I'm traveling to Madrid next week with my 81 year old Dad. I haven't made dinner reservations (though I could) anywhere and don't want to worry about going out to meals and having to wait for long periods of time before being seated. I also want to avoid crowded bars with limited seating for his sake. Our hotel is near the Prado. Any suggestions for neighborhoods or restaurants that might work for us? We can hop on Metro if needed. Thank you in advance for feedback.
Posted by
New York
62 posts
If you don't want a long wait before being seated it's best to make reservations. There are hundreds of excellent restaurants in Madrid with all types of food and pricing. Best to know your preferences to make better recommendations.
Posted by
159 posts
Salamanca neighborhood would have a lot of good options. La Maruca is very nice. Salamanca will be pricier in general as it’s the fanciest urban neighborhood in Madrid.
Other parts of town, I love Baldoria and Bardero.
Could you provide a little more guidance on price and cuisine you want to eat?
Posted by
new york
513 posts
You absolutely must book tables, and you should do this as soon as possible. Know that Sunday nights and Mondays mean that most restaurant are shut.
As my fellow New Yorker mentioned, we'd need a LOT more information on what kind of restaurant you are looking for, and at what general price range.
Are you willing to take a taxi to reach the restaurant from your hotel? Taxis prices are not bad in Madrid and they take credit cards; no tip expected. Metro often requires long walks once inside the station. Of course there are plentiful options near the Prado but personally, I do not frequent that area often for meals so probably will not be of much help, although this place, where I've never been but have heard good things from people who have, should not be too far from your hotel. The menu is short but they will have daily additions; these are more or less the prices you can expect for a moderately priced and good Madrid restaurant:
https://www.vinotecamoratin.com/carta-de-comida/
There are thousands (I imagine) of sit-down restaurants; please do not have the idea that all eating places in Spain require a wait at a crowded bar and an elaborate back-and-forth to order your dishes.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD
62 posts
We didn't make any dinner reservation while in Madrid. We usually ate around 9:00, so early for Spaniards. Many restaurants were crowded, but we always managed to find a good place just walking around until something struck our fancy. (Including a Mexican place for something different). Ask at your hotel, they will have recommendations, and can help you get reservations if you need the. Have fun!
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4564 posts
We also did not make reservations, except for The Botin Experience. We usually just ate tapas for dinner and we could find them easily. We can’t eat that late at night, so tapas were perfect for dinner around 5:00.
Posted by
new york
513 posts
Yes you can get into places without reservations if you are not fussy about where you eat.
I always come with a list of restaurants I want to visit and so I book my table in advance; most of the better restaurants need to be booked head of time, especially from Thursdays to Sunday lunch. I think I mentioned that many restaurants close Sunday nights and Mondays all day.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Thank you for the replies. I don't have a type of food in mind necessarily. We would like some local food at least one night during our stay. Mid range and a bit above, but not super high end dining is what I envisioned. Definitely would be up for a taxi ride if food was worth it. I'm game to make reservations if folks have memorable restaurants they would like to recommend. We're in Toledo and really enjoyed lunch at Clandestine. Thanks to everyone for your help