Amid the sea of tourist-trap tapas bars and “Irish pubs” around Madrid’s main Puerta del Sol square, Casa Toni is a rough-and-ready touchstone for real food, keen prices (everything’s under €10) and a warm welcome. Day and night, a motley crew of hungry regulars – from young lads lining their stomachs to sixtysomethings grabbing a bite after the opera – huddle at rough-hewn tables, digging into grilled garlicky mushrooms, eggplant drizzled with honey and the best beer-battered baby cuttlefish I’ve tasted. Those itching to experience some classic Madrid nose-to-tail cuisine should try the creamy mollejas (lamb sweetbreads) and – careful here – a crispy zarajo (fried lamb guts wound around a vine).Calle de la Cruz 14, +34 915 322 580, casa-toni.es.

Painted ceramic tiles, scarves of local football clubs draped on the shelves and a gallery wall showcasing vintage photographs of famous bullfighters – you can’t get any more castizo (traditionally Spanish) than this tavern in Madrid’s central district. Over an open grill, a cook fires up homemade dishes like fried calamares (squid), garlic mushrooms, orejas (pig’s ears) and morcilla (blood sausage). But if there’s one thing I come here for again and again – it's gambas al ajillo, or sizzling shrimps cooked in olive oil, garlic, parsley and chili.

The tapas are offal-y good at this pocket-size bar specializing in variety meats like pig ear (served crackly with spicy brava sauce) and zarajos (lamb intestines wrapped around a stick and fried until crisp, an old-school Madrid snack).

Conveniently located less than 10 minutes walking distance from Villa Real, one of the best places to stay in Madrid as a family, Casa Toni is an old-school Madrid establishment famous for its pig ears. While kids may squirm at the thought of trying pork ear, the restaurant also offers a variety of other tapas plates, including fried potatoes with garlic mayonnaise and ham croquettes, for the picky eaters. They may even try a bite of pig’s ear, if you promise them a pastry from the charming Antigua Pastelería del Pozo, located just around the corner, afterwards!

Casa Toni’s claim to fame may be their offal, but believe it or not, they also have a whole section of the menu dedicated to veggie options. We started off with their famous patatas bravas, double-fried potatoes slathered in a red, peppery sauce (which they make in-house, unlike many places). Next up were pimientos de padrón, Galicia’s famous fried green peppers (most are mild, but be careful—some are hot hot hot!).

If you want to try authentic Spanish cuisine, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Casa Toni. Must-tries include fried lamb, cuttlefish, shrimp in olive oil and garlic, secreto iberico (Iberian pork), and their signature offal – a crispy pork ear. Pair your tapas either with a bottle of wine (they have a very extensive wine list, so you’ll have plenty of options), or a freshly made jar of sangria.

For a more traditional Tapas bar, maybe head to Calle De la Cruz, there are several places; Casa Toni, La Casa del Abuelo, others; where you can look at a menu, get Raciones (appetizer sized plates) and something to drink. For more of a meal, it may be further (a walk will do you good), but I like Los Gatos on Calle Jesus, there are many other places on this street as well.

Found on Calle de la Cruz, this small restaurant definitely stands out against the others, with its worn out awning and window where you can see the chef hard at work. The first thing that you’ll notice while walking into Casa Toni is the chef grilling up portions of pimientos and oreja to a charred perfection. In my opinion, this place has the best sepia ever.

Also located not far from Puerta del Sol is Casa Toni and it’s where you can find some of the most amazing tapas bars in Madrid. Some specialties that you have to try here are fried mushrooms, pig ears, pickled anchovies, and possibly the best chorizo in town!. We devoured the mushrooms and the chorizo and I still crave their chorizo to this day!

A true gem in the Puerta del Sol area, Casa Toni is one of the most popular tapas bars in Madrid thanks to their authenticity and long-standing history. Initially known simply as Toni, this restaurant was taken over by a group of local food enthusiasts in the 1970s and has been flourishing ever since. The highlight here is the offal dishes.

One of my favorite Madrid tapas bars for traditional plates, Casa Toni is heaven for lovers of the authentic. Famous for its organ meats, it is the perfect place to come if you’d like to try braided lamb intestines, tripe stew, or kidneys. But when I go, I dive into fried eggplant with honey, padrón peppers, or fried baby squid—yum!

Casa Toni: This is a no-frills taps bar is the kind of place you’d never walk into unless a local told you about it — which is exactly the kind of spot we love. Furthermore, it’s located in the Puerta del Sol area so it’s one of the few authentic spots in this largely “touristy” part of town.

A gem amongst the tourist trap bars near the Puerta De Sol, Casa Toni is a must try with its vast offering of delicious food. The prices are super reasonable with most things coming in around €10.00. In fact we enjoyed a huge portion of chorizo and padron peppers for just €5.00 each.

When we say “they don’t make them like this any more,” we’re serious. Casa Toni is just about the last authentic, no-frills tapas bar left in the Puerta del Sol area. It may not look like much, but trust us when we say that this unfussy local favorite is as authentic as they come.

This unassuming bar serves some of the most authentic, no-frills tapas in town. Go bold with traditional callos a la madrileña or grilled oreja (pig’s ear), or keep it simple with their perfectly crispy patatas bravas. Expect quick service and locals packed shoulder to shoulder.

The restaurant, Casa Toni, had a table ready for us upstairs. Suddenly, just as we were starting to get food, one of the men on the tour spilled his entire glass of red wine on me and the girl next to me.

Casa Toni: A casual spot in Chamberí that welcomes dogs on the terrace. They serve traditional Spanish tapas and also have a good selection of beers and wines.