a Lucio specialty – and roasted meats, which come in large portions, are incredibly tasty. There’s also a bull’s tail dish during the Fiestas de San Isidro Labrador (an annual celebration), complemented by plenty of red wine. The lunchtime guisos del día (stews of the day), including cocido (a chickpea-based stew) on Wednesdays, are also popular.
Juana la Loca offers incredibly creative cooking; for instance, customers can order a miniature portion of ostrich, plum and crispy bacon, or foie gras with caramelized apple. Other tasty options include salmon with dill, avocado and fresh cheese, or a giant prawn and wild mushroom vol-au-vent.
Casa Gerado is a cafe, bar and restaurant, with dark wooden interiors and a raised bar manned by well-dressed bartenders. It’s a place where you can enjoy meat from coal, riñoncitos of lamb and lamb brochette (skewers), marinated with vegetables, on rice varieties.
Matritum has a great selection of tapas and wine from other regions of Spain and, most notably, Catalonia. Try the gambas all cremat (prawns with burnt garlic) or the fabulous canapés, such as cabrales cheese with apple compôte or sobrasada (a spicy, spreadable, Mallorcan sausage). The wine list, too, is dominated by Catalan labels, with many notably good bottles from the Penedès region. The venue is rustic and elegant at the same time, decorated with warm colors that create a cozy atmosphere.
Naïa is located in the famous Plaza de la Paja in the heart of Madrid. It offers a creative and seasonal menu that combines new culinary trends with traditional dishes, providing some enjoyable surprises. In the elegant and welcoming dining room, diners can enjoy dishes such as scallops with foie gras, a ruby port reduction and spiced toasts; tartare of prawns with white garlic and avocado ceviche (raw fish with citrus and chilli); or Ibérico pork loin roasted with fresh figs and sherry.
La Camarilla offers the most innovative versions of Spanish home cooking, such as gazpacho (a cold soup made of raw vegetables) with mango, revuelto (scrambled egg) with mushrooms and parmesan, and various tasty cod dishes. The setting is reminiscent of a genteel 1930s hotel, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Creative tapas and a hearty set lunch menu are served in a relaxed front room, and luxurious gourmet meals are served in a pleasant and colorful dining room.
Posada de la Villa is located in the center of Madrid. This much loved 17th century inn offers a modern, more sanitized, version of the earthy grilled cuisine. It has a traditional Madrilean-style cuisine with some specialties, such as lamb roasted in a wood oven, the Madrilean pot, meats, fishes and typical dessert plates of the city.
