I always prefer to travel with a plan, even on short 3–4 day trips. That’s why I always research where to go and what to eat, and prepare a document for it. I did the same for the Madrid – Barcelona – Mallorca route I took with two friends in May 2024. I’m always the one who takes on this task in the group, and no one seems to complain about it :). Since we were only going to spend one day in Madrid, I tried to choose the very best options from countless alternatives.
For our first night, we decided to grab a quick bite at Takos Al Pastor ( location ) . They offer a wide variety of tacos for just 1–2 Euros, and they are absolutely delicious! You can tell how good the food is just by looking at the long queue outside at any hour of the day, but trust me, it’s definitely worth the wait! The colorful decoration and the skeleton wearing a Sombrero in the middle of the restaurant make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a restaurant in Mexico. Here’s that skull below!
The interior is just as colorful as it looks and it’s crowded at every hour of the day. I had a blackberry margarita, and I can confidently say their cocktails are excellent! I also ordered some tacos whose fillings I can’t remember anymore, but I absolutely loved them. Luckily, I took a photo, so I’m sharing it below.
After partying a little and getting hungry again, our second stop was, of course, 100 Montaditos (location). This was also the restaurant I visited most often while living in Malaga in 2023 for a volunteering project. Their menu mainly consists of tapas, and the prices are incredibly affordable. What’s even better is that every Wednesday and Saturday, everything on the menu costs just 1 Euro. Yes, you read that right, they really have this promotion twice a week. Their sangria, potato chips, and my absolute favorite, the olives, are all amazing! You definitely have to try their spicy olives.
We didn’t have time to visit Bar La Campana (location), but it’s definitely at the top of my list for my next trip to Madrid. They’re famous for their incredible calamari sandwich, and their olives look fantastic as well. I honestly think Spain was created so we could drink sangria, eat olives, and relax on its beautiful beaches :). Just look at those huge calamari rings, they look incredibly appetizing!
Another place that stayed on my list, as a true pizza lover, is Trattoria Pulcinella (location)! It’s a pizzeria I’ve heard so many great things about, but unfortunately didn’t have time to visit. The restaurant has a rustic atmosphere, with iconic portraits decorating the walls. As for the pizzas, they look absolutely mouthwatering and incredibly delicious. Make sure you save this place for your next trip!