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.

Hungry after visiting Puerta del Sol? Here are 24 places nearby, 14 of them cheap and quick. Every place lists its cuisine, price and the walk from Puerta del Sol.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia
Cheap, quick and central: hams hanging from the ceiling, bocadillos and a menú for a fast Madrid lunch.
Home of the "salsa brava" since 1974: crispy potatoes with the house spicy sauce, in a lane off Sol.
Historic tavern since 1860 (the PSOE was founded upstairs), known for fried cod croquettes and cod bites at the bar.
Standing bar between Sol and Plaza Mayor, a classic for fried-squid sandwiches and a quick caña.
Next door to Bar Postas: another local favourite for the calamari sandwich, cash only.
Standing-room classic for the bocadillo de calamares, a fried-squid sandwich, steps from Plaza Mayor.
Tiny old-style bodega on Cuchilleros with a long wine list by the glass and simple tapas.
Cave-like tavern on the Cava de San Miguel steps, known for garlic-grilled mushrooms with a toothpick.
Standing-only tavern famous for fried cod bites and crispy torreznos, with a loyal local crowd.
Busy neighbourhood cervecería with cañas, raciones and bocadillos on a small square behind the Thyssen
Small bar at the top of Cava Baja, popular for tapas and a caña before lunch.
Tiled 1920s beer hall on Plaza de Jesús, known for draught beer and simple tapas and montaditos
Packed tapas bar with walls full of photos and a cheap caña-plus-tapa habit near the Thyssen
Neighbourhood market with stall-bars for oysters, tortilla, pinchos and a quick lunch near the Reina Sofía
Standing-room tapas bar since 1906 serving sizzling garlic prawns and a sweet local red wine.
Relaxed modern-Spanish kitchen with a weekday menú, a quiet corner just off Gran Vía.
Historic tavern from 1827 with vermouth on tap, rabo de toro and tapas in the Barrio de las Letras
Valencian-style rice dishes (paella, arroz) in a tiled dining room just off Gran Vía.
Veteran restaurant under the Plaza Mayor arcades, with a terrace and classic roasts, croquetas and fried eggs.
Restored 1854 tavern in Chueca with tiled walls, cocido-style classics and a good weekday lunch
1839 salon-restaurant with a ground-floor shop where you sip consommé from silver samovars; cocido on the menu.
Said to be the world's oldest restaurant (1725): cochinillo and cordero asado from a wood oven.
A 17th-century inn on Cava Baja, serving cocido madrileño and roasts from a wood oven.
Since 1870 it has served cocido madrileño slow-cooked in individual clay pots over charcoal.
Historic pastelería on the Puerta del Sol, known for napolitanas and ensaimadas.
Churros and porras with hot chocolate on a small square between Sol and Huertas.
Café beside the Congress and the Prado area with breakfast plates and toast.
Bakery café with croissants, toast and good coffee, a short walk from the Reina Sofía.
Old Malasaña churrería for churros and chocolate, also pan con tomate and toast.
Plan your trip → Put these places in a day plan with walking times.