The Madrid Book Fair, one of the most important in the world, closes its doors this weekend. Buen Retiro Park will no longer be the epicenter of reading, and being the last few days, we believe that there is no better plan for this weekend in the capital. What do we propose to you? Spend the morning buying books, checking out the authors, having an aperitif in Florida Park and then… Reserve a table at one of the restaurants in the area. Fortunately, In the surroundings we find great gastronomic projects to enjoy a good meal. We have made a selection of restaurants to eat after the Madrid Book Fair. You put the book.
Restaurants to eat after the Madrid Book Fair
Manolita Chen
Gastronomic project by businesswoman Eva Chen, it is one of the busiest restaurants in the area. Inspired by the iconic Manolita Chen, he was a circus artist, star, screenwriter… A great character in Madrid. The Chinese Theater of the protagonist inspires this restaurant on Castelló Street where you can enjoy Asian fusion food.
There is a great cocktail menu in which you can highlight the Asian Negroni, the Malgalita (yes, with an l), the Smoked Ginger or El sake y la Mery. To eat: their now iconic prawn popcorn, secret yakitori, crab rangoon, gyoza duck with foie, the Manolita Roll, their delicious tartars, duck crepes crispy... And for dessert, the coulant of chocolate and miso.
Berlanga
The son of film director Luis García Berlanga has this rice restaurant in front of Retiro Park which is always full. He, at least, tries to make the best rice dishes in Madrid. For many, they already are. Antonio Resines is one of the most regular clients. There is no better weekend plan than a walk through the heart of Madrid, soaking up the culture, and then having a good after-dinner meal with a glass of wine in hand.
We start with a wonderful Russian salad, with Arbizu chistorra, shrimp with garlic, with a esgarrat, with some tomatoes… And then we continue with a good rice. Antonio and Ana Resines’ favorite, for example, with leek and monkfish; the paella with red mullet and young garlic, the usual fried rice or black rice.
Cult
Kulto’s veal nugget is well worth a pilgrimage after buying books. And the whole letter in general, because The fusion that is breathed in this restaurant on Ibiza Street is not found anywhere else. Here we find a well-travelled cuisine led by José Fuentes. “An eclectic cuisine that is only understood when you try it,” they explain to us.
At the bar or at the table, any of the options is great. And we always have the solution of choosing something in between: the high table. The fried crystal prawn with fried egg and smoked Iberian pork never fails; the veal nugget, in case it was not clear; grilled tuna satay, Creamy Russian salad with almadraba tuna, oxtail bikini and Idiazábal cheese, tuna dressed with tomato sauce and egg…
Sa Brisa
Being next to Ibiza Street and Menorca Street, on Avenida de Menéndez Pelayo, it is normal that there is a Balearic-inspired restaurant. We are talking about Sa Brisa, another restaurant option to go to after the Book Fair. They opened their restaurant more than 10 years ago, in Ibiza, and it was in 2018 when they established themselves in Madrid. And of course, what we find is Mediterranean cuisine.
Artisan sobrasada with Xeixa bread and honey, homemade rabbit pâté with Ibizan herb liqueur… That’s for starters. After: coke trempó with smoked sardine and peppers, shrimp quesadillas with guacamole, Ibizan country salad with peix sec from Formentera, bullit de peix Sa Brisa stylegrilled squid with chickpeas and sobrasada… And paying homage to Menorca, the lobster stew, made to order.
Hotaru
It is one of the trendy Japanese restaurants… And it is right in front of one of the main exits of Retiro Park. So why not go out to eat this Saturday? Hotaru is the gastro epicenter when tuna snoring occurs, but it is also the same on other days, because it is one of the favorites for this type of Asian food.
Chef Alejandro Pérez leads this gastronomic experience that has already made it into the Michelin Guide. «Here, true fans of haute cuisine and sushi will be able to enjoy an explosion of flavors based on exposing the qualities and virtues of contemporary sushi» they explain to us. Dishes? Málaga thin shell with spicy ponzu and yellow lemon, lemon fish temaki, spicy tuna maki… There are makis, temakis, nigiris and sashimis of all kinds. How about this list of restaurants to eat after the Madrid Book Fair?
