The best Latin American restaurants in Madrid
Madrid remains the Latin American Capital of Gastronomic Culture in 2022, having become the culinary epicentre of the Hispanic world last year, when it succeeded Miami, the capital in 2019. With its rich and varied representation of Latin American cuisine, Spain’s capital – which you can fly to from 4,500 Avios each way – offers an exquisite cultural connection through its restaurants, some of which we highlight below.
-
1 RUBAIYAT
Sixty years of tradition have allowed Rubaiyat to operate not only in Brazil, but in Argentina, Mexico and Chile, too. In Madrid, its designer premises on Calle Juan Ramón Jiménez have become a reference when it comes to meat, all of which is brought in from its own ranch in Brazil.
Don’t miss at Rubaiyat: the wonderful patio when the weather is nice and, on Saturdays, feijoada: a Brazilian dish containing black beans, rice, meat and farofa, another Brazilian classic served as an accompaniment.
Take advantage of Feijoadas every last Saturday in Rubaiyat, until spring officially arrives -
2 SAN PAOLO
In conjunction with Deco Lima – the name behind Brazilian pizzerias Bráz – the group has just opened San Paolo in Spain’s capital. This new eatery adapts Sao Paulo-style pizza using slowly stoneground organic flours and ingredients from local suppliers such as San Marzano D.O. tomatoes.
What you must try at San Paolo: its Rosbif salad with beef sirloin, rocket, purple onion and parsley served with slices of focaccia, and its exquisite pizzas.
The mortadella and burrata pizza has become a classic at the restaurant -
3 PISCOMAR AND JHOSEF ARIAS GROUP
Since 2013, this mouth-watering project by the Lima-born chef Jhosef Cristopher Arias Salinas has been melding the concept of a Peruvian cevichería with haute cuisine techniques. Located opposite the Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande, it offers ceviches, tiraditos and causas – fish, meat and signature cocktails. Piscomar is the flagship of the Jhosef Arias Group, which has also opened the Callao24 restaurant – specialising in traditional Peruvian cuisine – and the Nikkei food takeaway, Hasaku.
Its latest adventure is Humo, which has just opened its doors in an industrial space in Puente de Vallecas, where Peruvian-style roast chicken and fire-grilled meats are served with anticuchos and sides such as chaufa rice.
What you must try at Piscomar: as well as the main menu, there are two very extensive tasting menus at unbeatable prices. If you love to cook, you can join one of the workshops and tastings organised at Bold Kitchen, the chef’s R+D+I laboratory in the restaurant.
Ceviche is one of the star dishes at Piscomar/Image by Álvaro Laforet -
4 PUNTO MX
This is the first Mexican restaurant in Europe to earn a Michelin star. The chef Roberto Ruíz opened Punto MX in 2012; his current focus – Fondas de Ciudad de México – pays tribute to the traditional taverns and diners serving home-style food in Mexico City.
What you can't miss at Punto MX: "Dirty rice" – the first rice dish they’ve dared to make – or the Juana Amaya black mole taco.
Gordita of blue corn with sucker, carabinero and pico de gallo costaño with its coral in the Mexican restaurant Punto MX -
5 TEPIC
A genuine Mexican taquería in the Chueca district paired with signature cocktails. It offers a varied menu filled with traditional flavours and different varieties of chillies. If you’re unable to decide, they also have a seven-step tasting menu for €30.50.
What you can’t miss at Tepic: the cocktails made on the spot by Tepic’s own barman, an expert in mezcals, tequilas and sotols.
Tamales are not easy to find in Madrid, and less like those of the Tepic restaurant. This one is made with cochinita pibil -
6 APARTACO
The perfect spot to enjoy authentic Venezuelan cuisine in the heart of Chamberí. Although it’s said that their opus magnum is their Sunday brunch, the rest of the week they offer a variety of 100% traditional dishes created by their chef, Leo Araujo.
What you can’t miss at Apartaco: besides their famous arepas, tequeños and pabellón criollo, the pastel de chucho – made of ripe plantain, fish and cheese – is also very popular.
The Apartaco Apartapalos dish is ideal for tasting the most classic entrees: tequeños, mini pipiada arepitas, cachapitas with cheese, mini empanaditas and mini tostones -
7 LA NEGRA TOMASA
They’ve been offering home-style Cuban cuisine to the beat of live music for over 20 years now. Their kitchen is open until midnight, and they offer a new experience every day thanks to their different live shows.
You can’t miss at La Negra Tomasa: of course, the mojito is the star drink, but don’t go without trying suckling lamb with yucca, rice and beans or their shredded beef with tostones and tamales.
In the restaurant La Negra Tomasa the decoration and the atmosphere transport you directly to Cuba -
8 PATACÓN PISAO
Although the restaurant’s speciality is revealed by its name, Patacón Pisao (a deep-fried smashed plantain slice, with several options to accompany it) it also serves Colombia’s most traditional dishes. The most popular is the famous bandeja paisa, a combination of red beans, chorizo sausage, fried pork belly, arepa, ground beef, fried egg, fried plantain, avocado and white rice. They claim to have sold more than one million since they opened 23 years ago.
What you can’t miss at Patacón Pisao: the meat turnovers accompanied by homemade sauces.
Patacón Pisao's popular bandeja paisa is a combination of beans, chorizo, pork rind, arepa, ground beef, fried egg, plantain, avocado and white rice
