They have come on strong. They do so with the conviction and enthusiasm to reinvent and fill the world of Madrid's gastronomy with freshness. An increasing number of young chefs are committed to launching interesting projects in which passion for cooking, creativity and the defence of local and local produce become the absolute protagonists.
A day well eaten in La Latina
La Latina, far from the weekend noise and the clichés of tapas, is now living its best moment. More mature. More gastronomic. More yours. We propose a whole day to savor it well, with three stops that define its moment.
La Latina. Fuente:
There are plans that are not planned. You meet for breakfast and, without realizing it, time stretches. The conversation flows, the coffee gets longer, and breakfast turns into lunch. And when it seems that the day is about to end, that last drink appears, in that beautiful place where the light enters well, the wine accompanies, and one is not in a hurry to leave.
This tour is not a guide. It is a way to spend the day. In good company. Well eaten. At the rhythm of the neighborhood.
FOR LOVERS OF LONG BREAKFAST: WATTS CANTINA
Las famosas tortitas de Watts Cantina
Its concept is that of a canteen. In recent months, it has become an obligatory stop for coffee lovers, long breakfasts and the forgotten snack time. Also those who enjoy discovering new natural wines and the best live music.
In Watts Cantina (Calle de Don Pedro, 4) the kitchen is open all day and its menu is inspired by the classic American diners. Francisco and Daniel, after many years working together at Toma Café (that is precisely where their specialty coffee comes from), decided to undertake this project in which the concepts of cafeteria and restaurant are mixed. Their star dish? You won’t be able to leave without trying their delicious (and Instagrammable) pancakes served with Canadian maple syrup. In addition to their daytime offer (where you will also find an interesting selection of sandwiches and dishes perfect for sharing), they have a nighttime proposal (during the weekends), where they serve natural wines and where music and sound round off the experience.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on their DJs program, who play only vinyl.
FOOD AT ALTO BARDERO
La icónica tortilla de patata de "Alto Bardero"
The unexpected closure of Juana la Loca left a gap difficult to fill in La Latina. Now, in the same location, Alto Bardero takes over with a new air, without erasing the past.
Two young chefs at the helm, the Uruguayan León Bonasso and the Argentine Pablo Paternostro joined forces to open Bardero in 2021, in the Arganzuela district. Already consolidated as a reference in the south of Madrid, this tandem redoubles the bet and adds to the cause a new restaurant: Alto Bardero.
A new menu, featuring several Bardero classics, and a space divided into two areas (tapas bar and dining room) are the declaration of intentions for two chefs who return to their area. The surprise? Juana’s tortilla is still there. Same taste, same texture, same wink to those who miss it.
Alto Bardero is a fresh proposal where each dish reflects a mix of cultures, a cosmopolitan spark that connects with modern Madrid, but without losing sight of the authenticity of traditional flavors and is presented in a completely renovated local, full of light, neutral tones and wood details, a first space that works without reservations where the protagonist is the bar and high tables with stools and an interior dining room equipped with low tables and bench to suit the needs of each day and where you can book.
AS A LAST STOP, A GOOD WINE: CEDRON
Restaurante "Cedrón"
A restaurant and wine bar in the heart of La Latina, discreet on the outside, warm on the inside. The menu is brief and thoughtful. Product cuisine, with Mediterranean inspiration and some Rio de la Plata touches. Nothing too much. Everything with an intention.
And the wines, the real protagonists. Careful selection, focusing on small producers who work with respect. Spain, Argentina and beyond. Natural, honest, lively. Most of them by the glass. To taste, share and talk.
Cedrón is that place where you arrive without haste and you don’t want to leave. A last stop, yes, but also an invitation to linger. One more drink. An after-dinner conversation without an hour. And the feeling of being right where you should be.