4 Best Restaurants in Arganzuela, Madrid

If you can't make it to the windmill-dotted planes of Don Quixote's La Mancha, you can at least get a taste of that region's flavorful, rib-sticking cuisine at this beloved neighborhood bar within walking distance from the Matadero. Beyond the Manchegan classics—atascaburras (potato-bacalao mash), machacón (mashed fresh tomato-pepper salad), and asadillo (cumin-scented roasted red peppers)—there's a long ever-changing list of Spanish craft beers. 

Thanks to independently owned gems like Toboggan, La Chopera neighborhood is beginning to attract a younger, cooler crowd. This corner bar with outdoor seating serves mouthwatering international tapas ranging from tacos to tortilla to homemade hummus in a sunlit space. It's a five-minute walk from Matadero Madrid.

Chili fiends are often disappointed that Spanish food is seldom spicy, but at this mom-and-pop Ethiopian restaurant, you'll find plenty of fiery stews and sauces. Vegans and vegetarians flock here for fresh crunchy slaws, lentil sambusas (stuffed pastries), and slow-cooked greens, while omnivores come for the doro wat (spiced chicken). Make like you're in Addis Ababa and forget your fork—the spongy, sour injera bread is the only utensil you'll need.

This upmarket Argentine asador (steak house) hits all the high notes with its daintily crimped empanadas, regional breads, gutsy South American wines, and flame-licked vegetables and steaks airlifted in from La Pampa with just the right amount of char. In 2023, another location, Piantao Chamberí, opened by the Alonso Martínez metro station.