LA CASA DEL ABUELO
Old mirror and tile-lined taberna serving the best ‘gambas al ajillo’ in Madrid (as far as I know)
A stone’s throw from Puerta del Sol, this bar has been around – so the ageing photos of long-dead waiters attest – for over a century. The menu is short and centres around various ways of doing gambas (shrimps) and langostinos (king prawns). But most come for one thing – gambas al ajillo. Castillian food can be a little tame at times, but with these shrimps flash-fried in garlic and chilli, all is forgiven. At €9.90 the dish is a little steep, but it’s one of the best food experiences in the city. Get one plate between two and it’s ok to ask for more (free) bread to sop up the garlickly juice. They do their own sweet house wine, but I always lean towards the spicy vermouth on tap, or a frothy caña.
Note: they’ve opened a new annex opposite – but make sure you go into the original bar (with the big window).
