The 11 Most Amazing Restaurants in Malasaña, Madrid

Malasaña is the student neighborhood of Madrid, offering all entertainment from shopping to nightlife. Moreover, there are numerous tasty places to enjoy a delicious meal. In fact, the district is listed as one of our favorites in Madrid. See our article on the top barrios of Madrid to find out more about what the area is like.

If you are staying in Malasaña, you may not even cook dinner at home once. How could you? The lovely neighborhood is known for exquisite cuisine, so you’ll have to take advantage when you have the appetite. Use this article to visit more restaurants than you could ever dream of, with French, Japanese, Spanish, Ethiopian, Argentinian, and American influences.

The plates offered at restaurants listed in this Malasaña guide range from chicken wings to ramen bowls. There’s also something for health-conscious eaters, as a number of these spots have dietary restriction friendly menus.

Ochentagrados

(Eighty Degrees)

Photo sourced from ochentagrados.com

The name of this tasteful restaurant is inspired by their technique of cooking at a low temperature. The reason? To conserve the food’s natural flavors and nutrients. The above photo shows a confit lamb terrine, gnocchi and reduced cream, and the rich sabores can be tasted through the image.

In fact, the cooks behind the savory plates actually don’t surpass the cooking temperature of 80°. An experience at Ochenta Grados promises to be surprising and innovative. With a creative and dynamic staff, you will also love the restaurant’s atmosphere.

As if the environment weren’t inspiring enough, the restaurant also has an ethical conscience. From the exclusive use of ingredients of premium quality to sourcing almost everything from their neighbors, you can see how Ochenta Grados weaves accountability and pride into the food they serve.

Moreover, the establishment supports NGO’s that help malnourished people in need. It’s safe to say that this is more than just a great restaurant. It’s a place where the people who prepare your food are passionate about what they do and actually care about the impact they have on their community.

This restaurant claims to have the favorite plates of Malasaña, so you definitely need to visit this place and see if you agree. With delicious savory plates and equally scrumptious desserts, a meal at Ochentagrados leaves little to be desired.

Les Mauvais Garçons

Photo sourced from lesmauvaisgarcons.es

Les Mauvais Garçons is a French restaurant in Malasaña that serves utterly unique plates like the one pictured above. The photo shows a duck tartare, ‘crazy salt’, parmesean, cilantro, seeds, lime, and almond milk.

This restaurant was made for meat lovers, with a mix of both French and Spanish delicacies. The impressive plates are overseen by executive chef, Gael Bourg, who moved to Spain from Toulouse to open his own restaurant.

Interestingly, he was a web designer before starting Les Mauvais Garçons. Nonetheless, computer engineering is certainly not his only talent, which you’ll see and taste in the incredible plates served at his restaurant.

The place also has exceptional drinks, like refined cocktails and French and Spanish wines that reflect the regional duality of Les Mauvais Garçons in Spain. You will certainly have a memorable experience at this restaurant that is unmatched with other typical places in Madrid.

Dolores y Lola

Photo sourced from @doloresylola on Instagram

Dishes like the above pictured Bacalao paired with broccoli and mashed potatoes prove that your plates will be served with specially chosen flavors and accompaniments. One favorable aspect of Dolores y Lola are the allergen notations beneath each meal, so those with sensitivities know exactly which plates they can choose.

Dolores y Lola doesn’t fail to surprise their guests, as they put unconventional ingredients on well-known foods, like adding chocolate to savory plates. The restaurant also serves a number of popular desserts, including a flower pot of panna cotta ice cream and oreos.

You will find that every menu item is composed of mouth-watering ingredients combined in ways that you normally don’t see. For example, one plate marinates Iberian pork sirloin in black beer, adding plums and sprinkling with crushed almonds.

La Musa

Photo sourced from @lamusamalasana on Instagram

La Musa is a Spanish restaurant that not only serves regional tapas, but also has variations of international origin. They even offer a section of tapas exclusively prepared by a charcoal oven. If this sounds appealing, you may want to bring a partner to try the 32 euro tapa tasting menu of nine distinct plates, including dessert.

Interestingly, the restaurant also has Chinese-inspired wok dishes, so it’s safe to say that La Musa covers both local specialties and ones from far away. Additionally, this great spot is actually listed on our article on Cheap Places to Drink Beer in Madrid, but they also have sangria, cocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, and more.

This location is one of several that form part of the La Musa group, with other locations in areas like La Latina. Javi Estévez is the chef responsible for the restaurant’s acclaimed food, and the homey feel of the space also has guests keep coming back for more.

Restaurante Etíope Nuria

Photo sourced from restaurantes.com

Etíope Nuria invites you to use your five senses to take part in their entertaining experience crafted by lively music, festive decor, and excellent food. Thankfully, there are vegan and vegetarian options so that those with special palettes won’t miss out on the fun.

Perhaps you haven’t tried much Ethiopian cuisine, then this restaurant is the perfect way to spend your time in Malasaña. Moreover, there are several surprising facts behind this traditional restaurant that aren’t immediately obvious.

For example, tej is a homeade honey wine that is thought to be the first alcoholic drink consumed by man, and tej’s ancient connections to the newlywed honeymoon are what give the tradition its name. Another fun aspect of the restaurant is the custom of eating with your hands, using the traditional crepe-like injera to take portions of the food.

