Recently opened Celso y Manolo is a lovingly nostalgic nod to Madrid taverns of old, housed in the retro surroundings of a former family-run tasca. The original 1950s marble bar remains, the lights have been dimmed – a moody antidote to this cities’ penchant for bright bars – and the homely menu zeroes in on regional ingredients: grilled organic Cantabrian lamb chops (€8), Catalonian red shrimp (€12.50), or a salad of sweet Huesca tomatoes the size of babies’ heads (€8). Its version of Madrid’s original street food, the much-maligned bocadillo de calamares, is a winner thanks to lashings of lemon-infused alioli (€4.50), and there are some lovely Madrid wines by the glass.Calle Libertad 1, +34 915 318 079, celsoymanolo.es.

While Celso y Manolo focuses on modern, innovative dishes, its history dates back to the 1950s. Named after its former owners, who were brothers and ran the place for over 50 years, Celso y Manolo has one very simple yet effective key ingredient: tomatoes. Try the signature “tomate con sabor,” made of organic tomatoes from their own garden, seasoned with salt, olive oil, and herbs, or step things up a notch with the tomato salad, complete with fruit, or the chuletón de tomate (tomato steak).

Celso y Manolo is the ideal bar for a night out eating tapas with friends, family or loved ones. The cheery interior is charming and a refreshing change from all the dark, tiny bars in the capital, and the friendly service brightens the mood even further. The possibilities at this bar are nearly endless: with a menu that lists over 80 different tapas everyone is bound to find something lovely, new and exciting to try.

This hip neighborhood favorite has around a dozen tables and an extensive eclectic menu geared toward sharing that features game meats, seafood, and cheeses from the mountainous northern region of Cantabria. Organic wines sourced from around the country make for spot-on pairings.

Celso y Manolo is easily one of our favorite places to eat in Madrid, and the same preference applies when it comes to where we like to go for vermouth. The food is made with a simple philosophy in mind that focuses on using quality organic products to create meticulously prepared dishes that pay homage to the classics of the Spanish Taberna. Even simple foods like a bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwich) and ensalada rusa (potato salad) seem like luxury items at Celso y Manolo.

It almost sounds like the plot of a movie: a teenager from a small mining town in northern Spain comes to Madrid and finds a job in an old tavern, pulling himself up by his bootstraps and eventually taking over the business when the original owner retires. Now a young and hip bar, the place has breathed new life into the historic locale. It’s not a movie, though—that’s just how one of the world’s best restaurants in Madrid, Celso y Manolo, came to be.

Brothers Celso and Manolo opened the spot back in the 70s and served traditional Madrileño dishes to the daytime workers downtown. They retired and turned the bar over to Zamora brothers who work to maintain the traditions while putting their own spin on the menu. Check out the chuletón de tomate (tomato steak), the ensaladilla (Spanish potato salad), a bocadillo de calamar (fried calamari sandwich), or any of their rice or egg dishes

This recently opened tapas bar is a fresh addition to the many that Madrid has to offer. In a bright and cozy interior, you will be able choose from a large menu of more than 80 different kinds of tapas, all drawing from fresh regional ingredients ensuring both a healthy and tasty meal. Cantabrian lamp chops, Catalonian red shrimp, and a unique take on the local Madrid favorite bocadillo de calamares (fried squid sandwich).

A neighborhood bar that has stood the test of time, Celso y Manolo is a local favorite to grab a tapa and a cold beer. The bar has changed names and owners throughout the years but commitment to delicious Madrileño cuisine has remained a constant. You can find all the classics on the menu like various fried fish, croquetas, and ensaladilla, as well as modernized and original dishes.

This tapas bar dedicates a whole section of its menu to versions grown in different parts of Spain. Its most famous dish is the tomato “steak” topped with avocado, papaya, cucumber, red onion, pine nuts, olive oil, and fresh herbs. You can also try a tomato “tasting” of four different varieties, along with several other amazing vegetarian dishes.

Celso y Manolo is an intimate and relaxing tasca in a quiet side street in on-trend Justicia. Interiors feature 1950 floor tiles, a thick marble-topped bar and simple wooden tables and chairs. Local businesspeople, young mothers and clued-up tourists come for the mix of traditional and modern cuisine.

For upscale sharing plates, try Celso y Manolo, a small tapas bar in the Chueca neighborhood that offers a locally sourced menu of mostly organic ingredients. Favorite dishes include their famous “tomato steak” and rice with garbanzo beans and blood sausage.

This is the kind of place you know you want to come back to next time. It’s a cozy and authentic spot with a beautiful floor and a bar where you’d prefer to linger all day. A place where the dishes are fresher than fresh, and the atmosphere is laid-back.