Taberna La Bola

A family-run taberna since 1870 that has built its entire reputation on one dish — cocido a la madrileña, slow-cooked for hours over coals in individual earthenware pots, served the traditional three ways in one sitting.

The cocido here is only served at lunch, and only in earthenware pots cooked to order — it cannot be rushed, so this is not a fast meal. Reserve ahead, as the small dining room fills with regulars who've been coming for decades. Dinner service offers a broader menu beyond cocido if you'd rather come in the evening.