La Cava Real

If the wine is as important to you as the meal itself, this is the place for you. When the tavern opened in 1983, it was the first real wine bar Madrid had ever seen. Since then, many others have appeared, but La Cava Real (which is linked to Spain's largest oenophiles' club) remains one of the very best. Just don't mention the word beer here and you should do fine. There are more than 350 wines in the cellar, and you can order a staggering 50 of them by the glass, which allows you to sample more than one tipple at the same meal if you so desire. Turn to the skilled maitre d', Chema Gómez, for advice on which vintage to choose. The chef, Javier Collar, matches the wines with a smooth and well-executed blend of the finest French and Basque dishes. Witness his pimientos rellenos de bacalao (peppers stuffed with cod), rape envuelto en calabacín (angler fish wrapped in vegetable marrow), and grilled and sweet-tasting merluza (hake) from the Bay of Biscay. He also provides tasty seasonal game fare and in autumn, dishes such as perdiz (partridge) and codorniz (quail). For desserts the cheese selection deserves an award on its own.

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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