La Musa Malasaña

A relaxed, design-forward take on tapas — creative small plates like nacho-crusted chicken skewers and a much-loved brunch, in a neighbourhood better known for bars than serious kitchens. A reliable pick for a younger, less classic-Madrid crowd.

No reservations, and it's consistently popular at both lunch and dinner, so expect a wait at peak hours — the bar is a decent spot to wait with a drink. The weekend brunch draws its own separate queue and is worth planning for specifically if that's the visit. Portions are tapas-sized but the menu is large enough that three or four dishes between two people is a full meal.