6 restaurants and cafes in Madrid that we have discovered lately

Korean cuisine, dishes to share, and a way of eating that turns the table into part of the experience.

Pury is a small Korean restaurant in Madrid, hidden just behind Gran Vía, a few steps from Callao. It’s on one of those streets in the center that you might walk right past without imagining that, behind a discreet entrance, there is a place dedicated to traditional Korean cuisine.

The space is small and simple, with few tables and an intimate atmosphere that quickly makes the meal part of the plan. The menu doesn't need much explanation either: Korean dishes, side dishes that fill the table, and a way of eating that invites you to try, mix, and assemble every bite.

Whenever we go, we order the kimchi jeon, a kimchi and squid pancake that has become one of our must-haves, and the jokbal + bossam, a combination of pork knuckle and pork belly that is eaten wrapped in lettuce leaves along with kimchi, sauces, and various accompaniments. The beauty of it lies precisely in assembling each bite to your liking, mixing the flavors and textures.

It is also worth saving room for the buckwheat cold noodles: fresh, slightly spicy, and perfect to alternate with the meat. And to drink, a yuzu lemonade or one of the Korean beverages on the menu.

But if there is one thing that keeps us coming back to Pury, it is that feeling of having found a small Korean restaurant right in the center of Madrid that feels intimate and authentic, with a kitchen that invites you to share the table.

Pury Jokbal
C. de las Veneras, 3 · Sol / Gran Vía, Madrid

A small, intimate kitchen where unexpected combinations end up making perfect sense.

Hiro is a small restaurant in Malasaña where you experience the cooking up close. The space is intimate, with the bar and open kitchen serving as part of the experience. The menu changes frequently, so each visit can be a little different.

And although the kitchen is the focus, at night Hiro takes on an even more experiential character. The lighting, music, and cocktails ensure that the visit lasts beyond the meal and turns dinner into an event in itself.

The menu plays with flavors and techniques from different places, with combinations that aim to surprise without losing their balance. During our visit, we tried fabes (bean stew) with chorizo and scarlet shrimp, where the intensity of the stew meets the flavor of the sea; fried Chinese bread; green beans with Iberian ham cream and soy vinaigrette; and a turbot with a tiger's milk and parmesan emulsion. These dishes are different from one another, but they share something in common: combinations that might sound surprising on paper but end up working perfectly on the plate.

The desserts follow that same line. The vanilla ice cream with raspberry gel and chocolate-covered potato chips is probably the most unexpected, while the yogurt with pistachio cream, parmesan, and kumquats and the miso flan continue that search for unpredictable flavors.

What we like most about Hiro is precisely that ability to surprise without overcomplicating the experience. A small, approachable restaurant with personality, where it is well worth sitting at the bar, letting yourself be guided by the menu, and seeing what appears on the table.

Hiro
C. del Espíritu Santo, 40 · Malasaña, Madrid

A place you always want to return to, from your morning coffee to your evening wine.

Trava is one of those places that works especially well because you can arrive at different times of the day and always find a good reason to stay. In the morning, it's specialty coffee and brunch; as the day goes on, it's natural wines and a menu of small plates that invite you to linger.

On our last visit, we were struck by some of those simple things that make a spot become a regular haunt: gildas, Russian salad, seasonal soup, and small plates to share. A menu that changes and allows for improvisation depending on the moment, paired with one of their natural wines.

We also like the space and its location in La Latina, two reasons that make Trava a great starting point or stop during a walk through the neighborhood. It’s one of those places that doesn't require much planning: you can go for a coffee, meet for a bite to eat, or sit down with a glass of wine and let the afternoon drift by.

A go-to plan in Madrid that rarely disappoints, the kind you end up saving because you know you can come back at different times and always find a good excuse to pull up a chair.

Trava by Ruda Café
C. de Calatrava, 26 · La Latina, Madrid

A little bit of Galicia in Madrid, and the real deal at that.

There are places that manage to transport you somewhere else without having to do much at all. At Taberna Garelos, you just need to sit down at the table and start ordering. The cuisine has that Galician tavern touch we were looking for: simple, recognizable, and designed for sharing.

Our must-haves include the Betanzos-style potato omelet, with that perfectly runny center we love so much; the veal steak, a good tomato salad, the seafood salpicón, and the variegated scallops. The menu invites you to order several dishes, place them in the center of the table, and let the meal unfold at a leisurely pace.

And there is one detail that completes the experience: many of the dishes arrive at the table on Sargadelos pieces, the Galician ceramics that are part of the establishment's identity. Looking at the table filled with dishes, ceramics, and food feels like a direct trip to Galicia.

A Galician corner in Madrid where the cuisine, the space, and the little details make it seem, for a while, like you are much further north.

Taberna Garelos
P.º de Eduardo Dato, 5 · Chamberí, Madrid

A little Japanese corner to discover matcha in a different way.

Groove n’glace is one of those small spots that catches your eye from the outside and is worth discovering while taking a stroll through the area. A Japanese-inspired space where you can watch them prepare your drink and choose from different types of matcha and flavor combinations.

Here, the matcha goes beyond the usual, with options featuring flavors like strawberry or mango, as well as different milk alternatives to tailor the drink to your taste. It’s a place primarily intended for grab-and-go rather than staying for a long time, though that very simplicity is part of its charm.

It’s a great spot to stop after exploring Parque del Oeste or heading over to the Temple of Debod: order a matcha, discover a unique combination, and continue walking through this part of Madrid.

Groove n’glace
C. de Ferraz, 18 · Moncloa, Madrid

Specialty coffee, Chinese tea, and objects that invite you to observe the space with calm.

Jing Ping e Hijo draws attention even before you step inside. Its red awning stands out on Calle Galileo, and past a small workspace open to the outside, the space reveals itself little by little. It is not your typical minimalist coffee shop: here, there is a blend of coffee, tea, porcelain, and design that gives it a very particular personality.

At the bar, they prepare Nomad specialty coffee, as well as matchas and drinks that incorporate Asian-inspired ingredients and flavors. Among the offerings that caught our attention most is a seasonal drink with jasmine tea, yuzu, and sparkling water, fresh and different from what we usually find in a coffee shop.

But Jing Ping e Hijo doesn't stop at drinks. The project also brings together a selection of Chinese teas, porcelain, and small objects, making a visit feel like stepping into a specialty shop. It is worth taking a close look at the pieces, wandering through the interior, and discovering the details that give the place its own identity.

A different kind of stop in Madrid, both for those looking for a good coffee and for those who enjoy discovering spaces where product and design speak their own language.

Jing Ping e Hijo
C. de Galileo, 3 · Chamberí, Madrid