In Madrid there are restaurants of all categories to be found. From simple bars to exclusive gourmet restaurants, the budget range is very broad. Cuisine here is very international, it is possible to find dishes from almost every area of the world and the possibilities continue to grow. Asian, South American and African cuisine is slowly but surely taking hold in Madrid. However Asian restaurants are still fairly expensive and going to a Mexican or Italian restaurant will go easier on the wallet. Those seeking experiences that are out of the ordinary should go to Botín Restaurant, which exists since 1725 and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant. The gastronomic experience which took off here in the seventies has seen restaurants sprout up around the city. Going to a restaurant with a Flamenco dinner show makes for a great outing.

Tapas bars are to be found all over town. A well-know chain of tapas bars in Madrid is Museo de Jamón. The name “museum” most likely comes from the fact that many dried legs of ham hang from the ceiling. Of course you will also come across more international chains of fast-food restaurants in Madrid. When going out for tapas, be sure to distinguish between “raciones” a whole plate and the smaller portions referred to as “pinchos”. If you order a “bocadillo” you’ll get an open sandwich.

Madrid is full of all kinds of cafes. Theatrical and literary cafes, cafes inside stores and traditional coffee houses in Belle Époque style are often meeting places for artists. They are generally open all day long and if you get the chance to stop over for a relaxing cup of coffee, they provide a great retreat from hectic city life for a while. Usually nothing happens in bars until after 11 PM and it isn’t until well into the night, around 3 AM, that they begin to really fill up.

As was mentioned earlier, going out for a meal here is an important affair. When entering a restaurant, you should wait for the head waiter to direct you to your seat. It is considered very impolite to simply sit at another patron’s table. It is best to ask the waiter if a table will be free soon or go and try out another restaurant. In Spain people don’t tend to split the check and you may find that the waiter refuses to charge you separately.

When tipping, it is not customary to simply round up the total sum of the bill you pay. Rather, before leaving the restaurant, leave a few notes behind on the table. Generally 5% is left as a tip.

While in Madrid taking a Spanish Language Course try out the different eateries around town and decide which you like best.