Salamanca is Madrid’s wealthy barrio, home of the Golden Mile of designer shops and some of the capital’s finest hotels and restaurants. From local taverns to Michelin-starred restaurants, we count down some of the best tapas bars to explore in Salamanca, Madrid.
Pack in with the locals in this long, thin galley of a bar that has been serving the Salamanca neighbourhood for over 50 years. Try its tortilla de patatas, said by more than a few people to be one of the best in the city, as well as its huge croquettes. It has a good range of pintxos (Basque-style tapas served on bread) on the bar, so grab a beer, prop up the bar and enjoy a bite.
You might wonder what the queue is for that snakes around Mercado de la Paz in Salamanca every lunchtime. Well, it’s for Casa Dani, a bustling restaurant that does one of the best menu del días (lunchtime fixed price menus) in the city. A starter, main course, dessert, drink and bread is just €10. A great local spot for authentic Spanish cuisine at a bargain price.
This two-Michelin star restaurant is the work of Catalan chef Ramón Freixa, whose daring take on classic Mediterranean cuisine has catapulted the restaurant into one of the most popular high-end dining experiences in the city. Diners can choose between a 20 or 25 course tasting menu, or, on weekday lunchtimes only, a short menu that includes nine courses. The restaurant is set in the bright and modern Hotel Único.
This cool, modern restaurant brings the cuisine of the Basque Country to Madrid, specifically pintxos; bite-sized morsels that are usually balanced on top of a slice of bread. The restaurant takes inspiration from the city of San Sebastián, often named as one of the best gastronomic cities in the world. You can eat in the bar area or in the restaurant.
This bullfighting-themed bar is a local, no-frills place that gets very busy on an evening. It is off the tourist trail, so you can expect a generous portion of tapas with every drink you order. A good stopping off point for a beer and a bite to eat – and to soak up some real Madrid atmosphere.
Named after the famous bellower of Seville’s cathedral, La Giralda specialises in the cuisine of Andalusia, southern Spain. Its wide-ranging menu includes lots of traditional seafood dishes such as prawn fritters, calamari and monkfish tacos. Vegetarian options include huevos rotos, or ‘broken eggs’, grilled vegetables and gazpacho. There is a front bar area that gets very lively and a back restaurant.
This converted cinema has retained original features such as the stage area and boxes, which are now a performance space, cocktail bar and restaurant respectively. (The restaurant, Arriba, is run by two-Michelin star chef, Ramón Freixa). The ground floor is home to a range of Spanish and international food stalls; you can just order at whichever stall takes your fancy then grab a table and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere.
