These migrants established some of Lavapi\u00e9s’ most classic establishment: the no-frills bars<\/a> we still love today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Later, as Spain joined the EU in the 1980s and experienced economic growth, many new arrivals from all corners of the world arrived, settling into central Madrid\u2019s most affordable neighborhood. For that reason, as of 2018, statistics reflect that as many as 88 different nationalities are represented within Lavapi\u00e9s. As a result, the neighborhood is a fantastic way to discover the changing face of Spain and all the resulting gastronomic offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Located on Calle Mes\u00f3n de Paredes, a bustling Lavapi\u00e9s street lined with garment vendors, Bar Colores serves up chiefly Senegalese classics. Look out for maffe<\/em> (meat stewed with peanuts and vegetables) and Senegal\u2019s national dish: thieboudienne<\/em> (stewed fish and vegetables). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The prices here are fantastic and the wait staff is friendly. The star dishes sell out quick, so get there early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bar with a story that in many ways embodies the complicated and precarious future of Lavapi\u00e9s, Bodegas Lo M\u00e1ximo has been the neighborhood bar famous for affordable ca\u00f1as<\/em><\/a>, Aperol spritzes, and Wednesday night bolero performances by owner Piluka Aranguren<\/a> since 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, its future as a staple Lavapi\u00e9s bar de ca\u00f1as <\/em>was in danger. In 2019, the building was bought by a British investment firm planning to evict all the tenants and turn the building into apartment rentals. Luckily, Aranguren and her business partners were able to negotiate with the firm and ultimately save their beloved neighborhood watering hole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Given its tumultuous recent past, one thing\u2019s for sure. Now is undoubtedly the time to support small businesses<\/a> like Bodegas Lo M\u00e1ximo! Go have a beer or two and experience a true Madrid icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n El Boquer\u00f3n (or \u201cthe anchovy\u201d as its name literally translates) is one of those Lavapi\u00e9s bars that excites both young hipsters and older residents alike. Famous for cold beer and seafood, this is the<\/em> classic place to start a night out in Lavapi\u00e9s. Try the gambas a la plancha<\/em>, or grilled prawns\u2014always served with the head still on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of Lavapi\u00e9s’ (and Madrid\u2019s!) first bars with a focus on natural wines<\/a>, Bendito and its owner Jos\u00e9 have managed to turn a huge number of young Spaniards onto these new and exciting vinos<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Served with no pretense and located within the locally adored Mercado de San Fernando, Bendito is the kind of bar where wait staff will ask what kind of wine you\u2019re looking for, pour you a sip of what\u2019s open, and patiently help you find a match. Their cheese and charcuterie boards include some of Spain\u2019s most famous cheeses (straight from Queser\u00eda Cultivo<\/a>) and jam\u00f3n<\/em> at incredibly fair prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re seeking more filling options after your glass of wine, peruse the market. The dining options are boundless, and our favorite is O Luar, run by a Venezuelan couple that specializes in arepas<\/em>. Try the reina pepiada <\/em>and, if you have a sweet tooth, their tres leches<\/em> cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everything in Lavapi\u00e9s is about bars and nightlife. When it comes to lunch in Madrid<\/a>, Taberna Badila is easily one of the best values for a men\u00fa del d\u00eda<\/a><\/em>, the popular set menu of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For \u20ac14.50 you can choose a first and second course with dessert and a drink included. The second course will always include a protein, and if you’re a fan of fish, you have to try the chicharro<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also known as horse mackerel, this underappreciated and sustainable fish is caught in the cold waters of the Cantabrian sea. Badila\u2019s chicharro a la bilba\u00edna<\/em> will rival any restaurant in Bilbao, where the dish originally comes from. Come hungry, and if variety is your thing, go with friends and share several of the dishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For dessert? Don’t miss the homemade cuajada<\/em>, curdled sheep\u2019s milk served with homemade blueberry jam. It mind sound strange, but trust us on this one\u2014Badila never disappoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the sun starts to set and madrile\u00f1os <\/em>start to leave work, it\u2019s time for our beloved post-work ca\u00f1a at a Lavapi\u00e9s bar. For those moments, Caf\u00e9 Pav\u00f3n has it all: lively atmosphere, reasonable prices, olives and crispy chips served to accompany your beer, and their famous mojitos.