The Barrio de Chueca is a vibrant neighborhood, full of amazing food and nightlife. It is also safe to say that the “restaurantes en Chueca” are designed to convey the vibrance of the barrio through both their decor and food.
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Best Cafés en Chueca
Natif Coffee & Kitchen
Natif Coffee and Kitchen serves the best specialty coffees in Chueca. They have everything you could think of including chai and matcha lattes, iced coffee, and a house-made cold brew.
In addition to the delicious beverages, you can also enjoy incredible pastries and breakfast dishes served all day.
Brunch: Restaurantes en Chueca Para Desayuno
Serendipia, La Caza en Dulzada
Serendipia, La Caza en Dulzada is the most enchanting restaurante en Chueca. It is the perfect place for a fun and boozy brunch.
The decor, food, and drinks are all super unique. They offer options you can’t find elsewhere, all served with a unique flair.
Coco house- Cocades
Coco house is a cute spot that puts Coconut at the forefront. Nearly every menu item features coconut in some capacity. Here you can find smoothies, Acai bowls, loaded bagels and toasts, and desserts. Many of their dishes are gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.
Coco house also has a great brunch menu, for 15 euros you can select a juice, bowl, main dish, and dessert. It really is a great deal!
Lunch: Restaurantes en Chueca Para Almuerzo
Sra. Smith Restaurante
Sra. Smith Restaurante en Chueca is an elegant cocktail bar but is also known to have one of the best menu del días in the city of Madrid. For a fixed price of 13 euros, you receive a three-course meal. You can choose a starter, entree, dessert, and drink. For the quality and quantity of food, this is an amazing deal!
Bazaar
Bazaar is a chic restaurant in the heart of Chueca. They offer a fantastic menu del dia deal Monday- Friday. For a fixed price you can select a starter, entree, and dessert.
Bazaar really excels with its seafood and Mediterranean cuisine options. Their food is high quality and fresh!
Honest Greens
Honest Greens is a local favorite where you can build your own bowl. Here you can select your favorite protein, and your base (rice or salad). Then you are also able to choose sauces and sides.
The great thing about Honest Greens is that the ingredients are always fresh, and they make nearly everything on the menu accessible to people with dietary restrictions.
Such a great place to grab a healthy lunch.
Mercado de San Antón
Mercado de San Antón is a wonderful food market in Chueca. The first floor is a market where you can purchase fresh vegetables, meats, and cheeses.
While on the other floors you can find all types of food sold by different vendors. In addition, they also have a rooftop bar and restaurant!
Tiki Taco
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat, be sure to stop at Tiki Taco. This is the perfect place to grab a couple of tacos for a cheap lunch.
Taberna La Buha
Taberna La Buha is one of my all time favorite restaurants for Tortilla de España.
For just 12 Euros you get this massive Tortilla, which can easily be shared between 4 people.
My favorite is their roasted red pepper and Manchego stuffed Tortilla.
Mad Mad Vegan
Mad Mad Vegan offers a menu that is 100 % plant-based. They specialize in making vegan versions of popular foods, such as burgers, Chicken Nuggets, and Sandwiches.
It is a great lunch spot in Chueca, especially if you are looking for vegan or vegetarian options!
Dinner: Restaurantes en Chueca para Cena
Gracias Padre
Gracias Padre is arguably the best Mexican restaurant in Madrid.
Not only do they have some great neon signs, but they also serve delicious food.
Their Nachos/ Totopos are phenomenal, and they make a magnificent Margarita.
However, they also offer really great tacos, quesadillas, flautas, tamales, and much more.
La Hummuseria
La Hummuseria is a vegetable-based restaurant that focuses on Mediterranean cuisine. More specifically on hummus.
They offer different forms of hummus, as well as shakshuka and other vegetarian-friendly dishes.
La Barraca
If you are looking for an authentic paella restaurante en Chueca, then be sure to make your way to La Barraca. La Barraca has been a staple in Madrid since 1935 when a Valencian family brought their sacred paella recipes to the capital city.
They serve 16 different rice dishes and of course a traditional Valencian Paella.
Quispe
Quispe is a gastronomic experience that highlights the nuances of Peruvian cuisine.
They offer Peruvian classics such as Ceviche, Papa Rellena, and Lomo Saltado. While they are true to the cuisine they also put their own modern twists on the dishes.
You can also enjoy a Passion Fruit Pisco Sour with your meal, which is one of my all-time favorite cocktails!
Sillao Chifa
Sillao Chifa Peruano is also a Peruvian restaurant located in Chueca, however, this restaurant focuses more on the Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine known as Chifa.
Here you can find the Peruvian versions of classic Chinese staples such as Dim Sum, Fried Rice (Chaufa), Fish, meat, and vegetable dishes.
La Tita Rivera
La Tita Rivera is a restaurante en Chueca with the cutest open-air patio. It is a great place to grab a Galician hard cider and a bite to eat with friends.
They serve hamburgers, sandwiches, and appetizers with their own Galician Twist.
Best Bars: Barras en Chueca
El Tigre
El Tigre is one of the most famous tapas bars in Madrid, and for good reason. It may not be the highest quality tapas, but it certainly is the highest quantity.
With the purchase of one drink, you receive one large plate of Tapas, including croquettas, tortilla de patatas, patatas bravas, and more. At this rate, for about 5 euros you can fill up on food and a Cerveza.
