Please see my separate posts for ‘Plaza Mayor – roast meat restaurants’ and ‘Things to see around Plaza Mayor‘.
Museo de Jamon (Intermediate B+), 7 Calle Mayor, www.museodeljamon.com
This is one of a chain of eight jamonerias dotted around Madrid.
This particular branch gets quite busy due to its location in a tourist area but it’s still a good place to come just for the spectacle of so many hams in one place…
…and to try various grades and varieties from around the country.
Taverna Ricla (Elementary A), 6 Calle Cuchilleros (opposite Botin)
This is one of my favourite places to eat in Madrid and I always try to come here whenever I’m passing, if there’s space in the tiny bar. It’s a family business with mum in the kitchen and her son working the bar.
Wine and sherry are poured from the large red clay urns behind the bar and you can also get vermouth on draught.
The cooking is wonderful and everything on the menu is good.
On my first visit in 2011 I had some Boquerones or fresh anchovy fillets, in garlic and olive oil.
Also canapés with Cabarales in cider and Cecina (thinly sliced air dried meat, usually beef but in this case venison).
I came again in 2015 and challenged myself to eat the famous local tripe dish Callos. I’ve had it several times and this is the only place I’ve actually enjoyed it (A), perhaps because of the addition of morcilla and chorizo.
This next place is just over the road…
Casa Revuelta (Elementary B+), 3 Calle de Latoneros
This place is a bit further down the street, in the square to the left. They are reputed to make the best Tajada de Bacalao (battered cod) in Madrid and I wouldn’t disagree (A).
I also tried their Torreznos, chunks of deep-fried bacon, which were okay (B/B+).
From here you could head to nearby Calle Cava Baja (see La Latina post) to continue your tapeo. This next place is back towards Plaza Puerto del Sol.
Chocolatería San Ginés (Advanced A), 5 Pasadizo San Ginés, chocolateriasangines.com
Since 1894 this has been the most famous place in Madrid to eat Chocolate con Churros.
Churros are like a linear doughnut. The deep fried batter is cut to length and served while still hot.
A cup of hot chocolate with six churros cost me €3.90 in 2015.
The classic way to eat them is to dunk them in the thick hot chocolate.
Churros are a typical breakfast in Spain, and favoured by night owls as the last thing to eat before going to bed so Chocolatería San Ginés is open till 7am to cater for the clubbers.
Photos uploaded April 2011 and February 2016