Any good chef knows that Spain boasts some of the world’s best seafood. Nestled between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, there is no shortage of options, whether you favor small sea oysters or jumbo prawns. Enter El Pescador, which opened on Ortega y Gasset in 1975 and has been serving some of Madrid’s best seafood ever since. If the fish is fresh enough, the owner Evaristo Garcia argues, you don’t need sauce or sides. The space itself is minimalist—stainless-steel stools are tucked under a concrete bar and small tables crowd the room. Opt for the seafood platter, which doesn’t disappoint. Most of the things you’ll try will have been caught that same morning. —Ludovico Bonaccorsi

Ludovico Bonaccorsi is the Italian restaurateur behind LùBar