El Respiro
El Respiro is located right across the street from El Tigre and offers a similar deal. For the price of one drink, you receive a full plate of Tapas.
This is a great option if you want to avoid the crowds of El Tigre, but are still trying to eat and drink on a budget!
Bulevar
Bulevar is a simple and vintage bar that carries both local Spanish beers and imports. If you are looking for a lowkey place for a little snack and a cold beer, this is the perfect place.
Bar La Playita
The owner of La Playita has created a little oasis in the center of Chueca. It is a tiny little bar decorated with a Caribbean theme. With Caribbean-style cocktails and music. The atmosphere here is so perfect you’ll have to stay for a drink.
Ficus Bar
Ficus may be the cutest cocktail bar in Chueca. It combines a flower shop with an African art gallery.
From the decor to the cocktails everything at Ficus is perfectly curated. You can tell that they use the freshest fruits and ingredients in their cocktails. It really is an incredible space.
Best Rooftops in Chueca: Restaurantes o barras con Terraza en Chueca
Azotea Forus Barcelo
Azotea Forus Barceló is located on the border between Malasaña and Chueca. Here you can enjoy Italian cuisine, excellent cocktails, and a picturesque view of Madrid.
Mercado de San Antón
Mercado de San Antón has a really beautiful rooftop restaurant and bar. It is the perfect place to enjoy a drink in the summer.
There are even misters to keep you cool on the extra hot days. This is one of my favorite rooftops and restaurantes in Chueca.
Best Nightclubs in Chueca: Los discotecas mejores en Chueca
Teatro Barcelo
Teatro Barceló is one of the most famous Nightclubs in Madrid. It has been a staple of Madrid Nightlife since the 1980s and is even featured in the hit Netflix show ELITÉ.
Teatro Barceló is near the Tribunal metro station on the border of the Malasaña and Chueca neighborhoods. Not only are they always playing the best music, but also host many themed nights.
Best Dessert in Chueca: Los dulces mejores en Chueca
Celicioso
Celicioso is a gluten-free bakery that is truly phenomenal.
They have perfected the texture and taste of gluten alternatives to the point where you can hardly notice the difference.
You absolutely must try their cupcakes!
Cereal Hunters
Cereal Hunters is a cafe that has gotten ahold of all your favorite American cereals. You can enjoy it in a bowl of milk or on top of Ice cream.
They also carry other American sweets like Reese’s, Twix, and much more.
If you are feeling a bit homesick for a bowl of Cap’n Crunch be sure to check out Cereal Hunters.
Mercado San Anton
On the first floor of Mercado San Antón, you can find several dessert options. You can find pastries, sweets, and Ice cream.
Right next to the entrance there is an ice cream spot that specializes in these fancy bubble waffle cones. It is a fantastic sweet treat.
Places to Stay in Chueca
Chueca is a vibrant neighborhood and a great central location for your stay in Madrid. If you are hoping to stay in this neighborhood, consider Open Hostel Madrid. Located right on Gran Vía, the Open hostel has clean and comfy rooms, with its very own rooftop terrace!
Celebrations in Chueca: Celebraciónes en Chueca
Pride
Annually, Madrid hosts one of the largest Pride festivals in the world. It typically takes place at the end of June, and its main event is the parade. The parade runs from Atocha to Colón down one of Madrid’s busiest roads.
While Pride is celebrated city-wide the epicenter of the festivities is the Chueca neighborhood. Here you can find music stages set up around the neighborhood and countless activities.
For more information about Madrid Pride click here.
Service in Restaurants
Many Americans are quick to point out the “poor service” when they go to a restaurant in Spain. The Food Service industry in Spain is noticeably slower than it is in America. This is simply due to their culture.
Spaniards enjoy long meals with rich conversation and good company. In Spain, it’s rude for the servers to be constantly checking in and interrupting the conversation.
If you need your server, you will have to wave them down. Whenever you would like to leave be sure to ask your waiter directly for the check. The servers will never try to rush you out by offering the check first.
Mealtimes in Spain:
Mealtimes are very different in Spain than they are in America. Most restaurants do not offer dinner service until after 8 pm.
Many restaurants close midday to observe siesta time. That being said, make sure to check the restaurant’s hours prior to showing up and expecting to eat.
Flexibility is key when going out to eat in Spain.
Typical Mealtimes in Spain:
Breakfast: 7:00 am – 9:00 am (Brunch goes later)
Mid Morning Snack: 10:30am – 12:00am
Lunch: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm (This is also the time you can often find Menu Del Dia’s )
Afternoon snack : 5:00 pm – 7:00pm
Tapas: 7:00pm – 9:00 pm
Dinner: 9:30- 11:00 pm (Most restaurants do not open for dinner service until 8:00 pm at the earliest)
Which Barrio Next?
Malasaña
Are you working up an appetite while shopping on Fuencarral?
Be sure to check out my guide to the best restaurants, bars, desserts, and cafés in Malasaña.
La Latina
If you find yourself hungry near Plaza Mayor or in the Barrio of La Latina, be sure to check out my guide to La Latina.
Just like this guide for the best restaurants in Malasaña, the guide for La Latina outlines the best cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and festivals in the neighborhood.
Lavapiés
Are you visiting El Rastro on a Sunday and your stomach is growling?
Be sure to open up my guide to the best cafés, restaurants, and bars in Lavapiés.