* La Isla del Tesoro, C Manuel Malasaña 3, T 91 593 14 40. Metro Bilbao. Closed Sun and lunchtime in holidays. Exotic bamboo screens, sea shells and deep blue walls make this a wonderfully romantic spot; it’s vegetarian, and the well-priced menú del día (e8.50) features the cuisine of a different country each day. * La Mordida, C Belén 13, T 91 308 20 89, http://www.lamordida.net Metro Chueca or Alonso Martínez. Mon-Thu 1330-1700 and 2030- 0100, Fri-Sat 2030-0300. Fun, colourful and boisterous Mexican restaurant serving fine food, but it’s the party atmosphere that everyone comes for. * El Pepinillo de Barquillo, C Barquillo 42, T 91 310 25 46. Metro Chueca. 1300-0100. Bright bar with tables covered in red-check tablecloths, serving a light menu featuring salads, seafood and grilled vegetables; a huge gherkin on a cocktail stick is suspended from the ceiling. *** El Amparo, C Puigcerdá, T 91 431 64 56. Metro Serrano. Closed Sat lunchtimes and Sun. The Basques are widely renowned for their culinary expertise and nowhere does it better than this glamorous restaurant. *** Zalacaín, C Alvarez de Baena 4, T 91 561 48 40. Metro Gregorio Marañón. Closed lunchtimes, Sun, holidays, Holy Week and Aug. Madrid’s most celebrated restaurant, holder of all kinds of stars and awards. Chef Benjamín Urdiaín can’t put a foot wrong, it seems; cuisine, service and decor ooze elegance and assurance. ** Teatriz, C Hermosilla 15, T 91 577 53 79. Metro Serrano. 1330-1600 and 2030-2300; bar open until 0200, until 0300 Fri-Sat. Philip Starck and Javier Mariscal famously converted this theatre during the last years of the Movida and it’s still a place to see and be seen. Regardless of all the hype, the Italian food is very good. Designer tapas, too. ** Thai Gardens, C Jorge Juan 5, T 91 577 88 84. Metro Serrano. Open until 0100 at weekends. Beautiful, deeply romantic restaurant decorated with traditional Thai crafts and silks; the finest Thai food in Madrid is on offer here. * Taberna de la Daniela, C General Pardiñas 21, T 91 575 23 29. Metro Goya. 1330-1600 and 2030-2300. Classic old-style tavern serving traditional Madrileño cuisine to an oddly mixed clientele of smartly dressed locals and old men propping up the bar. Excellent tapas; try the croquetas and empanadas. *** Charolés, C Floridablanca 24, T 91 890 59 75. This is El Escorial's most celebrated restaurant; the Wednesday cocido has become an institution. Terrace in summer.
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