If You Only Go to One Neighborhood in Madrid to Eat, Make It Malasaña

Malasaña’s tapas bars are on a different level

Many recommendations for tapas bars in Madrid will point you to the center of the city around the neighborhoods of Sol, Gran Via, and Plaza Mayor. The reality is that there are a lot of run-of-the-mill, touristy restaurants in the heart of Madrid. Sure, you can find great tapas bars there, and all around Madrid, but Malasaña is home to tapas bars that put the rest to shame.

Where to eat tapas: Casa Julio is arguably the best tapas bar in Madrid. A trip to Madrid isn’t complete without a visit to this small establishment on Calle de la Madera. The specialty is gourmet croquetas, which come in a variety of flavors, including blue cheese and mushroom with leeks. There’s also the traditional jamón (ham) if you’d rather play it safe. You can sample all seven signature croquetas for less than 10 euros.

Just down the street from Casa Julio, you’ll find Bodega de la Ardosa, an old-fashioned tapas bar where you can try house specialties like palitos de berenjena (eggplant sticks coated in tempura). Pez Tortilla is the place to go for a gourmet tortilla de patata (Spanish omelet) that’s wonderfully cooked and packed with flavor.

You can try regional cuisines from all over Spain

If you’re looking for Galician octopus or Basque cod but don’t plan on leaving Madrid, in Malasaña you’ll have a chance to try Spanish specialties straight from the abuelas (or at least close). While the neighborhood may be known for its experimental approach to food, you can still find classic restaurants that stay true to traditional Spanish cooking.

Where to eat: Indulge in Galician octopus, clams, and fresh fish at Los Montes de Galicia. You can also head to Ribeira do Miño for a seafood platter similar to the ones you’ll find in the capital of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela. After getting a taste of Galicia, head to Orio to try pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, and the staple Basque fish, bacalao (cod).

Malasaña’s best quirky coffee shops

Malasaña may well be the coffee shop capital of Spain. Here, you’ll find a high concentration of coffee shops for students and millennials to work and socialize. In keeping with the alternative culture, it seems that the coffee shops are almost required to be weird. But beyond the quirkiness, these establishments serve delicious drinks and teas.

Where to drink (and eat): The sheer number of coffee shops in Malasaña makes it difficult to narrow down a few. The great thing is that most are within walking distance of each other. First, there’s La Bicicleta, which has an interior decorated with bikes. This hotspot is a coffee shop by day and a bar by night. Order a good ole café con leche with a bagel. Misión Café is great for its sandwiches and teas. Another favorite is La Colectiva Café, which has vegan and vegetarian options like tofu scramble, as well as the Spanish staple tostada con tomate (toast with tomato sauce).

Where to experience Malasaña’s lively bar scene

Malasaña comes alive at night when the young residents pour out into the narrow streets to go bar hopping. The area around Plaza de San Ildefonso tends to get the most traffic. Botellón, or drinking in the street before heading a bar or club, used to be a popular activity until it was officially banned in 2016. Still, the ban hasn’t stopped street vendors from selling beer to passersby.

In Malasaña, you’ll find a wide variety of bars that serve cheap beers and cocktails. But don’t worry, you won’t be fighting for space with drunk study abroad students. Thirty- and forty-somethings like to spend time in Malasaña, too.

Where to drink: Head back to La Bicicleta at night for some amazing mojitos and fruity cocktails. Bar Cabreira, just a stone’s throw away, is usually packed with locals. This hotspot is a great place to sip Galician wines and local beers. End the night at Ojalá, a tropical-themed bar and restaurant with sand on the floor. It’s this sort of detail that makes Malasaña truly different and memorable.