Taberna del Capitan Alastriste - Madrid

 This is a very traditional restaurant. The kind of restaurant to which you'll bring friends visiting Madrid who want to try the typical gastronomy of the city. It goes back to the 18th century. At the time it was "a popular place in the Villa frequented by soldiers, ruffians, poets and swordsmen." The dining rooms are found in original caves. The history behind makes it mystic...as it happens with many other rests in the area of Cava baja and Cava alta in Madrid de los Austrias.

Their specialty is Cochinillo (suckling pig), excellent. Also you’ll find a variety of traditional dishes perfect to share before you dig into the main. Pimientos de padron, migas, chistorra. They cook in a rustic oven de leña, which gives an extraordinary flavor to food. The service and price are right.

I have to recommend also La Posada de la Villa just across the street where the speacilty is roasted lamb.

Enjoy!!!

Calle Grafal, 7. Website here

 

Pimientos de Padrón, unos pican y otros no! Green peppers, you eat them in one bite

Arzábal - Madrid

Arzábal is my recommendation this week. It's a great tapas and cozy restaurant located next to the Retiro park. It offers great service and great food. The food can be described as just traditional tapas made with high quality ingredients with a twist in their preparation. 

Their menu seems complete and not lacking options, but I end up ordering the same dishes every time I go. I love it anyways! They have two menus, one for the bar and one for the tables, the best option is to order from both regardless on where you're seating and share. For a table (which is the best option for me) make a reservation...it tends to be super crowded on weekend nights. 

The house wine is Terrible, actually really good, red one is a Ribera del Duero and white one is a Verdejo from Rueda. 

Dinner for two, including wine, €70. Enjoy!

Croquetas de boletus...one of their best bites and one of the best boletus croquetas in the city! a perfect dish to start ... Do try the Jamón Ibérico ones as well, they are made with sheep milk. Thelicious 

Le Cabrera Brunch - Madrid

I love Le Cabrera and I love it's so close to my place! I keep getting happier and happier with my choice of neighborhood. Some call it the "boho chic" of Madrid. Today I want to recommend to you this place, not only for its brunch but also for a cocktails and modern tapas night out. It's completely thelicious and trendy. The brunch is a fix menu (€25) but you do get to choose one choice for a starter, a main, and dessert. 

Barbara de Braganza, 2.

Enjoy!!!

Santo Resto - Madrid

If you're looking for a nice and cosy dinner I have a great suggestion in Madrid. Santo Resto is a small restaurant offering quality comfort food. All based on seasonal and mediterranean products with a spark of Brazilian flavor...interesting....and thelicious!!! Their food is great, their service is great, and although their menu is not too large -quality reigns over quantity- you will not know what to order at first! 

Good for a friends night out, Santo is located close to the Opera and the Royal Theatre of Madrid. The price for dinner is between €25 and €35, and they are open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch 13h-16h and dinner from 20h30. Enjoy!


Si buscas un lugar bueno y acogedor para cenar tengo una gran recomendación en Madrid. Santo Resto  es un restaurante pequeño que ofrece calidad y comida con encanto, que gusta. Todos sus productos son estacionales y mediterráneos con una pincelada de sabor Brasileño...interesante y thelicious!!! Su comida es buenísima, su servicio también, y aunque su carta no sea muy extensa -calidad sobre cantidad- no sabrás que ordenar!

Está muy bien para salir con amigos. Se encuentra cerca de la Opera y del Teatro Real de Madrid. El precio por cenar es entre €25 y €35. Abren de Martes a Domingo para almuerzo y cena, de 13h-16h y a las 20:30h respectivamente. A disfrutar!

To start we had their amazing antipasto. Actually all of their first dishes are made for sharing! Veggies, the freshest mozzarella di bufala, and cold meats make this a great dish

Margó Salón de Té - Madrid

Margó is a kind of coffee shop but please don't think of starbucks...Margó is a perfect place to go at the end of the afternoon to have a dessert, coffee, or their specialty, tea in a beautifully decorated space. It's a classier and nicer breed of coffee shops. Their products are definitely Thelicious and high quality. I recommend you to go for a ladies lunch of for a couple's romantic date! You won't be disappointed. If you're not into tea or coffee they also have a decent wine menu.

What I like the most, I was there for hours and didn't even notice. The ambiance is relaxing and cosy plus they surprise me by having one of my favorite desserts ever! Torta Milhojas, if you love dulce de leche as much as me you have to adore this Chilean invention! Margó is in Calle María de Molina 5 and it's open from 9h to 22h. I've never been to their breakfast or brunch, if you do let me know!

