Best restaurants in Madrid for students

When you imagine moving to a new city to study, what are you most looking forward to? Whether you can’t wait to experience a new culture, try out the incredible study facilities or make new friends, there’s so many aspects to enjoy. In particular, one of the most exciting parts of moving to a new country is enjoying the local cuisine!

That’s right, everyone loves food – from delicious breakfasts that give you energy for the day of studying ahead, to sumptuous desserts when out with friends. Madrid, and Spain more generally, is renowned for its incredible cuisine, with tasty dishes such as:

• Pimientos de Padrón
• Patatas Bravas
• Tortilla Española
• Paella
• Gambas al ajillo

Madrid has countless restaurants and places to enjoy student-friendly meals that won’t tip you over your budget. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of our top 5 favourite places to eat in Madrid:

• El Perro y La Galleta
• Arrocería Balear
• Zenith
• Panod Pozuelo
• Madrid Markets

Whether you want a sit-down meal, sweet treat, takeaway or fresh ingredients to make your own food, these restaurants are the best of the best!

El perro y la galleta

The first restaurant on our list of the best places to eat in Madrid for students is actually a chain of 7 restaurants across the city, making it the ideal place to stop for a bite to eat, no matter where you are or what you’ve been doing. El Perro y La Galleta is a great restaurant to visit if you’re celebrating or have family visiting!

Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, El Perro y La Galleta caters for every meal. The menu is vast which is ideal if you’re going with lots of friends. You can enjoy anything from a delicious risotto to a sumptuous brownie cheesecake.

What makes El Perro y La Galleta stand out from other restaurants in Madrid is…dogs! That’s right, all the restaurants are dog-friendly so you’ll often find you’ll be sat next to a well-behaved furry friend. Incredible food and cute puppies? There’s nothing better!

The best part? You can either sit in and relax with friends while you enjoy a delicious meal, order a takeaway and eat your food on the go, or order delivery to your student accommodation if you don’t feel like going out.

Arrocería Balear

There is no better way to immerse yourself into Spanish culture and embrace life in Madrid than by enjoying a sensational meal from Arrocería Balear, renowned for its traditional Spanish rice dishes. If you’re looking for incredible flavours, fresh ingredients and a quintessentially Spanish dining experience, Arrocería Balear is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Madrid for students!

Arrocería Balear is a great place for sharing food with friends as you can order large rice dishes and share them between you, plus there may even be some leftovers to enjoy for lunch the next day. When sharing with friends, you’ll also be splitting the cost which makes the meals at Arrocería Balear deliciously affordable.

They have a wide range of flavours, including their iconic dish Paella Mixta Ciega. Alongside their rice dishes, they also do starters and desserts such as: 

• Calamares a la romana
• Gazpacho
• Tarta de queso

So, what are you waiting for? Gather your friends and enjoy a hearty taste of Spain at Arrocería Balear!

Zenith

Brunch. Everyone’s favourite word! If you’re looking for a trendy, popular place to enjoy a delicious brunch with friends, Zenith is a must-visit. Open every day of the week, you can have an early morning breakfast, late morning brunch or early afternoon treat.

They have a fantastic menu filled with the very best dishes from breakfast and lunch! Zenith has everything from pancakes and bagels to salad bowls and eggs. The menu is extensive – take the pancakes for example, will you add peanut butter, nutella, oreos, dulce de leche, mixed berries or bacon with egg?

The drinks are also amazing, as you can choose from:

• Smoothies
• Coffees
• Juices
• Health shots
• Other tasty drinks

With a cool atmosphere and picture-perfect food, it’s no wonder that Zenith is a favourite spot amongst students. Whether you need brain food for studying, are catching up with friends or want to prepare yourself for a full day of exploring the city, Zenith is one of the best places to eat in Madrid!

Panod Pozuelo

Does the thought of waking up and tucking into freshly baked bread or pastry make you happy? If so, Panod Pozuelo will be your new favourite place in Madrid. This artisan bakery and pastry shop has an incredible range of fresh, authentic baked goods, perfect as a snack, or part of your main meal if you’re cooking up a storm back at your accommodation.

You can choose from breads, quiches and empanadas in a variety of flavours for the perfect lunchtime meal.

If you have a sweet tooth and want to treat yourself to a sumptuous sweet treat, you’re in luck! Why not try one of their sensational baked treats, such as:

• Donuts
• Croissants
• Butter palms
• Cupcakes
• Pistachio and raspberry pastries

At Nido, our mouths are watering just thinking about all the fresh goodness you can enjoy from Panod Pozuelo!

Madrid Markets

We couldn’t write a blog about food in Madrid without talking about some of the city’s most incredible markets. Based all over the city, you’re only ever a few minutes walk away from delicious, fresh produce and tasty food.

There are several types of markets in Madrid. Traditional markets in Madrid are perfect if you’re sticking to a tight budget as you can get authentic Spanish ingredients to cook like a pro in your kitchen without spending extra money in supermarkets. Adding a touch of Spain into your cooking is also great if you want to immerse yourself into Madrid’s vibrant culture!

Street markets offer you a chance to try Spanish snacks and lunch time dishes on-the-go in between lectures. Fully prepared and ready to eat, there’s nothing more convenient…or tasty! You can also find stylish, trendy gastronomical markets that offer a unique experience. While these are not the ones you’ll visit for your everyday shopping, they’re a great place to visit in Madrid with friends as a treat.

While there are many street markets around Madrid, some of the most popular include: 

• San Miguel Market
• Mercado de la Paz
• El Rastro
• Mercado San Anton

Enjoy your best student life in Madrid with Nido Living

From delicious baked goods to traditional tapas, our mouths are watering at the thought of these incredible restaurants in Madrid. Whether you’re looking for brunch options, places to grab on-the-go food as you walk to lectures or somewhere to celebrate a birthday, there are countless places to enjoy a tasty meal in Madrid.

The beautiful city of Madrid is a student’s paradise, with its fascinating culture, incredible cuisine, and world-class study facilities. With so many restaurants, bars and things to do in Madrid, you’ll never be left wondering what to do after lectures!

At Nido, we’re proud to offer student accommodation in Madrid. When you join the Nido Aravaca family, your wellbeing will be put first so that you can focus on your studies and have the time of your life. From our fully equipped gym to cosy cinema room, we have everything you need to live your best student life.

Alongside our Madrid and Seville locations in Spain, we also have accommodation across the whole of Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, and Germany. Contact us today to learn more about joining the Nido family!