Mazál Bagels & Cafe - Review - Chamberí - Madrid - The Infatuation

"Getting a bagel in Madrid wasn’t really a thing until Mazál arrived a few years back, opened by an American determined to bring the Jewish staple to the city. Mazál’s New York-style bagels are textbook perfection (close your eyes, and you’ll be in Brooklyn), hand-rolled, cold-fermented, boiled, and baked daily. You can get them on their own, with spreads, or as sandwiches stuffed full of pastrami, eggs, or spicy buffalo chicken. The restaurant has evolved to also include sides like fresh fries or coleslaw, and other “breakfast” items all day long (think French toast or pancakes), even for an early dinner (they close 8:30pm or 10pm, depending on the day). And if you’re spending Shabbat in Madrid, you can also pick up rich, pillowy challah. There’s a new location in Opera, but the Chamberí one is less hectic and not mobbed by study abroad students using their outdoor voices indoors." - Lori Zaino