Image by Nikko Hinderstein

If you need your fill of tasty burgers and sandwiches with specialties like really spicy chipotle pepper chicken or a tandoori-spiced burger all made from organic meats, this is your place.

Owned by a French Canadian Chef who has made Madrid his home, the upscale diner-themed restaurant has gained popularity as it’s the only place in Madrid to get an organic beef burger. It’s absolutely necessary to have a reservation to eat there most nights of the week. In good news however, they offer take-out and they’ve opened two other branches in the city center.

Don’t miss the variety of homemade desserts.

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Home Burger Bar | Snacks, Restaurants (Burgers) | Classic burger € 8.75
Calle Espiritu Santo 12 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915229728
Mon – Sat 13:30 – 16:00 & 23:00 – 00:00, Sun 14:00 – 16:00 & 20:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Hidden just off the busy shopping street, Fuencarral, Jhambala is a secret trove of food, teas and chill-out lounging. Pulling their inspiration from Buddhism, the decor is tranquil, the food tasty and the music relaxing.

During the day it’s nice to stop and have a tea from their extensive menu, a salad or one of their exquisite desserts. On a nice day, enjoy the terrace outside. At night the mood turns more festive with exotic cocktails and eclectic dishes.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Jhambala | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish/Arabic)
Pérez Galdós 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915222061
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Just off San Bernardo, this new spot has great prices and fantastic food. Instead of offering a huge menu-del-día that you can’t finish, they have several dishes per day depending on the season and the Chef’s mood. On the regular menu, try the Tuscon burger that has avocado and goat cheese.

The tapas are great too, I’ve tried the spicy sliders (little hamburgers) that were great, and at brunch on Saturday AND NOW SUNDAY, they have the regular favorites like french toast and eggs benedict.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Carmencita Bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish-American) | Breakfast burrito € 6.50
San Vicente Ferrer, 51 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915238073
Tue – Fri 13:00 -16:30 & 19:00 – 01:00, Sat 12:00 – 02:30, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by TM

What’s good in this local spot? It’s fast, cheap and a good option if you’ve gone out and want to eat something quickly. Not a lot of places offer food later than midnight. You can eat fast food like burgers, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes…

What’s not so good? TM Burger & Fries was made mainly for taking away your meal, so eating in the local it isn’t a memorable experience. The tables are small and the decoration, reminding you of the american restaurants in the fifties, are quite cold and don’t invite to stay there.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
TM Burger & Fries | Snacks, Restaurants (Fast food) | Burger € 2.95
Espíritu Santo, 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915220372
Mon – Thur 13:00 – 01:30, Fri – Sun 13:00 – 02:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Just off of busy Fuencarral, La Ardosa always has a pleasant jazzy atmosphere filled with typical Spanish scents.

The bar is packed with paraphernalia dating back to 1892 when it was founded – a picture of the owner’s family, famous people who have stopped in over the years, a board showing the results of their Guinness drinking contest (can you top 14 pints?!) and reprints of Goya’s “Caprichos” prints (silly, sometimes vulgar whimsical images). Check out this video of Chef Anthony Bourdain at La Ardosa!

They serve some of my favorite tapas; sliced ham from pigs who have only eaten acorns (Jamon de bellota), dried tuna (Mojama – tuna jerky!), and a thick version of gazpacho called Salmorejo. The “raciones” are big here, so you can ask for a “media-ración” instead of a full plate.

If the bar looks full from the street, push through the crowd, duck under the bar, and try the back room which is not accessible any other way.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
La Ardosa | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Tapas) | Salmorejo € 3.75
Calle Colon 13 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915214979
08:30 – 02:30 daily, August 11:30 – 02:30 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Xanacuk brings much needed freshness to Madrid, and by fresh, I mean juices squeezed to order, healthy salads and everything available to go. Started by an expat from Australia and his Spanish wife, Xanacuk already has three locations in the city center.

I’m an addict to their juice blends and on a day when I haven’t got much time to eat, I’ll get a toasted bagel with alfalfa sprouts and smoked salmon or a veggie-hummus wrap to go. The brownies and chocolate chip cookies are perfect to finish off your super healthy meal.

Bonus trivia: the sandwiches are all named after local landmarks!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Xanacuk | Restaurants (Healthy) | big juice € 3.90
C/ Corredera Alta de San Pablo, 3 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34902440028
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Nikko Hinderstein

Taking a page from the success of the Mercado de San Miguel, this newly remodelled old market, el Mercado de San Anton, now has a traditional market on the ground floor, restaurant stands and shops on the middle floor, and a restaurant and lounging terrace on the top floor. There is also an art exhibition area, but the real plus is the variety of food: you can get anything from mini burgers (offered in a range of different meats – try the “buey” – ox meat!) to sushi, enjoy a tea on the terrace, or shop for fresh produce or meat. It’s a lovely feeling to see everything displayed with so much colour and freshness.

The restaurant gets overwhelmed at lunchtime on the weekends, so you might want to grab a bite from the second level and enjoy it on the terrace. We enjoyed some tapas from La Casa de Bacaloa stand, but those mini burgers keep calling me back!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
El Mercado de San Anton | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.) | Mini burger € 2.00
Augusto Figueroa 24 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913300730
Market Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:00 | Shops, restaurant 10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by A. Collet

It looks like a crappy bar at first sight and it has very few tables but oh sweet Lord!! Try the garlicky boletus topped with a fried egg. They have a short list of wines but well selected. They have all varieties of mushrooms, wild fungus and amazing steak from the north part of Spain (Galicia). Many of the wild fungus are picked by the owners at weekends in Madrid’s surrounding mountains.

They don’t have deserts but you will be so full from the main courses that you will forget about them!

It is worth to eat there but after the diner wash all your clothes and yourself too because you will smell as if you have been cooked too!!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cisne Azul | Restaurants (Muchrooms) | Meal € 35.00
Calle de Gravina, 19 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915213799
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 16:00 & 20:00 – 00:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Bristol Bar

Bristol Bar is probably the most British of all the bars in Madrid. It’s part brasserie, part English pub. It’s informal, but smart and warm.

The main attraction might be the extensive gin menu. It includes more than sixty different gins for gin tonic lovers. I recommend it more for having a drink than for eating, but they have dishes like English soup of the day, roast beef, fish and chips or bread & butter pudding.

On Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, the clients can enjoy an English brunch. All other days, there is a lunch menu for 11,90 Euros. Tea in the afternoon, the first drink of the night… it’s open almost all day and night. There are many activities in Bristol bar, like thematic dinners, concerts, wine tastings and so on.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bristol Bar | Bars, Restaurants (British) | Medium ticket € 35
Almirante 20 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915224568
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 01:00, Sat 11:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Asiana Next Door

The Southeast of Asia and Peru are the areas that has a stronger reflect in Asiana Next Door’s cooking. It’s chef, the young Jaime Renedo is a traveler and as a result, its dishes are original mix with the spicy and acid tastes as starrings, but incredibly harmonious, nevertheless. “Kimuchi de zamburiñas” (seafood) and “Tiradito de corvina con ají amarillo y rocoto” (fish) are delicious, but I’ve liked all the things I’ve tried there. In the bar of the entrance, they serve original cocktails as well.

In addition, the furniture, lights and everything is a combination of modern and exotic elements that transmit comfort. They have to special menus for 35 and 45 euros, respectively.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Asiana Next Door | Restaurants (Asian/Peruvian) | Special Menu € 40
Travesia de San Mateo, 4 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34913104020
Tue – Sat 14:00 – 16:00 & 21:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid