Best Burgers in Madrid: Barrio Guide

The best burgers in Madrid are concentrated in Malasaña and Chueca, the two central barrios just north of Gran Vía, with more options in La Latina, Lavapiés and Chamberí. Look for patties made from vaca vieja, aged beef from older cattle, alongside the smash burgers that have spread through the centre.

Over the past fifteen years or so, Madrid has turned the hamburguesa from fast food into a restaurant dish. Much of that comes down to beef: Spanish cooks prize meat from older cows, such as the Rubia Gallega breed from Galicia, for its fat and depth of flavour, and many burger menus name the breed and the ageing. The city’s own handheld classic is still the bocadillo de calamares, fried squid in a crusty roll, sold in the bars around Plaza Mayor. Meals run late, and a burger dinner at 10 pm is normal.

Burgers in Madrid: key facts

• Barrios to start with: Malasaña and Chueca, then La Latina, Lavapiés and Chamberí.
• Beef to ask about: vaca vieja and Rubia Gallega, often dry-aged.
• Local sandwich: the bocadillo de calamares, a Plaza Mayor tradition.
• Meal times: lunch from about 2 pm, dinner from 9 pm onwards.
• Getting around: the Metro reaches every central barrio, and much of the centre is walkable.
• Currency: euro (EUR); a small tip is welcome but not expected.

Every guide we publish on Madrid is dated and lists only venues, addresses, prices and ratings we could verify. To compare cities, browse our burger restaurant guides across Spain and the world.