Welcome to the vibrant and lively city of Madrid, where food enthusiasts can indulge in a delightful culinary experience. One of the must-visit destinations for food lovers is the famous street of Cava Baja. Located in the heart of Madrid’s historic center, Cava Baja is home to some of the best tapas bars in the city. In this beginner’s guide, we will explore the top tapas bars on Cava Baja and help you make the most of your visit.
1. Taberna II Bacco
Taberna II Bacco is our first eatery in Cava Baja section of the city. This small bar is rather popular and it serves numerous classic Spanish tapas. Make sure you get yourself the succulent and unique jamón ibérico, a Spanish cured ham specialty, or their ever amazing fresh and tender pulpo a la gallega, the best octopus.
Pro tip: Instead of the traditional supper, tapas are best served with cava, a Spanish sparkling wine.
2. Casa Lucas
Casa Lucas if a famous tapas bar that is famous for its tapas experiments. Here you will find classical recipes with accents of contemporary cuisine. You should definitely try the tempura prawns with curry mayonnaise are a must have for their authenticity. It is simply a combination that goes well and you will wish you had more of the delicious meal.
Pro tip: This is to mean that Casa Lucas is among the hostels, which are most likely to be packed, and therefore ensure to get to the hostel early enough or be prepared for a little squeeze to get a table. It’s definitely worth the wait!
3. Lamiak
If you like fish, you are in the right place if you visited Lamiak bar. This is a rather cozy place where you will enjoy authentic Spanish tapas on the basis of a wide array of pintxos – snacks usually served on bread. Savor their bacalao al pil-pil – a fish dish made from cod – or their gamba roja – juicy red prawns will certainly fit the picture.
Pro tip: Ideally, the tapas should be teamed with Albarino – a crisp white wine from Galicia for the best taste of the seafood.
4. La Chilostra
La Chilostra is a standard Spanish tavern inspired by big cities of the nineteenth century which will take you back. This bar is great for warm winter nights and the tapas here are some of the best you will find in Barcelona. You should not leave without tasting their solomillo al whisky which is actually beef fillet cooked in whisky sauce. Also, they serve patatas bravas; crispy potatoes covered with a spicy tomato sauce and alioli.
Pro tip: Leave some space to try their delicious sweets, their flan or chocolate cake are among the most recommended.
5. El Sur
Our last recommendation on Cava Baja is a tapas bar that offers Spanish food, but with some innovations – El Sur. They serve almost all kinds of tapas whether traditional or the more modern spins on them. They suggest you order croquetas de jamón which is deep fried ham croquette or the grills vegetarian with goat cheese.
Pro tip: If you are wondering about the sweets, El Sur is famous for its delicious tarta de queso which for me is the best Spanish cheesecake I’ve tasted.
Conclusion
Cava Baja in Madrid is something of a foodie’s paradise, as this small area is filled with numerous tapas bars each offering a diverse experience in terms of taste. If you like fish, if you like Spanish food or if you look for creative dishes you definitely can find what you are looking for on Cava Baja. Therefore, walk down this colourful street, bar to bar, and taste the finest tapas you can get in Madrid. ¡Buen provecho!