Change the asphalt for the sand. The stressful roar of traffic for the relaxing sound of the sea. Abandon the city to surrender to the slow and carefree life, to immerse yourself, fully, in the long-awaited vacation.
Five impossible reservations to make up for August in Madrid
When the city empties out, even the most sought-after dining spots start to breathe a little easier. Five trendy restaurants to turn the so-called “anti-plan” of staying in Madrid into the gastronomic highlight of the summer.
Staying in Madrid in August may seem, at first glance, like the very definition of a bad idea: blinds drawn, sweltering streets, and photos of distant beaches popping up on your phone all the time. But you just need to look at the city from a different angle to discover its best side. There’s less traffic, the outdoor cafes are quiet again, and getting a table at some of the most sought-after restaurants no longer feels like a mission reserved for professional planners.
Because while half the city seeks refuge by the sea, those who stay can temporarily take over Madrid. It’s the perfect time to try that restaurant you could never find a spot at and enjoy a dining room that’s usually packed as if it had been opened just for you. These five spots are five good reasons to stop thinking of August as a consolation prize.
EMi: the reservation everyone in Madrid wants to get
EMi has all the ingredients needed to top this list: just a dozen seats around a counter, a relatively recent opening, and one of the most talked-about chefs on the Madrid scene. Rubén Hernández Mosquero returned to Spain after working in kitchens such as Noma, Geranium, and Atomix to open an intimate space in Chamberí, conceived as a direct dialogue between the diner, the chef, and the stove.
There is no menu here, nor any choice. The experience revolves around a single surprise menu of approximately fourteen courses, featuring several appetizers, a succession of hot and cold dishes, a pre-dessert, a dessert, and small sweet treats to finish. Mosquero combines techniques and influences from New Nordic and Korean cuisine with Spanish ingredients and flavors. Precisely prepared fish, meats such as venison, fermented ingredients, intense stocks, and seasonal vegetables come together to create a delicate, technically sophisticated menu that defies easy categorization.
Since opening in 2025, EMi has earned a Michelin star and numerous accolades—a rapid succession of praise that has made its limited seating some of the most sought-after in Madrid. For the rest of the year, securing a seat at its kitchen table requires planning and patience; when the city empties out, August may offer that slim chance of finding a spot before September fills up its schedule once again.
Desde 1911: Madrid’s great temple of seafood
At Desde 1911, there is no set menu. The dining experience is crafted each morning around the finest fish and seafood arriving from the Spanish coast, so the menu changes completely depending on the catch of the day and seasonal produce. Before cooking the main course, the team presents it at the table, making the selection of the dish part of the ritual.
Diners can choose from different tasting menus, consisting of three to six appetizers and a main fish course served to the entire dining room. The sequence typically includes a raw dish, a marinated dish, and a soup or stew, with options that may feature shellfish, smoked salmon, cocochas, scallops, or caviar. Next come two of the restaurant’s hallmarks: its carefully curated cheese and dessert carts. Rather than coming here looking for a specific dish, guests come to discover what the sea has offered that morning.
Diego Murciego’s cuisine, service led by Abel Valverde, and a spacious dining room come together to create one of Madrid’s most unique dining experiences. It’s also one of the hardest to book: for much of the year, securing a table requires planning weeks in advance. In August, however, you may have the chance to enjoy this temple of seafood with the leisure it deserves.
K’era: the Georgian restaurant that all of Madrid wants to discover
K’era is one of the most talked-about new openings of 2026 and the latest addition to Nino Kiltava’s culinary universe. Conceived as an all-day Georgian cantina, it offers a menu designed for sharing, with the oven and bread taking center stage.
The menu features classics such as khachapuri—bread dough stuffed with cheese and topped with an egg—khinkali—large Georgian dumplings filled with meat and broth—and freshly baked shoti bread, as well as vegetables, stews, spiced meats, and Georgian wines. The menu changes throughout the day, offering breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner in a space that blends cuisine, music, and culture.
The success of Kiltava’s restaurants has led to waiting lists that stretch for weeks or even months. But when Madrid starts to empty out, August may be the perfect time to discover why Georgian cuisine has become one of the city’s newest culinary phenomena.
El Campero Madrid: the restaurant of the summer without leaving the city
DVD1309. Restaurante Campero . Álvaro García. 11/03/2026
El Campero, the renowned Barbate restaurant specializing in bluefin tuna caught using the almadraba method, has brought its culinary concept to Madrid in one of the most talked-about restaurant openings of 2026. Its arrival allows diners in the capital to experience a cuisine built almost entirely around a single product, prepared from head to tail.
The menu explores the different parts of the tuna through raw dishes, salt-cured preparations, stews, and grilled creations. You’ll find cuts such as ventresca, morrillo, tarantelo, and descargamento, alongside tartares, sashimi, onion-marinated dishes, and dishes made with offal and lesser-known parts. The intention is not to limit the menu to raw tuna, but to showcase the entire culture of the almadraba and the full utilization of the fish.
Thanks to its novelty and the reputation of the original restaurant, it has quickly become one of the most intriguing dining spots. While many Madrid residents head south in search of the sea, those who stay in the capital can experience Barbate without leaving the Salamanca neighborhood.
Chispa Bistró: the small dining spot where everything is cooked over an open flame
Chispa Bistró has become one of those spots that spreads by word of mouth until its schedule is completely booked. At the helm is Argentine chef Juan D’Onofrio, who offers international cuisine with a strong focus on grilling, fresh ingredients, and sauces. The restaurant is small, the atmosphere is intimate, and the experience retains that personal touch that’s often lost when a venture becomes a trend.
The menu is designed for sharing and combines cured, fermented, pickled, and smoked ingredients with dishes cooked directly over an open flame. Seasonal vegetables, fish, meats, and dishes with intense flavors are paired with sauces that blend acidity, sweetness, and spicy notes. Rather than adhering to a single culinary tradition, the menu brings together Latin American, Asian, and Mediterranean influences centered around the grill.
With its limited number of tables and loyal clientele, finding a spot—especially on the weekend—requires some planning. Chispa only accepts standard reservations for up to five people, another sign of its intimate atmosphere. This summer, when the neighborhood starts to come alive, you might get the chance to enjoy it just as a bistro should be enjoyed: without rushing, with dishes shared at the center of the table, and the feeling of having discovered a table that’s still a hidden gem.