CLARITA
SAN WICH
CAFÉ GIJÓN
VIVA MADRID
MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL
A tapas paradise in this historical monument, market version. Always crowded! Doing the weekend ...Read more
A tapas paradise in this historical monument, market version. Always crowded! Doing the weekend ...Read more
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Beware of the Madrid time difference! Here, people eat late, and restaurants rarely start serving before 1pm. The same applies in the evening, when you don't dine before 9pm, but it often goes on until midnight.
Eating out is pretty cheap in Madrid. The real bargains are the lunchtime menus, the famous menu del día (usually from Monday to Friday), which offer starter, main course (usually a choice of two) and dessert for around €11 to €15. It's more expensive in the evening, although it's still cheaper overall than in France. Above all, as soon as you get away from the touristy areas of Sol and Gran Vía, you'll usually get a drink and a tapa for free.
To handle the art of tapar, i.e. changing places several times during the evening. Distil the hours by pecking at succulent tapas to the right and left while having a drink. To eat a chocolate churro in the morning. Stroll to the flea market at the Rastro or Retiro on Sunday lunchtime and enjoy a bocadillo of calamari (fried squid sandwich).
Avoid asking for free tapas, as you'll generally be frowned upon and find them on the bill.
They are accepted everywhere, but it's best to avoid tapas bars and taverns where you have to elbow your way to the bar to order.