The Region of Madrid, the trendy gastronomic destination
17 April, 2024Madrid’s restaurants and gastronomy are experiencing a real revolution, which is consolidating the Region of Madrid as the trendiest destination in Spain for any ”foodie”. The revival of Madrid’s gastronomy goes beyond the capital with restaurants and gastronomic experiences that spread across several areas in the region. There are endless possibilities for enjoying it with all kinds of formats and experiences capable of satisfying the most demanding palates.
Madrid’s restaurants and gastronomy are experiencing a real revolution, which is consolidating the Region of Madrid as the trendiest destination in Spain for any ”foodie”. The revival of Madrid’s gastronomy goes beyond the capital with restaurants and gastronomic experiences that spread across several areas in the region. There are endless possibilities for enjoying it with all kinds of formats and experiences capable of satisfying the most demanding palates.
Haute cuisine
Haute cuisine continues to combine establishments in Madrid, such as Qú de Mario Sandoval in JW Marriot Hotel, the Palacio de Saldaña in Ortega and Gasset Street, Osa, Bascoart, etc. This offer is enlarged with the presence of great Michelin-starred chef restaurants in the luxury hotels that have opened in recent years, such as Dani -of Dani García- at the Four Seasons Hotel, Deessa at the Mandarin Oriental-Ritz Hotel or Cenador de Amós at the Rosewood Villa Magna, Leña and Smoking Room at the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid, or Jerónimo at The Edition Madrid Hotel.
Unsurprisingly, Madrid boasts 36 Michelin stars awarded to 28 restaurants throughout the region -one with 3 stars, six with 2 and 21 with 1 star. Other first-class gastronomic projects will soon join them, such as the future Nobu in 2025 in the Centro district, in the heart of Calle de Alcalá. For the same year and very close by, Grupo Paraguas is recovering the iconic Metrópolis building to house its first hotel, a luxury hotel with gastronomic and cultural areas, the reason why it is so well known on the international scene.
Traditional gastronomy
The Region has been able to adapt to the times without giving up its traditions, the undoubted star of which is the famous cocido madrileño, that can be tasted in restaurants such as Malacatín, la Cruz Blanca in Vallecas, la Gran Tasca or el Charolés in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Also noteworthy are the century-old establishments that are still on the rise, such as Botín, Casa Ciriaco, La Casa del Abuelo or Casa Alberto, where you can enjoy traditional gastronomy that is more in vogue than ever. All of them share the preservation of the traditional atmosphere and the recipes inherited generation after generation. Like Botín, the world´s oldest restaurant according to the Guinness Book of Records, open since 1725 in the heart of Madrid de los Austrias.
La Casa del Abuelo. Image courtesy of the Region of Madrid. Source: Restaurantes Centenarios de Madrid.
More information in the Madrid Restaurant Guide, with a selection of establishments with over 50 years of history:
Another gastronomic suggestion is to visit Madrid’s gourmet markets, traditional markets where, as well as doing your daily shopping, you can have tapas, lunch or dinner by tasting delicatessen products or take them home. Apart from the well-known San Miguel Market, the markets of San Antón, Los Montenses, Vallehermoso and San Ildefonso, among others, are also worth a visit.
International cuisine
The most diverse origins of international cuisine also have their place in Madrid, where you can sample dishes from all continents, from Mexican to Japanese, Jordanian, Italian and Indian cuisine. Mexican cuisine at Puntarena in Casa México; Asian specialities at Chun Li, Tottori or China Crown, Jordanian and Lebanese at the Beytna restaurant, Indian at Curry Masala, Italian at Lettera Trattoria Moderna or Totó e Peppino, specialising in pizzas, French gastronomy at Le Bistroman Atelier or the Lana grill restaurant serving Argentinian cuisine, among many others.
Gastronomy in the region
The gastronomic wealth is not limited to the capital though. It can also be found in every corner of the Region of Madrid, combining products and unique experiences such as the mycological routes through the Sierra de Guadarrama, visiting the traditional smokehouse or the cooking school in the small town of Madarcos or discovering small businesses that produce vermouth, gin or craft beer.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Aranjuez, Patones or Chinchón are consolidating themselves as gastronomic destinations in their own right, each with their own identity while in other lesser-known municipalities you can find true gastronomic temples such as Casa de Manolo Franco in Valdemorillo, Chirón in Valdemoro (Michelin starred) or Rincón de Luis in Titulcia.
All over the region you can also taste the traditional confectionery that is still made in its convents. Garrapiñadas in Alcalá de Henares, marmalades in Loeches, turrones (nougat) in Las Clarisas de Chinchón or chocolate truffles in Valdemoro are just some of the many options for those with a sweet tooth.
Wineries
And what better way to accompany all these delicacies than with a good regional wine? To discover its secrets, there is nothing better than visiting one of the more than 20 wineries spread throughout the Madrid Region, which offer this possibility in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Navalcarnero, Chinchón, Aranjuez, Colmenar de Oreja, etc. In these areas, visitors can go deep into high quality wineries such as Valleyglesias, Las Moradas de San Martín, El Regajal or Licinia, to name but a few.
Mixology
High-quality cocktails are also enjoying a revival in Madrid, making it stand out on the European scene. Not surprisingly the capital can boast the first cocktail bar in Spain, opened in 1931 in the heart of Gran Vía, today’s Museo Chicote. In this Madrid of gastro experiences and comprehensive leisure, mixology takes centre stage and evolves with daring and avant-garde proposals from local professionals with international recognition.
More information on this wide range of venues in the region can be found in the Guide to cocktail bars in the Region of Madrid: