Around Plaza de España

Everything begins⁠—and nothing ends⁠—here, between Gran Vía avenue and the gardens of the Royal Palace, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city and the calm of an endless horizon. It’s a crossroads that’s worth stopping at. Reserve a table and enjoy!

Located at the end of Gran Vía avenue, or right at the beginning, depending on how you look at it, Plaza de España is a magnet for visitors to Madrid. That’s because not only is it home to one of the city’s most photographed monuments, dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes with the figures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza taking pride of place, but it’s also a nexus point that connects Sabatini Gardens with the parks Campo del Moro, Casa de Campo and Madrid Río. Following extensive remodelling, the 70,000 m2 area is now one of the city’s new central thoroughfares, a green space—boasting 1,110 trees—with sculptures, children’s play areas and cycle paths. Long gone are the days when the entire area was reserved for the orchards that drew water from the nearby Leganitos stream… Today, the square, flanked by two giants, Torre de Madrid and the España Building, is a fantastic starting point from which to discover the surrounding area, from Liria Palace and the Cerralbo Museum, just a stone’s throw away, to Oeste Park and the Temple of Debod. But it’s also the perfect place to stop and stay for a while. All of these restaurants invite us to do just that.

Published in esMADRIDmagazine in June 2023

EL CLUB ALLARD

Ferraz, 2. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 559 09 39

If you add the letter “g” to the beginning and “o” to the end, you get the surname of the family that owns the majestic building that houses this classic, must-visit restaurant in Madrid. It’s an easy to riddle to solve: we’re at Casa Gallardo, an Art Nouveau-style home built between 1911 and 1914 on one corner of Plaza de España. Behind its richly decorated façade lies a culinary mecca led by chef Martín Berasategui, who joined the establishment just months ago and has earned twelve Michelin stars over his career, and helmed by José María Goñi as head chef.

The offerings include some of the acclaimed San Sebastian-born chef’s most iconic dishes, such as the lobster salad with over seventeen vegetables and the sirloin steak with chard and foie gras. There are two Tasting Menus, divided into 10 and 13 different moments. It’s a true culinary voyage that’s not to be missed!

MADRÍ MADRE

Ferraz, 8. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 425 00 88

Check out this menu: blood pudding tempura fritters, tuna and potato salad, croquettes, tripe, gazpacho, gildas (anchovy, pepper and olive skewers), salted anchovies... There’s no doubt: this place shows every sign of being a taberna! And the best thing is that it’s also run by Martín Berasategui, this time with Iñaki Rodaballo as head chef. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy fun cuisine perfect for sharing in a spacious establishment next to Plaza de España, which is the most amazing place in the city right now”, he tells us.

One of the most eye-catching dishes is the Candy Crunch Bravas, a modern twist on Madrid’s classic patatas bravas in which thin-sliced vegetables are wrapped, like crunchy sweets, around an inner core of mashed potato and sauce. Here, you’ll only find tasty, flavourful food that aims to pay tribute to “all of the mothers who have given us their love through good food”.

DESCARO MADRID

Plaza de España, 6. Planta 2. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 639 00 30 20

The boldness of being brazen, of creating a terrace high up in Plaza de España where nobody would have imagined one, of giving a nod to traditional cuisine with typical Madrid dishes alongside others from around the world… That’s what chef Miguel García has done, inviting us to enjoy the view, yes, but without losing sight of the food. How does an assortment of creamy croquettes sound? Or maybe bluefin tuna tataki? A delicious brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays.

EDÉN GASTROBAR

Gran Vía, 84. Hotel RIU Plaza España. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 919 33 93.

When tapas time rolls around, you’d do well to look up. Because there, on the 26th floor of the España Building—which at 117 metres tall is one of the most imposing in Madrid—is a gastrobar with delicious dishes (including prawn, potato and tuna belly salad, potatoes topped with brava sauce, pesto and Parmesan, anchovies in vinegar with potato crisps and marinated olives) and a great view. Be sure to take in the Royal Palace, the Temple of Debod and Casa de Campo Park from above.

SAONA MADRID PLAZA ESPAÑA

Ventura Rodríguez, 7. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA / VENTURA RODRÍGUEZ. Tel. 91 183 65 32

A love of the Mediterranean. That’s the vibe given off by this new restaurant which has particularly warm decor and is divided into two different spaces. In one of them, the bar has pride of place, while the most striking feature in the other is a large communal table. On the menu, you’ll find rice dishes like duck and artichoke arroz meloso (brothy rice), but also salmon tartare, octopus served over potato alioli, and rigatoni with Requena sausage, mushrooms, Parmesan and truffle sauce.

BOTANIA

Plaza de España, 5. VP Plaza España Design. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 575 75 53

Green to the max. Welcome to this bright space designed to be an urban oasis where you can rest, switch off and enjoy a menu that focuses on high-quality and seasonal ingredients. The options include very creamy salmorejo (cold tomato and bread-based soup), grilled avocado with tuna tartare, dry rice cooked with octopus and artichokes and, for the sweet-toothed only, a cake made with chocolate, Lacasitos (Spain’s answer to Smarties) and Marie biscuits.

YUM HOUSE

Leganitos, 41. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA / SANTO DOMINGO. Tel. 91 093 08 27

Elegant and cosmopolitan, that’s what this restaurant is. As soon as you sit down, the traditional flavours with some ultra-modern twists will send you on a voyage to Asia. To start with, you could order the Vietnamese spring rolls made with beef mince, lettuce and herbs, before giving in to the temptation of the fishy meagre nigiri, the Korean tacos stuffed with beef, kimchi sauce, cheese and lettuce or the crispy Peking duck loin.

BRUTALISTA

Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, 34. VENTURA RODRÍGUEZ. Tel. 91 159 57 77

Before booking a table at this restaurant, the first thing you need to know is that there’s no menu. The dishes depend on what Pablo López Ibarra, the chef and heart and soul of this restaurant—or perhaps taberna would be a better word—, finds in the market. Zinc, cement and wood feature heavily in the decor, and although the offerings vary, here’s a recommendation: anything pickled. Everything served here tastes just as it should, a feat that requires real talent and first-rate ingredients.

RUNNING SUSHI AKIHABARA

Plaza de Emilio Jiménez Millás, 3. PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 596 76 99

The area known as Plaza de los Cubos (Cube Square, after the sculpture that can be found there), right at the beginning of Calle de la Princesa, is where you’ll find this fun establishment named after a well-known Tokyo neighbourhood. The restaurant pays tribute to the fantastic world of anime and manga audiovisual entertainment as well as video games, comics and robots. Here, you’ll find options like Atlantic halibut maki, prawn skewers, salmon nigiri, spicy chicken...and much more!