Bon Appetit

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• Rodilla read more ›
  (13 Puerta del Sol. Tel. 91 521 1462)
  Sandwiches fit for the Queen are made at Rodilla, where they are cut into little triangles with the crusts removed. Also available are pastries, teas and coffees, and fresh salads.
• Maoz read more ›
  (7 Calle Hortaleza, Gran Vía. )
  Forget kebab shops, Maoz is the best place to grab a cheap falafel in pitta bread, piled high with delicious fresh salad that you can help yourself to from the buffet. It's part of the international chain.
• Faborit read more ›
  (13 Calle San Bernardo, Noviciado. Tel. 91 521 8616)
  Avoid the temptation of Starbucks and enjoy a home-grown coffee bar chain instead, at the cosy and welcoming Faborit.
• Pans & Co read more ›
  (30 Gran Via. Tel. 91 531 4818)
  Turns out pleasingly cheap, foot-long bocadillos: great big baguettes filled with ham, tuna or Spanish omelette.
• Taberna del Norte read more ›
  (11 Calle de Bernardo López García, Noviciado. Tel. 915 418 816)
  The wonderfully fresh ingredients and modern spin on some Spanish classics make the Taberna del Norte the perfect place for some cheap, traditional fare. Run by an all-female team, the place sees its tables fill up quick, so get there a little early to be sure of getting seated.
• La Corolla read more ›
  (10 Calle Almendro, La Latina. Tel. 913 645 232)
  Eating in Spain is not all just about tapas; there are tostas, too-great big chunks of toasted baguette, stacked up with your favourite toppings. La Corolla is a great place to get your fill and it's popular, so expect a packed bar and a buzzing atmosphere.

• Estado Puro read more ›
  (4 Plaza Cánovas Del Castillo. Tel. 91 330 2400)
  Innovative bar decorated with traditional Spanish hair combs but filled with a modern clientèle. Expect classic tapas dishes along with some yummy desserts.
• Rayuela read more ›
  (8 Calle de la Morería. Tel. 91 365 8276)
  Expect friendly staff at Rayuela, where you can enjoy irresistible dishes such as salmorejo (a kind of gazpacho) and the star dish of couscous. Head to Las Vistillas park across the street for a stroll afterwards.
• La Tábula de las Descalzas read more ›
  (2 Travesía de Trujillos, Callao. Tel. 91 523 1448)
  Don't leave Madrid without having sampled some paella. La Tábula specialises in all kinds of rice dishes.
• El Estragon read more ›
  (10 Plaza de la Paja, La Latina. Tel. 91 365 8982)
  One of Madrid's most popular vegetarian restaurants, specialising in soya-meatballs and paella made with brown rice.
• Ribeira Do Miño read more ›
  (1 Calle Santa Brígida, Tribunal. Tel. 915 219 854)
  Fans of seafood will find a little bit of heaven at this restaurant, which piles plates high with crab, prawns, langoustines, lobster and even the mysterious goose barnacles. Finish off your meal with traditional Galician liquor, which is served to you blazing with a blue alcoholic flame.
• Lateral read more ›
  (12 Plaza Santa Ana, Antón Martín. Tel. 914 201 582)
  An ever-expanding chain of very cool restaurants serving Spanish favourites with a twist. The newest branch is located in Plaza Santa Ana and boasts warm, intimate lighting and a cavernous basement area.

