“The best way to know a city is to eat it.”  

– Scott Westerfield –

La Latina restaurants visited on this tapas tour:

Restaurante Casa Amadeo los Caracoles

• Pl. de Cascorro, 18, 28005 Madrid

One not for the queasy is the famous restaurante Casa Amadeo los Caracoles. This stunning restaurant is run by a spritely 93-year-old proprietor who has served the same specialty house dish for decades: Snails! 

Snails are simmered with hunks of meat and chorizo sausage and presented in a raciones serving (larger than tapas) in a piping hot earthenware dish. Other traditional Madrid dishes found here include Chorizo Cocido and Callos, a stew made with tripe and spices. 

El Viajero

• Pl. de la Cebada, 11, 28005 Madrid

Wander through the bustle of Plaza de la Cebada and find solace in a chilled oasis terrace and tapas bar, El Viajero. This place is very lively in the evenings, but during the day is a great tapas bar with an excellent selection of tapas dishes, wines, and cocktails. 

Upstairs you’ll find the luscious green terrace area that is overgrown with various plants and greenery. Ideal place for a sundowner or to escape the summer heat. House specialties include their classic tortilla (self titled as ‘la mejor tortilla de Madrid!’), huevos rotos (scrambled eggs), croquetas, and of course patatas bravas (bravitas). 

Juna la Loca

• Pl. de Prta de Moros, 4, 28005 Madrid

While in the funky part of La Latina, it’s well worth checking out the recently refurbished Juna la Loca. This chic tapas bar offers tapas and pintxos dishes within a retro-styled interior. You can relax in the modern decor complete with funky tiling and enjoy sampling the tapas menu while sipping on a beer, wine, or one of the many cocktails on offer. 

House specialties include the many Pintxos that change seasonally (Pintxo de jamon de Pato is a favorite), plus you can’t go past Mejillones (mussels) that are available Saturdays and Sundays.

La Taberna Errante

• Carrera de San Francisco, 8, 28012 Madrid

Tucked away in the lower corner of La Latina is La Taberna Errante, a small and cozy restaurant and tapas bar with some of the best tapas dishes in Madrid we’ve ever tried (we have tried a lot of them!).

For us, this is the highlight of the tour, it’s a relaxed vibe, nothing too showy, but the food is incredible! And, the friendly staff are happy to recommend dishes based on what is available that day, so don’t be afraid to ask. 

Dishes rotate with the seasons, but must-try dishes include the alcachofas de temporada con tartar de gambon (artichokes with raw shrimp), carpaccio de pancetta Asada, and the montado de atun mechado (shredded tuna tower). 

Taberna Rayuela

• C. de la Moreria, 8, 28005 Madrid

Take in some of the best views of the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena

and surrounding mountains of Madrid at the Mirador de Bailén then make your way to the cozy Taberna Rayuela. Tucked away down a side street, this hidden gem of a tapas bar is well worth a visit to sample a selection of classic tapas dishes. 

House specialties include Tortilla Espanola and Tuna Tartare, just to name a few. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, then they offer a very reasonably priced ‘menu del dia’ (menu of the day) during the day. 

La Quinteria

• 10, Cost.ª de San Andrés, 28005 Madrid

Located right on Plaza Paja you’ll find the quaint tapas haunt La Quinteria. Grab a table on the terrace and admire the views and enjoy a good no-frills tapas menu with plenty of good classic tapas dishes on offer. 

With such a picturesque plaza, it’s well worth stopping off for a refreshing ‘tinto de Verano’, a light summer cocktail made with red wine and soda.

Tostas (grilled bread with toppings) are the house specialty here and you’ll find them topped with everything from Jamón Ibérico to Ensalada Rusa! Other classic Spanish tapas dishes include croquetas (ham and veggie options), and chorizo and salchichon (sausage) from Extremadura. 

Restaurante el Madroño

• Pl. de Prta Cerrada, 7, 28005 Madrid

This colorful and beautifully decorated tavern offers a great range of Madrid-style stews and soups along with plenty of classic tapas options to sample. The entire place is a work of art and with two floors, there’s plenty of seating. The long wooden bar is the perfect perch to enjoy the specialty house liquor called El Madroño. 

House tapas dishes include the gambas (shrimp), pork cheeks, Jamón ibérico, and the Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician octopus). 

Bar La Campana

• Calle de Botoneras, 6, 28012 Madrid

Wander around 5 minutes up towards Plaza Major and you’ll find perhaps one of Madrileños’ best-kept secrets, Bar la Campana. 

This humble bar doesn’t look like much from the outside, and in fact, you’ll struggle to find a seat inside most hours of the day. But, just as advertised in huge letters on the shopfront windows, you’ll find the very best calamari stuffed bocadillos (rolls) available in Madrid. 

Grab a beer or soda and a bocadillo de calamar and wander out into the streets to explore Spain’s most famous historical center, Plaza Major, where you can sit and eat your bocadillo first.

Still hungry?

Check our other Madrid Tapas tours!

La Latina landmarks and highlights of each tour

The barrio of La Latina is one of the oldest in Madrid and carries with it a rich history, all of which are on display through several historic sites, landmarks, and monuments.

Here are just a few of the things you’ll want to keep an eye out for while on this tapas tour.

• Garden of the Prince of Anglona (Jardín del Príncipe de Anglona) – Gorgeous 18th century gardens tuccked away in La Latina. 
• Mirador de Bailén – One of the best lookouts for observing the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena and mountain ranges surrounding Madrid. 
• Mercado de la Cebada – Famous seafood market located in the heart of La Latina
• El Rastro – La Latina’s lively flea market open on Sundays. 
• Mercado de San Fernando – Bustling food market with plenty of tapas bars and eateries. Open every day except Sunday. 
• Murales “Antigua Tabacalera” – Popular graffiti artworks located beside Embajadores Metro station.
• Jardines de San Francisco, antigua Dalieda.