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1€€€
Las Bravas
Home of the "salsa brava" since 1974: crispy potatoes with the house spicy sauce, in a lane off Sol.
Where to eat near the Literary Quarter
Hungry after visiting the Literary Quarter? Here are 24 places nearby, 14 of them cheap and quick. Every place lists its cuisine, price and the walk from the Literary Quarter.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
Photo: Jorge Láscar · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia
Quick and cheap (€)
2€€€
Museo del Jamón (Carrera de San Jerónimo)
Cheap, quick and central: hams hanging from the ceiling, bocadillos and a menú for a fast Madrid lunch.
3€€€
Casa Labra
Historic tavern since 1860 (the PSOE was founded upstairs), known for fried cod croquettes and cod bites at the bar.
4€€€
Bar Postas
Standing bar between Sol and Plaza Mayor, a classic for fried-squid sandwiches and a quick caña.
5€€€
Casa Puerto Rico
Next door to Bar Postas: another local favourite for the calamari sandwich, cash only.
6€€€
Cervecería Cervantes
Busy neighbourhood cervecería with cañas, raciones and bocadillos on a small square behind the Thyssen
7€€€
Taberna de la Dolores
Tiled 1920s beer hall on Plaza de Jesús, known for draught beer and simple tapas and montaditos
8€€€
Mercado de Antón Martín (food stalls)
Neighbourhood market with stall-bars for oysters, tortilla, pinchos and a quick lunch near the Reina Sofía
9€€€
Taberna Los Gatos
Packed tapas bar with walls full of photos and a cheap caña-plus-tapa habit near the Thyssen
10€€€
Bar La Campana
Standing-room classic for the bocadillo de calamares, a fried-squid sandwich, steps from Plaza Mayor.
11€€€
Casa Revuelta
Standing-only tavern famous for fried cod bites and crispy torreznos, with a loyal local crowd.
12€€€
Bodegas Ricla
Tiny old-style bodega on Cuchilleros with a long wine list by the glass and simple tapas.
13€€€
Taberna La Concha
Small bar at the top of Cava Baja, popular for tapas and a caña before lunch.
14€€€
Mesón del Champiñón
Cave-like tavern on the Cava de San Miguel steps, known for garlic-grilled mushrooms with a toothpick.
Good value sit-down (€€)
15€€€
La Casa del Abuelo
Standing-room tapas bar since 1906 serving sizzling garlic prawns and a sweet local red wine.
16€€€
Casa Alberto
Historic tavern from 1827 with vermouth on tap, rabo de toro and tapas in the Barrio de las Letras
17€€€
La Gloria de Montera
Relaxed modern-Spanish kitchen with a weekday menú, a quiet corner just off Gran Vía.
18€€€
Los Galayos
Veteran restaurant under the Plaza Mayor arcades, with a terrace and classic roasts, croquetas and fried eggs.
19€€€
La Barraca
Valencian-style rice dishes (paella, arroz) in a tiled dining room just off Gran Vía.
20€€€
La Musa de Espronceda
Lavapiés tapas bar with a lively terrace, handy after the Reina Sofía.
21€€€
La Carmencita
Restored 1854 tavern in Chueca with tiled walls, cocido-style classics and a good weekday lunch
Treat yourself (€€€)
22€€€
Lhardy
1839 salon-restaurant with a ground-floor shop where you sip consommé from silver samovars; cocido on the menu.
23€€€
Sobrino de Botín
Said to be the world's oldest restaurant (1725): cochinillo and cordero asado from a wood oven.
24€€€
Posada de la Villa
A 17th-century inn on Cava Baja, serving cocido madrileño and roasts from a wood oven.
Breakfast and coffee nearby
25€€€
Maestro Churrero
Churros and porras with hot chocolate on a small square between Sol and Huertas.
26€€€
La Mallorquina
Historic pastelería on the Puerta del Sol, known for napolitanas and ensaimadas.
27€€€
Faborit (Plaza de las Cortes)
Café beside the Congress and the Prado area with breakfast plates and toast.
28€€€
Santagloria (Atocha)
Bakery café with croissants, toast and good coffee, a short walk from the Reina Sofía.
29€€€
Ruda Café
Small specialty café just off El Rastro with tomato-and-oil toast and homemade sweets.
More about Barrio de las Letras (Huertas): hours, tickets and how to get there →
Plan your trip → Put these places in a day plan with walking times.
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