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Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes
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| Cuisine | Castilian | ||
| Hours | Sun-Thurs 9:30am-1am; Fri-Sat 9:30am-3am | ||
| Address | Calle Alcalá 42 | ||
| Location | Near Plaza de la Cibeles | ||
| Transportation | Metro: Banco de España | ||
| Phone | 91-521-69-42 | ||
| Prices | Set-lunch menu 12€-14€ ($19-$22); evening tapas 3€-9.50€ ($4.80-$15) | ||
| Credit Cards | MC, V | ||
Frommer's Review
You can easily get into this former members-only club if you pay a modest 1€ entry fee (which also allows you to see whatever exhibitions are on in its galleries). The high-ceilinged cafe-restaurant up the steps from the wide hall boasts 1920s-style ceilings, chandeliers, artistic statues, and soaring pillars. From its huge windows you get a clear view of the ever-changing scene on Alcalá Street outside, though passersby can equally easily see what's going on inside, which is how it's earned itself the nickname la pecera, or aquarium. At lunchtime, you can join politicians and bankers from the nearby parliament or the Banco de España to enjoy a variety of pork, beef, fresh fish, and chicken dishes. The reasonably priced set menu changes every day, and once a week the chef prepares a sturdy traditional cocido (the Madrileños' favorite meat and vegetable stew). At night, no dinners are served but artsy crowds flock here to devour tapas of gambas (shrimps) or boquerones (fried anchovies) with their glasses of Rueda blanco or Ribera del Duero tinto wine.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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Frommer's Madrid, 3rd Edition
Author: Peter Stone |
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| 0 stars | Frommer's Recommended | |
| 1 stars | Frommer's Highly Recommended | |
| 2 stars | Frommer's Very Highly Recommended | |
| 3 stars | Frommer's Exceptional |
Frommer's ranks every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment it reviews for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating scale, an expression of the strong compare-and-contrast opinions that are a brand hallmark.
Other ratings provide stars based primarily on price and amenities; the Frommer's star rating is meant to quantify the kind of intangible, experiential elements that help travelers make informed decisions.
The "baseline" recommendation is zero stars--every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment that Frommer's chooses to review is recommended; otherwise, we simply wouldn't include it.