Guide to healthy and tasty restaurants in Madrid

We managed to find lots of really good restaurants when we went to Madrid and today, I’ll share these insider tips with you. There are several healthy options and it’s possible to eat both organic, paleo, low carb, raw food and vegan food.

So whatever health system you adhere to, there are tips you can use in this guide.

Unfortunately some of the restaurants we really wanted to go to were closed as we were there during Easter. But that won’t keep me from tipping you about these places in case you have more luck than I did. Also some restaurants open for dinner at 8.30 PM and with two 10 year olds who so very bravely walked for 15-18 kilometres every day, that was a bit too late for us.

Okay, let’s start the guide.

LA ANTONITA
This was perhaps our best dining experience in Madrid. A little lively place in La Latina, really delicious food and friendly service. 

We ordered way too much food but got to taste lots of different things. One favorite was the Colección de Tomates Marinados – a collection of marinated tomatoes. Yes, it may sound simple but it was utterly delicious.

Book a table a few days in advance or show up early (we showed up early, kiddy family, you know!)

La Antonita, Calle Cava Baja, 16, 28005 Madrid

BACIRA
We SO wanted to eat at Bacira but unfortunately they were closed during our entire stay. A very reliable source had recommended this place to us as the one place we shouldn’t miss.

I hope you have more luck. Don’t forget to book a table if you want to make sure you get a chance to eat here.

Bacira, Calle del Castillo, 16, 28010 Madrid

Oh no… it’s closed. Until next time…

NEST ORGANIC
Nest is an all organic restaurant. It’s situated in a really strange business center area close to the football stadium. So plan to have lunch here when you go to see the stadium anyway.

Read about our visit to the stadium here: Madrid – tips and ideas for a long weekend in the Spanish capital

The restaurant is difficult to find but don’t give up. It’s really worth the time. It has a great interior and really nice and fresh organic food. The menu is only in Spanish and our waitress did not speak one word of English. So we got by using Google translate and improvisation. I love that about traveling!

Foodstyle is healthy tapas, I would say.

Nest Organic, Moda Shopping, Av. del General Perón, 38, 28020 Madrid

Raw veggies with three dipping sauces (humus, guacamole and a third one I can’t remember) and a plate with very fresh mozzarella cheese and some marinated rocket salad. Delicious!!

MAMA CAMPO – organich restaurant and market
We found this little gem by accident but loved it! It wasn’t really time to eat when we passed it so we just had a few snacks.

Really cosy place, rustic, organic style with lots of sweet little details. All dishes made with organic and locally procuced ingredients.

Mama Campo also has a little organic market where you can go shop afterwards.

Mama Campo, Plaza de Olavide og Calle de Trafalgar, 22, 28010 Madrid

PLATEA MADRID
Platea calls itself a gastronomic center and it really is just that. It’s a huge food hall with all kinds of different types of restaurants. You have tapas, Italian food, Mexican food, Peruvian food and more fine dining like several Michelin starred restaurants. All under the same roof.

The concept is very food court like. You can eat from whatever restaurant you want and sit with your friends who may eat from a completely different restaurant. Very flexible.

The food court concept is funny but it also makes it a bit difficult to create a real restaurant feeling. You order and pay for your food at the different food stalls and the food comes when it’s ready. Well, that’s part of the charm here.

Our meal exceeded expectations – not just a little but a lot! We chose very simplistic food and had a Greek salad, some fresh juice, some really tender chicken and ribs and the kids had a slice of pizza too.

So even though the place is a bit odd, I really recommend that you try it. Maybe just for a quick lunch.

Platea Madrid, Calle de Goya, 5-7, 28001 Madrid

RAW FOOD AND VEGAN FOOD
Whenever we go on a city break we always look up if they have a raw food restaurant. It’s nice to have a green break with lots of veggies and it’s a fine occasion to have some of their delicious raw cakes.

Madrid has one raw food restaurant called Crucina and I heard they have the most delicious raw tiramisu. I was so disappointed to find out they were closed during our entire stay.

But I’ll still pass on the recommendation to you:

Crucina, Calle del Divino Pastor, 30, 28004 Madrid

VEGA – Vegan restaurant
Instead of Crucina we went to a vegan restaurant called Vega (like my daughter). I like to challenge my kids food wise and bringing them to a vegan restaurant is a great way to do.

Vega is a little busy place with an intimate feeling but unfortunately the food wasn’t all that great. It wasn’t bad either, it just didn’t have much taste, to be honest. We had some appetizers with three different dipping sauce – one beet root humus, the two others I forget. They didn’t taste of much. Along with that we had some gluten-free bread. For main course I had some grilled vegetables with a chimichurri sauce and that was delicious but portion wise it was like a side dish I would normally eat with my meat. The rest of the family had a curry with rice, lentils and chickpeas and that wasn’t all that tasty either. They all ate it though.

But to my luck, they had a raw chocolate cake on the menu so I had that and left the restaurant happy anyway.

Vega, Calle de la Luna, 9, 28004 Madrid

MOX HEALTHY FOOD
Mox is a small take out place that serves fresh salads and juices to go. We just stopped by for juice. I had a green one that consisted mostly of fruit and some green veg for the sake of the pretty color. I very rarely have fruit juice but that is delicious for sure.

Mox Healthy Food & Drinks, Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 53, 28004 Madrid

FOOD MARKETS
If you’re a foodie visiting Madrid, you must also visit the two food markets. They are nothing compared to the food market in Barcelona,  La Boquéria but they are still worth a visit.

Mercado San Ánton has a great roof top terrace. That’s the restaurant we had lunch at (see above)

Mercado San Miguel, Plaza de San Miguel, 28005 Madrid

Mercado San Ánton, Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 24, 28004

If you’re going to Madrid, make sure you also read this post: MADRID – WHAT TO SEE AND DO FOR A LONG WEEKEND IN THE SPANISH CAPITAL