• Lavinia read more ›
  (16 Calle Ortega y Gasset, Nuñez de Balboa. Tel. 91 426 0599)
  The finest and largest wine cellar in Madrid also boasts a restaurant on its upper floor. The menu features Spanish and French fare, while the wine list stretches to 4,500.
• Casa Lucio read more ›
  (35 Calle Cava Baja, La Latina. Tel. 91 365 3252)
  The food in Casa Lucio is fit for a king - King Juan Carlos has dined here. A must-try are the huevos estrellados (eggs and potatoes).
• Memento read more ›
  (1 Calle Caracas, Alonso Martínez. Tel. 91 448 9958)
  The stunning menu at this smart Californian-style restaurant has been given a boost by the arrival of its Sunday jazz brunch. Expect a great Bloody Mary and familiar dishes given a new slant.
• Esfahan read more ›
  (1 Calle San Bernardino, Plaza España. Tel. 91 559 6812)
  Amply decorated with all kinds of Arabic rugs and ornaments, this Persian restaurant is popular with lunching business types and well-heeled Spaniards.
• 19 Sushi Bar read more ›
  (19 Calle Salud, Gran Via. Tel. 915 240 571)
  Why try a sushi restaurant in Spain, you may ask? Because Madrid's fish market is said to be the second best in the world, right after Tokyo's. Check the theory out with a slice of the raw stuff as this pricey but excellent restaurant.
• Laydown read more ›
  (9 Plaza Mostenses, Plaza España. Tel. 915 487 937)
  The experience at Laydown isn't so much about what's on your plate, but where you sit to eat it. Boring tables and chairs are done away with in favour of rows of comfy beds, complete with stacks of pillows and pristine white sheets. Live entertainment features most nights, too.

• Midnight Rose read more ›
  (Hotel ME, 14 Plaza Santa Ana, Antón Martín. Tel. 91 701 6000)
  One of the most exclusive restaurants in Madrid thanks to its location in the ME hotel and its superb food, which mixes Spanish, Japanese and Italian influences.
• La Fragua de Sebin read more ›
  (21 Divino Pastor, Tribunal. Tel. 91 445 9597)
  Traditional Spanish cuisine is given a modern twist at La Fragua, with some truly exceptional service from the excellent waiters.
• Ramsés read more ›
  (4 Plaza de la Independencia, Serrano. Tel. 91 435 9566)
  A top-notch design job from Philippe Starck, reassuringly expensive cocktails and high-quality Mediterranean cuisine are all on offer at Ramsés, one of the city's hottest tickets.
• Okra read more ›
  (26 Calle Fernando El Santo. Tel. 91 702 3870)
  Okra is a restaurant and lounge bar that boasts an excellent chef and tasteful decoration. The Mediterranean menu offers plenty of good fish and meat mains.
• El Asador de la Esquina read more ›
  (1 Avenida Concha Espina, Santiago Bernabeu. Tel. 914 430 647)
  For a fitting end to your tour of the Real Madrid stadium, pop in to this very posh restaurant, which enjoys views over the pitch itself. The menu is suitably Madrileño and also boasts some succulent steaks.
• Le Garage read more ›
  (7 Calle Valenzuela, Retiro. Tel. 915 226 197)
  This ultra-hip and fashionable restaurant has three sides to it: first is the bar area, with its neon chandeliers; then there's the sushi bar, complete with Japanese chef; and, finally, the open kitchen, sporting a huge wine rack.

After Dark

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• Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes read more ›
  (42 Calle Alcalá, Banco de España. Tel. 91 360 54 00)
  The café at this cultural centre is the ideal place to grab a coffee or a beer and watch the world go by from the terrace on the street outside.
• Anglona read more ›
  (3 Calle Principe de Anglona, La Latina. Tel. 91 365 0587)
  Enjoy a coffee while lounging in one of the comfy sofas at Anglona, or on a Sunday afternoon grab a tangy mojito.
• Areia read more ›
  (92 Calle Hortaleza, Alonso Martínez. Tel. 91 310 0307)
  In another life, this buzzing bar was an Irish pub. The Guinness has made way for mojitos, however, and the tatty pool table has been replaced with very comfy sofas.
• Anticafé read more ›
  (2 Calle de la Union. Tel. 91 559 4163)
  Whether you fancy a tea, coffee, mojito or just a beer, pop into Anticafé, a cosy little bar with three different areas.
• Bam Balam read more ›
  (3 Calle de la Villa, La Latina. )
  You'll need a decent map to find Bam Balam, but once you're there you can enjoy great funk and soul from the in-house DJs, plus cocktails, coffees, long drinks and nibbles.
• Cervecería Alemana read more ›
  (6 Plaza Santa Ana, Antón Martín. Tel. 914 297 033)
  To partake of a frothy beer while surrounded by locals, you can't do better than the Alemana. One of Hemingway's old haunts, this Madrid institution boasts a few waiters that are most likely old enough to have met the great man himself.

