Last Updated on July 8, 2025
Best Restaurants in Madrid: Why Brach Madrid Should Be on Your List
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The first clue that Brach Madrid isn’t your average hotel restaurant comes not from the opulent Philippe Starck interiors or the postcard-perfect Gran Vía setting but from the scent drifting through the open kitchen – a heady swirl of za’atar, garlic, and slow-roasted aubergine. Visiting from London, I’d expected polish and theatrical flair (this is a five-star hotel, after all), but what I found was something far more intriguing: a restaurant that crackles with personality. The hotel, part of the design-forward Evok Collection, wears its luxury lightly – confident in its style yet full of warmth and flair.
The restaurant & bar sit on the ground floor of Brach Madrid, perfectly positioned on the city’s lively main artery – Gran Vía, famed for its boutiques, cocktail bars, cafés, theatres, and old-world cinemas. This is a hotel so exquisitely designed that it feels more like stepping into a cinematic dream than checking into a city bolthole. Philippe Starck’s interiors are carefully curated to conjure the spirit of a grand café – those legendary hotbeds of artists, writers, and thinkers, with every detail evoking quiet glamour and layered history.
The palette is rich in caramel, tan, and tobacco hues, with brown leather-clad ceilings and columns, wooden sculptures, and glass cabinets showcasing beautiful curios. Deep, cushiony leather banquettes are paired with print-upholstered pillows, white linen tablecloths, and embroidered napkins, luxury without a hint of stuffiness. Jazz murmurs through the space, growing moodier as the evening progresses, while oil paintings and art books add to the sense that this is not just a restaurant but a conversation with culture. Just steps away, the hotel’s patisserie continues the seduction, offering up impossibly delicate French pastries that somehow feel right at home in Madrid’s golden light.
After admiring the pure drama of the décor, we settled into the deep comfort of the caramel banquettes. We browsed the menu, helped along by the wonderfully warm and attentive staff, whose impeccable English put my Duolingo efforts to shame.
I kicked things off with an aptly named Gran Vía: a smoky, sultry mix of Mezcal Bruxo, lime juice, mint pastille liqueur, and a house-made lemongrass and rosemary syrup. It was fabulous – earthy, fragrant, and just the right side of danger. My companion went for a Puerta del Sol, a vivid, velvety blend of Anaë gin, red Dolin vermouth, fig syrup, lime, blackcurrant juice, and aquafaba (yes, the liquid from cooked chickpeas, whisked into a silky foam). Complex, clever, and utterly drinkable – it was the kind of cocktail that makes you want to cancel dinner plans and order a second round.
But that would have been a mistake. Chef Adam Bentalha’s Mediterranean-meets-Madrid menu is exuberant and sun-drenched, with flavours that feel lifted from a bustling souk or a late-night tapas bar rather than a buttoned-up hotel dining room. If the hotel is a temple to design, Brach Madrid is its boisterous soul – playful, passionate, and unafraid to make a statement.
Starters arrived on handcrafted ceramic plates – each one as artful and cool as the dishes they carried. This is food made for sharing, listed under Para Picar. The pitta, warm and golden, came stuffed with a smoky, oozy cheese that was pure indulgence – impossible to stop picking at. A confit artichoke with alioli was a real standout: gorgeously tender with just the right tang to cut through the creamy garlic, finished with a delicate crunch that made it both light and luscious. But the show-stealer was the sea bass tartare served over a slick of guacamole – possibly the most delicious tartare I’ve eaten in a while. Subtle, fresh, and beautifully balanced, the silky fish worked in harmony with the avocado, finished with a scatter of paper-thin radishes that added just the right bite.
Moving on to our mains, I opted for the Suprême de pollo con polenta y salsa gremolata – a generous, perfectly cooked chicken breast nestled into a bed of creamy polenta (the kind that manages to be both rich and light) lifted by flecks of fresh herbs and a zingy gremolata. Comfort food with polish.
Across the table, my companion tucked into Kefta con burrata cremosa y salsa arrabbiata, a spiced lamb patty in a punchy, juicy tomato sauce crowned with a puddle of molten burrata. Add the fresh, crisp crunch of baby gem lettuce, scattered with Parmesan and dressed in a bright, lemony vinaigrette, and you’ve got a main course that hits all the right notes – rich, spicy, cooling, and sharp in perfect harmony.
And finally, dessert. A tray of the most alluring cakes and tarts arrived from Brach’s famed patisserie, each one a miniature work of art. The choice was overwhelming in the best possible way, but after some deliberation, we settled on a lemon mousse for its promised freshness. It delivered in spades: airy and zesty with a surprise mango centre and a delicate crunch at the base. Alongside it, a pistachio cheesecake laced with citrus added a lovely tartness to balance the richness. Both were beautifully made, refined without being fussy, and both were high-end patisserie that rounded off the meal with perfect poise.
We paired our meal at Brach with a bottle of La Encina del Inglés Blanco, a vibrant Andalusian white that more than held its own alongside the bold flavours of the menu. Bursting with aromas of peach and apricot, with subtle hints of citrus and tropical fruit, it was wonderfully expressive – fresh on the palate and effortlessly versatile, making it the perfect companion from starters through to dessert.
This is truly a special restaurant, an unexpected highlight and a lovely treat during our short trip to Madrid. From the setting to the service, the cocktails to the final forkful of dessert, everything at Brach feels carefully considered and effortlessly stylish. I highly recommend placing this gorgeous spot firmly on your radar when visiting this beautiful city… just don’t forget to book in advance.
Brach Madrid
Gran Vía, 20,
Centro,
28013 Madrid,
Spain
Phone: +34 915 46 36 39
Click through to read our feature on what to see and do on a cultural break in Madrid
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