Upon beginning my semester abroad in Madrid, I was met with my fellow classmates’ underwhelming reactions to Spanish cuisine. Though they decided to live in Spain’s capital city for four months, many arrived without knowledge of the country’s rich culinary traditions — and as a result, didn’t know where to look for city staples. As the son of a Madrileña, here are five insider recommendations for spots near the NYU Madrid campus that serve up an authentic introduction to Spanish cuisine.
Cafeterías
Madrid has a wide selection of restaurants, but is also known for their cafeterías, casual inexpensive dining spots, akin to American diners. With their dimly lit, lived-in interiors, these cafeterías are the perfect place for students to experience Spanish cuisine on a budget. Make sure to snag a seat at the bar to get a front-row view of all the action.
Cafeteria El Labrador II Cerveceria
C. de Joaquín María López, 60
About a five-minute walk from El Faro in the Moncloa neighborhood sits Cafeteria El Labrador II Cerveceria. El Labrador serves up classic Spanish fare, such as tortilla española. Not to be confused with the taco staple, tortilla española is a dish that consists of a raised omelet with egg, onion and thinly sautéed potatoes. Other menu items include churros and beverages like café con leche and cortados — the most popular ways to order coffee in Spain. Both are espresso with steamed milk, but a cortado — pictured above — is smaller and contains equal parts espresso and steamed milk, while café con leche is larger, usually with just a touch more steamed milk.
Café Minber Bar
Gta. de Ruiz Giménez, 5
Just steps from the Claraval residence, Café Minber Bar is a near-campus gem. At this small, unassuming hole-in-the-wall, a great meal is as simple as a classic tortilla española and some high-quality bread. This meal is often served with the Spanish drink Cola Cao to wash it all down. Start with a glass of cold milk, and mix in the chocolate powder to enjoy this local rendition of chocolate milk. Sitting at this cafetería makes Madrid feel like home — you’ll catch locals taking their lunch break, watching the news from a TV perched up in the top corner. Just make sure to match Minber’s warm hospitality by saying “hola” when you walk in and “gracias, hasta luego” as you leave.
Cafetería Dos Passos
Calle San Bernardo, 42
This quintessential cafetería, a quick walk from the Maravillas dorm in Malasaña, is by far my favorite cafetería in the city. When you walk into Cafetería Dos Passos, you’ll be greeted by camareros in charge of at least five different orders at a time. Only two camareros work at a time: one serving drinks and cold dishes, the other preparing sandwiches, croquetas de jamón and more in the kitchen. Try the sandwich mixto con un huevo: The bread is cut into a perfect circle, highlighting the egg’s bright golden yolk, and pairs well with the umami flavor of the ham. The ensaladilla rusa is another must-order — they say not to judge a book by its cover, and this dish certainly proves why. A humble mound of chilled tangy potato salad with peas and carrots, best enjoyed atop a slice of fresh baguette, the dish transcends any version of potato salad you’ll find in America.
Restaurantes
Pez Tortilla
Calle del Pez, 36
Near the Maravillas dorm, Pez Tortilla serves tortilla española the right way — runny. Though locals will debate on whether tortillas should be runny or dry, Pez Tortilla’s rendition settles the dispute — with five different tortilla varieties to choose from. I recommend the tortilla de morcilla (blood sausage) and the tortilla de brie, trufa y jamón (brie, truffle and ham). While the titular dish is Pez Tortilla’s main attraction, don’t miss the croquetas de carrillera, fried balls of shredded beef cheek filled with a creamy béchamel sauce.
PerretxiCo
Calle Augusto Figueroa 32,
Less than two miles from NYU Madrid, PerretxiCo is a Basque restaurant with five other locations across the city. Basque Country is known for having delicious food — but don’t mistake its signature dishes for tapas. The autonomous community is proud of its pintxos, small bites similar to tapas, which are traditionally served on a small slice of baguette. Instead of ordering one entree per person, come with a group of friends to try as many pintxos as possible. PerretxiCo’s menu includes an artichoke pintxo, which is complemented with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and the txoripan — think a mini Basque hot dog with chorizo — topped with truffle mayo and a sprinkle of fried onions for crunch. My favorite pintxo, however, is the jamón ibérico, where the Spanish cured ham is finely chopped on a piece of baguette, with a hardened piece of thinly sliced jamón sprouting from the mound of jamón pieces.
Contact Aidan Levin at [email protected].