La Tasquita de Enfrente

Located on a side street off the Gran Via, this small, intimate restaurant serves creative Spanish cuisine from chef-owner Juanjo López. The tiny dining room, which seats only a couple dozen patrons, is painted a vibrant orange, although an exposed stone wall, tiled floor, and Surrealist-style paintings break up the bold color. Using fresh products from local markets, chef López creates an ever-changing seasonal menu that may include stingray steak with brown butter and mussels in a Galician sauce, served in a sardine can. In 2011, López opened an adjacent tapas bar called Mui.