ITC Madrid by Soho Boutique

If you enjoy Japanese cuisine, this is one of those places that is a must given its focus on presentation and the innovative touch that they add to its dishes (over 35 different courses). Chef Steven Wu, who trained in restaurants in both Tokyo and Kyoto, offers guests his surprise Omakase menu which is the only option here. His Kaiseki-style cooking places full emphasis on the seasonality of ingredients and a respect for tradition, replicating the five types of time-honoured preparation and cooking methods to ensure the perfect harmony between visual and tasting sensations. The immersive expe

Gaytán is the culmination of a dream which then became a reality for chef Javier Aranda and as a result is far from your usual type of restaurant. This space, which features an interior with many design details and two private lounges, is dominated by original wooden columns that flank the large open kitchen overlooking the dining room, so that guests feel as though they are part of the creative process. The cuisine, complemented by a small menu for business customers during the week, aims to showcase what they describe here as the “the joys of the season”, something they succeed in doing via

(Temporarily closed). It is hard to find a better restaurant than this for La Mancha cuisine in the Spanish capital, where the self-styled “cocina de monte bajo” (which literally means “scrubland cuisine”) is shown due respect and transformed into a gourmet experience. Located in the heart of the city’s Salamanca district, it offers different dining options, ranging from tapas and “raciones” (the Iberian ham croquettes are an absolute must) at the bar to more gastronomic fare in the dining room in the semi-basement. The kitchen shows great character, bringing the flavours of La Mancha to the S

Chef Óscar Velasco, ably supported by second in command and dessert maestro Montse Abellà, is back! Here, the couple, who view this challenge as a ”lifelong project”, focus on cooking that is close to Óscar’s heart and always showcases contemporary market-inspired cuisine that champions seasonal ingredients yet with a little more freedom than in his previous projects, while at the same time demonstrating equal levels of technique and elegance. The à la carte, featuring dishes such as white prawns “al ajillo” with fried egg and potatoes (which finds its way on to the menu at the insistence of h

This restaurant in the heart of the city’s Goya district is the next step in the career of chef Álex Marugán, whose previous, somewhat more modest experience was in the nearby Mercado Torrijos. In this contemporary bistro-style eatery, he concentrates on contemporary cooking that incorporates an array of Latin American touches (especially from Mexico and Peru) to add distinct flavour to his dishes, which are interesting and highly delicate. The à la carte comes in two parts: “Los de siempre”, featuring his iconic recipes such as “Torrezno” (a fried bacon snack) and the “ossobuco pibil taco”; a

This is indeed the same premises where chef Javier Estévez first opened what was to become the highly successful La Tasquería (the latter is now located in Calle Modesto Lafuente). It has retained the same look and bistro feel with a small kitchen overlooking the dining room, and offers guests cooking that is similar to that of the original La Tasquería but with a more informal menu of popular dishes. Of course, you’ll find tapas, raciones and dishes that feature its trademark offal (casquería in Spanish), plus a whole host of other non-related dishes. Don’t miss out on classics such as the tr

A contemporary-style restaurant with modern touches which stands out for its cuisine, which is based on market-fresh produce and wild game, in particular. Although the chef is not a hunter himself, he pays careful attention to the hunting seasons and works around these in his choice of products. The restaurant boasts an attractive bar that surrounds the open-view kitchen, where guests can watch the chefs at work, plus an attractively appointed dining room. Culinary options here are showcased on a tempting à la carte with a choice of medias raciones, and a tasting menu.