Madrid, Spain is one of the top cities in the world for good restaurants, particularly if you enjoy Mediterranean food. Of course, there are wonderful Spanish restaurants but Italian food is also one of Madrid’s top choices and there are some excellent Italian restaurants to choose from.
So, on your next trip to Madrid, if you feel like something other than Spanish, check out these three Italian restaurants. They’re three of the best Italian eateries in town.
Pulcinella – Known as one of the best Italian restaurants in Madrid for a number of years, Pulcinella is as authentically Italian as it gets. After all, when some of the ingredients used in the restaurant’s favorite dishes are flown in from Italy, it’s got to be the real thing.
Owned and run by an Italian native, Pulcinella has an extensive menu of typical Italian dishes — everything from superb pizzas to pastas with just about every type of sauce (try the pasta with pesto, it’s delicious), fresh fish, meat dishes, salads, risotto — you name it, if it’s one of your favorite Italian meals, Pulcinella will likely serve it. Check out their daily specials menu too.
Prices are inexpensive and portions are large. Be aware, Pulcinella is small and tends to get busy quickly so book a table and arrive early. Also, as most of the staff only speaks Spanish and Italian, if you don’t have anyone in your group that speaks either, be prepared to point. The staff is lovely though, so it won’t be a problem.
You’ll find Pulcinella at Regueros 7 in the Centro area of Madrid .
Ciao Madrid – On the food critics’ lists of best Italian restaurants in Madrid for a while, Ciao Madrid is a real crowd pleaser. It’s relaxed, comfortable and friendly and everything here is authentic Italian, right up to the decor. In fact, its so popular, there are two locations and both tend to be packed every night.
At Ciao Madrid, the menu is large with mostly traditional Italian dishes served. You’ll find risottos, pastas, pizza, fish and meat dishes, even a few choices for any vegetarians in your party. The veal parmigiana is excellent. Try it with a salad and a bottle of Italian white wine. Yum.
Ciao Madrid is at Calle Apodaca 20, Madrid. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and, again, a reservation is recommended for lunch and dinner.
Emma y Julia – This excellent Italian restaurant is popular for its incredible, authentic Italian food and for the huge portions they serve.
Emma y Julia is particularly famous for its wonderful pizzas, which go perfectly with the large tossed salads they serve as a starter, and a bottle of red wine. Be warned though, there’s lots of pizza toppings, so it will take you a while to choose, and the pizzas are enormous, meaning you may find one pizza is plenty for a fun dinner for two.
The pastas here are also delicious, and the ravioli is a must try. Prices are mid-range, with pizzas in the 12-15 euros bracket. Not too expensive for the size of the portions.
Emma y Julia can be loud, hectic and packed, so reservations are pretty much mandatory if you want a table without a long wait.
Emma y Julia is at C/ Cava Baja, 19. Madrid.