| The best places to eat in Madrid are not necessarily | | | | the tapas bars called 'Lizarran', they are virtually on any |
| expensive, but as the offer of tapas bars and | | | | district in Madrid. Lizarran is a franchise that offers |
| restaurants is so high, the difficulty of just getting it right | | | | drinks and a self service of tapas, you can take them |
| it is very obvious. I was very recently asked by a | | | | from the display in the bar and you will be charged at |
| friend who was visiting Madrid, what were the best | | | | the counter when you finished by the number of |
| places to eat well, and here is a brief result of that | | | | wooden sticks left on your dish. It is a common |
| conversation. | | | | practice by people from Madrid trying to hide some |
| In the city centre of Madrid you can eat a daily menu | | | | sticks in order to get a few tapas free of charge, but |
| for 8 EUR, which is roughly £5 on most of | | | | be aware, if you are caught it is quite an embarrasing |
| restaurants around the Old Town. The famous tapas | | | | situation. |
| are actually quite widespread but Spaniards go | | | | In front of the Royal Palace and right next to the |
| primarely to two parallel streets called Cava Baja and | | | | Opera House you will find the Cafe the Oriente, |
| Cava Alta, to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with | | | | probably the best terrace in Madrid with wonderful |
| tapas (Spanish appetizer). | | | | views and life music in the summer, it is decorated in |
| One of the 'must stop' restaurants is located in Calle | | | | an 18th century French style at affordable prices. The |
| Cuchilleros, known as Restaurante Botin, it is in fact the | | | | light of the candles, the atmosphere of Plaza de |
| oldest in the world, and important celebrities, Hollywood | | | | Oriente during the night and quality food make sit a |
| stars, Presidents and Prime Ministers have been seen | | | | perfect place for a romantic dinner. |
| there. In fact this restaurant has been so successful | | | | If you can afford it, the Restaurant and summer |
| that the owner, Emilio Botin, is now one of the richest | | | | Terrace at the Ritz Hotel is of the best places, in |
| people in Spain, and enjoys being the president of the | | | | particular the Sunday Brunch will simply take your |
| Santander Bank apart. | | | | breath away. It takes quite a lot of preparation but the |
| Although Restaurante Botin does have the fame, it is | | | | end result is fantastic. The Ritz Hotel is also 'the place' |
| not necessarily the best quality restaurant. Just a few | | | | where all the Hollywood stars stay and eat during their |
| minutes walking distance from Calle Cuchilleros there is | | | | film premieres throughtout the year. |
| a place called Casa Lucio, which has to be booked | | | | Other high quality restaurants are Asador Donostiarra, |
| months in advance. The speciality of the house is | | | | El Amparo, Lhardy, and Portobello, where David |
| called 'Huevos estrellados', which are simply chips with | | | | Beckham enjoyed numerous lunches while he was |
| fried eggs on top. Once you try this dish you will surely | | | | playing in Real Madrid. Hotels in Madrid are really |
| become addicted to it. Casa Lucio has seen guests | | | | expensive, so by staying in privately owned Madrid |
| like Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher or George W. Bush. | | | | apartments you can save lots of money and invest it |
| The rates are still really affordable. | | | | more wisely on eating out. The same advice applies |
| If you want to experience the real Spain, go to any of | | | | for apartments in Barcelona or Seville. |