Taberna El Sur: Where to Eat in Madrid for An Epic Meal
Trying to figure out where to eat in Madrid and wondering if Taberna El Sur is worth going to or if it’s a waste of a meal? You are in the right place!
Ahhhh Taberna El Sur, home to the best sangria and COD scrambled eggs in Madrid. Yes, you read that right. Caleb and I LOVE Taberna El Sur with the kind of passion that makes one eat fish for breakfast because it’s eggs and that makes it not weird…right? We’ve been there almost 10 times and even once drank their sangria on an empty stomach because breakfast was the only time we could fit a visit in our itinerary. Can’t say I recommend doing that though. 😅
This post is your insider guide with tips to having an epic meal at Taberna El Sur because, if you’re anything like Caleb and I, you’re a couple who loves delicious food and want to experience the best tapas that make Madrid worth visiting which means Taberna El Sur must be on your radar.
Culture Craving Couple contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting us! You can see our disclosure policy.
So, throw your eating pants into your suitcase, and let’s dive in!
From The Author: Caleb and I have been to Madrid so many times and eaten in SO many restaurants yet Taberna El Sur always remains a favorite! If you have any questions about visiting for a meal, leave a comment and I will reply ASAP!
Why We Freaking Love Taberna El Sur
From the time you walk into the time you leave, Taberna El Sur Madrid feels like this little super authentic slice of Madrid that you guys have been dreaming about during those endless Zoom meetings (except you have to put on pants to visit, just FYI.) Like I always say, it’s always a good time to visit Madrid because you just don’t have to try to have an authentic Spanish experience, and a trip to Taberna El Sur is exactly the same.
The long and skinny restaurant is lined with cozy warm-colored wooden benches and stools and the walls are covered with with eclectic movie posters, guitars, and wine bottles.
Pair all that with the terracotta tiles and wood paneling and you’ve got a super eclectic little spot that you will find both locals AND tourists eating at. You know, kinda like that one friend’s house when you were in college back in the day. 😏
At peak eating times it gets super busy and everyone squishes in like sardines it’s lively and has this overall fun atmosphere! If you want to make it more romantic, I would recommend going at off-peak hours and choosing one of the corner tables that are more tucked away.
The waiters are SUPER friendly, and speak good English and the Taberna El Sur Menu is both in English and Spanish. We also appreciate that their house specials have stars next to the item name and the food is really reasonably priced and served quickly!
Another HUGE reason we love Taberna El Sur is that you can order half portions of raciones (refer to our tapas tips if you don’t know what this is) of a lot of the things and even the half portions are pretty big! So, you can try more things without getting full! Even just a cup of sangria is nice and full!
Don’t share that though. You have our permission to be territorial on that one.
What You Have to Eat
Honestly, if you don’t order the sangria I don’t know if we can be friends anymore. It’s literally the best sangria we’ve had in all of Madrid and we aren’t usually “sangria people.” We usually go for the vermouth at Taberna La Concha Madrid.
When you get a pitcher of it (trust us: don’t just get a glass. Your future tipsy-at-2 pm self will thank us later) it’s always so beautiful and adorned with golden berries. It comes with oranges and apples floating around in the not-too-sweet sangria red wine base.
It has A LOT of depth of flavor and is very smooth with a hint of spice. There is also some good fruity flavor without it tasting like sugar but the flavor of the red wine still comes through. I know you don’t want to admit it, but you know what Arbor Mist tastes like and this is not that. Thankfully.
In terms of eats, well…you really can’t go wrong with any of their sort of “Spanish fusion” tapas. Our favorite must-try” are:
- The Ropa Vieja – The meat was so tender and flavorful that we almost wept tears of deliciousness and it came with fried potatoes that was incredibly appreciated on the day that we drank sangria on empty.
