Creative Spanish Cuisine with International Influences
Restaurante Más De Santa offers contemporary Spanish cooking with inventive touches, using quality ingredients and distinctive flavor combinations. Dishes such as tuna, Iberico pork, and refined dumplings in a rich stew broth show both local roots and global inspiration. A calm, understated setting and attentive, well-paced service complete the experience.
Steakburger Castellana specializes in meat-focused dishes, from burgers and grilled cuts to sandwiches and salads, all prepared with attention to quality ingredients. The menu is clear and easy to navigate, including an online format. Guests highlight the pleasant setting, generous portions, and attentive, helpful service.
Matcha House is a small, thoughtfully decorated restaurant near Cuzco in Madrid specializing in sushi and Japanese dishes. Diners highlight the freshness of the fish and the appealing preparation of sushi and soba noodles. Attentive, patient staff create a welcoming experience, whether guests choose to dine in or order food to go.
Tanguito Parrilla specializes in Argentinian-style grilled meats, praised for their tenderness and rich flavor from the parrilla. Guests enjoy generous portions accompanied by simple sides, along with wine, desserts, and well-regarded coffee. The modest, slightly worn dining room is offset by attentive service that helps guests navigate the menu and feel at ease.
Pagus Pasta Y Grill Madrid specializes in Italian-style homemade pasta and grilled meats, praised for their flavor and tenderness. Diners highlight well-prepared desserts such as cheesecake and mascarpone-based sweets, along with a carefully chosen wine list. The restaurant offers controlled gluten-free options and provides attentive, helpful service in a pleasantly decorated dining room.
Trattoria Adriana is a small, cozy trattoria offering homemade Italian cuisine prepared with evident care and quality ingredients. Guests highlight the authentic flavors across the menu, from starters to desserts, with the melanzane pizza often noted as a standout. The hosts provide attentive guidance with the selections, creating a relaxed, homelike atmosphere that evokes a corner of Italy.
LaLanda offers classic Spanish cuisine with a focus on well-prepared tapas, meats, and traditional specialties. Guests highlight dishes such as tender beef, flavorful ear, and a satisfying omelette, along with a selection of homemade desserts including apple pie–style pastries and rich cakes. The spacious, modern dining room and attentive, accommodating staff contribute to a comfortable, enjoyable experience, complemented by an extensive wine list and carefully mixed gin and tonics.
Cocidos En Barro specializes in traditional Madrid-style cocido slowly cooked in clay pots, with rich broth, tender chickpeas, and assorted meats. The modest, compact dining room offers a straightforward, neighborhood feel. Generous portions and the possibility of additional servings create a hearty, unhurried meal, while the staff provide attentive, informative service.
Gaman showcases Nikkei cuisine with creative combinations and carefully prepared tasting menus. An emphasis on nigiri, including playful variations, is complemented by composed dishes such as fish in green curry. Counter seating allows guests to watch the meticulous preparation, while the professional service contributes to a polished dining experience.
Contemporary Spanish Cuisine with Creative Touches
Restaurante Haroma offers contemporary Spanish cuisine that highlights fresh ingredients and a refined mix of flavors and textures, including dishes such as sea bass and creative pastas. A rooftop terrace with live guitar on select evenings adds to the ambiance. Attentive staff provide professional service and accommodate dietary needs, while thoughtful desserts bring the meal to a satisfying close.
Cabana Marconi offers an eclectic, internationally inspired menu with well-executed dishes ranging from fresh seafood to grilled vegetables and hearty classics. A pleasant garden terrace and airy dining room create a comfortable setting for both lunch and dinner. Attentive service and a thoughtfully curated wine list, featuring a wide selection of grapes, complete the experience.
Los Montes de Galicia offers contemporary Galician and Spanish cuisine in a spacious, comfortable dining room. Set and tasting-style menus feature a progression of carefully prepared starters and slow-cooked meats, alongside fresh seafood dishes. Attentive, professional service and well-paced courses create an experience suited to both intimate meals and group celebrations.
El Cubanito offers authentic Cuban home-style cooking in the heart of Madrid, with deeply flavored classics such as ropa vieja and tostones. The compact dining room feels cozy and inviting, enhanced by Cuban music that sets a relaxed tone. Attentive, personable service contributes to a welcoming, family-like atmosphere that encourages guests to linger and return.
Lupara Bar offers rustic Italian cooking in a quiet neighborhood near the airport. A handwritten menu features carefully prepared dishes such as fresh pasta, carpaccio, and house-baked focaccia, ending with classic desserts like pannacotta. Attentive staff guide guests through shared plates and wine pairings, creating a relaxed, home-style experience.
I visited the three-star restaurant 'DiverXO' in Madrid. It has just been selected as the 4th best restaurant in the world at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025. Reservations usually take about a month, but this time I was able to secure a spot a week in advance due to a cancellation. The entrance is greeted by a 'flying pig' sculpture, opening the door to a new world. The electronic ticket received upon reservation features a large image of the chef, David Muñoz, which made me feel the uniqueness of the restaurant at that moment. The staff wore studded black jackets, creating a rock vibe, and illustrated cards distributed with each dish served as a menu, making it a unique experience that you can take home after the meal.
The course consists of about 20 dishes. Many of the plates are inspired by Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and on the day I visited, there were dishes featuring shark fin and Shanghai crab, as well as octopus shabu-shabu. I enjoyed the 'flying pig's kitchen,' where strong spices and aromas intersect with Spanish ingredients, embodying both playfulness and precision.
Experiencing the bold fusion of Asian and Spanish cuisine while immersed in an extravagant worldview—this is a restaurant you definitely want to experience when visiting Madrid.