Five Things I Ate in Madrid 🇪🇸

Circa 2023.

Hello and welcome back to Five Things I Ate! This week, I published a Big Story at work so I’m taking a little breather with a throwback travel post. Read past posts here, and please follow my Instagram, @fivethingsiate.

Açaí bowl at Zenith Brunch and Cocktails

C. de Valverde, 28, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Two years ago, exactly two months after I met a guy at a party, I decided that he was probably not going to murder me, so I took a spontaneous two-week trip with him in Spain, a place that neither of us had been before. We ended up getting married, which is very romantic and all, but that is not why I’m writing about Madrid today. I’m writing about Madrid because my sister asked me for travel recommendations, and I was absolutely aghast to learn I never finished editing this post. So let’s take a minute, rewind, and put yourself in the Summer of 2023. You’re eating an açai bowl at a loud and bustling brunch restaurant in the gay district of Madrid, your ears still slightly ringing from the 7-hour flight. You don’t usually like brunch, least of all Loud Brunch, but the açai bowl is pretty much perfect: Not too big, served in a round wooden bowl, with beautiful fresh fruit toppings and a base that tastes like ice cream. Great espresso drinks, too – coffee is always better in Europe. It’s pretty much the perfect post-flight meal.

Tortilla de Betanzos (especialidad) at Garelos (Mercado gastronómico en Madrid)

C. Blanca de Navarra, 6, 28010 Madrid, Spain

You usually don’t expect to be recommended dinner in a food court for a nice meal out — but then again, most food courts aren’t under the Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid. The Mercado gastronómico en Madrid is probably the fanciest food court I’ve ever been in. Garelos, a Galician Michelin-Bib Gourmand restaurant, manages to be homey and comforting while in a food court, which is really no small feat. The food is simple, which is a compliment — it’s harder to make basic dishes taste good, in my opinion. The omelette is a classic Spanish omelette, filled with a lot of olive oil, and paper-thin slices of potato. But it’s not enough to describe it simply as a potato omelette. It’s a sort of feat of nature, with a thin, golden egg exterior wrapping a melty interior. I’m not sure how it all holds together, but it does. Michelin-Bib Gourmand means that it’s good value for money, which Garelos definitely is. The omelette was more than enough for two to share— even a quarter would be filling.

Alcachofas a la plancha at Garelos (Mercado gastronómico en Madrid)

C. Blanca de Navarra, 6, 28010 Madrid, Spain

These alcachofas a la plancha aka grilled artichokes were a sleeper hit. I knew from the moment I saw them on the menu, which has pictures, by the way, that I wanted them. I love artichokes, but they’re such a pain in the butt to prepare, I never prepare them myself. This dish is exactly what it says it is — three grilled artichokes on a plate, but again, it’s so much more than that. The artichokes are melty and delicious and full of artichoke flavor. It was so great that we immediately wanted to order another round, but we're glad we didn’t — the portion sizes, again, are big, and three artichokes were just right for two.

Steak dinner at Parrilla el Gaucho | Gran Vía 72

C.Gran Vía, 72, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Gran Vía is an Argentinian steak house, which is ironic as I went to Argentina in the Spring. It’s a mini-chain with the vibe of a mini-chain, they give you a tepid glass of free pink champagne when you sit down and a limoncello slushy at the end. Is it as good as the steak I had in Argentina? No, but a solid meal, especially for beef lovers. The appetizer empanada was very good as well. If you don’t have a reservation, they sit you in the front room for sneaker-wearing tourists instead of the classier back room.

Churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés

Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

I cannot believe I never wrote about Chocolatería San Ginés when I dream about these churros on a quarterly basis. In fact, I wish I was eating these churros right now, because it’s a cold and cloudy day in New York. I think if you’re only in Madrid for a short while and you eat one thing this should be the thing. The place is very old, and bustling with tourists, but the service moves fast and we were sat promptly in the basement. The churros are massive and freshly fried (an order of 6 is perfect for 2) and the hot chocolate is thick and rich. The basement has a slightly magical, Harry Potter-esque feel, with green booths and cafe chairs. Definitely worth a visit, especially for choco fans.

XOXO,

Soph

P.S. Been to Madrid more recently? Have an updated recommendation or thought? Let me know!
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