Thanks to HappyCow, it is always easy to find the best places anywhere to have a veggie meal. And there are several really nice places in Madrid you should definitely check out. But, how often do you get nice options that are also part of the local cuisine? Let me explain how, in Spain, you can do what the Spaniards do (well, at least in Madrid – note it is a big country with many different traditions).
To start off: have breakfast! In any bar they will serve you a basic breakfast (desayuno) until 12.00, which typically consists out of a toast and strong coffee, costing only up to 2.50€, or a bit more if you add a freshly pressed orange juice. Mind you, you will not have endless options of coffees and sizes. If you ask for a latte or cappucino you might just get a funny face. Or, if they are nice, they might give it a try and serve you their interpretation of what you asked for. Spaniards have their own coffee culture and so you should ask for:
café solo: espresso
café americano: your normal long coffee
café con leche de soja: coffee with soy milk (you often get to choose if you would like it in a glass or a coffee cup/if you would like the soy milk hot or lukewarm)
cafe cortado con leche de soja: an espresso with some soy milk
The same goes for the toast (tostada): there is not a wide variety, but the stuff is goood. You usually order it either with “tomate” or “mermelada”. However, in Madrid, it is not that normal for bars to serve soy milk. So if you have your coffee black, you’re good to go anywhere. But otherwise, let me list just a few nice places in the center that give you the vegan option:
Benteveo: Santa Isabel 15 (Metro Antón Martín)
A classic Spanish bar run by young people (hence the soya milk, and great home-made marmelades)
La Pastelería del Duque: Calle Millán 14 (metro Tirso de Molina / la Latina)
This small bakery is a bit more modern but has a very friendly and clean atmosphere
Café el Mar: Calle de Embajadores, 31 (Metro Lavapiés / Embajadores)
A lovely quirky place where no two chairs and tables are alike. There is also a small organic grocery store.
La libre: Calle Argumosa, 39 (Metro Lavapiés or Atocha)
A bookstore combined with a café. Slightly more pricy, but there’s a small terrace and lots to read.
La Infinito: /c/ tres peces, 22 (Metro Antón Martín or Lavapies)
Another bookstore/café where you will find the more hipster audience of Lavapies.
Lunch in Madrid is usually available from 1 to 4 pm, and during workdays especially you will want to take advantage of the fact that almost any place offers a lunch menu. These menus are a cheap option (max 13.50€, unless you go to very fancy places) and include three courses plus a drink. Also, menus change every day. So if you want to try out some of the vegan restaurants that you found on HappyCow, go for lunch and let them surprise you with their daily offer.
Dinner in Spain is not until late. Many kitchens don’t open until 8.30 pm or later. But, if you go for drinks before that you will get a small snack with every drink. In case you get served something you wouldn’t eat, you can always ask them to give you some crisps (patatas fritas) or olives (aceitunas) instead. Then, as many people have had a lunch menu during the day, they will just order “raciones” for dinner (like big tapas). Below are some dishes that you can find in almost any Spanish restaurant in Madrid and that make for great vegan options:
Patatas Bravas: Fried potato pieces with really spicy sauce
Patatos Mojo Picón: Boiled potatoes with really spice oily sauce
Pimientos de padrón: Fried little green peppers
Setas a la plancha: Pan fried mushrooms, often with a hint of garlic
Setas al Ajillo: Oil fried champignons with garlic (just ask to make sure they don’t come with ham “sin jamón”)
Gazpacho: A cold soup made out of peppers, tomato bread, and garlic
Salmorejo: A cold soup made out of peppers, bread and garlic (it is always garnished with pieces of ham and eggs, but if you ask they can leave it out / “sin huevo ni jamón por favor”
Ajo Blanco: A cold soup made out of garlic and almonds
Ensalada Mixta: If you order a simple salad, note it will always come with tuna and egg, unless you ask them to leave it out (“sin atún ni huevo”)
Finally, Madrid is home to some really nice beers. If on draft, they are served cold and with a small layer of foam. Also, in decent places, you will get the usual “tapa” / small snack. You can order your beer in different sizes: small (caña), medium (doble), large (jarra) or extra large (mini). Vegan brands that are local to Madrid, according to www.barnivore.com, are Mahou, Veer and La Virgen. Other bars may serve Alhambra or Estrella Galicia, both really nice.
So, I hope this will help you enjoy the authentic taste of Madrid. No matter how big a fan I am of carrot cake and chai or bean burgers with guacamole… make sure you don’t miss out on the local culture – it’s worth it!
About the author: Sarah van der Meer is an Environmental Anthropologist in the making, currently studying at University of Kent. Being fascinated by languages and cultures, she has been living and working in 6 different countries so far, her most recent home being Madrid. Also, she is the singer of Moongardening, which released its second album “A Field Study” earlier this year and can be heard at http://music.gardenonthemoon.
Image source: http://allworldtowns.com/
No Comments