Dine in style at the Goya Restaurant & Terrace, Hotel Ritz, Madrid

Madrid is awash with stylish restaurants serving up great food. The Spanish capital is renowned for its cuisine. But for a gastronomic experience to savour forever, you would find it difficult to beat the Goya Restaurant at the Hotel Ritz, Madrid.

This legendary hotel, built at the request of King Alfonso XIII, has been attracting celebrities and world leaders for over 100 years. 

The Goya Restaurant & Terrace

The Goya Restaurant, decked out elegantly with lush red carpets, a marble fireplace and crystal chandeliers may be grand, but the atmosphere is most convivial. 

I was recently there on a warm, late summer’s evening and was able to enjoy a superb meal on the terrace overlooking the hotel’s leafy garden. It was such a beautiful and tranquil setting that it was hard to believe that I was bang in the heart of the city.

Hake with green pepper nectar

Jorge González, executive chef of the Ritz, Madrid since 2004, and his team serve up top-notch cuisine. Using only the finest seasonal ingredients, meticulously prepared, he dishes up fresh interpretations of classic Spanish dishes as well as recipes  influenced by French and Basque cuisine to which he has added his own contemporary twist

The wine list is impressive and features several that are sourced locally. Ask the sommelier for guidance as she is extremely knowledgeable. As you would expect the service here is impeccable. 

 

Steak tartar

For an apéritif, I had a glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry which was recommended by the sommelier. Crammed to the brim with flavours of raisins, dates and figs and a smattering of nuts, this rich fortified wine was velvety smooth on the palate. For nibbles there was delicious ham, and olives that tasted as if they had just been picked.

To start I went for one of the specialities, the tuna tartar coupled with scallops. The dish, beautifully presented, was superb. For main, I plumped for another highlight of the menu, the hake with a green pepper nectar. A glass of a Fuente Elvira, from D.O. Rueda was the ideal accompaniment.  This citrus- fruit -soaked white wine is refreshing and easy to drink.

My companion opted for the steak tartar which looked wonderful. She chose a glass of Retamas from Bodega Regajal, This blend of tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah went down a treat.

If you do find that you have room for a dessert, there is plenty to set your taste buds alight.

Dining at the Goya Restaurant is always a special occasion. 

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

British Airways Holidays offers two nights at the 5* Hotel Ritz, Madrid from £269 per person, until January 31. Price Includes Euro Traveller return flights from London Gatwick or London Heathrow and accommodation on a room only basis. For reservations visit ba.com/madrid or call 0844 493 0758

For further information about the Hotel Ritz, Madrid visit hmandarinoriental.com/ritzmadrid

Destination Madrid, Spain

Madrid is wonderfully seductive!  This international and high-octane city, where life moves to an upbeat rhythm, oozes a distinctly Spanish flavour.

Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace
© Agustín Martínez
Courtesy of Madrid Destino Cultura, Turismo y Negocio S.A.

Resonating with history, the home of amazing art and a foodie’s heaven, the Spanish capital has always been one of my favourite cities to visit. But since a programme of recent improvements, Madrid has morphed into a world-class player exploding with exciting shopping, exceptional restaurants and bars and its top-ranking museums have got bigger and better. 

Old world elegance melds together harmoniously with contemporary edginess. There is no doubt that Madrid is Spain’s pulsating heart, yet what makes the city stand out from the crowd is that it still manages to be incredibly intimate and welcoming. The Madrileños certainly know how to enjoy themselves. There is a spirit about the place which is infectious, despite the political and financial difficulties. 

Although said to have been inhabited since the Lower Palaeolithic era, it was only in 1561 that King Felipe ll made Madrid the capital of his empire. Carlos lll, nicknamed the "Mayor of Madrid", in the 18^th century wanted a capital that matched the likes of Paris and Rome and had the centre built on a grand scale. His idea seems to live on. 

Plaza Mayor

© Paolo Giocoso
Courtesy of  Madrid Destino Cultura, Turismo y Negocio S.A.

The best way to get around the city is to walk. (The Metro, if you want to use it, is easy to navigate.) At every twist and turn, you will find a pleasant surprise. My guide, Lidia did a rather spectacular job of condensing the history of Madrid and pointing out the highlights in a few hours. It was clear from the outset that eating and drinking is of vital importance to the Madrileños.

A stroll through the Plaza Mayor, the city’s main square lined with colourful buildings, makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time. The 16^th century cobbled streets and medieval squares of the surrounding area also boast a good selection of tapas bars offering plenty of tasty treats. And they are not just filled with tourists, you will find yourself socialising with locals as well. A bocata de calamares (calamari sandwich) is a traditional speciality.

Madrileños like to party. They eat late and think nothing of rambling around the streets until dawn. So you won’t be having early nights in this city! 

Lidia also ushered me into the world’s oldest restaurant, Botin, in Calle Cuchilleros. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it has been doing uninterrupted business since 1725. I can’t vouch for the food as I did not eat there, but I did see the old brick ovens and cellars.

© Courtesy of  Madrid Destino Cultura, Turismo y Negocio S.A.

Chocolate lovers should seek out Chocolateria San Ginés hidden away in an alley near the Plaza de Ópera. For over a hundred years, it has been renowned for its delicious, thick, hot chocolate and churros – the perfect pick-me-up after a night on the town. 

After taking in the Almudena Cathedral which took about 110 years to complete and the Royal Palace, which occupies the site of the old Alcázar fortress, a former Moorish castle, we took a gentle stroll through the pretty Sabatini and Campo del Moro Gardens.

Passing through stunning wide boulevards lined with resplendent buildings, we soon arrived at the iconic Cibeles Fountain which has watched over the Paseo del Prado since the 18^th century. I could only guess at the tales it could tell!  It is also here that Real Madrid celebrates its victories. 

My tour finished, it was time for the Art Walk, a paradise for culture vultures. Within a kilometre or so you have Madrid’s three main museums.

If you only have time for one, make it the Prado. I was mesmerised at what has often been called the greatest painting in the world: Velázquez’s Las Meninas. There is free entry (6pm-8pm weekdays and 5pm-7pm Sundays for visitors) but if time is of the essence, pay and go early in the morning. 

Unfortunately, there was not time to visit the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, also free early evenings. Going to a city like Madrid, it is virtually impossible to see everything in a couple of days. Next time!

With most of the city’s key sights ticked off, it was time to unwind so I headed for El Parque de Retiro, once a recreation area for the royal family. Peppered with marble monuments and awash with perfectly manicured lawns and a gorgeous lake, this was the perfect way to recharge the batteries for an exhilarating night ahead.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

British Airways operates up to three flights per day from London City to Madrid in addition to services from Heathrow with connections also available from across the UK and Ireland. Fares and more information about British Airways services can be found at ba.com/Madrid

Always a pleasure to fly with British Airways. This is a top-notch airline. Service is consistently good and I always feel as if I am in safe hands. I flew from London City Airport which means I could check-in 20 minutes prior to departure (15 minutes with hand luggage)

I stayed at the Hotel Auditorium, a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection. For more information or to book visit www.ghotw.com/hotel-auditorium or call 020 7380 3658 

For more information about Madrid visit www.spain.info and esmadrid.com