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself in the mood to begin an evening of ca\u00f1eo<\/em> (the perfect accompaniment to tapeo,<\/em> ca\u00f1eo<\/em> is simply going out for small beers), follow the natural pull down the Calle Embajadores where you will find plenty of local bars and eateries to continue your route. And remember: don\u2019t fear packed bars\u2014those are the guaranteed local favorites!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Returning back to Lavapi\u00e9s’ austere and castizo <\/em>character, no visit to the neighborhood is complete without a beer, a croqueta, <\/em>and a zapatilla<\/em> at Melo\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Literally translated as \u201cshoe,\u201d the signature sandwich at this local eatery is made entirely of Galician ingredients: bread filled with soft cow\u2019s milk tetilla<\/em> cheese and lac\u00f3n<\/em> or ham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Melo\u2019s fills up, so be fearless and assert yourself when it comes time to order at this classic Lavapi\u00e9s bar. Also, if you like white wine, try their fruity Galician white wine served in white porcelain dishes, just like it\u2019s done in Galicia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the only thing you\u2019re missing at this point is something a little fancy, and TOGA will fit the bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Run by Argentine chefs serving up a mix of Latin American and Spanish dishes with Asian touches, the restaurant itself is lovely and the constantly evolving menu never disappoints. Make sure to reserve for dinner and ask for the off-the-menu options. If the noodles are available, they\u2019re a must! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon leaving TOGA, you\u2019re at a crossroads. You\u2019ll be right by Plaza Cascorro, the dividing line between two beloved central Madrid neighborhoods. From here, you can either head back towards “Lavapi” (as Madrid youth lovingly refer to Lavapi\u00e9s) and have some more beers. Or you can change neighborhoods and head into La Latina<\/a>, another beloved central neighborhood famous for its terraces, Sunday flea market<\/a>, charming squares, and the countless tapas bars along Cava Baja street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, the night has just begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located southeast of Madrid’s historic center, Lavapi\u00e9s lies in the area framed by Calle de Embajadores and Calle de Atocha. The local metro stop of the same name is located in the center of the neighborhood. Metro stations Embajadores, La Latina, Tirso de Molina, and Ant\u00f3n Mart\u00edn also serve the area.<\/p> <\/div> As you may have guessed, our favorite thing to do in Lavapi\u00e9s is eat! But this corner of Madrid has a lot more to offer, too. Update Notice: This post was originally published on October 16, 2019 and was updated with new text and photos on May 28, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you want to understand Madrid\u2014the real Madrid\u2014these Lavapi\u00e9s bars and restaurants are a great place to start. Until recently, Lavapi\u00e9s was one of central Madrid\u2019s most affordable neighborhoods. With its hilly streets and characteristic corralas (Madrid\u2019s characteristic housing style where neighbors share an interior patio), throughout the 19th and 20th centuries Lavapi\u00e9s attracted migrants […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":13622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[75,53],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Exterior](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lavapies-corrala-FCC-1.jpeg\")
1. Bar Colores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Stew](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/african-peanut-stew-FCC-1.jpeg\")
2. Bodegas Lo M\u00e1ximo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Exterior](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bodegas-Lo-Maximo-IG-1.jpeg\")
3. El Boquer\u00f3n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/boiled-shrimp-picos-mojama-1.jpeg\")
4 & 5. Bendito Vinos y Vinilos & O Luar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Close](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/two-glasses-of-white-wine-1.jpeg\")
6. Taberna Badila<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/madridfoodtour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/badila-madrid-chicharro.jpeg\")
7. Caf\u00e9 Pav\u00f3n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Interior](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cafe-pavon-madrid-IG-1.jpeg\")
8. Caf\u00e9 Melos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melos-madrid-IG-1.jpeg\")
9. TOGA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lavapi\u00e9s Tapas FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n