- The Grilled Baby Squid With Salad (Chipirones A La Plancha) – If you’ve ever had chewy, rubbery squid and now have squid PTSD, this will cure you. The squid had a smoky flavor but was so soft and tender
- Cod Scrambled Eggs (Revuelto De Puerros Y Bacalao) – I know. You’re giving scrambled eggs with fish a little side-eye. We did too but then our adventurous taste buds were like TRY IT..and now we order it every. single time. These eggs are impossibly creamy with huge chunks of cod and leeks. Prediction: you guys email us after your trip and tell us it was one of your favorite things.
- Asparagus Scrambled Eggs (Revuelto De Trigueros) – If ya’ll are a couple who is a little less adventurous with eating, the asparagus scrambled eggs are a decent swap for the cod. You still get the creamy goodness but without the whole “fish and eggs” situation. Baby steps.
IMPORTANT: Both the cod and asparagus scrambled eggs are only available at their location on C. de la Torrecilla. This is the main location and me and Caleb’s favorite.
Because we always keep it real with you, the one thing we don’t recommend trying is the Salmon Tempura with Cheese (Brochetas De Salmon). For real: why is cheese on salmon in every tapas bar in Madrid? IT DOES NOT TASTE GOOD.
Now you won’t be able to see it on every menu as you walk through all the areas in Madrid.
Other Important Details
Address: They have multiple locations:
- Taberna El Sur: C. de la Torrecilla del Leal, 12, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain (This is our favorite location and we recommend this one. Especially if you only have a few days in Madrid as its nice and central!)
- El Sur de Moratin: C. de Moratín, 19, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- Taberna El Sur de Huertas: C. de las Huertas, 24, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- Mas Al Sur: C. de Sta. Isabel, 35, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Hours: Monday to Friday from noon to midnight at all locations except Mas Al Sur – it opens at 9 am!
PRO TIP:
Don’t get there right at opening time. It’s “Spanish Time.” Caleb and I did this and stood outside for quite a while before they actually opened
Atmosphere: Cozy and upbeat at the same time and friendly to tourists
Reservation Policy: Only the El Sur de Moratin takes reservations. The other locations are waitlist only.
How to Make Reservations: You can make reservations by Facebook Messenger HERE or by email (TabernaSUR@gmail.com.)
Our Rating: 4.5/5. Only because we did have one item on the menu that we didn’t like and we’re tough food critics like that. The atmosphere and price is a 5/5.
Once you try Taberna El Sur, make sure to also go on this incredible food tour of Madrid. Doing so will ensure you don’t miss any of the best food and drinks in the city! We’ve done it TWICE and loved it both times! Don’t worry, you won’t visit this spot!
FAQ
Does Taberna El Sur Take Reservations?
Yes, Taberna El Sur takes reservations, but only at their Moratin location. The other locations are waitlist only.
Is Taberna El Sur Open for Lunch?
Yes, Taberna El Sur is open for lunch. 3 out of 4 of their locations open at noon every day of the week.
Does Taberna El Sur Offer Gluten-Free Options?
Yes, Taberna El Sur does have gluten-free options. I talked with the staff to make sure and they suggested seafood paella, grilled vegetables, cod confit with goat cheese, chicken curry, and their cheeses.
In Conclusion: Taberna El Sur Will Knock Your Tastebuds Off Your Head
That might seem dramatic but, after you eat here, you’ll be like “Nah, Taylor is right.” Eating all the amazing tapas is our favorite thing to do and Taberna El Sur is up there on our list of favorite tapas bars. Whether you’re adventurous and get fish in your scrambled eggs or cheese on your salmon (I warned you) or stick to a plate of ham, you’re sure to dream of your next dinner at Taberna El Sur!
Now that you have one spot to eat, you gotta keep adding to the list! Good thing for you we have a guide to the best places to eat in Madrid with all the spots you can’t miss!
So, would you try the cod eggs? Inquiring minds want to know? Specifically, my mind if you were wondering.
Other Helpful Posts:
