Mario Batali's Favorite Madrid Restaurants

Lifestyle Mirror|Aug. 6, 2013 3:16 pm EST

When it comes to good taste, there may be no better arbiter out there then Iron Chef and Lifestyle Mirror's latest guest editor, Mario Batali. As a multi-award-winning chef for restaurants Babbo, Del Posto, and Esca, he knows a thing or two about good eats.

From his three perfect summer cocktails to his picks for the best restaurants in NYC, we'd trust Batali with our culinary itinerary any day. Here, the top chef shares his favorite restaurants in Madrid. Check out his shortlist below.

Mario Batali's Madrid Restaurants Directory:

El Chaflán
Av de Pío XII, 34, 28016, Madrid
+34 913 50 61 93
"I love El Chaflán in a funky hotel of the same name. The food represents the delishness of Castilla la Mancha in the face of the tremendous northern influence. Definitely worth a visit."

Sacha
Calle Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, 11, 28036, Madrid,
+34 913 45 59 52
"My favorite simple and perfect place is called Sacha, which is run by a guy named Sacha. And I love it."

Casa Lucio
Calle Cava Baja, 35, 28005, Madrid
+34 913 65 32 52
"Hit Casa Lucio for a classic old-guard experience in the right atmosphere with traditional food. As the proud proprietor, Lucio, will tell you, the restaurant is frequented by everyone from kings to pop stars. Casa Lucio is often where I start my visit to Spain."

Sergi Arola Gastro
Calle de Zurbano, 31, 28010, Madrid
+34 913 10 21 69
"I love Sergi Arola Gastro. He runs a casual bar downstairs and a chic joint upstairs. Meet him; he is my hero and can give you up-to-the-minute recommendations on what's freshest and most delicious."

Paco Roncero
Calle de Alcalá, 15, 28014, Madrid
+34 915 21 87 00
"You can't neglect the modern stuff by Paco Roncero at the Casino de Madrid."

Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza de San Miguel, s/n 28005, Madrid
+34 915 42 49 36
"Most perfecto of all is the Mercado San Miguel! It is like going to heaven. All is great, pure and light inside its golden heart."