La Bola Taberna

Located on a quiet side street just north of the Teatro Real (Royal Theatre), this family-owned tavern is renowned for its signature cocido madrileño (Madrilenian stew), a house specialty since the restaurant opened in 1870. Behind the bright red exterior, the old-fashioned dining room is decorated with tiled floors, red and white tablecloths, and wood-paneled walls hung with framed bullfighting photographs. Cooked in earthenware pots over a wood fire, the traditional cocido is served in two courses: a noodle soup made with broth from the stew, followed by a plate of chickpeas, cabbage, chicken, and pork.