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