International Cuisine and Speciality Restaurants in Madrid, Spain

If you are eating out in Madrid, you have the choice of any restaurant you want. Whether you're looking for a five course, five star meal amid candlelit settings or a snack at a down-to-earth back street restaurant, you can find it all amid the hustle and bustle of this capital city.

There are a myriad of cuisines available, including Italian, North American, South American, Mexican, Cuban, Argentinian, and Oriental to name but a few. If you're looking for something a little extra special, you can always sample the Asian and Japanese restaurants, which offer some exciting and interesting dishes.

If you opt for Italian cuisine, you should try the Luna Rossa (Address: semiesq. San Bernardo 24, Tel: 91 532 14 54), an Italian restaurant near the Noviciado metro stop. This romantic, cosy venue is in the Gran Via zone, and is very easy to access. In traditional Madrid style, the restaurant doesn't open until 9pm, but does stay open as late as 2am. The average price for a meal in the Luna Rossa is around 20 euros.

Saltarello is another good choice of Italian restaurant. You can find it at Salud, 8 (Tel: 91 531 31 13), near the Gran Via metro stop. Many people choose to stop by Saltarello for a snack in the evening, using the daily menu with a cost of about 10 euros. There is another Saltarello in c/Tres Cruces, 5. You can find more options on our Italian restaurants page.

If you want North American food, then you have to stop by the infamous Hard Rock Café (Paseo de la Castellana - Plaza de Colón, 28046 Madrid, Tel: 91 436 43 40, Fax: 91 431 84 83). Chic and modern, this establishment is just like the dozens of others that you can find in major cities throughout the world, including London and New York. You can locate the Madrid one near the Colón metro stop, and can expect an average price of 15 euros.

If South American food is more your thing then a visit to El Inca (Gravina, 23, Tel: 91 532 77 48), is definitely in order. This quirky, original restaurant specialises in Peruvian dishes, so you will have the chance to try lots of new foods and tastes. Prices range from 20 euros and above, but it is definitely worth the money. The atmosphere, the friendly service, and the superb food all combine to make this venue a very enjoyable dining experience.

For the slightly more adventurous, the Asador Río Platense (Alonso Castrillo, 16 Tel: 91 570 08 06) is a great venue. They are open six days a week (they are closed on Sunday nights), and they offer a great culinary experience. Uruguayan food is the national provision of choice, and the dishes served here are unique and extremely tasty. The Tetuán metro stop offers direct access to the restaurant and the prices are around the 20 euros mark.

Mexican restaurants are fairly popular in Madrid, with at least five good ones located around the city centre. One of the best is Rosalinda (Tel: 91 576 34 82), which makes homemade Mexican food. The cosy, warm atmosphere and the spicy, wholesome food are the perfect ingredients for those wanting to spend an evening meal in real comfort. You can get to it by getting off at the Goya metro stop, then heading to Duque de Sesto, 40.

You can also try the Tex-Mex restaurant called Sí Señor at Pº Castellana, 128. Call them on Tel: 91 564 06 04 to book a table, just in case there isn't one available on the night you plan to go. It's a very easy to find the venue, as it is based in the Castellana zone and is just near the Plaza Castilla metro. Patrons here will find a lively, fun-filled atmosphere, along with quality food at reasonable prices.

If Cuban cuisine takes your fancy, then you might want to drop by Centro Cubano. This is a very authentic feeling restaurant that has superb dishes on offer. It comes highly recommended by the locals, and you can book a table by calling Tel: 91 575 82 79, or you can stop by and see if a table is free at Claudio Coello, 41. A great night is in store for the Centro's customers - a night full of true Cuban fire and flavour!

Or you can always go to La Guantanamera (c/ de las Fuentes, 1, Tel: 91 548 10 41, Metro stop: Opera). This is a welcoming place that has some really good waiters and waitresses. Nothing is too much for the people at this good quality restaurant. You can either stop in for lunch between 1pm and 4pm, or go for an evening meal between 8.30pm and 11.30pm. Either way, you are sure to be in for a treat.

Oriental food, sold by restaurants such as Al-Hoceima, can be found all over the city. Al-Hoceima is a good place to start, as they have a delicious speciality of couscous (some of the best in the city). However, it is important to note that they are closed on Monday and Thursday afternoons (around lunchtime). Expect to pay around 15 euros for a meal, and locate them at Farmacia, 8 (near the Tribunal metro stop) or call them on Tel: 91 531 94 11.

The Lebanese restaurant Las Mil y una Noches (Martín de los Heros, 28, Tel: 91 59 57 85) is always a good place to visit. Amidst their wonderfully creative dishes and many smiling staff, customers can also take the opportunity to watch a belly dance - one of the most intriguing and interesting performances available at any restaurant in the city.

Asian food is also a popular choice in Madrid. Perhaps the best place to get a good Asian meal is the Oam Thong (Corazón de María 7). This venue encompasses the Thai tradition of unobtrusive service, light, tasty meals, and an excellent variety of drinks. This is a fairly expensive restaurant, with prices coming in at around 35 euros, but it is well worth the money. For a special night out, you just can't ask for more. Make sure you book a table in advance.

The Taj Mahal (Belén, 12, Tel: 91 308 27 66) serves good Indian cuisine and is worth trying at least once when you visit Madrid. The average price of a meal here is around 30 euros, and for this you will be served a meal that is hot, spicy, and full of intense flavour. There are milder dishes available, but be sure to let the chef know your culinary preferences when you order, especially if you happen to be allergic to spices (many of these dishes can be quite hot).

Finally, if you wish to try some Japanese food while you are on your vacation, then there are a few restaurants that cater for this sector of the market. You might want to try Tokyo Taro, which specialises in Japanese seafood. There are many strange and diverse dishes on the menu, so be sure to ask what each contains before you order. Otherwise, you might get a bit of a surprise! Locate them at Flor Baja, 5 between midday and 4pm, or 8pm and midnight (except Sundays).

Alternatively, you could eat at Musashi, located at c/ Las Conchas, 4, 28013 Madrid (Tel: 91 559 29 39). A Bento box here costs from just 8 euros, so you can be assured of good value for money. It's important to know that the restaurant - which serves many traditional Japanese dishes - is closed on Mondays, and is open for lunch between the hours of 1.30pm and 4pm, then opens again at 8.30pm to around 11.30pm.

All in all, there is virtually no type of cuisine that Madrid doesn't have to offer. Whatever your fancy, whatever the time, whatever the day, the capital city of Spain had dozens of restaurants just waiting to oblige.