At Restaurante Etíope Nuria, you’ll enjoy various starters, vegetables, meat, and stew. This lovely spot in Malasaña offers both an enjoyable time and a healthy, satisfying meal.

VEGA

Photo sourced from @vega_mad on Instagram

Considering themselves pioneers of vegan cuisine, VEGA is a Malasaña restaurant that offers flavorful and nutritious food. The chefs use organic products to bring you the very best quality meals at no animal’s expense.

This restaurant might be the place you’ll want to eat every night. Since they don’t take reservations, you’re better off just showing up whenever you get hungry.

Almost all plates are gluten free or can be made without gluten, and of course, there is no dairy or animal product in the cuisine. This is yet another spot where those with diet restrictions can come dine at ease. But the vegan plates are nothing short of impressive, with bold accents like black beans and black bun burgers.

The menu offers many things, from soups and salads to tacos and burgers. Meals are served with pristine plating and flower accents, complimented by perfect beverages. And arguably the most important element, VEGA has all the best desserts for guilt-free indulgence, so that you can finish off your spectacular meal with something sweet like panna cotta, mousse, or cheesecake.

Okashi Sanda

Photo sourced from @okashisanda on Instagram

This Malasaña located Japanese restaurant has the cutest colorful interior and desserts that are almost as impressive as the main dishes. Moreover, the food is 100% gluten and dairy free, which is especially nice for those with dietary restrictions, considering even soy sauce is typically made with gluten.

And while there are many sweets to be found around Madrid, Okashi Sanda is one of the few to offer such delicious healthy cakes and cookies that are promised to be made with only the best ingredients. As far as savory plates go, the restaurant will satisfy your every last craving.

The menu features the classics, like dumplings, croquettes, and crispy chicken, as well as some novelty plates, such as the octopus-filled balls served with a side sauce. The dishes are inspired by what’s popular, traditional, or innovative of Japanese cuisine.

Casa Federica

Photo sourced from Ricarda Mena Muñoz

Casa Federica is an Argentinian restaurant in Malasaña that always satisfies its guests. The establishment wows with friendly service, tasty desserts, and classic dishes that are reminiscent of Argentinian cuisine.

On the menu, you’ll find pizza, enchiladas, empanadas and more. The homemade plates are filling and flavorful. Moreover, it’s possible to order catering to share at your next gathering.

Casa Federica is the perfect combination of both old customs and new methods, and it’s definitely worth a visit during your time in Malasaña. Just keep in mind that they’re closed on Mondays.

Art & Sushi Madrid

Photo sourced from @artandsushi.madrid on Instagram

Art & Sushi is inspired by a constant search for the finest raw materials, combined with the creative freedom of their talented chefs. The Malasaña location is marked by a peaceful interior and distinguished menu.

The restaurant’s name is simple and to-the-point of what these people are really passionate about. Every dish ordered is served creatively, making you wonder if you should even take a bite.

Nonetheless, you should certainly dive in, as the taste doesn’t disappoint. Art & Sushi is a great place to go with large parties and order one of their giant sushi sets that shows their talent for turning cuisine into a true work of art.

Another nice thing about this restaurant also delivers with the Glovo app, so you can eat these exquisite creations in bed if you’d like. Moreover, the restaurant offers sushi-making classes on Mondays from 17:30 to 20:00. As you can see, there is much more than meets the eye at this Malasaña spot.

Crucina

Photo sourced from @crucina on Instagram

Why not try Madrid’s 1st gourmet raw and vegan restaurant while in Malasaña? Pictured above is the zucchini ravioli with spinach and dill, which is only one of the many impressive dishes at Crucina Restaurant.

If you are the kind of person who feels most satisfied by a healthy meal, you need to reserve a dinner here for your next free night out. Crucina offers a nice atmosphere, menu, and staff.

For those who don’t eat dairy, the vegan cheese plate is a dream come true, and it’s delicacies like this that can be enjoyed at this inviting spot. From the appetizers to the desserts, guests leave Crucina feeling satisfied and impressed with everything the restaurant has to offer.

Burnout

Photo sourced from @burnoutburgers on Instagram

While perhaps the least formal of this list, Burnout is certainly one of the greatest places to enjoy a meal in Malasaña. Just because the food is casual doesn’t mean the restaurant isn’t serious about what they do.

From the meat to the buns, every detail at the Burnout is meticulously selected. Their vegetables are carefully chosen and the fries are made fresh daily with olive oil. Needless to say, Burnout actually cares for their customers, and the food is certainly made without any preservatives.

Burnout prides themselves on transparency and quality, serving great food since 2015. Additional to burgers, you’ll find salads, nachos, wings, and more. The Burnout experience can be explained perfectly by their motto, ‘too good not to be true’.

Based on all of these great restaurants, you surely won’t run out of places to eat in Malasaña. The neighborhood specializes in everything from sushi to burgers, so there’s a destination for every one of your cravings.

These restaurants have unique dish offerings and lovely spaces to enjoy a meal with loved ones. Whether you like interiors that are dim and intimate or bright and lively, you’re going to be satisfied when dining in Malasaña. Every restaurant is staffed with people who love food and the guests they serve it to.

This article is proof that you can find every type of food throughout Madrid. It’s always nice for one city to have the specialty plates of many countries from all around the world. These unsuspecting locations hold the secrets to family recipes and carefully crafted delicacies.