Travel tips, news and luxury accommodation-Barcelona and Madrid, Spain

Monthly Archives: April 2012

Restaurant recommendations in Madrid

Posted by Craig on April 9, 2012 1 comments

We asked for recommendations for Madrid restaurants and got feedback from people that lived there for several years. It’s encouraging to note that they concurred on the following 3 restaurants.

Madrid´s Casa Botin by the Plaza Major

Madrid´s Casa Botin by the Plaza Major

If you’re turning up in anything less than a jacket you need to check dress code (many ask for a tie). Madrid tends to be dressier than Barcelona, and the last thing you want is to be turned away at the door or worse, obliged to wear their house jacket/tie outfit! (I’ve kept this to ‘dress code for males’ because dress code for women is so subjective.)

By Plaza Major is Casa Botin. Highly regarded by the locals it is very well known for its Cochinillo (Roast Suckling Baby Pig) which when cooked right, can be carved using a dinner plate. Also good is their Cordero Asado (Roast Lamb).

Also by Plaza Major is Casa Paco, known for their meat and specially their steaks. Their wine list is substantial and decent.

For fish the place we were recommended is La Trainera in the upmarket residential area of Salamanca. Curiously it is accepted that the best fresh fish in Spain is found in Madrid, which is pretty much in the centre of the country but this is where supply and demand come into play. The fish is air freighted in from the coasts so is extraordinarily fresh and the Madrileños are great cooks.

Other specialities are Callos a la Madrileña, slightly spicey tripe, which when done well is sticky and delicious with fresh bread. And Madrid is also known for their Bocadillo de Calamares (squid sandwich) which for some reason usually provokes a smile!

One of Barcelona’s hidden restaurants-Casa Fausto

Posted by Craig on April 4, 2012 None comments

For obvious reasons most of Barcelona’s most talked about restaurants are in the centre of the city, but there are a few that aren’t central yet easily accessible for tourists who happen to be visiting our best spots.

Hidden treasure in Barcelona - Casa Fausto's hamburguesas de sepia

Hidden treasure in Barcelona - Casa Fausto's hamburguesas de sepia

For those who get to Parc Guell there is a hidden treasure in the relatively unknown area of Vallcarca. Casa Fausto opened after a few years closed and we have to admit that the new owners are doing a wonderful job.

They offer a very decent midweek menu at lunchtime for 9 euros (on weekends and public holidays this is 15 euros) or dinnertime it is a la carte. The regular menu has modern twists on old favourites and we’ve never been dissappointed yet.

Hamburguesas de sepia (cuttlefish burgers) are recommended; the bread is made with the ink so is, obviously, black. Croquetas de vieiras (scallop croquets) are delicious and even their pan amb tomaquet is way better than average.

Really decent wines by the glass mean you can experiment with some of Cataluña’s lesser known but totally worthwhile ‘caldos’ and their by the bottle list is adventurous and reliably good.

This resto is above Parc Guell, from the top of the park it’s a pleasant and picturesque 10 minute walk, or quite near the new metro station of El Coll (careful to take the Mare de Deu del Coll exit otherwise you can be in for an unnecessarily long walk). Or take the 28 bus which goes from Plaça Catalunya all the way up Passeig de Gracia and get off at the Carrer de Santuaris stop.

Casa Fausto is run by three brothers who know their stuff and take extra care of their restaurant. There are some really interesting old photographs of the Vallcarca barri on the walls, some donated by happy and grateful locals, which gives you an idea of what the residents think of these hard-working and original restaurateurs.

The address is a longish; opposite Passeig de la Mare de Deu del Coll, number 140, and their phone is 932 135 005.