A travel to Spain can not be considered complete without going out to take tapas. Worldwide, tapas has become an icon of Spain's culture and go beyond gastronomy becoming a characteristic of Spain's style of life.
In Madrid there are several areas known by the large quantity of bars and restaurants which are concentrated, but lately the area East to the Retiro park is the most popular to go out to take tapas. It is known as "the gastronomic mile". Just only between six streets, over 50 bars and restaurants are gathered.
Here are some places (there's a huge offer in the area) as example of where to enjoy spanish tapas.
Worldwide, tapas has become an icon of Spain's culture and go beyond gastronomy, becoming a characteristic of Spain's style of life.
La Castela
C/ Doctor Castelo 22
In the same place where a tavern named Bodega Mentrida was founded in 1929, La Castela is one of the classics of the area. The stand up zone uses to be very crowded. Michelle Obama and Harrison Ford are some of the famous people who has visited the place. Traditional cuisine with large list of specialities. The most demanded are Almejas a la Manzanilla ( Clams with sherry wine), boletus con jamon y huevo and garbanzos salteados con Langostinos (Sauteed Chickpeas with Shrimps).
Taberna Laredo
C/ Doctor Castelo 30
Another famous in the area is Taberna Laredo. Exhibitors show the high quality and freshness of the products they work with. Great variety of cheese and tapas. Salmorejo is one of the tapas that everybody talks about. The Gamba Blanca (white shirmp) is another of the increadible dishes to try. They suggest some dishes of the day.
La Catapa
C/ Menorca 14
La Catapa has remained a couple of years in the 1st position of the ranking for best stand up bars for tapas in Madrid by one of the main newspapers of Spain. Between their "must-eat" are the croquets of potato and truffle, steak-tartar, mollejas con boletus (gizzards with boletus) and an amazing Pincho de Tortilla (spanish omelet).
Arzabal
C/ Menendez Pelayo, 13
An example of successful reinvention of classic taverns turning into a modern and casual style where to enjoy traditional tapas and more modern ones. It has a big champagne list and the offer of wines by glass is very good. They recently opened a restaurant into the Museum of Art Reina Sofia. Among the famous tapas are their anchovies, the croquets and Ox loin.
La Raquetista
C/ Doctor Castelo 19
After the success of the tavern Cachivache in Serrano street, the owners decide to open a new tavern in this area. The torreznos (small pieces of fried bacon) is the tapa everyone recommends to try and has become a must-eat. The wine list has wines from almost all regions of Spain. Another delicious dish is Garbanzos con butifarra negra y Foie (Chickpeas with Catalunya sausage and Foie).
La Monteria
C/ Lope de Rueda 35
With more than 50 years in business, this small tavern continues with a high quality product making traditional cuisine. It has an interesting and complete wine list. Some dishes to mention are gambas invertidas (shrimps), dishes of rice, ensaladilla (Olivier salad) and salmorejo.
The Gastronomic mile has a large offer to enjoy tapas in Madrid. The following map, made by the newspaper "El Mundo", shows the location and range of prices of almost all bars and restuarants in the area.
Enjoy Tapas!