• Orange Café read more ›
  (5 Calle Serrano Jover, Argüelles. )
  Ignore the mobile phone branding and enjoy the live music on offer at this recently refurbished venue. Bands range from up-and-coming Spanish acts to more established names on the national scene.
• El Junco read more ›
  (10 Plaza Santa Bárbara, Alonso Martínez. Tel. 91 319 2081)
  A minimalist décor of black-and-white prints of jazz musicians tells you that at El Junco you've found the real deal, a place where only the finest blue notes are to be heard.
• Honky Tonk read more ›
  (24 Calle Covarrubias, Alonso Martinez. Tel. 91 445 6191)
  A legendary venue on Madrid's live music circuit. Local bands pass through doing late-night sets of rock, blues and country for a fun - if slightly snooty - crowd.
• Cardamomo read more ›
  (15 Echegaray, Sol. Tel. 91 369 0757)
  This is the place to head for some proper flamenco madness, especially on Tuesday night at around 11.30pm, when it's brought to you live.
• El Sol read more ›
  (3 Calle Jardines, Gran Via. Tel. 915 326 490)
  Ignore the slightly grungey décor and instead enjoy the programme of rock and electronica outfits. The crowd are always friendly, and often hang on for the DJ who usually follows the live acts.
• Las Carboneras read more ›
  (1 Plaza del Conde de Miranda, La Latina. Tel. 91 542 86 77)
  It might be very popular with tourists, but Las Carboneras is still one of the best places in the city to see some genuine flamenco. The dinner option is OK but a bit pricey, so best to book for a 9pm show and sit back and enjoy the live music and dance.

• Supersonic read more ›
  (Bar Dolce, 3 Calle Campoamor, Alonso Martínez. )
  The emphasis is on indie at Supersonic, which is a shrine to Britpop. Expect a beery, up-for-it crowd in a packed, smoky venue.
• Low read more ›
  (Sala Pirandello, 14 Martín de los Heroes, Plaza de España. )
  If you like a mix of indie and techno, then Low Club is the place for you, with different rooms banging out very different styles.
• Ohm read more ›
  (4 Plaza Callao, Callao. )
  This long-running disco is just gay enough to still be called a gay night, but welcoming, too, for the straight crowd. Expect pumping vocal house, outrageous go-go dancers and the occasional live vocalist. Oh, and some very tall transvestite hosts.
• Twist read more ›
  (Sala Wind, Plaza del Carmen, Gran Via. )
  Drum 'n' bass is very popular with the dreadlocked, pierced and tattooed teens and twentysomethings who frequent this place. Check them out at Twist on Thursday, the city's primo night for the genre.
• Tempo read more ›
  (8 Calle Duque De Osuna, Plaza de Espana. Tel. 915 477 518)
  If funk is your thing, then check out Tempo, which has a chilled-out café area upstairs, and an alluring dance floor in the basement. Be sure to order a freshly made mojito from the expert barmen-it's one of their speciality cocktails.
• Jose y Alfredo read more ›
  (22 Calle Silva, Callao. Tel. 915 214 960)
  To spot some Spanish celebrities from the movie world, pop into Jose y Alfredo, where you can enjoy one of the 26 cocktails on offer. Be sure to head up to the rear of the narrow bar, where you'll find comfy sofas and tables.
• Charada read more ›
  (13 Calle de la Bola, Santo Domingo. )
  The latest venture from a very experienced team on the nightlife scene, the smart venue opening up from Wednesday to Sunday, serving cocktails and playing a selection of funk and electronica.
• Sunflowers read more ›
  (Sala Cool, 6 Calle Isabel la Católica, Santo Domingo. )
  For some Thursday-night glamour, you could do much worse than to head to Sunflowers, which finds its home in the aptly named Cool nightclub. Expect uplifting house music in the main room and a return to the 80s in the back room. It might be Thursday, but no one here is too worried about work on Friday.

This month...

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Tips

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