Madrid

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Casa Ciriaco

More Photos
LenR
LenR
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
2
Photos
Editor Pick

Casa Ciriaco

  • May 23, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia
Casa Ciriaco

We ate at this restaurant on the first day we were in Madrid so had no benchmark to compare it with. After spending a week or so in Madrid and further time in regional Spain, I would now say this was one of the best places we ate at during our whole stay.

We did not just stumble across this place although as it is in one of the main streets of Old Madrid only a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor, I’m sure that many others do. I had heard about the restaurant from friends and as we were heading towards the palace, it seemed appropriate to stop off here.

In business for more than 100 years, this taberna-cum-restaurant is still run by the same family. It is only two blocks from the Palacio Real, and apparently it has served dinners to members of the royal family along with a list of other impressive guests, including bullfighters, artists, and scholars. These distinguished guests were drawn, as we were, to the unpretentious family atmosphere and the time-tested recipes.

One of the more enticing things on the menu is perdiz (partridge) served with fava beans but it was not available on the day we visited. I was advised that hare is another good choice, this dish served with white beans. A good appetizer is a plate of the grilled prawns, or else you might start with one of the hearty soups of the day, including a specialty of Castile, sopa castellana. A few fish dishes appear, including mountain trout. I had the chicken in almond sauce, and it was delicious. My wife had a lamb stew with vegetables in a tomato sauce. We suggest you wash everything down with a glass of Toledo wine.

The decor of this restaurant mirrors that of an old tavern. All of the furniture is wooden, and the walls are decorated with oil paintings donated by loyal customers of the past. There is also a lot of Spanish memorabilia that you cannot help but be intrigue by. The atmosphere and the food together make for a wonderful dining experience.

If you are looking to have a meal in a traditional Spanish tavern then you should definitely settle into Casa Ciriaco for at least one meal. If you don’t have the time for a full meal, this is a great place to stop and have a couple of small portions (raciones) after sightseeing.

Reservations are recommended for meals. The nearest METRO stations are Ópera or Sol.

From journal Madrid Eating and Sleeping

Compare Madrid Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Helpful Madrid Links

Madrid Travel Deals