Restaurant serving dishes from the País Vasco
(Basque) region of northern Spain.

Brilliant food, and that's why I am taken here by my hosts in Madrid who seek a change from the usual.
The most popular delicacies are patatas con bacalao, cocochas de merluza y centollo, zortziko de almejas, solomillo dantxari -al vapor, bacalao al pil-pil, con aceite de oliva virgen y pimiento, and tarta fina de manzana.

You could avoid these and try the more innovative dishes. I appreciated the excellent use of seasonal products and dishes such as 'pil pil' and their cod croquetas.

Ventura Rodríguez 8, 28008 Madrid
Tel: 915 423 524
www.dantxari.com

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A great restaurant chain for tapas and larger raciones. They don't do just ham, as the name might suggest, but all sorts of food. Calamares, Tortilla and gambas al ajillo are excellent. Prices are very reasonable. You can eat at the counter or in the salon (waiter service is a little dearer). They have restaurants in Puerta del Sol and on the Gran Via. They also do excellent three-course menu for under 10 Euro.

La Puerta Del Sol
or La Gran Via

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This tiny and historic tiled bar in a sidestreet near Sol serves up sensational cod croquettes and battered fish pieces fresh from the fryer, as light and fluffy as deep-fried cloud.

Wash them down with glasses of house wine if you can get to the bar. A Madrid institution.

Calle Tetuán, 12
www.casalabra.es

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There are plenty of sidrerias (cider bars) in Madrid, but this one in the gay-friendly Chueca district is a huge stand-out for the quality and, especially, the quantity of the complimentary tapas. 1.50 a 'caña' isn't cheap, but you'll get a steaming pile of piggy, bready delights along with it, and that's every time you take a drink.

Also a great place for vast filled 'bocadillos' (baguette sandwiches), and various other tasty 'raciones'. Just watch out for complimentary paella - myself and others have been laid low by food poisoning for some time after a visit. The fact that I'm still recommending the place tells you just how good it is.

One final thing - get there early if you have any kind of designs on a table.

c/ Infantas, metro Chueca

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It's a poor guide book which doesn't mention this place (go for the tiny taberna on c/Victoria, rather than the larger, more restaurant style versions on c/ Nunez de Arce and c/Goya).

However, I'm not sure any of them mention that if you order a 'racion' of langostinos a la plancha rather than the road-more-trodden gambas a la plancha, you get twice as many for just 20 cents more. Tastes just as good to me. Upon leaving, I've always been given a voucher for a free 'chato' of the delicious sticky house wine at one of their other restaurants. Ask if they don't volunteer it.

12, c/ Victoria, metro Sol

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Ignore the photo of Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock they've got hanging from the wall and wedge yourself into this small bar/restaurant for some fine, fine food.

Pedro Almodovar is said to love the place. After a few raciones it's hard to disagree. They deserve recognition for their liberal use of olive oil if nothing else.

Calle de la Libertad 4-6;
Tel: 91 532 12 19;
Metro: Chueca

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This is a bar on the popular road Calle Hortaleza. This road is full of fun bars, but this one is by far the best. They serve amazing cocktails, AMAZING and the bar has a slightly Morrocan feeling to it with lots of cushions on the floor and even a big double bed to sit on, but you will be very lucky if you actually get it!! There is a great vibe in the bar - very laid back! But get there early as it can get very busy, some nights you will find people actually queueing outside!
A definate must, by far my favourite bar! Also they have amazing food, especially the Samosas!!!

Calle Hortaleza, nearest tube - Alonso Martinez or Gran Vía.

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A mug of thick hot bitter chocolate served with churros (long fingers of deep fried dough). Pure indulgence. Lovely.

A local speciality I believe. To be found in most cafes and possibly tapas bars and pubs

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A small, yet wonderful, restaurant with a great menu, good wine list and reasonable prices - all in a friendly and modern setting.

Calle Espronceda, 14
Telephone 914 422 244

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Cure that hangover by dipping strips of battered dough into thick chocolate.

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