La Castela is one of my go-to restaurants. This old-school, typical Spanish tasca has an elegant marble-top bar, outdoor seating, and wine for all occasions. It always delivers, whether you’re in the mood for a casual, spontaneous lunch at the high tops or a more indulgent affair at the main restaurant. Both the restaurant and the bar are known for their tapas—chickpeas with prawns, octopus with sticky rice, eggs with beans. My personal favorites are the coquinas (Andalusian shellfish) and the croquetas, which are probably Madrid’s finest. —Victoria Matossian

Victoria Matossian is the Madrid-based founder of Dahlia