Bar El Brillante

An amazing experience at hear of madrid, a must go place for tourists. They seem to be super busy but worth experiencing. They have a wide range of affordable food and booze and serving you very fast. Try the calamari sandwich and jamon iberico sandwich with vermut if you are a tourist

Wouldn’t say its not a bit touristically-priced, but would say it’s delicious, convenient, fast and authentic. Spanish omelette with the Madrid-style side dish is highly recommended from my side.

Great tapas bar you could try any Spanish tapas but the atmosphere was really noisy and a bit chaotic. It felt quite crowded and a bit disorganized, if you don’t mind the noise and bustle, it’s a great spot.

This restaurant was recommended to us as exceptional. I’m not sure if it is an anomaly, but our service and food were sub par. There was one waiter outside on the terrace and it took 15 min for him to come to the table. He was seating people, clearing tables, taking orders and serving - so he was very busy. When our food arrived the patatas were very cold - no warmth at all - the sauce was like a slightly spiced tomato sauce. The bacon con queso bocadillos was ok. My salad with tuna and olives took so long that the rest of the food was almost finished. It was ok. I would not return.

Had to try the famous calamari sandwich in Madrid. The calamares was freshly fried, hot, and tender, and the bread is not as hard or dry as it might look. I think the steam from the calamari gave it some moisture. I wish they served with lemon!

A tradicional restaurant close Reina Sofia Museum, I recommend the bocadillos and the Callos a la madrileña and the cheese cake

I bought this in the morning to eat during a long journey. I went on a weekday before 9 AM and there was no line — I could order right away. We got one each, but since it’s about the size of a whole baguette, a mini version or sharing one might have been enough. It was delicious!

A must in Madrid We've now been here twice during our stay in Madrid, and it's easy to see why it's always busy. This spot serves up a local favourite — a soft baguette filled with freshly cooked calamari — and they do it very well. Today we also tried the steak sandwich alongside a couple of local beers, and both hit the spot. They’ve got a queuing system for seating on either the front or back terrace. It may look long, but don’t let that put you off — the line moves quickly. Everything is fresh, tasty, and great value. If you go for the calamari baguette (which I highly recommend), make sure to grab the little sachet of aioli — it’s a game-changer. Honestly, best price and quality combo we’ve found in Madrid. We’ll definitely be back.