My Madrid guide
Everywhere I went in Madrid in 2026 (and some old favorites)
Now that I’m back, I figured it’s time to start sharing all the places I’ve been collecting. Let me start with my latest trip and work backward.
I recently went to Madrid, a city that is very special to me. I lived there in 2012 during college, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. In my early 20s I mostly survived on giant gin tonics (Spaniards do it best) and “free” tapas at our local bar, so my favorite spots then looked very different from my favorite spots now.
Though I've been back since — in 2018 and in 2022 — returning in 2026 felt different. Madrid, like a lot of major cities right now, is starting to blend and lose some of its personality. And while you can still find authentically Spanish places that will make you feel like you've stepped into a beautiful historical relic, a lot of the "cool new spots" making every "must visit" list could just as easily be in London, Amsterdam, or Paris. Every city has the trendy wine bar, the overpriced coffee shop, the hipster sharing-plates restaurant. I'm not complaining — I personally love all of those places. But I do worry we're slowly sanding down everything that makes a place unique and every city is just going to feel interchangeable.
This time around I made it my mission to revisit old favorites and discover new ones. I was lucky to have a local guide: my friend Gonzalo, who I met in New York, moved back to Madrid about a year ago. He’s one of the few people I’d trust blindly when it comes to food, and he delivered. More on that later.
Including an Ibérico old fashioned, every tarta de queso listed on a menu, and tons of coffee.
@casa_tabacos — A Gonzalo rec. We walked in on a Sunday night and somehow got a table. It's allegedly one of Rosalía's favorites, which tracks. Gon insisted we try the croquetas — not the traditional ham ones — and I'm so glad we listened.
〰️ Croquetas de cocido
〰️ Artichoke confit with jamón ibérico
@fismuler.madrid — I can't remember how I found this one, but Gonzalo approved and called it one of his favorites in Madrid, so we made a reservation.
〰️ Dorade, almond, grape
〰️ Leek tarte tatin with truffled mortadella
〰️ Escalope San Román, egg, truffle
〰️ Tarta de queso
@acid.cafe — I'd been here in 2022 and loved it. Stopped by again just for coffee and to look at their decor.
〰️ Coffee and any pastry tbh
@devilscut.madrid — I went because someone from Angel's Share (one of my favorite NYC bars) was involved. Turns out the former bar manager opened this place after ten years there. The cocktails were creative and fun — I still regret not ordering the manchego sour. One caveat: 90% of the clientele was not Spanish, it skewed touristy, and the cocktails were pricey by Madrid standards.
〰️ Flirtibird (kinda like a Japanese margarita)
〰️ Jamón Ibérico Fashioned
@casaneutrale — A great spot for a group dinner. I am still thinking about that Solomillo and those fries. They were SO SO SO good.
〰️ Albóndigas
〰️ Solomillo a la pimienta
〰️ FRIES (they were so peppery and GOOD)
〰️ Chocolate, aceite, sal
〰️ Tarta de queso
@tomacafe — A lovely coffee stop right next to Alma Nomad Bakery and Plaza de Olavide.
〰️ Iced Latte or flat white
@almanomadbakery — Ella woke up early one morning so I took her for a walk and ended up here. We arrived ten minutes before opening and there was already a line out the door. The place is tiny and always busy, so I panicked and just grabbed whatever pastries caught my eye. Thankfully, they were all delicious.
〰️ Pain au queso mimolette, emmental, maple syrup
〰️ Gianduja hazelnut croissant
@lapapa______ — My friend Olga's Airbnb was nearby and she became a regular. I stumbled in one day on a walk for an iced coffee and fully understood why. They are known for the cinnamon roll, which was excellent, and Olga vouches for the cloud matcha.
〰️ Coffee
〰️ Cloud matcha (according to @olgacbruno )
〰️ Cinnamon roll
@casaroque.madrid — Another Gon recommendation. We loved it, but left wishing we'd come with a bigger group — there were at least five more things on the menu we wanted to try. Everything we did try, was amazing though.
〰️ Gilda con chimichurri
〰️ Pimientos de padrón (recommended by @fesgon)
〰️ Tartare de verduras
〰️ Carrilera de ternera
@calido.madrid — A surprise favorite. Gon's local coffee shop, which happened to be right next to our Airbnb, so we ended up here every single day. Great coffee and Venezuelan arepas and sandwiches that are absolutely worth ordering.
〰️ ALL the arepas were delicious
〰️ Iced coffee
@latabernademoncloa — Paul requested a proper, no frills, traditional Spanish breakfast spot and Gon delivered. At 8am, the median age in here was approximately 85. It was perfect.
〰️ Pan con tomate y jamón
@peztortilla — An old favorite. Multiple locations, endless tortilla variations.
〰️ They have regular tortilla here, but they also have a bunch of different varieties. I know some Spaniards consider this blasphemy, but I love the goat cheese with caramelized onions tortilla and the chistorra a la sidra tortilla.
Here are some old favorites you will probably not find on Instagram:
Sidreria El Tigre — No frills, super casual bar where the tapas are GENEROUS! When I was I student in Madrid I lived here.
La Sala de Despiece — One of my favorites in Madrid, they have multiple locations and they are all good (same menu). It is a very unique dinning experience and you absolutely need a reservation.
Hermanos Vinagre — They also have multiple locations, great for aperitivo, get the mussels!
Juana la Loca — I’ve been coming here since 2012, they make my favorite tortilla in madrid.
Casa Dani — Another old favorite, they are famous for their tortilla too.
Circulo de Bellas Artes — They have great exhibits but the best part is their rooftop with views of the city.
Templo de Debod — You can catch THE best sunsets in Madrid here.
Museo Arte Reina Sofía — Home of La Guernica, my favorite one in Madrid.
HOFF — A Spanish sneaker brand with a Madrid store that is genuinely gorgeous. Coffee shop, customization station, the whole experience. My friends and I are absolutely doing this next time.
Pistola or La Campana — Come to either for a bocadillo de calamar, a quintessentially Madrid sandwich.
There are SO many other places I want to share but I will just leave my Google maps and old IG recap below:
If you’re heading to Madrid this summer and try any of these spots, let me know!
Next up: where locals actually eat churros in Madrid — if you’re over touristy spots.