La Rayua

The popular neighbourhood of Malasaña is home to this restaurant specialising in one of the most typical and authentic Madrid dishes: Cocido. Although this place opened in 2016, the Verdasco family, who run the restaurant, have been in the restaurant business since the nineteenth century when they opened the famous La Bola.

In 1870, La Rayua, matriarch of the Verdasco family, founded La Bola, where she began to serve cocido stew, which is still served in the restaurant named after her. Cocido is prepared in individual clay casserole pots and served in two separate dishes. Firstly the broth from the stew is served with noodles and then, in another dish, the rest of the ingredients used in the stew. It is cooked on a low heat over oak charcoals.

In addition to its cocido, La Rayua serves many other dishes such as roasts, meat, fish and a variety of rice dishes, as well as one of its star dishes, which is only served here: “ropa vieja” pizza . The restaurant also offers fantastic desserts, such as apple fritters, torrija de leche (similar to French toast) with ice cream and dulce de leche as well as homemade cheesecake.

La Rayua has another restaurant on Tintoreros Street, 4, in La Latina neighbourhood.