Margó es una cafetería, pero por favor no piensen en starbucks...Margó es el lugar perfecto para ir al final de la tarde a tomar un postre, café, o un té que es su especialidad, en un espacio muy bonito. Es la versión elegante y de mayor calidad de una cafetería, es como dice su nombre un Salón de Té. Sus productos son definitivamente Thelicious. Les recomiendo ir para una tarde o comida de chicas o para una cita romántica en pareja! No se decepcionarán. Si no te apetece mucho el café o el té también ofrecen una carta de vinos decente entre otras bebidas. 

Lo que más me gustó, estuve ahí por horas y ni lo he notado. El ambiente es relajante y acogedor, además me han sorprendido con uno de mis postres favoritos! Nunca pensé encontrarlo ahí, es una Torta Milhojas. Si te gusta el dulce de leche tanto como a mi vas a adorar esta invención chilena! Margó esta en la Calle María de Molina 5 y esta abierto de 9h a 22h. Nunca he ido a su desyauno pero si van déjenme saber!

View from the second floor...the bar with all the thelicious desserts!

Brunch - Café Oliver

It is not as easy to find a place for brunch in Spain as it is in any American city. While in Barcelona I had already discovered many places for brunch. I will post soon about my favorite one...but in Madrid I had no idea where to go for my long time loved eggs benedict and a fresh orange juice. I was apartment hunting in one of my favorite streets in Madrid, Calle Almirante, when I found Café Oliver. I learned their weekend brunch is well known in the city but for me it fell and still feels like a precious discovery. Now that I live close by I try to stop myself from going too often!

A tip, when you go to Café Oliver be aware that you won't be able to eat anything else for most part of your day! Their Brunch menu is big; it includes fresh orange juice, coffee, a bread assortment, a choice of a first dish, obviously the eggs benedict should be the choice, and even a second dish that could be fruit salad, cheeseburger, or pancakes! Also their brunch is every Sunday and it costs €25

No es tan fácil conseguir un lugar de brunch en España como lo es en una ciudad americana. Cuando estaba en Barcelona ya había logrado descubrir varios lugares de brunch, de los que pronto estaré posting, pero en Madrid no tenía ni idea a donde ir para comer mis amados huevos benedict y un zumo de naranja fresco. Me encontraba buscando casa por una de mis calles favoritas en Madrid, la calle Almirante, cuando encontré Café Oliver. Luego supe que su brunch de lo findes es muy conocido en la ciudad pero para mi fue y sigue sieno un descubrimiento muy preciado. Ahora que finalmente vivo muy cerca tengo que luchar contra la tentación de ir demasiadas veces!

Un tip, cuando vayas a Café Oliver ten en cuenta que no podrás comer por casi el resto del día! Su menú de brunch es grande; incluye zumo de naranja fresco, café, varios panes y croissant, un primero a elegir, obviamente los huevos benedict, y luego un segundo a elegir entre ensalada de frutas, cheeseburger o panquecas! Antes que me olvide su brunch es todos los domingos y cuesta €25

 

Mercado San Miguel

If you are a tourist in Madrid you're destined to go to Mercado San Miguel. Located in the city center, close to Plaza Mayor, is this revitalized building filled with fresh, simple, yet so gourmet food. I felt so happy the first time I walked in, I had to go back the next day. The market is modern and has a great offer of products, from fresh seasonal fruits to the most exclusive caviar. What once was a traditional food market for locals, today is a vibrant place to hang out and try the different tapas and wine around the market's stands.The best of all, you can go around and try a bit of everything.

Si eres un turista en Madrid estás destinado a ir al Mercado San Miguel.  En pleno centro de la ciudad, cerca de Plaza Mayor, encuentras un antiguo edificio revitalizado y lleno de comida fresca, simple y al mismo tiempo muy gourmet. Me sentí super feliz la primera vez que fui... que tuve que volver al día siguiente. El mercado es moderno y tiene una gran oferta de productos, desde frutas de la temporada hasta el caviar más exclusivo. Lo que alguna vez fue un mercado tradicional para locales, hoy es una lugar a la moda para ir con amigos y probar las diferentes tapas y vinos en los varios stands del mercado. Lo mejor, es que puedes ir y probar un poco de absolutamente todo!

Say Cheese please!